Re: Tires

[Joe Yakubik <75363.2524@compuserve.com>]

My $0.02:

Whatever tires you use, check the tire pressure.  My handling had been
deteriorating and I was thinking (looking for an excuse?) about new suspension
parts.  At my last fill-up I did my best imitation of a full-service check-up
and found out my tires were all 5-6 psi low.  Handles much, much better now.

BTW Bridgestone Potenza RE930:  IMHO a good compromise tire for my environment.
In Bavaria we can experience snow until May (not much - in May, but a little's
enough).  It is usually cleared/melts within hours.   H-rated, quiet,
comfortable, solid but not overwhelming handling.  Good in the wet and
satisfactory in the snow (a bit too wide, but that's my choice).  A set of
SP8000's would be nice in the summer though.  I had 'em on my Jetta -- nothing
exceeds like excess.

Two full sets of Summer/Winter tires USED to be the big set-up in Germany.  This
is changing slowly, depending on who you talk to.  I have a neighbor who has two
sets of All-Season tires; one on alloys, one on steel wheels.  One is a high(er)
speed, energy conserving tire.  The other is a more aggressive, slower rated
winter(ish) tire.  His logic:  If the snow is really deep, he stays home; but
the primary reason is the salt attacks the aluminum finish and scuffs up those
pretty alloys.

Tire bashing time:  the crap Rikens that the previous owner had installed.
Could not be balanced, handled like on marbles, downright uncomfortable.  The
Michelin MXV4's on my wife's Honda: I defer to the "round, black, held air"
description.

Joe Yakubik