Quote:
Originally Posted by churchx
positives to low rolling resistance? Indirectly plentiful, if we forget handicapped main property, grip that is. Better fuel economy, longer lasting tires (low rolling resistance often comes together with higher wear rating .. and unfortunately less grip), lesser emissions thus less road tax and possibly also lower car price, as i'm guessing that car manufacturers might pay in some countries different taxes or have different incentives from gov-t for selling cars that are certified to better or worse emission standards .. probably passing extra costs to customer within final purchase price.
In my eyes, while cons of stock primacies are lacking wet grip and high price, they have their pros of their limited grip well matching limited NA stock power fun-wise, have stiffer sidewalls then many in eco-tires class providing tighter turn-in feel, last reasonably long (which reduces high cost importance).
Yes, high cost of primacies makes them less desirable purchase as next set, but it's not con for "free" initial set on new car. And i'm not sure that our sporty use and prioritizing speed, thus also grip, should also be attributable to priority list of normal daily drivers that never been to track .. but who outnumber us at least 10 times.
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These are only my opinions, and not meant to offend
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I struggle to think that many people buy an 86 or BRZ primarily for the excitement of fuel economy reasons (if they did, a Subaru flat 4 will negate any benefits).
The Primacy is not even a very good low grip tyre...it might have relatively limited grip (which in itself is no bad thing), but the way the tyre "communicates" its limits is very poor....and even worse in the wet.
Being an "Eco" tyre, Primacy stiff sidewalls were designed for fuel economy rather than "turn in feel"...which is affected by many different factors. I have never found the Primacy to have great turn in feel...on any car I have driven with them fitted... from BMW's to VW delivery vans.
If a tyre has "stiff" side walls, that does not mean it will automatically provide "tighter turn-in feel". The shoulders of the tyre, the make up and spread of the compounds used, block patterns, temperature, pressures etc....and the simple mechanical "grip" of the rubber all impact initial "turn in" of a given design.
Tyres aren't free because they come with the car, we pay for them, and a car like the twins deserves better (again I'm not meaning amount of grip). Lets not kid ourselves, they were/are fitted because of cost (ie fitted to endless Prius, 86, Camry etc means great bulk deals....)
I see the Primacy as a clumsy 1 dimensional tyre, from (probably) the greatest tyre manufacturer in the world at the moment.