Tires

[redvettx2]

Both of those tires are pretty hard and not very sticky for a Cobra. Coopers are 440 tread wear. Like rocks! I am going to bet my 20 year old Michelin Pilots with 220 wear are going to hook up better than new Cooper rocks. I would say they are in the 300 vs 220 when new. All depends on the condition of the tire. I have seen 4 year old tires cracking in AZ. All depends on the quality and the rubber they are using.

[Tom Wells]

red,

If you're still betting your a$$ on your 20 year old tires, at least read this: https://www.michelinman.com/auto/aut...need-new-tires

If you're still using those on the street I hope you don't take out anyone else when they let go.

Tires continue to chemically age internally (read: delaminate) through their entire lifetime after initial vulcanization when they are produced. They look fine on the outside until enough internal cord to rubber adhesion is lost for them to self destruct.

Just sayin'

Tom

[Gtr_garner]

Originally Posted by redvettx2

Both of those tires are pretty hard and not very sticky for a Cobra. Coopers are 440 tread wear. Like rocks! I am going to bet my 20 year old Michelin Pilots with 220 wear are going to hook up better than new Cooper rocks. I would say they are in the 300 vs 220 when new. All depends on the condition of the tire. I have seen 4 year old tires cracking in AZ. All depends on the quality and the rubber they are using.

I was thinking of using the Michelin pilot sport all season 4’s on mine because we are limited with tyre options in the UK let alone wide tyres. Also we get a lot more inclement weather than most of you lucky people.

I’m having to go with 17’s because the available and cost effective 15” options do not have a high enough speed rating to pass our new registration check, plus I’ve been told can get a bit of unsettling rear end wiggle on the higher profile tyres with high Hp cars?
I have gone a little ott with power so am after the best grip I can get.

I was toying with using 315/35/17 rears for as much tyre contact as possible - which the all seasons come in. However they have a treadwear of 540 which is pretty high. However it performs extremely close to the pilot sport 4S in multiple tests, which has a 300 treadwear. I was surprised by the treadwear rating as normally I’d associate that with a highway hockey puck that wouldn’t perform well.

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by Gtr_garner

...I’m having to go with 17’s because the available and cost effective 15” options do not have a high enough speed rating to pass our new registration check, plus I’ve been told can get a bit of unsettling rear end wiggle on the higher profile tyres with high Hp cars? ...

A tall side wall, with a wide footprint, and a soft rubber compound will give the best grip for a high HP car.

[scootter]

I decided to stick with the Michelin PS2 335 rear and the 275 fronts. There's a lot riding on my tires..

[Gtr_garner]

Originally Posted by eschaider

A tall side wall, with a wide footprint, and a soft rubber compound will give the best grip for a high HP car.

The trade off is how tall you go vs what you want to use the car for. A 295/50 for example has a large sidewall and will give you flex/lean under cornering and hard acceleration.
The 315/35 will corner and handle better but be harsher ride and could potentially spin more due to less give in the tyre to absorb the load.

Is why drag radials don’t work for a proper street car. There’s always a trade off.
Then there’s price too which unfortunately does play a factor.

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by Gtr_garner

The trade off is how tall you go vs what you want to use the car for. A 295/50 for example has a large sidewall and will give you flex/lean under cornering and hard acceleration.
The 315/35 will corner and handle better but be harsher ride and could potentially spin more due to less give in the tyre to absorb the load.

Is why drag radials don’t work for a proper street car. There’s always a trade off.
Then there’s price too which unfortunately does play a factor.

You are right about cornering. I should have been more specific.

My commentary was only as applies to straight line acceleration. Lower profiles will typically improve cornering but at the expense of straight line acceleration and vice versa.