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View Full Version : whats the big deal with tyre choice???


capella re
01-04-2010, 09:31 PM
i was watching a documentary on cars the other day, had porsche ferrari and callaway in it and one of the cheif engineers said "without good tyres, a car is useless, having power without suitable tyres is useless, handling tweaks without top quality tyres is useless. you could say that the tyres are the only thing that matters and the rest of the car, driver included is along for the ride" (thats not the exact quote but along those lines)
thats actually alot of merit to that though, i'm not an idiot that just worked out tyres are important but i mean how many times have you seen a magazine car putting out 450 rear wheel kilowatts and runs a 12, and you sit there scratching your head going WTF!!!
alot of factors contribute to that but a major one is wheelspin. generally these cars arent run on slick as theyre not dedicated track cars so the 450kw are useless but peel alot of smoke through most gears.
now i know this is corey department of expertise but im running out of things to crap on about on here so i thought a basic shake down of tyre info could help.

Selecting the right tires for your vehicle is an important decision. Your safety, as well as driving enjoyment over the next years and thousands of kms will be determined by this decision. The information provided here and the advice/recommendations from the experts at the Tire Rack will ensure you select tires that match your vehicle...and the way you drive it!

"How many tires do I need?"

Since tires affect the personality and performance of your vehicle, all four tires should be as identical as possible or handling problems may arise. If your tires don't match, it is possible that one end of your vehicle won't respond as quickly or completely as the other, making it more difficult to control.

Consider the following:

JUST ONE TIRE?

If your tires have a lot of remaining tread depth, but you need to replace just one that has been damaged by an accident, road hazard or a vandal, you should replace it with a tire that exactly matches the others. Select a replacement tire of the same brand, line, size and speed rating. While there may be a less expensive tire available, it wouldn't be a bargain this time because it would be different than the other three tires on your vehicle.

A PAIR OF TIRES?

If two of your tires have a lot of remaining tread depth, but you need to replace the other two because they were damaged or have worn out, you should replace them with a pair of tires that come as close as possible to matching your existing tires. While identical new tires are desirable, others of the same size and type can also provide good results. Only consider selecting new tires that are from the same tire category as your existing tires. New tires should be installed on the rear axle.

While your vehicle is being serviced ask your mechanic why one pair of tires have worn faster than the others. Was it caused by a lack of tire rotation, out-of-spec wheel alignment or loose mechanical parts? Once the problem has been found, it can be corrected before it damages your new tires. Keep in mind that your ultimate goal is that all of your tires always wear out at the same time so they can be replaced as a set.

A SET OF TIRES?

If all of your tires are wearing out together, you have the greatest flexibility in tire selection. If you were happy with the original tires, simply replace them. If you want longer treadwear, a smoother ride or more handling, there are probably tires that will help you accomplish that. Review the tire category types until you find a category description that describes a tire that fits your needs.

Once you know how many tires you will be replacing, determine size and type by answering the questions below:

What is the right size for my vehicle?

Buying the correct tire size can get complicated, especially if you decide to upgrade from your vehicle's Original Equipment size.

A tire's first requirement is that it must be able to carry the weight of your vehicle. No matter how good a tire you select, if its capabilities are "overworked" just carrying the load, it will have little reserve capacity to help your vehicle respond to quick emergency. So when you are in the selection process, make certain that your new tire's size is designed to carry the weight of your vehicle! Don't undersize.

The other size consideration is overall tire diameter. Since many of the functions of today's vehicles are highly computerized, maintaining accurate speed data going into the computer assures accurate instructions coming out. And an important part of the speed equation is your tire's overall tire diameter.

For cars and vans, staying within a 3% diameter change is desirable. Pick-ups and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are usually engineered to handle up to a 15% oversize tire. Most tire dimensions can be calculated. For more information review the Tire Tech article, "Calculating Tire Dimensions." While at first a 3% diameter increase or reduction in tire diameter may sound very limiting, in most cases it allows approximately a 3/4" diameter change.

