Smaller ET value: the difference

[Tom Nas]

"Alexander van Gerbig" <Audi_80 at email.msn.com> wrote:

>     I've discovered that the ET45 with 185 is smooth and has no bumpsteer or
>tramlining.  Though the ET35 16" with 205 has tons of bumpsteer and
>tramlining is something that can't be avoided.  This is with the same exact
>suspension setup, 45mm lowered on coilovers.  With my ET45 snow setup I
>never get any bumpsteer at all.  There is one spot where I tested this, a
>raised spot of pavement in town.  I drove over it with my ET35 16" 205 and
>the car immediately steered the direction of the raised portion of the
>highway.  Then a week later I had the ET45 14" 185 on and the bump does
>nothing to the car at all.  Now maybe the offset is changing the handling or
>the wider tires are, anyone?

A bit of both when you go to such extremes, I guess. But my car went from 
175 to 185 tyres, so the resulting characteristics must be a result of the 
ET value decrease... interesting that the change in handling 
characteristics is fairly radical, though 10mm is IMO a minimal change.

Tom