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From: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS])
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: HOW TO TIRE safely
Message-ID: <551@watdcsu.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 25-Oct-84 11:40:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: watdcsu.551
Posted: Thu Oct 25 11:40:13 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 26-Oct-84 03:09:02 EDT
References: <501@houxl.UUCP>, <456@aluxe.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 44

<.>

>> Since the traction on a light rear wheel drive car isn't that great, I'd
>> like to put 205/60SR14 on my car, where 185/70SR14 currently reside.
>> 
>> HOW DO I DETERMINE WHAT TIRES ARE BEST FOR MY CAR?  I'd like to get
>> traction in the rain and snow too. (I live in the N.Y. metro. area.)
> 
> Oversized tires REDUCE traction since the lower pressure on the road
> prevents the tire from conforming to the roughness of the road
> and 'gripping' the surface.  A friend with a Porsche got over sized
> tires and found his formerly nimble car was slidding all over the
> road.  He quickly got rid of them and lost a bundle, before he lost
> his life.

It is true that too wide a tire will reduce traction, especially in
the ice and snow.  However, what you might want is a better tire
compound and/or tread pattern.  If you now have 185/70SR14, you migh
check into 185/70HR14s or 185/70VR14s.  HR and VR rated tires usually
have better quality compounds and treads.

Going to a 205/60 will reduce your traction in the snow, although a
good tread design (Pirelli P6 or Comp T/A, for example) will improve
wet traction considerably.  For normal, use, I'd stick to 185/70s.
Check out some of the following brands (most of them should have the
right size):
	- Pirelli CN36
	- B.F.Goodrich T/A 70H
	- B.F.Goodrich T/A 70V
	- Fulda Y2000
	- Goodyear NCT
Depending on your suspension, you might want to go for a relatively
round-shouldered tire, such as the CN36.


Tom Haapanen		University of Waterloo		(519) 744-2468

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