Thinking about Tires
06-03-2009, 08:12 AM
#31
Burning Brakes
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06-03-2009, 08:46 AM
#32
Nordschleife Master
I have that white Cup car and a Mk1 996 GT3 with racing decals that I've not yet managed to find a home for since the second monitor evicted it from the desk.
06-04-2009, 12:27 AM
#36
Parts Specialist
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well, I can honestly say (in my case) these tire made a HUGE differance!
So I put a quick 10 miles on them, they are everuthing you would expect in a brand new tire....now we drive the wheels off it and see how the do as they grow older...I have an autocross on the 13th i might try and make....I need about 500? miles by then? --- enough talk, time to drive!
on a side note, the tires I had on the car came with it. I asked my tire/alignment guy if they went out from age or from driving style (ie I did something wrong) We had been watching this tire for a while as it had a "funny spot" on the bead...when we looked inside the inner cords on the bead had came apart and rusted (from age he says) and there was a huge separation in the tread area. So for kick he flips the tire over and asks how old they are.... pthhh I dont know.....he looks at the numbers for a minute, counts up and say "holy **** these are 14 years old!!"
Now I am not going to say this is true, but this guy is very good and heavy into racing and tires...so if it is..WOW...they must have came from somewhere second hand before I got the car. Sneaky seller, or he just got a good deal and they lasted long enough... either way, I fell pretty happy having tires on the car that are from this millenium !!
So I put a quick 10 miles on them, they are everuthing you would expect in a brand new tire....now we drive the wheels off it and see how the do as they grow older...I have an autocross on the 13th i might try and make....I need about 500? miles by then? --- enough talk, time to drive!
on a side note, the tires I had on the car came with it. I asked my tire/alignment guy if they went out from age or from driving style (ie I did something wrong) We had been watching this tire for a while as it had a "funny spot" on the bead...when we looked inside the inner cords on the bead had came apart and rusted (from age he says) and there was a huge separation in the tread area. So for kick he flips the tire over and asks how old they are.... pthhh I dont know.....he looks at the numbers for a minute, counts up and say "holy **** these are 14 years old!!"
Now I am not going to say this is true, but this guy is very good and heavy into racing and tires...so if it is..WOW...they must have came from somewhere second hand before I got the car. Sneaky seller, or he just got a good deal and they lasted long enough... either way, I fell pretty happy having tires on the car that are from this millenium !!
06-04-2009, 08:14 AM
#37
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06-04-2009, 08:56 AM
#38
Rocky Mountain High
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Interesting comment about the age of tires.
A few years ago I participated in an event called the Saab Aero Academy at Road Atlanta in Georgia. We basicially ran stock Saab 9-5 Aeros through a closed course, much like a DE event. Over the course of the 3-day event, each Saab essentially burned through a set of tires. At this particular event, we had a rare opportunity to compare tires on the road course, on essentially the same vehicle.
I drove a car with new Pirelli P-Zero Rossos, a car with worn Pirelli P-Zero Rossos and a car with "new" Pirelli P-Zero Rossos that had been sitting in the back of the warehouse for a couple of years in a corner. They had never been mounted on a wheel, but they were a couple of years old. These "new" tires were the worst of the bunch, by a large margin. I was actually shocked at the difference. I don't know if it was the heat in the warehouse, or something else. Whatever caused it, it taught me that age does affect rubber, as well as mileage/usage.
BTW - if any of you ever purchase a Saab Aero, make sure to participate in the Academy. It's free to Aero owners, and well worth the time.
A few years ago I participated in an event called the Saab Aero Academy at Road Atlanta in Georgia. We basicially ran stock Saab 9-5 Aeros through a closed course, much like a DE event. Over the course of the 3-day event, each Saab essentially burned through a set of tires. At this particular event, we had a rare opportunity to compare tires on the road course, on essentially the same vehicle.
I drove a car with new Pirelli P-Zero Rossos, a car with worn Pirelli P-Zero Rossos and a car with "new" Pirelli P-Zero Rossos that had been sitting in the back of the warehouse for a couple of years in a corner. They had never been mounted on a wheel, but they were a couple of years old. These "new" tires were the worst of the bunch, by a large margin. I was actually shocked at the difference. I don't know if it was the heat in the warehouse, or something else. Whatever caused it, it taught me that age does affect rubber, as well as mileage/usage.
BTW - if any of you ever purchase a Saab Aero, make sure to participate in the Academy. It's free to Aero owners, and well worth the time.
06-04-2009, 10:23 AM
#40
Rennlist Member
According to Tire Rack, they are "asymmetrical" - meaning one side should be on the "outside" of the rim, but they are not directional - meaning they can be mounted on either side of the car.
06-04-2009, 10:29 AM
#41
Parts Specialist
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OK I saw the "outside" and I was on the last tire when I thought "Oh sh*t!, did I put these on the right side?"
I must have stared to the sidewalls for 10 minutes looking for an arrow...hahaha, I have some stuff to do today with the truck but I am going to push it out till tomorrow so I can put some miles on the car... I miss it since its been down a week and the weather has been AMAZING!!
I must have stared to the sidewalls for 10 minutes looking for an arrow...hahaha, I have some stuff to do today with the truck but I am going to push it out till tomorrow so I can put some miles on the car... I miss it since its been down a week and the weather has been AMAZING!!
06-04-2009, 01:20 PM
#42
Instructor
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It's usually good to get at least 100 miles on a tire before pushing it for grip. They tend to be a little greasy until the tread gets some grain to it. Try accelerating on a new rear tire on a motorcycle, and you'll find out VERY quickly just how much of a difference it makes. Also, probably heat cycle has something to do with it - I'm no expert, just offering some first hand experience.
06-04-2009, 07:36 PM
#43
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New tires will have a slippery chemical on the tread, which is a releasing agent used to help the tire slide out of the mold. It will take a number of miles for this to wear off.