Tech Talk

Tires, Tires and more tires

 Ok gang for everything I say I guarantee someone will have a different opinion.  So here are some facts and then “opinions” to ponder.

 First a quiz:

 What do the following tires have in common?

1. 270/45-17
2. 235/45-18
3. 250/40-19
4. 310/30-19

1. I don’t even know what he numbers mean
2. They are all made by the same manufacturer
3. Nothing
4. They are the same diameter

Answer:  d +-.25

 FACT:  (cross section width x 0. aspect ratio) x 2 / 25.4 + wheel diameter = overall tire diameter in inches

So 270/45-17 = (((270 x 0.45)x2)/24.5) + 17 = 26.56 inches and that’s a fact jack!

(Now for the “opinion” part.)  I’m going to pick on the C-6 to review some things to think about as you replace those expensive tires.  I used data from Tires.com, 1010 tires, and Discount tires on the web.  There are so many criteria to use and manufactures to select from it makes choosing very tough.  I think as Corvette performance minded folks, we tend to want the best performance tire on the market, you know the Z rated, best turning, best handling, etc, tires out there.  But which tire is that?  The most expensive?  I met you recognize these brands.

So let’s take a look at a method (try any you want, this is just an approach).  I used the same tire web site so yes can you find better tire prices, that wasn’t my objective per say, so lets say we are going to buy from this site.  Below are the recommend tire manufactures who offer tires to fit the C6, high performance summer tires.  You may prefer or even want to include all season tires, snow tires (yuch) so throw them in the fray as well.  Typically the sites want user recommendations so I included the overall average for all the customer categories evaluated.  Read the negative ones and see if you agree with the writer.  I also include the UTQC rating which is a universal standard of wear (100 is standard, so a 200 wears twice as good as the standard etc).  There is nothing magical about the logic, but it is interesting to do the following.  Rank order them for price, rank order them for customer rating and then UTQC.  Give them a 1st place for the best, 2 for second, the same score for ties and so on in each of the three categories (use other if you want).  Then add up the three and rank order the end total (see the table below).  The final result was the Falken 452 at 6.  The Toyo came in 2nd.  The Bridgestone was impacted by the customer rating.  You decide if the response merits the 3.4 score, but they still are not the least expensive.  From least expensive to most expensive I can buy two sets to one and the wear and customer rating suggest a really good deal for the cheapest.  Now yes, to each his own and I can hear the argument brewing over what tire works the best in high performance conditions, etc.  But I ask you, honestly just how often do you drive that hard you need that “race” tire.   Its just a way to perhaps evaluate your next decision, but I did talk to several race car drivers at the St. Pete Lemans and they really spoke well of the new Falken’s and a couple even mentioned Continental (ya, I said the same thing, Continental?)

Run flat versus non run flat is another whole discussion I won’t deal with today.

Well that about it for the month.  Hope this give some of you an approach.  Surf the web, there are some great deals.  Kubia, Sears, and Tire Plus are hungry for your business, so shop and make a deal. 

Brand	Front	Rear	Price (4)	Cust Rating	UTQC	Price Rating	Cus Rank	UTQC Rank	Total Score
Falken 452	$159.99	$299.99	$919.96	4.3	300	1	3	2	6
Toyo	$205.99	$299.99	$1,011.96	4.3	280	2	3	3	8
Kuhmo	$220.99	$326.99	$1,095.96	4.0	320	3	5	1	9
Goodrich TA	$259.99	$355.99	$1,231.96	4.2	300	4	4	2	10
Firestone RunFlat	$336.99	$434.99	$1,543.96	4.0	320	6	5	1	12
Yokohama	$357.99	$520.99	$1,757.96	4.5	180	7	1	5	13
Michelin PS2	$465.99	$625.99	$2,183.96	4.4	220	8	2	4	14
Bridgestone RE050	$332.99	$418.99	$1,503.96	3.4	140	5	6	6	17