Re: Tyre change

David Haggas wrote:
"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:ljJVi.6965$Q%3.5418@xxxxxxxxxxx

However, I'm not sure the tires will solve the issue you are trying to address. Indeed, I think the issue you are wanting to address is a feature of the car that people pay extra for. If other car makers offered the road handling abilities of a BMW, there would not be so many BMWs sold in America. Obviously, there are other features that attract BMW owners, but handling is very high on the list. One function of a sports car is feeling the road, and this feeling is what you are trying to soften. I do not think you can acheive the goal through the tires. I could be wrong. If you could muster a test drive of another 3 Series (probably not in 330 trim) with different tires, you would find that the ride is very close to the same.

There is a chance that the 330 gets stiffer rated shocks and springs, and this is where you could soften the ride.


Thanks (all) for the info. I do enjoy the handling and the ride is perfectly good on well maintained surfaces, but wish to alter the compromise to save wear and tear on suspension components and reduce undesirable bumps, rattles and tramlining over the less than perfect roads I need to drive on. I think that careful choice of tyre and a little more rubber might just do it. A small reduction in tyre pressure from the recommended (hard) settings has a beneficial effect on the damping balance I am trying to achieve so hopefully the tyre changes will assist in this. I was concerned at about the ABS etc so thankyou for your advice on that. If this does not provide a solution I will look to the dampers and springs.

Another option I looked at was 225/45R17 front and rear but this reduces the aesthetic appeal of the car and would mean some new rims.



Yeah, and it would actually improve the handling if you did that by reducing the understeer. Wouldn't want that now would we?

--
-Fred W
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Plod kill again
    ... So the 'trained' officer didn't notice the poor handling problem? ... underinflated tyre. ... I would wager that at least two tyres on your car right now are inflated to ... Because they have lost pressure of course. ...
    (uk.legal)
  • F1: Canadian GP: Renault Thursday practice notes
    ... and set-up changes to fine-tune the handling balance of the R27. ... tyre, and was encouraged by the car's performance and balance. ... second session, which left him unable to return to the pits, and meant ... But we made some good improvements, and the car felt good by ...
    (rec.autos.sport.info)
  • Re: Question on Hondas
    ... 2001 with its buick handling. ... the car with two fingers. ...
    (rec.autos.tech)
  • Re: European v US automobile technology
    ... a horsebox is a tariler in which one carries a horse. ... One of the best handling "American" Sports sedans is the very european ... >>> sports car in more than 50 years. ...
    (rec.autos.makers.chrysler)