New Tires HELP!

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by Leonardo

The recommended range is just that a "range". The "sweet spot" on the other hand is in the middle of the range. And, IMO, our car is more sensitive to having tires/ wheels/ suspension dialed into (or out of) the "sweet spot".

I had 255/35 on a 8.5 before, I felt it was pinched.

You wouldn't want to ride on my stock 215's on a 8 then.

I feel like smallest of the range should be good, especially if you're trying to go for pseudo sidewall stiffness, but I'm no engineer and could be completely wrong. I could even be compromising stiffness with the slight stretch.. Shrug.

[Leonardo]

Originally Posted by Jordanwolf

You wouldn't want to ride on my stock 215's on a 8 then.

I feel like smallest of the range should be good, especially if you're trying to go for pseudo sidewall stiffness, but I'm no engineer and could be completely wrong. I could even be compromising stiffness with the slight stretch.. Shrug.

That's different. A stretch is fine, infact I prefer a lil stretch. ( not talking a 215 on a 9.5) A tire being too wide, possibly pinched; is going to make steering sloppy. This is not what you (or the OP) want.


I was running a staggered wheel setup, but not tires. I had 8" front and 9" rear wheels with 245/35 all around. When I swapped to a 225/40 front the steering was 100% better. Then I went to a 215/40 front, but staggered tires are not "ideal" for our cars. So then I got 9" front wheels and put the 245's on them. They now feel close to how the 215's (or 225's) felt on the front.

Long story short. To wide of tire for your wheel will kill the precise steering feel. And... A square setup, even for DD, is better than staggered.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by Leonardo

Long story short. To wide of tire for your wheel will kill the precise steering feel. And... A square setup, even for DD, is better than staggered.

There's a ton of other variables that will affect feel... a pinched stiff 200tw tire will feel better than a cheaper tire in a more ideal size. More camber up front numbs steering feel at turn in too (until the car has rolled over onto a flatter outer front tire), toe really affects it too.