[Shotimes] Re: 450's

[Ron Porter]

The spec is really pretty lame for regular M+S. Here's a link to a "How
Stuff Works" page:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tire3.htm

At least testing is required for the true snow tires, which is good. The 25%
"void" area rule really isn't very much. The Yoko S306s are M+S, and they
don't really look like it, but apparently they meet the spec (we have them
on the Del Sol).

Actually, a Z-rated tire like the RSA doesn't really have a lot of open
tread compared to other Z-rated tires. I believe that it's more of a
compound issue, where Z-rated tires are more tuned to better dry/wet
traction in warm weather, rather than the tread-void-area requirement.

Ron Porter

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Nimz [mailto:niks@dialnetwork.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 1:25 AM
To: Ron Porter; 'Mark Nunnally'; shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Re: 450's


FWIW to get a M&S rating you need to meet a certain percentage of open area
to tread block ratio.  I'm sure a lot of Z rated tires would qualify but
choose not due to performance image degradation.

Paul Nimz
'97 TR
'93 EG mtx


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net>
To: "'Mark Nunnally'" <manunnal@netheaven.com>; <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 2:51 PM
Subject: RE: [Shotimes] Re: 450's


> One thing to keep in mind is that ANY all-season tire is just not gonna
have
> the dry & wet grip of a summer tire. Too many compromises in tire compound
> for that. Any all-season tire must be evaluated with that in mind.
>
> The best solution is a summer-only tire, and another set of rims/tires for
> winter.
>
> BTW, I doubt the GY GAs will handle better....they are really mushball
> tires. Squealing at the track doesn't always translate to a lower
> performance!
>
> The 450s have a 300 treadwear, which is the highest that I ever consider
in
> buying a tire.....I would rather have something in the 180-250 range. You
> can't get something for nothing....higher treadware numbers will drop
> performance. Although, the tire makers are getting better at compounds, so
> tires like the KDWS, which have around a 400 treadwear IIRC, don't do too
> bad....but it is still an a/s tire.
>
> Ron Porter
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
> On Behalf Of Mark Nunnally
> Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 2:30 PM
> To: shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: [Shotimes] Re: 450's
>
>
> > It's interesting to see the polarized views about Nitto 450 traction
> abilities.  Perhaps the Nittos behave differently on a >RWD 911 than they
do
> on a FWD SHO?
>
> Could be.  I have 225/55 16's on 6" slicers (not ideal I know) maybe they
> would do a little better on a 7 or 7.5" rim, but on my 89 (in terms of
grip)
> they suck!  They remind me of the "H" rated Pirelli P4000's I had on the
car
> back in the 90's when I was at college.  The generic 215/60 GY GA or
> whatever the heck walmart sells on my wife's 91 have way more grip than
the
> 450's do!
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