Additionally to help with the selection of substitute sizes, a system called "Plus Sizing" was developed. We use Plus Sizing to take into account the diameters of the available tires and the wheels, and then helps select the appropriate tire width that ensures adequate load capacity. Maintaining the tire's overall diameter helps maintain accurate speed data going into the computer.

Do I need summer tires, winter tires, all-season tires?

Do you drive your car only in sunshine, or also through rain and snow? Do you drive your light truck on the road, off the road, or are you the one responsible for clearing the land to build the roads? To successfully meet each of these driving conditions requires a different type of tire.

Ask yourself these questions to determine which performance category you should choose from:

WHAT IS THE WORST DRIVING CONDITION I WILL ENCOUNTER?

If you use more than one set of tires and wheels (for example, summer tires in summer and snow tires in winter), you can select tires that exactly meet your diverse needs. If you use one set of tires for every season, you may get good performance under many conditions, but you will compromise your vehicle's performance when the conditions are at their worst.

So the important thing to do is to select your tires so that they match the worst driving condition you expect to encounter. When you're stuck in the snow or in the mud because your tires don't have the appropriate capabilities, you'll curse their limited performance in your worst driving condition...and you'll quickly forget how smooth and quiet they were at other times!

WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL DRIVING CONDITIONS I WILL ENCOUNTER?

If you only drive around your neighborhood and a "long trip" is one that's just down to the corner convenience mart, almost any tire will do. But if you drive your vehicle on congested city streets and expressways during rush hour you will be better served by more responsive tires. If you drive extensively on the interstates you will want quiet, smooth riding, long wearing tires. Or if you like to drive quickly on twisting roads or through the mountains you will want good handling tires. And if you drive on the track or in autocross events, you will want the best competition tires available.

BALANCING THE REQUIREMENTS OF YOUR DRIVING CONDITIONS.

If your worst driving conditions and your typical conditions are similar, one set of tires will be all you need. If you live at the edge of the snowbelt and infrequently get snow you may want to select an all-season tire. If your SUV is used as the family's station wagon and driven on the road all of the time, overly aggressive light truck tires aren't for you (unless you really like the "look").

If your worst driving condition occurs frequently (you drive through snow all winter) and is dissimilar to your typical driving condition (you commute to work on the expressway during the week and spend your weekends at the beach), you may want to consider selecting two sets of tires for your vehicle. Each set will be designed to master the specific conditions without compromising your driving satisfaction at the extremes. While purchasing two sets of tires may appear expensive, the set you're not using won't wear while you are using the other set, and combined they'll provide longer total wear than either set could individually!

How do I compare price vs. value?

Why is it that the price of fuel for our vehicle seems relatively inexpensive while the cost of its tires seems high? (Of course you already know that the Tire Rack tries to keep your tire costs as low as possible!) If we keep track of our total costs we will find that typical total fuel costs for just 10 to 20 thousand miles of driving actually exceed our tire costs. And believe us, we've found that the quality and performance of our tires has a lot more to do with our driving satisfaction than our fuel does.

We think that much of the misperception has to do with the fact that we buy fuel one tankful at a time, and don't really look at its total cost for thousands of miles. Our tires are paid for "up front" and then last for tens of thousands of miles.

When you are selecting new tires and find one that is perfect, although more expensive than another tire that appears to be a close second; consider evaluating your situation by comparing "how much per mile" each tire will cost. If you plan to drive your vehicle another 30,000 miles and are considering the "perfect" tires at $100 each, and the other at $90 each; you may be surprised to find out that the cost of the "perfect" set costs just 1.3 cents per mile...while the close set costs 1.2 cents per mile. Will saving the $40 today make up for not having selected the "perfect" tire that you will be driving on for the next two years?

When should I replace my tires?

Find out if your tires pass the "Penny Test."

THE LAW

According to most states' laws, tires are legally worn out when they have worn down to 2/32" of remaining tread depth. To help warn drivers that their tires have reached that point, tires sold in North America are required to have molded indicators called "wear bars" across their tread pattern from their outside shoulder to inside shoulder. Wear bars are designed to visually connect the elements of the tire's tread pattern and warn drivers when their tires no longer meet minimum tread depth requirements.

