6pack
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RE: Panasports

To: 6pack <6pack@autox.team.net>, tr6taylor@webtv.net (Sally or Dick
Subject: RE: Panasports
From: "Shawn J. Loseke" <sloseke@holly.colostate.edu>
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 14:33:25 -0700
>===== Original Message From tr6taylor@webtv.net (Sally or Dick Taylor) =====
> Doug---Your best "sporting" tire for your Panasport wheels hinge
>somewhat on the width of the rim. If you have 7 inchers, go with the
>225x60, for a 26.6 height.  (More rubber on the road)
>If you have 6 inchers, go with the 205x65, for  26.5.
>215's are also a good compromise for either rim width.
>Check "Tire Rack" or other good distributors. I'd stay with a tire that
>gives a speed rating of at least an "H".  Tread patterns are important
>to some, and there are many to choose from, as you know. Expect to pay
>in the neighborhood of $100 up for a decent tire.
>
>Dick

I hate to disagree with you Dick but it is quite possible to "over-tire" a car 
by going with more rubber than you need. Your traction will increase with the 
wider tire but you will be slower due to the increased mass and to much stick 
um (believe it!). This will actually make your car slower. (maybe that is 
safer for some)
 According to the Tire Rack tire guru who writes the Tire Tech articles for 
Grassroots Motorsports (forget his name write now, not at home), your optimum 
tire width for performance should be based on a percentage comparison between 
cross section (tire width) and wheel width. With optimum performance when your 
wheel width is in the 90% range of your cross section. The 85% range is real 
good as well but not optimal. This has to do with side wall flex. The wider 
the wheel under the tire, the more broad of a shoulder of support for the tire 
and side wall. Of course the shorter the side wall the less flex as well but 
shorter side wall tires require wider wheels in the first place. As always 
there is a trade off. On a 7 inch wide wheel, a 225 cross section yields a 78% 
shoulder, lots of flex, a 205 tire would yield an 85% shoulder, a 195 would 
hit into the magical 90th percentile. 195's will hit the magical 90% area but 
will probably result in a larger tire to fender clearance or much smaller 
rolling diameter to screw the speedo readings up even more. So to wrap this 
up. The 205/65's should offer the best all around performance and appearance 
solution.
 One last item because someone else will be sure to point this out as well. 
Side wall flex will have a direct corelation to ride comfort. The more flex, 
the more your tires help soak up bumps and road irregularities. The less flex, 
the better the handling but you also get more NVH (noise, vibration & 
harshness). So if you wanted more comfort with more stick the 215 & 225 tires 
will get you there. Just a little slower.

Shawn J. Loseke
Fort Collins, CO
http://www.triumphowners.com/79




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