New front tires, size's?

[LVMarauder]

Does anyone think that increaseing from 235 to 245 up from will make a change in handling? Recomendations?

[Directedby]

I read in previous posts that the car will not handle as well with the bigger tire.

[LVMarauder]

Anyone else here the same? and more importantly, do u know why? seems to go against common sense but it wouldnt be the first time with this car. *cough* *cough* (rear tires)

[valleyman]

I have 245s on all four corners and the handling difference is minimal. The most noticable difference in the ride is that it is a lot more comfortable going over speed bumps and such: not quite so "bone-jarring." Mind you, I'm not into autocross (right term? where you fling your car through a parking lot with a pylon course set up) but I am without a doubt the most aggressive driver that I know. The only difference that I could feel when I went to the 245s on the front was on freeway off ramps when I would REALLY push it: with the taller sidewall I could feel the front start to roll over on the sidewalls a little; frankly, you have to be going much faster than is safe to feel this effect. However, your passenger will be wetting their pants before it gets to the point where this happens. Just so you know for comparison purposes, I have the stock BFG tires, Addco sway bars fore and aft, Mack&Zack control arms, and 264 pounds of scrap steel in the trunk directly over the axle in between the rear shock mounts. I'm quite happy with the 245s on the front (and no, they don't rub) and I'd do it again. Hope this helps.

[Bradley G]

What's with all the steel in the trunk?

Bradley G

[Bigdogjim]

Golf clubs:rofl:

[Bradley G]

I hope he tips his caddie well!:D

Bradley G


Golf clubs:rofl:

[David Morton]

Does anyone think that increaseing from 235 to 245 up from will make a change in handling? Recomendations?Yes it will and, it will effect take-off weight transfer, decreasing traction, but more importantly, it will also effect braking.

Think about the leverage advantage you gain with a longer handle, or with the moving lever shorter. Conversely, if you extend the moving lever, you lose power. Well, with the stock set-up, a 12" rotor is the leverage (handle) against a 235 tire (moving lever). Going to a bigger tire reduces the effective leverage by a directly proportional amount, for example if a 12" rotor is used with a 24" diameter tire, it's 1:2 and going to a 25" tire will reduce it to 1:2.083333.

As for handling, the more distance between the rim and the road, the more sidewall flex you get. He might not have noticed it but the amount of ride softness valleyman gained is directly proportional to the amount of steering response he lost. Not criticizing valleyman, but a professional road racer would have noticed it right off.

Besides, it would also effect the rakish styling of the car and that's my big no-no! (I have the 14" KVR rotors and have more braking power than the ABS will let me use. :D )

All hot cars should look like they're going downhill all the time. :D

[Cartman]

I'm curious what, if any, ill effects would come if someone did the opposite? Meaning, instead of matching their front tires with their rear ones - they put the front size in back as well? Is that going to interfere with the speedometer at all or would it be too slight?

[David Morton]

I'm curious what, if any, ill effects would come if someone did the opposite? Meaning, instead of matching their front tires with their rear ones - they put the front size in back as well? Is that going to interfere with the speedometer at all or would it be too slight?More rear tire smoke as it increases the leverage advantage effectively increasing axle ratio. A big no-no as the front tires are more expensive. Speedometer error will, of course, result but this can be tuned out with a hand held reprogrammer.

Don't do it! :bigcry:

[Yamaha]

If you stay close to the stock overall tire heights 27.2 front and 28.5 there is no issues of leverage change for the brakes. I plan to go to 255/45/18's up front=27.0 inches overall height. As long as they don't rub AND the tire design is rated for an 8 inch rim. Rears will end up being the Nitto 305's. This will maintain ride height, front to rear balance, speedo claibration as well the ABS and traction control sensor input.

Stan

[valleyman]

What's with all the steel in the trunk?

Bradley G

It rides better, I get less tire spin from a dead punch and it corners better. Of course the downside is I'm sure I've lost several hundreths in the quarter mile but, for me, I don't care. :coolman: