>===== 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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