COMMON SENSE

However, as a tire wears it is important to realize that while its dry traction and handling will improve its ability to perform in rain and snow will diminish. At 2/32" of remaining tread depth, resistance to hydroplaning in the rain at highway speeds has been significantly reduced and traction in heavy snow has been virtually eliminated.

If rain and wet roads are a concern, you should consider replacing your tires when they reach approximately 4/32" of remaining tread depth. Since water can't be compressed, you need enough tread depth to allow it to escape through the tire's grooves. If the water can't escape fast enough your vehicle's tires will be forced to hydroplane (actually float) on top of the water, loosing traction.

If snow covered roads are a concern, you should consider replacing your tires when they reach approximately 6/32" of remaining tread depth to maintain good mobility. The reason that you need more tread depth in snow is because your tires need to compress the snow in their grooves and release it as they roll. If there isn't enough tread depth, the "bites" of snow your tires can take on each revolution will be so small that your traction will be reduced. Because tread depth is an important element for snow traction, winter tires start with deeper tread depths than standard all-season or summer tires. Some winter tires even have a series of wear bars molded in their tread pattern indicating approximately 6/32" remaining tread depth.

CORRECT TYRE PRESSURE----------------------
Correct tyre pressure can help to extend the life of your tyre, improve vehicle safety and maintain fuel efficiency. Pressure is measured by calculating the amount of air that has been pumped into the inner lining of your tyre in pounds force(PSI) or BAR pressure.

The manufacturer of your vehicle specifies the suitable pressure, and it is your responsibility to make sure that the pressure is checked and corrected on a regular basis, at least every couple of weeks.

Maintaining correct Tyre Pressures
There are three main reasons why maintaining the right tyre pressure is important. The first is safety. Tyres that are under inflated can overheat; and over inflated tyres can lead to poor vehicle handling on the road.

The second reason is economy. Over or under inflated tyres suffer more damage than those with the correct pressure and need to be replaced more regularly. Vehicles with under-inflated tyres have increased rolling resistance that require more fuel to maintain the same speed.

The third reason for maintaining the correct tyre pressure is the environment. Correct tyre pressures help to maintain optimum fuel efficiency. This can equate to lower Co2 emissions coming from your vehicle than those with incorrect tyre pressures and that has to be good for the environment.


It's important to check tyre pressure regularly. It's not always apparent that air is being lost, but it generally escapes at the rate of up to two pounds of air every month. More air is usually lost during warm weather, so more regular checks are needed when temperatures rise.

Look for the tyre pressure recommended for your vehicle in your vehicle hand book or within the technical information usually found on the inside of your vehicle's front right hand door or fuel tank flap.

Always check the tyre pressure with a tyre pressure gauge when your tyres are cold. Finally, if you are using your vehicle to carry additional load or weight, always consult your vehicle handbook for the correct loaded tyre pressure.

Tyre Pressure Measurement Converter
BAR PSI BAR PSI BAR PSI BAR PSI BAR PSI
1.30 bar 17 psi 1.90 bar 27 psi 2.60 bar 37 psi 3.25 bar 47 psi 3.95 bar 57 psi
1.35 bar 18 psi 1.95 bar 28 psi 2.65 bar 38 psi 3.30 bar 48 psi 4.00 bar 58 psi
1.40 bar 19 psi 2.00 bar 29 psi 2.70 bar 39 psi 3.40 bar 49 psi 4.10 bar 59 psi
1.45 bar 20 psi 2.10 bar 30 psi 2.75 bar 40 psi 3.50 bar 50 psi 4.15 bar 60 psi
1.50 bar 21 psi 2.15 bar 31 psi 2.80 bar 41 psi 3.55 bar 51 psi 4.50 bar 65 psi
1.55 bar 22 psi 2.20 bar 32 psi 2.90 bar 42 psi 3.60 bar 52 psi 4.80 bar 70 psi
1.60 bar 23 psi 2.25 bar 33 psi 3.00 bar 43 psi 3.70 bar 53 psi 5.20 bar 75 psi
1.70 bar 24 psi 2.30 bar 34 psi 3.05 bar 44 psi 3.75 bar 54 psi 5.50 bar 80 psi
1.75 bar 25 psi 2.40 bar 35 psi 3.10 bar 45 psi 3.80 bar 55 psi 5.85 bar 85 psi
1.80 bar 26 psi 2.50 bar 36 psi 3.20 bar 46 psi 3.90 bar 56 psi 6.20 bar 90 psi

You can convert a bar pressure measurement into a psi pressure measurement using our tyre pressure converter.

