Handling Characteristics Of The V Coupe?

[Tai1or Made]

tyre width, diameter or profile have no impact on contact patch size.

Really.

[(Locky)]

changes the shape but not the area apparently

Edited January 3, 2013 by (Locky)

[SMOKEYV35]

Thanks Guys.. only way to find out if my V has VLSD is to jack it up. Looks like I should get better tyres. I'm so used to 17"s with Goodyear F1 with my old Maxima/Subarus.. and the V's handling is shocking .. I initially thought the ATRs was decent .. not great or good.. but decent..

If I persist with 20"s.. what tyres suggestions? Falken Fk452s? Kumko Ku13 or others?

I'm pricing and researching tyres for my 20's at the moment. I'll be making a decision based on price and noise as this car is a daily driver and rarely pushed hard (if it was I wouldn't be going 20's lol). I'll list what I've learnt

Federal 595 EVO - $215 each - more performance oriented. Federal has a good rep for their 595 SS and I'd expect these to also be a nice grippy bang for your buck tyre. Only downside is the sidewall pattern designed by an 8 year old - has flames all over it WTF!?

Kumho Ku19 - $240 each - good every day tyre, low rolling noise, grip OK - silica compound reportedly gets very noisy late in life. I've had these in 19's - not a bad tyre. Looks a bit boring.

Kumho Ku31 - $260 each - more performance oriented. pretty good grip for spirited driving. Had these, also in 19" on my Stagea. Could hit '3rd exit' roundabouts at speeds the Ku19's wlould scramble about on, but had to replace due to sidewall bubbles.Not a bad looking tyre.

Falken F452 - $260 each - similar to the Ku31. Performance oriented tyre. Have not driven on them but decent reviews out of the states. Also have an extra stiff sidewall that stretches nicely with a lip protector - good for those of us who D/D on silly low profile tyres. I think I'll be giving these a go personally.

Nitto INVO - $350 each - these are what are currently fitted to my 20's - I have not driven on them yet, but they are clearly a high performance tyre based on their brand/tread pattern and wear rating. I think they're an awesome looking tyre and would take a car with much more power than the V35 to break their grip. I'd imagine the agressive tread pattery would also chop a fair bit of air and be very noisy on the road. If you want to leave yourself with no doubts, I'd go for these. Unfortunately, a bit too exxy for my needs.

After that your options become exponentially more expensive, and i pretty much stopped researching at that point! But if you're used to Achilles ATR's - any of the tyres listed above will be a vast improvement. I had Achilles on my BMW in 245/19 fronts and 285/19 rears and although that car didn't have enough power to break traction (don't think I ever tried TBH lol) what I can tell you is that they were utter shite in the wet and would send my ABS wild when pulling up to a set of lights carrying any sort of speed. It was at that point that i promised myself 'NEVER AGAIN'!

Edited January 3, 2013 by SMOKEYC34

[(Locky)]

^^^what width/profile ?

[Seano350GT]

Matt i can relate to that issue with the ATR's, i randomly get the VDC kick in when it's turned off just after it rains.. that's not even accelerating hard either just normal driving. Jolts the f*ck out of the car it shits me when it happens.

[PN-Mad]

.... Federal has a good rep for their 595 SS...

These almost killed my Mrs once. They are a "never again" for me.

OP- figure out what your priorities are. You say you want handling, and then want to keep the 20s after we say 1819 is a better option. To give accurate advice, we need to know what you want to do. Are you planing to track the car? Or are you looking for a very good handling street car? Or are you wanting the looks of the 20s with a bit more grip. The tyre sizes you have ATM are really not handling focused at all. They sound like a bobjane special to me.

[SMOKEYV35]

^^^what width/profile ?

I'm going a 285/30/20 on a 10" rim.

Previously had 275/35/19 on a 10.5" but at those specs there was zero rim protection from gutters. I like to play it safe, so going a little wider.

[Seano350GT]

Every time i hear/think Bob Jane special i think of these..

Generic commy wheels

[PN-Mad]

[Tai1or Made]

Who the fark puts a rego sticker up that high?

[PN-Mad]

Ford drivers.....

Which reminds me - off to rip mine off.

[(Locky)]

I'm going a 285/30/20 on a 10" rim.

Previously had 275/35/19 on a 10.5" but at those specs there was zero rim protection from gutters. I like to play it safe, so going a little wider.

Sweet thanks

Current setup is the similar, 275/30/19 on a 10.5 which is what I bought the car with

Thinking about whether to go up to 20's or stay 19s for the next set... But knowing me I'll go 11's

Edited January 3, 2013 by (Locky)

[The Max]

Federal 595 EVO - $215 each - more performance oriented. Federal has a good rep for their 595 SS and I'd expect these to also be a nice grippy bang for your buck tyre. Only downside is the sidewall pattern designed by an 8 year old - has flames all over it WTF!?

Big N.O. to those. Death Rubber is a more appropriate name for them.

Kumho Ku31 - $260 each - more performance oriented. pretty good grip for spirited driving. Had these, also in 19" on my Stagea. Could hit '3rd exit' roundabouts at speeds the Ku19's wlould scramble about on, but had to replace due to sidewall bubbles.Not a bad looking tyre.

Very disappointing. My first set of tyres on my V36 and quite frankly, they're just not grippy enough for real spirited driving. Unless my definition of "spirited" differs from the textbook definition of it, taking 55km/h rated bends at 120km/h with these tyres doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me. Add to that a simple turn of a corner at around 30-40km/h resulting in VDC triggering only makes me hate these tyres more.

I'm definitely going to try a set of Pirelli P-Zero next. It was what I asked my compliance guy in Brisbane to whack on for me but he recommended I try the KU31's first. I gave them a chance being a cheaper tyre but they just don't give me what I want.

Falken F452 - $260 each - similar to the Ku31. Performance oriented tyre. Have not driven on them but decent reviews out of the states. Also have an extra stiff sidewall that stretches nicely with a lip protector - good for those of us who D/D on silly low profile tyres. I think I'll be giving these a go personally.

I'd never go Falken if I want grip. They've never had a good reputation, at least among my circle of drivers. Great for burnouts given their harder wearing compound but that's about it.

Nitto INVO - $350 each - these are what are currently fitted to my 20's - I have not driven on them yet, but they are clearly a high performance tyre based on their brand/tread pattern and wear rating. I think they're an awesome looking tyre and would take a car with much more power than the V35 to break their grip. I'd imagine the agressive tread pattery would also chop a fair bit of air and be very noisy on the road.

I'll take these guys into consideration depending on their wet weather performance.

[The Max]

Ford drivers.....

Oi! I drive a crappy Ford wagon too! That said, I've always stuck the label on the rear passenger quarter window though Max Jr got his rego label up high behind the tint. Stuff 'em.

Now with the new rule, I'm even happier but I've still kept my Japanese rego label in the centre just under the rear view mirror. I just like Japanese things I guess.

[SMOKEYV35]

Hey, my comments aren't gospel - just what i've 'learnt'. Your experiences and input is good though.

But remember this guy is asking for tyre for a 20" tyre - and given that a pirelli pzero in those sizes runs to around $650 EACH - my recommendations were kinda relevant to an assumed budget. If you've got the money - go for p-zeros - hell, if you've got the money you'd be going michelin pilot sport 3's - arguably a better tyre again.

[SMOKEYV35]

FYI - Pirelli Pzero Nero's are on sale at Ozzy Tyres until midday today - only $311 each.

Free shipping included

http://www.ozzytyres...yre_diameter=32

EDIT: don't buy the 'M&S' they have extra cuts for mud and snow that you shouldnt need.

Edited January 3, 2013 by SMOKEYC34

[PN-Mad]

^^^^ just check the year of manufacture. Might find they are a tad old - like 8 years old....

[rs88]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses! Well.. coming out of the Chrissy period with my wallet burning ... best cheapest option is what I'm aiming at.. if I downgrade to 19" plus tyres = $$$ compare to just changing the tyres..

The tyres was a Jax's special... I should have done more research before trusting my tyre guy ...

Other high performance cars have 20" as factory option ... of course they run better rubber.. so.. how would that differ .. in regards to your comments about going down to 18/19s if you are handling focussed?

[PN-Mad]

20s are a compromise in regards to handling. Have a look at cars that seriously compete in motorsport, and that will give you an answer.

Of course if you want 20s and performance then look at the R35 GTR range of tyres, but even R35s have are known to go back to smaller wheels in motorsport events.

As I said. Outline what YOU want to do with the car. Have you changed the swaybars yet? thats your first step.

[SMOKEYV35]

Yeah fair point

Ditto - like me for example - I want 20's for the look, and I don't care about ragged edge handling - I'll take a quiet, capable and durable tyre over a fast wearing soft compound tyre that sticks like you know what.

What do you want to achieve and what's your budget?

Answer this question and we might be able to help you in the right direciton sooner. For example, as has been said, you might be better off putting the money in suspension instead of throwing out a set of tyres, using up the tyres you've got in the mean time and replacing them when the time comes with something better.