Tire advice. Less traction + More predictability.

[RobDET]

I drive a 1993 240 with an SR Swap and stock suspension which i'm pretty happy with...

I just bought some Khumos... I'm looking for a relitively low traction tire. Not unsafely low traction just not drag radial traction.

Anyway i got the Khumos and i'm pretty happy with their level of traction the only prolem is that they let go VERY suddenly. I was wondering if anyone has had any experence with tires that let go more graduially. My old dryrotted stock tires with no tread had too little traction but when the broke it was nice and progressive...

[VitaminT]

I really don't have a comment, but was just wondering what model Kumhos you got. I was planning on getting a set soon and just wanted to see.

[Q45tech]

Purchase a Shore A Durometer [measure tread hardness] and LEARN to understand the rubber compositions.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...12581

Break away friction is a function of tire road temperature.

[Nismo_Freak]

Your suspension is partially causing the problem... stock suspension delivers weight too aggressively and often unevenly.

The body roll from the increased cornering load and weight transfer is causing the camber to increase towards the negative causing the tire's contact patch to reduce the harder you drive. The toe is also suffering from excessive bumpsteer which gives you a very vague feeling in the handling, some can feel it, others just associate it with other handling aspects like push.

Also, a little research goes a long way... most performance tires have a fine grip threashold, some are good at letting you know weither via sound of feel, but most just run out of limits due to the drivers input and dynamics of the vehicle.

[RobDET]

Thanks for the replys guys... it's also in a straight line... My old crap dryrotted tires used to break away smoothly even in a straight line... The new ones break so quick you gotta be on the ball not to hit the limiter.

[RobDET]

I really don't have a comment, but was just wondering what model Kumhos you got. I was planning on getting a set soon and just wanted to see.

i'll get back to you in the morning when it's light... I really liked My sumitomos on my old CRX... I'm going to try them too soon.

[Grant@tirerack]

Again, which Kumho model are you running now? That could make all the difference here...

[RobDET]

well i got them from tirerack.com and as always they arrived quickly and without incident... You guys rock... They are Kumho Ecsta HP4 716 in 205's on 15 inch wheels. (the optional stock size, i can't remember all the numbers)

[s13conv]

205/55-15 probably.

[Grant@tirerack]

The HP4 716 is a Touring All-Season. It is a fairly firm compound tire and has more of an emphasis on low noise and soft ride aspects; not as much on handling or lateral grip. They don't tend to like being pushed like a performance tire.

[Exar-Kun]

optional stock was 205-60-15, but according to the MAST guide, a 205-55-15 works just fine.

get a nice tire man, I dislike kumho...despite the fact my company will be carrying them shortly...maybe my opinion will change with more experience..but I doubt it.

Check into a more performance orientet tire, like a es-100 by yokohama or even a falken ze-512, both are inexpensive and provide decent grip for the money(the yoks grip better)-chet

[Nismo_Freak]

ES100s

[C-Kwik]

You can play with the tire/rim size relationship a bit to alter some of this. A rim that is a little wide for the tire tends to leave the shoulder more rounded and gives a bit more of a gradual feel when it loses traction. Having a wheel that is a little on the narrow side for the tire tends to square the shoulder and makes losing traction a little more immediate. The design of the tire can be a factor here as well since some tires are designed with rounded shoulders and others with square shoulders. My A520's in front have a very square shoulder. My rear BFGoodridges have a rounded shoulder and to add to that, I'm running a 245/45-17 on tha 17x9 wheel. When the rear lets go it does it somewhat slowly.