FOR ALOT OF INFORMATION ON TYRES GO HERE http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=72

THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS ARE THERE
Air Pressure - Correct, Underinflated and Overinflated
Air Pressure vs. Dry Performance
Air Pressure vs. Wet Performance
Air Pressure, Temperature Fluctuations
Air Pressure/Load Adjustment for High Speed Driving
Air Pressure: When and How to Set
Alignment
Breaking In Your Tires
Calculating Tire Dimensions
Checking Tire Inflation Pressure
Determining the Age of a Tire
Diameter Comparison of Light Truck Tire Sizes
How Do I Compare Price vs. Value?
How to Read Speed Rating, Load Index & Service Descriptions
Load Range/Ply Rating Identification
Match Mounting to Enhance Tire & Wheel Uniformity
Load Reduction of Euro- and P-Metric Tires on Light Trucks
Measuring Tire Tread Depth with a Coin
Mounting and Balancing
P-Metric and Euro Metric Tire Sizing
Run-Flat Tires
Selecting the Right Tires
Sidewall Markings
Specific Mileage Warranties
The Plus Concept
Tire & Wheel Owner's Manual
Tire & Wheel Package Installation Instructions
Tire & Wheel Package Ride Uniformity Confirmation
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Tire Rotation
Tire Size Conversion Chart
Tire Size Information
Tire Warranties
Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG) Standards
Where to Install New Pairs of Tires?

capella re
01-04-2010, 09:43 PM
SO WHAT TYRES WOULD OTHER MEMBERS RECOMMEND FOR A HIGH PERFORMANCE STREET CAR, OR WHICH WOULD YOU STEER CLEAR OF??????

here is a list of 11 tyre manufacturers to jog your memory
Yokohama/ADVAN

Falken

Bridgestone

Michelin

BFGoodrich

Toyo

Nitto

Avon

FEDERAL

Sumitomo

Pirelli

Continental

i ran dunlop sp3000a on my ba and were a really good daily drive tyre, good grip but not too soft they wear out, low road noise and pretty good on price. on my fc didn't really go for good tyres especially on the rear as i was more keen to smoke tyres than a diff or gearbox so traction (or loss of) didnt bother me
i had bf goodrich on my rx3 but they were flared guards with 265's on the rear

im currently running potenza re001 adrenalins on my fd which are the bees knees in my opinion but as a daily too soft so wear is high and at $365 a tyre in 18 inch its going to hurt the bank to replace them.

there was a hpi video special where they ran 3 different tyres (including the nitto slicks) and showed the time differences over the 1/4 mile and a circuit and there are some pretty serious gains to be made. all comes down to budget i think

ive also heard Bridgestone SO3's are really good tyres too.

FDTRX7
02-04-2010, 10:01 AM
Great Thread Simon,

I took a look at my options of tyre choice a few months ago and found that the Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin series was a popular choice among a lot of performance buffs.

So, tyres being something I know a fair amout about (Scary I know) I decided to weigh up 3 main brands that are easily availble for 18" Rims (245 / 40 R18).

1. Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin Series ($345 - $370 Per Tyre)
These tyres offer a fantastic level of grip and is a great all round tyre. Sitting on the Z Rating, it adds a lot of Grip and Go for a Medium-Soft compound tyre. If you're looking at performance in the wet, they are fantastic for handeling although tend to lose traction in both wet and dry at around 47o of turning pressure under power.

2. Yokohama S.Drive Series ($315 - $350)
For bang for buck, these tyres are a great choice as well. Sitting more at the Medium compound area in the series, they boast increased breaking and stability at high speeds (*Cough* Not that we do things like that *Cough*).

If you're feeling a little more adventurous, and want to sepend a lot more ($355 - $370) you can always take a look at the Advan Series.

