1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Got the new tires on tonight. Full report:
225/45ZR-17 MICHELIN PILOT SUPER SPORT XL
Load rating is 94Y, factory Viggen wheels.
Set the pressures at 35PSI all around and went for a spin, ~60F ambient. For sure it's as I remember the previous 225 tires being, a bit softer of a ride, especially at 35PSI. Probably hit 40+ PSI after driving a bit. Very happy with how it rides, much more comfortable.
Torque steer seems about normal. The worst torque steer I can remember was maybe 8 years or so ago when I had the Goodyear Eagle F1 directional tires (the ones with the V tread). After they wore down, I could hardly keep the car pointed down the road. I don't have the VRK or similar mods. Straight line grip is great, I can do WOT in 2nd gear now!
I didn't experience any rubbing anywhere yet. Previously, I remember getting some rubbing only during hard braking while cornering. But since then I've gone poly everywhere and even have the solid stanchion arm bushing (more like a bearing). I think the factory suspension, especially if a little old, probably has a great deal of movement if you push it.
Something else to consider, the actual tire dimensions might vary. The tire rack has a specific method they use to get the tread widths and section widths. I really noticed this big time when I got some cheap 215 tires last time and the tire was probably half an inch narrower than the previous 215 tires. Made the car look a little goofy, traction was terrible, couldn't take the corners at high speed, etc.
For the 225 tires I just bought, I went with something in the middle of the road, 8.2". The tire you bought, the 4S, in a 225 size has a tread width of 7.5". These all have a section width of 8.9" and diameter of 25". I see the Hankook Ventus R-S4 has a section width of 9.2" and tread width of 8.3", but the tire diameter is slightly smaller at 24.7". ANYway, something else to track going forward...
I have a 3" turbo-back exhaust, budget-oriented something from eons ago. I don't think it is noisy at all. For sure road and wind noise are louder except under some very specific conditions. With all the stuff in between the exhaust manifold and the tailpipe and all the curves, I really just can't see how an exhaust on this car could be noisy unless it was just straight pipe all the way back.
Any chance your "stock" exhaust isn't stock? You said you just recently purchased the vehicle, so maybe the previous owner swapped it out.
posted by 206.174.116...
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