It's the Tires, Stupid!
05-05-2001, 06:25 PM
#1
Not a Blowhole
Thread Starter
It's the Tires, Stupid!
I oove my new TL-S, but there whas been something nagging at me that I couldn't quite put my finger on. The giggling ride, the not quite crisp enough turn in, etc. Then I remembered that I had on the stock MXM Michelins, having not yet switched over to my Speed Star Racing Integrals (17 x 7) with the Pirelli P7000 Summer compound tires (German mfd).
I swapped em today, and hit my favorite twisty road (Old Gun Road, Bon Air, Virginia).
Well, folks, it is a whole new ball game. Grip and steering response are tremendous, car corners flat - expected in an ultra high perf tire.
What surprised me was the ride improvement. Tar strips that caused a thump in the Michelins cause a dull bwaap in the Pirellis.
Better handling and better ride - how could it be? I believe the answer lies in the soft summer tread compound of the Pirellis vs. the harder "mileage" oriented Michelins. The P7000 Summers may give me 15,000 miles, the Michelins likely triple that.
Still, for me, having summer performance tires is worth it, and I will switch over to the all-season Michelins in November when temps go below 32 here in the Old Dominion.
All-season tires stink - they are uniformly bad in all seasons.
If you want to know what your car can do, and especially vs. the comparable cars (A4, IS300, 330ci, which all come with better rubber), consider a second set of rims with better rubber.
Oh yes, I figure I have about an inch more track to play with.
------------------
Rage On!
2002 TL-S w. Comptech header/exhaust
SSR Integral A2's
17x7 45mm offset
Pirelli P7000 (Summer) 215-50/17
I swapped em today, and hit my favorite twisty road (Old Gun Road, Bon Air, Virginia).
Well, folks, it is a whole new ball game. Grip and steering response are tremendous, car corners flat - expected in an ultra high perf tire.
What surprised me was the ride improvement. Tar strips that caused a thump in the Michelins cause a dull bwaap in the Pirellis.
Better handling and better ride - how could it be? I believe the answer lies in the soft summer tread compound of the Pirellis vs. the harder "mileage" oriented Michelins. The P7000 Summers may give me 15,000 miles, the Michelins likely triple that.
Still, for me, having summer performance tires is worth it, and I will switch over to the all-season Michelins in November when temps go below 32 here in the Old Dominion.
All-season tires stink - they are uniformly bad in all seasons.
If you want to know what your car can do, and especially vs. the comparable cars (A4, IS300, 330ci, which all come with better rubber), consider a second set of rims with better rubber.
Oh yes, I figure I have about an inch more track to play with.
------------------
Rage On!
2002 TL-S w. Comptech header/exhaust
SSR Integral A2's
17x7 45mm offset
Pirelli P7000 (Summer) 215-50/17
05-05-2001, 06:35 PM
#2
Instructor
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RR, I live in NoVa and all our "fun" roads are being turned into 6-lane freeways--booorring. How twisty and long is Old Gun Road? My TL-S wants to play even though I have the stock tires.
05-05-2001, 07:26 PM
#3
Not a Blowhole
Thread Starter
Davest:
Well, it is close to my house, so I wouldn't drive all the way from Centerville. There are better roads in Va. Car and Driver had few Va roads listed a while back as one of the Top 10, so you might check their website. The Blue Ridge tributary roads are hard to beat, and crossing the mountrains is always a blast if you have the guts to hang it out a bit!
Old Gun is fun, but a lot of rich guys live their, so I tend to hit it late at night, otherwise I incurr the wrath of the Range Rover crowd.
Well, it is close to my house, so I wouldn't drive all the way from Centerville. There are better roads in Va. Car and Driver had few Va roads listed a while back as one of the Top 10, so you might check their website. The Blue Ridge tributary roads are hard to beat, and crossing the mountrains is always a blast if you have the guts to hang it out a bit!
Old Gun is fun, but a lot of rich guys live their, so I tend to hit it late at night, otherwise I incurr the wrath of the Range Rover crowd.
05-05-2001, 08:17 PM
#4
Pro
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I have "Ultra High Performance All season" Michelin Pilot XGT-Z4s...a bit noisier than the stock touring tires (of the 2000 TL)...but the grip is very good during all seasons including in snow, rain, dry weather and whatnot...
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2000 Naples Gold 3.2TL/Navi - Factory Stock but with up-graded tires
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2000 Naples Gold 3.2TL/Navi - Factory Stock but with up-graded tires
05-06-2001, 07:16 AM
#5
Not a Blowhole
Thread Starter
Ultra High Perf and All Season are non-sequiturs as far as I can tell.
It is possible to get a decent balance, but I would not call it UHP.
Tread designs and compounds must physically vary greatly between the needs of operating in heat and cold, snow vs. wet, etc.
I am glad you like your tires, but they are still at best a compromise.
It is possible to get a decent balance, but I would not call it UHP.
Tread designs and compounds must physically vary greatly between the needs of operating in heat and cold, snow vs. wet, etc.
I am glad you like your tires, but they are still at best a compromise.
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