New Tires...new car!

[Jubjub502]

I bought the Barn Finds Tasmin a few months ago and have been fiddling with it since then. However, today was a real milestone. I put a set of 195 Kumho Senses on, replacing the cracked up, scary old Toyos. Was afraid the smaller size would look spindly but it's fine. And it drives pretty damned good actually. Took it up Indiana 111 from New Albany to Georgetown, nicely banked twisties, and it was every bit as amusing as my old 911SC.

What I thought was a completely clapped out suspension was just ancient tires. I didn't know they were that old until I found the code on the inside while cleaning the wheels...1993! Most suspension needs have been downgraded to wants. I crawled around underneath hitting the grease nipples and looking for problems. Managed to tweak the exhaust enough so it's no longer banging against the chassis. Forgot to check the speedo drive gear. Dang. I was so pleased after my drive I bought some black stripe tape to touch up the raggedy spots below the fuel filler. Looks much better and took all of fifteen minutes.

[KKson]

Jubjub502 said:

I bought the Barn Finds Tasmin a few months ago and have been fiddling with it since then. However, today was a real milestone. I put a set of 195 Kumho Senses on, replacing the cracked up, scary old Toyos. Was afraid the smaller size would look spindly but it's fine. And it drives pretty damned good actually. Took it up Indiana 111 from New Albany to Georgetown, nicely banked twisties, and it was every bit as amusing as my old 911SC.

What I thought was a completely clapped out suspension was just ancient tires. I didn't know they were that old until I found the code on the inside while cleaning the wheels...1993! Most suspension needs have been downgraded to wants. I crawled around underneath hitting the grease nipples and looking for problems. Managed to tweak the exhaust enough so it's no longer banging against the chassis. Forgot to check the speedo drive gear. Dang. I was so pleased after my drive I bought some black stripe tape to touch up the raggedy spots below the fuel filler. Looks much better and took all of fifteen minutes.

Sounds like good progress. Any photos?

[mrzigazaga]

Hi...I used to buy cheap summer tyres here in the UK...They were quite soft and that was just as scary as hard tyres in the wet...What with the oil on the roads as well...

[Jubjub502]

[Grady]

When I bought my car (with low profile 16" tires, don't remember the brand) it drove fine until I developed a shimmy/wobble and discovered they were quite old (don't recall how old but lets say maybe 10-12 years) so my suspension guy said to bin them. I replaced them with a set of Falkens. Not sure exactly how long they have been on - 4-5 years - but whey have no wear and massive dry rot cracks. And now almost no one makes a 225/45ZR16.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Grady said:

When I bought my car (with low profile 16" tires, don't remember the brand) it drove fine until I developed a shimmy/wobble and discovered they were quite old (don't recall how old but lets say maybe 10-12 years) so my suspension guy said to bin them. I replaced them with a set of Falkens. Not sure exactly how long they have been on - 4-5 years - but whey have no wear and massive dry rot cracks. And now almost no one makes a 225/45ZR16.

Lots of Try 225/45/W16 about what's hard to find is 235/45/16's

[The Hatter]

It's amazing what new tyres can do to the feel of a car. Everytime I fit new tyres I kick myself for not doing it sooner, the transformation is often unbelievable. Well done!

PS real tyres have a 'y' in the name... or they do where i live! I do enjoy all those differences in language, we cover our heads with the hood and not the engine... what do you call the folding roof?

[adam quantrill]

When I bought my '89 400SX that was in about 2008 and that had the original RE71's on it. They were pretty hard by then.

[pasogrande]

I have the original 14" rims and most companies have stopped making performance road tyres to suit. However last time I checked, Federal does make them in the right size/speed rating, and at a fair price.

When I get mine running, that's what I plan to buy. Anybody tried these?

Wilf.