A friend of the family pulled up today at my house in his 03 TLS w/ OEM kit and wing. It's silver just like mine so I asked him if I could take it for a ride just to see if there were any driving differences. So I took it for a nice 2 mile run and pushed the gas pretty hard a couple of times and noticed it doesn't pull as hard as my 02 TLS. It definitely road better over bumps. Maybe cuz his as 49K and mine had 83K AND i have 225/45/17 where his has OEM 215/50/17. Didn't think that difference in profile would've made that much of a difference. Also both stock.

Anyway, anyone know why I would feel that much difference in power? Also does that tire profile change actually make that much difference in the ride over bumps in addition to the 33K mile difference?

 

The cars are basically identical, you really shouldn't feel any difference even w/ the mileage differences. Maybe his car isn't well maintained?

The profile difference really isn't enough to matter... perhaps the brand of tire?

 

with out a side by side race how do you know that it didnt pull as hard? also our computers lear to our driving, so if it isnt driven as hard as yours it isnt going to respond as quick

 

That is more for tha adaptive trannies than engines in the 2nd gen.

Any dead bodies in the trunk? That always slows me down.

Maybe the body kit and wing added a lot of drag... j/k..

Im sorry, I am in a goofy mood. The cars should be the same, minus variables such as tires, etc. Which it could very well be that your tires are grippier and tranfer energy to the road better. I know when I replaced my tires I could barely get the new ones to chirp on launches anymore, whereas the stocks would just spin until VSA kicked in. With the new tires, I noticed much more response in that form. - oh and profiles were the same stock size 215 50 R17. All that changed was the brand of rubber.

 

How much possible maintanence could he do at 49K? It's not time for any major maintanence by then. Who knows, maybe he used 87 Octane. Didn't ask, kindof in a rush.


I wanted to go side by side with him but that just wasn't the right time. Mine just "felt" stronger. If I had the opportunity I'd role with him. Maybe next time.

 

Take a video camera if you do :-)

 

correct, but having it be more responsive on gear select/shift can make it feel quicker/slower

 

 

I wouldn't think the difference in the ride is from the size of the tires either. There is only a 6 mm difference from yours to his (his being the larger of course). I would say maybe the brand like other people have mentioned or the wear on your suspension might make for a bit of a harsher ride. As for yours pulling more, I don't know. Maybe the ECU is programmed a little differently in '03 but I'm not sure.

 

I sure feel a difference when I switch to my winter rims (04 Accord 16" seven-spoke with stock Michelins). It seems the car is more "sure footed" compared to the stock 17" MXM4s, although the torque -steer is much more pronounced on the 16's and the cornering isn't as good- I guess 'coz of the increased tire aspect.