Re: The tire from hell...

["Rudy Consolacion" <rconsolacion@kumhotech.com>]

Having worked in this area, I must say that OE tires are, uh, well, 
usually junk (high-end sports car excluded). They are designed for 
the masses and generally one person, usually the chassis engineer, 
has the final word on how the tire should perform for ride & 
handling. Wet and snow traction is poor because of the rolling 
resistance requirements for fuel economy. Michelin and Goodyear have 
upped the traction ante recently with silica tread compounds. (Be 
careful to not get shocked when you get out of your car or give your 
money to the toll booth collector.)

Because of the size change and speed rating, the turn-in is better. 
Steering response will also change because the contact patch is wider 
and shorter (pneumatic trail is less). Damping over sharp bumps is 
also improved due to the increased tread area stiffness. The noise 
increase is probably due to the tread pattern. The touring pattern of 
the Eagle GA is much quieter than the all-season BFG. 

My $0.02.

Rudy C.     

> Q-list,
>    I'm not sure what most of the '92+ 100/A6 owners are running for tires, but
> up until this past weekend my 5 year old was still running on the OEM 195/65/15
> H-rated Goodyear GA's. If anyone is still using the Goodyear GA, or is
> considering replacing the OEM's with Goodyear GA's... don't.
> 
>   Over the weekend I had my new BFG COMP T/A VR4's [205/60/15] mounted/balanced
> and I'm now convinced that Satan himself must have designed the Goodyear GA in
> his workshop over in East Hell. I had no idea the amount of vibration and
> harshness the GA's were transmitting though the car until very recently. My new
> tires are smoother over small/sharp bumps, and turn-in is much crisper, though
> noise has increased slightly (I'm assuming due to the wider contact patch).
> 
>   Audi relevant? I'd say so considering these tires were OEM on my car. Just
> advice, in case anyone is nearing tire replacement time.
> 
> Sean Ford
> sean@nwh.org                   '92 Audi 100CS 5-spd 32K mi
> Newton-Wellesley Hospital  '89 Suzuki Katana 600 hibernating
> Newton, MA 02062 (USA)    http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/5528
> 
>