Tires Tires Winter Tires
01-21-2004, 09:15 PM
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Tires Tires Winter Tires
I put on the new wheels/tires today. Tirerack finally got them in and shipped them overnight. They are ASA KA3 wheels with Michelin Pilot Alpins...235/45-17, same as the stock summer rubber.
I had noticed that turning sharply at slow speed, as in backing out of the garage or a parking space, there was tire "judder" (for want of a better term) and I at first thought that the wheels weren't staying aligned at full lock...but then noticed it happening even with about 2/3 lock on slippery surfaces...and surmised that it was the limited slip diff (6MT) "overpowering" the tires. It was worse the colder it got, so that made sense. With the winter tires it doesn't happen. I guess if there is not enough traction to overcome the effect of the limited slip function one tire has to "catch up" by sliding on the pavement, and in cold weather the summer tires (Bridgestone 030s) really don't grip well and can easily be spun with just moderate throttle on take off and even rolling into the throttle in second gear. I am sure that they will work better when it gets warm again, as the testers say, or else there will be another call to the Tirerack! I think it needs to be 50 degrees for the 030s to work as advertised.
I had noticed that turning sharply at slow speed, as in backing out of the garage or a parking space, there was tire "judder" (for want of a better term) and I at first thought that the wheels weren't staying aligned at full lock...but then noticed it happening even with about 2/3 lock on slippery surfaces...and surmised that it was the limited slip diff (6MT) "overpowering" the tires. It was worse the colder it got, so that made sense. With the winter tires it doesn't happen. I guess if there is not enough traction to overcome the effect of the limited slip function one tire has to "catch up" by sliding on the pavement, and in cold weather the summer tires (Bridgestone 030s) really don't grip well and can easily be spun with just moderate throttle on take off and even rolling into the throttle in second gear. I am sure that they will work better when it gets warm again, as the testers say, or else there will be another call to the Tirerack! I think it needs to be 50 degrees for the 030s to work as advertised.
01-22-2004, 07:45 AM
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Yes, the snows softer compound at low temp gives good traction and "prevents" the judder. I have not had the HPT tires in warm weather (took delivery in Dec.) but I am guessing that they will have good traction when warmer. When cold and with HPT there is no way to use WOT in first gear without all kinds of drama.
01-22-2004, 10:43 AM
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What tires are they??? My LM22 Were originaly inflated to 28psi, personally, the handling at that pressure was not acceptable. I inflated them to the recommended 35/32 and they have been a dream ever since. They are very sticky on dry and wet pavement, although they have more sidewall roll than the turanzas. Upping the pressure has slightly worsened their snow traction but they are still night and day compared to the turanzas plus it is easier to let some air out when needed than to put more air in!!!! If you bought WS 50 you bought the WRONG TIRE for this car. Their construction is just inadequate for a car of this power and handling.
01-22-2004, 11:22 AM
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vtechbrain,
Re-read the post, he is complaining about the cold weather issues with the HPT.
He does not have it with the Pilot snows.
The HPT compound gets hard in the cold and leads to traction issues even in dry conditions (the tire is no longer plyable in the cold and becomes the complete opisite of what it is in warm weather).
I had the same issue with my last car's summer tires just before I would change them over to snows!
Re-read the post, he is complaining about the cold weather issues with the HPT.
He does not have it with the Pilot snows.
The HPT compound gets hard in the cold and leads to traction issues even in dry conditions (the tire is no longer plyable in the cold and becomes the complete opisite of what it is in warm weather).
I had the same issue with my last car's summer tires just before I would change them over to snows!
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