Jeremy
10-16-2005, 05:15 PM
I learned some interesting things in the past weeks and hope someone can explain the results. I have been running 275/40/17 goodyear F1 tires for a while now and after playing with tire pressures got a good balance of ride and handling with them at 36 psi--maybe still a little high.
I recently picked up some 94 Firehawk rims with the original Firestone Firehawk radials. The tires were at the end of their life but I decided to run them for a few weeks until I could get them switched out. I inflated them to 36, same as the goodyears, and the ride was so much smoother and as well as less road noise. The tires were 275/40/17 with the only difference being the rim was 8.5 versus 9 for the goodyears.
I switched the firestones out for some kumho 711 255/45/17 which I thought would be perfect on the 8.5 inch rim. I inflated them to 36 psi as well. With these tires, the car road terribly. I have played with tire pressures, dropping to 30 and the ride is still stiffer than the goodyears. I will try 28 tomorrow and see what happens.
My question is, how does one tell how a tire is going to perform based upon specs. Given the differences, I would love to duplicate what the Firestones gave me. I looked at the ratings on the firestones and noticed the treadwear was 220 if that helps.
I thought I would post my questions so others could learn from my ignorance. Tires are obviously a big part of the equation price and performance wise and most of us can only afford to by them once. Bottom line, how does one know what they are going to get prior to buying. If I was in the market for tires now, I would want the new ones to perform like the firestones, 10 years old at that, not the newer ones I have. I know, it may go back to you get what you pay for as the kumhos are cheap, but the goodyears were about $700 for the set of four. Thanks.
I recently picked up some 94 Firehawk rims with the original Firestone Firehawk radials. The tires were at the end of their life but I decided to run them for a few weeks until I could get them switched out. I inflated them to 36, same as the goodyears, and the ride was so much smoother and as well as less road noise. The tires were 275/40/17 with the only difference being the rim was 8.5 versus 9 for the goodyears.
I switched the firestones out for some kumho 711 255/45/17 which I thought would be perfect on the 8.5 inch rim. I inflated them to 36 psi as well. With these tires, the car road terribly. I have played with tire pressures, dropping to 30 and the ride is still stiffer than the goodyears. I will try 28 tomorrow and see what happens.
My question is, how does one tell how a tire is going to perform based upon specs. Given the differences, I would love to duplicate what the Firestones gave me. I looked at the ratings on the firestones and noticed the treadwear was 220 if that helps.
I thought I would post my questions so others could learn from my ignorance. Tires are obviously a big part of the equation price and performance wise and most of us can only afford to by them once. Bottom line, how does one know what they are going to get prior to buying. If I was in the market for tires now, I would want the new ones to perform like the firestones, 10 years old at that, not the newer ones I have. I know, it may go back to you get what you pay for as the kumhos are cheap, but the goodyears were about $700 for the set of four. Thanks.