Quick Tire Question for Q45Tech

[Q451990]

In a post I read a day or two ago (can't find it now) - you mentioned something about tires. Seems like it was that tire rubber compounds don't start to harden until they're heated the first time.

Would it be OK to buy some spare tires and store them for a couple of years? I really like these new 255s that Michelin is discontinuing. If TireRack drops the price some more, it would be awefully tempting to put a set in the garage for later.

Heath

[Q45tech]

The only way is to store them in a oxygen free cool atmosphere.

Maybe in black thick garbage bags sealed and blown up with dry nitrogen gas to avoid oxygen. The colder the storage the better, as this slows the degradation.

Michelin [and most others] have an inner liner made of special Halo-Butyl rubber that help the inside but not the outside.

http://www.rubber-stichting.in...9.pdfhttp://cf.palmerlaw.com/list.asp?catid=55

[Q451990]

Sadly the words "cold" and "storage" don't go together in Columbia, SC. Even if I kept them in the house - "hey check out my new coffee table" they'd still routinely reach 80F in the summer.

Hopefully Michelin replaces this tire with another one I like as well!

Heath

[greg_atlanta]

I stored my current set of Yoko AVS Intermediate over the winter in a closet on my balcony wrapped in plastic. The tires work fine, but they're noticable lessy grippy than the 1st set of these tires I got. Combination of age and cold probably did them in... (but for $40 each I don't mind!).

I say enjoy the current tires and find something new when the time comes. Fresh good tires are better than stale great tires.

[Q45tech]

If tires last 2-3 years in service , they should still be pretty good 2 years from now after a SC rest..........for that price especially.

I have 2 - 235 H4 sitting on the porch they were used 13k and removed 15 months ago. I plan on remounting them in November to make it thru the winter to match the other 2 which were new last Feb 2003 and currently have 14k on them.

My understanding is Michelin will discontinue this size as everything is moving to 17" minimum [brake rotor size] and 20-22" etc...........they probably will continue a few 16" sizes 225,245.

I would never travel 130 mph on them but 90 mph passes would seem safe............they'll both sets [4 tires] be retired in April with less than 25k.........when I start the 255/50/16.

[Q451990]

My understanding is Michelin will discontinue this size as everything is moving to 17" minimum [brake rotor size] and 20-22" etc...........they probably will continue a few 16" sizes 225,245.

Great.... I knew they were phasing out the 15s in the decent stuff, but now 16s! Maybe I'll just get some 20s next time so I can be ahead of the curve for a few years.

Heath

[Q45tech]

One of their engineering executives has a 94 Q with the 18" wheels and tires from the 03Q installed. They/he use his car as the test bed to evaluate tires [our extreme camber and toe and castor AND WEIGHT]. He is the one who designed the original Sport XGTV.

I still think the 255/50/16 is a better fit considering curb damage and all.............5.5">5.0">4.5">4.0" sidewall height

Saw a set of 17" Pilot A/S on a SC400, they were heel toe feathered as severely as any 15" directional. Just the nature of the directional tire.

{Do me a favor and measure your warmed up idle [750 +- in park no ac] plenum vacuum [tee the vacuum line between plenum and fuel pressure regulator}.........I am sampling a number of Q -----is it 18"..18.5,.. 19" HG, yours is the lowest mileage unit.

[Q451990]

{Do me a favor and measure your warmed up idle [750 +- in park no ac] plenum vacuum [tee the vacuum line between plenum and fuel pressure regulator}.........I am sampling a number of Q -----is it 18"..18.5,.. 19" HG, yours is the lowest mileage unit.

I'll try to find that vacuum gauge in my dad's garage or just buy one - I've never used it much, so it'll take some trial-and-error time. I'll let you know as soon as I can find something...

Heath

[maxnix]

1.) One of their engineering executives has a 94 Q with the 18" wheels and tires from the 03Q installed. They/he use his car as the test bed to evaluate tires [our extreme camber and toe and castor AND WEIGHT]. He is the one who designed the original Sport XGTV.

2.) I still think the 255/50/16 is a better fit considering curb damage and all.............5.5">5.0">4.5">4.0" sidewall height

Saw a set of 17" Pilot A/S on a SC400, they were heel toe feathered as severely as any 15" directional. Just the nature of the directional tire.

