Tires?

[toolboy62]

Hey...

bought a set of rims with two good Michelin XGT V4s and two so-so other Michelins. I figured I would replace the so-so ones with two new Michelins... but... what can I get? don't seem to be any 215/60R15s in any sort of performance flavor. Tire Rack recommended Goodyear Eagle GT but my experiences with Goodyear tires are that they make excellent swings, or rim protectors for moving a project car around the driveway. Any suggestions? Why has my beloved Michelin deserted me? (only tires I've found yet that I can count on to stay balanced and still have traction)

nate

[curveto]

Originally Posted by toolboy62

Hey...

bought a set of rims with two good Michelin XGT V4s and two so-so other Michelins. I figured I would replace the so-so ones with two new Michelins... but... what can I get? don't seem to be any 215/60R15s in any sort of performance flavor. Tire Rack recommended Goodyear Eagle GT but my experiences with Goodyear tires are that they make excellent swings, or rim protectors for moving a project car around the driveway. Any suggestions? Why has my beloved Michelin deserted me? (only tires I've found yet that I can count on to stay balanced and still have traction)

nate

I have these on mine. Great tire. Holding up very well (I routinely autocross with them).

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Exalto+A%2FS&partnum=26VR5EXAS&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=7

Mounted on...

7x15 Fuchs, front.
8 x 15 Fuchs, rear

Switched to these from Bridgestone S03s and, before that, Yoko A-38Rs. Comparatively they are obviously less sticky but they are a classic Michelin "pretty damn good" product.

[toolboy62]

do you find the "wrong" size to be a problem? wI am reassured to see that they supposedly fit on 6-8" wheels, but based on past experience with Tire Rack I predict problems ordering them... they fought me on ordering snow tires in the size listed in the owner's manual, because it wasn't in their computer!

nate

[curveto]

Originally Posted by toolboy62

do you find the "wrong" size to be a problem? wI am reassured to see that they supposedly fit on 6-8" wheels, but based on past experience with Tire Rack I predict problems ordering them... they fought me on ordering snow tires in the size listed in the owner's manual, because it wasn't in their computer!

nate

The 225/60s are fine. You won't notice a material difference in speedo, look, etc. I wouldn't put them on a 6" rim though. 7" is about the minimum. They are mildly fat-ish looking on the 7s. On my Fuchs 8's they look just right. They might come in a 205 or 215 size (I didn't care for that size anyway).

Previously, I ran 225/50s (the S03s and A038Rs) and those were both quite fat looking on 7" rims and noticeably shorter (~14% error in speedo).

I realize (as I'm sure someone else will) that it's generally less desirable to mount an overly fat tire on a rim but with the 225/60s most folks won't care / notice. I don't have any clearance problems whatsoever, btw.

[curveto]

I see they come in 215/65R15 and 205/65R15

225/60-15 rears and 205/65-15 fronts wouldn't be a bad configuration. Again, 7s and 8s. That'd arguably have better balance than what I have ... mine tends toward (slight but manageable) over steer upon throttle pickup (when autocrossing, not something you'd notice on the street (or even at a track day) with the alignment I have. It only annoys me because it tends to complicate quick trail brake -> throttle sections. It's straightforward to address via yaw / balance control with heal-toe techniques (most folks would call it left foot braking but the 944 makes it easy to use one foot). The car will take a set (at throttle on) but then begin to loose it if I'm too ape footed.

[krystar]

....huh? heel toe has mostly nothing to do with left foot braking. there's two completely different techniques.

left foot braking is using your left foot to brake while keeping right foot on the gas. used for seting up entry angle and weight transfer.

heel toe is using right foot to brake and blip gas while downshifting for a corner.

[curveto]

Originally Posted by krystar

....huh? heel toe has mostly nothing to do with left foot braking. there's two completely different techniques.

left foot braking is using your left foot to brake while keeping right foot on the gas. used for seting up entry angle and weight transfer.

heel toe is using right foot to brake and blip gas while downshifting for a corner.

Yep. "Left Foot" is all about yaw control. "Heal & Toe" is about match shifting.

...and, with enough practice, you can use one foot for either (the right one, of course).

I do it all the time.

Run this through your head (experiment with it on course, if you like).

End of straight. Hard on brake. None of this mamby pamby stuff, HARD! From gas to brake. No coasting. HARD! Match shift (+/- 50). Transition to trail brake (car will be very light). Roll back on the gas (car takes a set). KEEP your foot in place so you can manage yaw as/if desired. Don't stuff the throttle, roll it in. Rinse and repeat. Eventually, it becomes second nature. No left foot needed. It's not a technique that works for crap unless the pedals are close enough to make for comfortable match shifting (in the first place). That's (pedal location) where the word "Porsche" comes to the fore. I can't do it for [censored] in my (ITA) CRX cause the pedals swing from the ceiling and are to far apart for "fine" application. Once you get the hang of it you'll start using it for mid/late-corner and other general yaw control uses (not just trail braking related areas).

It's rather akin to playing a chord instead of plucking at a piano. ...just with both sides of your foot.