3. Pirelli P-Zero Series ($345 - $370)
These became my personal choice a while back when playing with Ford and Holden V8s when growing up in the country. They were a very stable tyre with increased rigidity in the side walls to aid traction and overall handeling. I decided to take the dive and replace the Adrenalins I had on my FD as they were getting low and got a set of these.. and I don't regret the swap.

For performance and distance, these guys sit slightly at the Harder side of the Medium compund range, so in the wet, the tread pattern disperces more of the water to get to the road, but handeling isn't compromised in either wet or dry.

I could probably crap on more than I already have but it really all comes down to personal choice as well ;)

capella re
02-04-2010, 10:19 AM
i found some kick ass 13inch retreads rated to 50kmph at the used tyre mart for $22 bucks :) :) :)

good you put prices too. knowing how good they are is excellent but knowing if your going to pass out at the counter when getting a quote is better.

mUnky-matt
02-04-2010, 11:27 AM
I've only ever run top quality tyres... the cheapest tyre i've ever used (on the front) were adrenalin re001s... I think they're very good too

jesse_RE
07-04-2010, 08:42 AM
I also run RE001's all round. extremely happy with them, low noise, they dont squeal to much with under/oversteer, good wet weather traction (except when on boost :p) You get what you pay for with them really.

Mate of a mate of mine has yokahama S drive's on his stagea. i've heard good reports on them aswell but i havent been in his car so i cant comment on them.

FLEX
07-04-2010, 12:51 PM
ill be using yokahama S drives on my car when it comes time to change them. Already ordered them :) Cheers Corey! Im sure a few people are waiting for your input on this one too Corey, suppose you dont really feel like writing an essay

jesse_RE
07-04-2010, 05:27 PM
While we're on the topic of tyres i'm due for some tyres for my corolla daily, looking at middle range performance tyres 205/40R17 so far i've found Kuhmo KU31 to be cheapest at $185 each. they're only for my daily but i hate shit tyres so i'd prefer to buy some half decent ones. someone else quoted me dunlop SP sport max for $199 each. any other suggestions??

FLEX
07-04-2010, 08:04 PM
Corey, Mag wheel and Tyre Centre Prospect Rd. Ill say no more!

miket
07-04-2010, 08:33 PM
Good wheel alignments too :score:

Michael...

FLEX
08-04-2010, 01:22 PM
While we're on the topic of tyres i'm due for some tyres for my corolla daily, looking at middle range performance tyres 205/40R17 so far i've found Kuhmo KU31 to be cheapest at $185 each. they're only for my daily but i hate shit tyres so i'd prefer to buy some half decent ones. someone else quoted me dunlop SP sport max for $199 each. any other suggestions??

http://www.ausrotary.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=187532

yelloS2Rx7
08-04-2010, 05:54 PM
NANKANG NS-II's
theres no half assed tyres!!!!!!!!!!!!
either coff up for something good....
or,
save ya money coz NS-IIs are as good as anything thats not top notch
e.g Yokos, Bridgeys, Pirellis, Michys etc
kuhmos/hankooks/toyos are too expensive for what they are
i put some NS-IIs on mates 180SX SR20T
17x8>>215/45/17s
17x9>>225/45/17s
they gripped better than the goodyear F1 GSD3s in wet
were quieter
and lasted almost 3 times as long!!!!!
I have seen NS-IIs on 500SLs, Testarossas GTRs Rx7 S6s etc
never had any dramas or complaints
only rave reports for the cash they cost
or Yokohama S.drives or equiv

serious14_guy
02-05-2010, 10:23 AM
While we're on the topic of tyres i'm due for some tyres for my corolla daily, looking at middle range performance tyres 205/40R17 so far i've found Kuhmo KU31 to be cheapest at $185 each. they're only for my daily but i hate shit tyres so i'd prefer to buy some half decent ones. someone else quoted me dunlop SP sport max for $199 each. any other suggestions??


the ku31 isn't that bad, ran them on the back of my s14 and they had reasonable grip, obviously not as good as a more expensive tyre.
i'm pretty sure i paid $170 each for 235/45 17" from the tred shed.