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What to do, what to do....
Got a set of Virgos fresh out of the refinishers (powder coated) that need a new set of boots. I'm a long time fan of BFG tires but they no longer make the tires I have used in the past on my bricks (Touring TAs). The replacement is the new BFG Traction TA which I know nothing about. I've read good things about the Yokohama AVS ES100 and the Kuhmo Ecsta Supras but don't know anyone with personal experience.
Any tips?
Also, about sizes...the stock tire for the 240t is a 195/65/15. I've read a bit here and there about going to a 205/55/15. Any advantages/dis-advantages? The car is an '81 turbo, stock suspension in very good condition, with strut to firewall braces. I don't want to race it, just improve the handling as much as reasonably possible without destroying the ride. Rain traction is not a concern, I live in Southern California and have a very nice 740t with Potenza RE930s for the four of five days of rain we get a year ;-)
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don hodgdon '89 744ti, '81 242t, '71 D-35
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Don....why don't you give Tire Rack a call. They should know about those new BFGs. I've been interested in those as well.
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Son's 81 with Virgo's has a set of Fulda Assuro's in the stock size. They handle nicely, quiet ride, and are a good looking piece. They are unidirectional, so that reduces your flexibility in rotating them (same side only)...small inconvenience. I think they were $80.
I'm told that Fulda is Goodyear's German subsidiary. They're sold by "Big O" stores. There's one in Santa Maria, and probably in Ventura/Oxnard.
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Bob (81-244GL B21F, 83-244DL B23F, 94-944 B230FD plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)
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My vote is for the Bridgestone Potenza RE950, in 205/60-15. I have these on both a tweaked 245 and an 855... quiet, comfy, crisp handling, and predictable at the limit both in cornering and braking.
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I've got 225-50X15 ES100s on my 744T; they're great.
Well...
Theyre kinda loud, and kinda stiff, but they stick quite well(they're excellent in the rain, too, but you don't care), and they stand up to extreme thrashing at the track.
Lots of bang for the buck.
I also have 205-50x15 Kumho Victoracers, which are cheap racing tires, which I also like, but the bang is short-lived and the bucks are rather large; I haven't heard good things about other Kumhos.
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Jim McDonald
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Don,
Like Slim, I'm running Dunlop SP Sport A2 "H" speed rated tires on two of our Volvos (205/60 HR 15 on the 245 V8, and 195/60HR15 on our 244Ti). They seem to be a really nice tire, good in wet or dry and reasonably quiet. Consumer Reports picked them as the best all-weather tire last year. The fact that Dunlop is now an American product (subsidiary of Goodyear) is a nice bonus.
Hope this helps!
Regards,
Steve A-
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Are you sure that the stock tire size is 195/65/15? I'm pretty sure the stock size was 195/60/15... but I'm not 100% sure.
Anyway, let me bore you with some data:
195/65/15: diameter, 25.0" circumference, 78.5"
195/60/15: diameter, 24.2" circumference, 76.1"
205/60/15: diameter, 24.7" circumference, 77.6"
---> -1.2% vs 195/65; +1.9% vs 195/60
195/55/15: diameter, 23.9" circumference, 75.0"
---> -4.5% vs 195/65; -1.4% vs 105/60
No surprise, it's quite common to install 205/60/15's on the Virgos.
Check out discounttiredirect.com, they have comparison survey results of various types of tires. Cost for performance, it looks like Kumho does very well.
Best of luck.
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Yes, I was wrong about the stock tire size, the manual lists 175 R 14 and 185/75 R 14 for the DL, 185/70 R 14 for the GL and 195/60 R 15 for the GLT.
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don hodgdon '89 744ti, '81 242t, '71 D-35
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Stock on sedans was 185/70/14. Factory optional was 195/60/15, so go with 205/55/15 (a tad smaller) for more width without screwing up the speedo that much. If you don't mind that, then go a bit larger and consider 205/60/15 for some more options at lower prices.
In the 55-profile, the Yokohama is a slightly better choice than the Kumho 712's, which are pretty good still, but it is an older design. The Continental ContiExtremeContact gets pretty good marks too.
In the 60-profile, consider the affordable Kumho KH11's. I've got 'em in the 205/65/15's on my 245 - they're quite sticky (literally, as our neighborhood recently got a fresh slurry, and all the pebbles are sticking to the surface of the tires - something that none of other tires in my fleet can doing), great handling (more than I'd want to push on a SoCal street anyways), and I've felt no suffering in the ride whatsoever (though I suppose that can also be attributed to a tall sidewall too).
-- Kane
--
Blossom II - '91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles - '74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup - '86 245GL/AW70 ... The Wayback Machine - '64 P220/M40
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Unless your against buying an American tire why not consider some of the sport tires made by Goodyear. From some of the reviews I've read they compete with some of the best sport tires made.
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I've tried Goodyears in the past and was not impressed. The 240 currently has Goodyear LS touring tires, installed on it by the PO, and I can't wait to get them off the car.
I am a huge motorsport fan and one of the ways I support those who support my favorite sport is by buying their products. Goodyear has bailed on open-wheel racing in the US and Europe, bailed out of the sports car arena, no longer support amateur racing and gave up on motorcycle racing years ago. They are only a force in taxi cab racing (NASCAR) because the France family caved and wrote the One-Tire rule to eliminate competition.
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don hodgdon '89 744ti, '81 242t, '71 D-35
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It is good to hear that you support the sponsors of motorsports. Unfortunately, you are in the minority of open wheel motorsports fans. Goodyear pulled out of open wheel racing - F1/CART/IRL - because a high percentage of the fans of those venues did not share your loyalty. They also attract a fairly small fan base compared to the marketing juggernaut that the France family controls. Goodyear remained in NASCAR because those fans also have a much higher loyalty rate to purchase sponsor's products. Bottom line is that it was costing them much more to stay in those open wheel series than they were getting in increased sales. As the last big American tire maker they are struggling big time to compete with lower cost tires coming into the US from China, Korea, etc.
I actually have "American made" Dunlop SP Sport A2 "H" speed rated tires on both my 740 and my 850 and I'm pleased with the handling, traction and the price. These also have good reviews on tirerack.com.
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