Re: Tire wear, all-seasons, and stuff

[c a l i b a n <caliban@sharon.net>]

On Thu, 18 Feb 1999, Benjamin Weste Pearre wrote:

]Anyway, my front tires are going bald.  The tread on the inside edges 
]of the tires has disappeared for about an inch, and the tread on the 
]outside corners has disappeared for a much smaller distance.  The 
]tread in the middles doesn't look very bad (it's over twice as deep as 
]the wear indicators).  The right tire seems a little more worn than 
]the left.

	underinflated, probable slightly out of alignment.

]I guess I need to replace them.  I live in the bay area, which means 
]that most of my driving is on dry (occasionally wet) roads.  The last 
]time it snowed here was about 20 years ago.  But I love skiing, so I 
]really do need decent performance on snow and ice in the mountains.  I 
]don't have room for another set of wheels.

	i got myself yokohama avs s4's - "ultra high performance
	all season" tires.  good rating, been pretty ok in snow,
	great in rain and dry.  they have the m/s rating.

	got them at america's tire - a cheesy chain, but they
	match prices and so matched the tire rack's price.

]My driving style is usually (not always) pretty mild, which gives me 
]some leeway in terms of compromising in favour of snow traction.

	might want to look at another tire, then.  this one
	seemed the best for me for hard, hard driving in
	the twisties (i have an urq, after all) and good
	performance in the wet and freeze.

]How important is it to replace all four tires at once?

	as i am told, on a quattro, essential.

]I've been running them at the recommended pressure, but if the 
]outsides are worn, that implies that they're a little soft.  At what 
]pressure should I really run them?  People who drive a lot in the snow 
]like thinner tires.  Overinflating tires decreases the contact patch 
]size too.  Does it increase snow traction?

	dunno.  as i mentioned, you were probably running 
	them too soft.  i would guess that a little harder
	is better in snow, but i wouldn't do it without 
	checking with the gurus.

]What are some good all-seasons that I should look at?  Anywhere near 
]Palo Alto recommended?

	that tire rack i went to was in redwood city or can
	carlos or some such.  i was also given toyo proxes
	as a good brand to try but they were impossible to 
	find.  i'm sur eyou'll get some other recomendations
	fromt his killer list.


--
 rocky mullin
 http://caliban.sf.ca.us/
 two strokes are faster than four!
 this message was composed using the vi editor.
 '83 ur-q - yamaha rz350 - suzuki ts250 -  chaotic good