<VV> Stock wheels or not???

[Ron]

You didn't mention "All Weather" rating which is more important than 
anything else.
RonH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Elliott" <Corvair at fnader.com>
To: "N. Joseph Potts" <pottsf at msn.com>; <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 7:41 AM
Subject: RE: <VV> Stock wheels or not???


> On Tue, 2 Aug 2005 10:20:37 -0400, N. Joseph Potts wrote:
>
>>The changes you describe aren't just in the RATINGS or even just
>>width/aspect ratio of the tire - the changes are in the WHEEL (rim) size,
>>which I suspect is most important.
>>     And my own experience backs you up as far as my own driving style can
>>allow: I changed from 13 to 14 primarily for size availability, and as 
>>I've
>>reported many times on this forum, I experienced GREAT improvements above
>>50mph in switching from Firestone 205/70R13s to Dunlop 195/70R14s.
>>     So I have no argument, or even suggestion of it, where it comes to
>>uprating (increasing) the WHEEL size. Best thing I even did for my 
>>Corvair's
>>performance, and no perceptible loss of comfort, either.
>>     Now, here's the story on the RATINGS of the tires in this tale. The
>>13-inch tires would appear to have NO suffix. (No rating? Does that mean 
>>the
>>tires are old, which they aren't, or is no rating a "rating"?) The 14-inch
>>tires have a 90S suffix, which I think is bottom of the heap, but still
>>better (?) than no rating. 195/70R14 90S
>
>
> I agree that increasing wheel diamter has a positive effect on handling... 
> because of less sidewall flex.
>
> That is the same sort of improvement that you get with a higher speed 
> rated tire as well. If you'd gone to
> say a V-rated 195/70VR14 (not that such an animal exists) you would have 
> seen an even bigger change
> to your already GREAT imporvement. Generally the higher the speed rating, 
> the stiffer the sidewall.  Of
> course the other improved aspect of the speed rated tire is a softer 
> rubber compound so your grip is up
> substanitally as well.
>
> On the other hand, the handling on my Corsa GREATLY improved when I 
> dropped down from a
> 215/60TR14 to a 205/60VR13... so SOMETHING was at work here besides rim 
> size and aspect ratio.
> That's the sidewall stiffness and the rubber compound (along with the 
> reduciton in unsprung weight.)
>
> "S" is a real speed rating (112mph) that has to be attained through lab 
> tests. Since speed ratings are
> not mandatory in this country (many places in Europe you cannot replace a 
> tire with one of a lower
> speed rating than the car came with) companies that don't export tires 
> have no reason to get a
> certification. Tires without a certification are assumed to be rated for 
> 99mph. (The new "Q" rating that
> you often see on snow tires is also 99mph and I understand can be obtained 
> without the same
> certification test necessary for the "S" rating.
>
> Two other ratings you should look at are the traction and temp ratings. 
> Almost all modern radial tires
> have at least an A traction rating...usually only V-rated tires (and up) 
> have an AA rating (new rating that
> came out since everyone was meeting the A).
>
> Temp ratings show how well the tire withstands heat buildup (due to speed, 
> load, and inflation). Cheap
> tires  may only have a C rating... I demand at least a B for this 
> rating... and usually only H-rated tires and
> above have an A rating.
>
> Bill
>
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