3.) {Do me a favor and measure your warmed up idle [750 +- in park no ac] plenum vacuum [tee the vacuum line between plenum and fuel pressure regulator}.........I am sampling a number of Q -----is it 18"..18.5,.. 19" HG, yours is the lowest mileage unit.

1.) Tell him to please return to the original XGT as it was a superior tire with a softer tread compound and more agressive tread pattern. The evolution to a harder compound with closed tread finally drove me away from them when the third generation tire was so disappointing. I will also be replacing the XGTV tires on my Texas Q 45 with something else due to their poor wet performance.

2.) How long will the 255-16 size be available? I sincerely would like to go with the 300ZXTT rear wheels, but not if the tires become extinct soon. This uncertainty will probably compel me to move to 17" forged alloy with 8.5" rim width. Not cheap, but I can fit larger rotors. Even more expensive.

3.) My Seattle 1995 Q is at 47K miles, but I am in the same boat as Heath. I will get the gauge if you are interested. Will have to check TB and plenum sanitation when I get the time.

[szh]

I will also be replacing the XGTV tires on my Texas Q 45 with something else due to their poor wet performance.

That ("scary wet performance") was the main reason I stopped using the Pilot XGTV (after two re-purchases) and started looking at other brands. Quote »2.) How long will the 255-16 size be available? I sincerely would like to go with the 300ZXTT rear wheels, but not if the tires become extinct soon. This uncertainty will probably compel me to move to 17" forged alloy with 8.5" rim width. Not cheap, but I can fit larger rotors. Even more expensive.[/quote]Yes, agreed! I was not able to find good 300ZX rims, and the concern about 16 inch becoming non-standard for performance tires, led me to a 17" rim purchase for my Q.

BTW, check out the latest issue of Consumer Reports (of all people!) for a review of performance tires. I do not totally agree with their results, but it does make for interesting reading.

Z

[AZhitman]

255/50/16's won't go away that soon. Many of the F-body and Fox-platform ponycars had them, and they're still popular.

I really like my Falken Ziex's in the 255/50ZR16 size (99W).

[szh]

255/50/16's won't go away that soon.

Ah, good! I had had a lot of difficulty finding the wide 16" riims, particularly in good condition, and there were lots of 17" G35 rims becoming available. So the choice seemed natural enough anyway for me to think that 16" rims were going away soon.Quote » I really like my Falken Ziex's in the 255/50ZR16 size (99W). [/quote] I am satisfied with them too in a 245/45-17 size, but not as happy as I was with the Firestone SZ50EP's ... I will try to write up a comparison soon.

Consumer Reports, in their latest issue, certainly liked the Ziex 512 a lot. It was the #1 top-rated all-season performance tire.

Z

[Q45tech]

Again these are brand new tire test not 10k or 15k used tire tests.

They sure are loud at 8-10k much like many other directional tires.

[Bayarea Q]

Do you have any links to a used tire report?That would be some interesting reading......I would probably choose my tires based on a report like that, as your tires are only new for a short period of time.

[maxnix]

Do you have any links to a used tire report?That would be some interesting reading......

I think the problem with this is that the only thing one could do is to shave the tires to a certain tread depth. This would not replicate the heat cycles, nor the time exposure to the atmosphere and other environmental conditions. That is why new tires are tested against new tires; it is impossible to control the use variables across brands for the same period of time.

Occasionally, one can see a long-term report of car that doesn't change tires and see the improvement in skid pad performance, dry braking, and occasionally slalom times. Never see wet tests though. And remember, the suspension components are wearing also.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[Q45tech]

Remember tire treads [grooves and sipes] are for wet handling not dry handling. The lower the void ratio [less dead air space]the better in dry.Slicks always have more rubber on the road per square inch of tread.

All season have a higher [more] void ratio than summer tires plus the compounds wash out [the rubber compounds are optimized for a cooler road temperature] and over heat and change [harden more easily in Summer heat].

As I keep saying ALL Season means Spring and Fall not Summer and Winter as many believe.........at least in parts of US that see regular 90F and 32F.