Hey there it's time for a wheel align and new tires on all four corners.
Having my suspension stiffend this week, but since I've scrubbed my front left almost bald and I did a wheel rotation a couple weeks back (scubbed that tyre too) it's time for new tyres. Didn't have mch choice as I've just driven 17000km over unsavoury terrain (read heaps fun I'll post pics later) over 7 weeks for work and screwed my wheel allignment.

Anyway the kings are being replaced with Pedders and sports ryder shocks for something much stiffer (I don't like my nose being in the air when I carry a load) and I'm raising the car about an inch to clear those nasty rocks.

More to the point. I know a lot of you out there have been experimenting with rubber. I've been running RE92s for a while and been happy as an all rounder. Anyone got Bridgey Donuts and want to give some comments. I need a relatively hard compound coz i need fresh rubber each year and it's expensive enough as it is without having performance tyres.

Also looking at going to a 17" inch alloy wheel - the "acceptable" reason is that it will help th brakes cool faster :D real reason is coz they look better than 15" with TJ hubcaps.

Cheers
David

mmmmmmmmm donuts.....

(sorry... but someone was gonna say it :P).

I have Bridgestone Potenza GIII's (i think they part of the donut game)... but they sposed to be soft as... but i wouldnt really know... only done a few thousand... (only had them 2 weeks)... but they seem to grip well enuf etc.

they advertised as 'sporty' tyres... so im not sure if they wot u after.

WSDsmurf

yeh, i think i got donuts....GR50? dunno they seem ok, there is also the firestone range, which are about 5 bucks cheaper. Donuts only lasted me 40 000 kms in the front tho...rears are still bridgestone, and front is firestone. Firestone is the same as bridgestione, just cheaper coz of the name

hmmm.. no offence but i'm no big fan of bridgestone, after seeing a 4 month old tyre fall apart on dads car about 8 yrs ago... (bad memories.. sob)

I'm currently using dunlop lm702's 235 50 R16. Nice and wide, with decent grip, and they tend to do well on rougher surfaces too... (hmm driving on gravel again.. sounds like fun...)

But don't forget about suspension too.. if you are going to be doing this kind of thing again you might want to look at that

i'm using 225/50/17 potenza G3's (part of the donut range) and they have lasted AGES, very quiet and grip was very acceptable... i'd reccomend them, will prolly b getting them again when i have to replace them soon

i'm using 225/50/17 potenza G3's (part of the donut range) and they have lasted AGES, very quiet and grip was very acceptable... i'd reccomend them, will prolly b getting them again when i have to replace them soon
I think I'd have gotten them except they were not legal on my car. I'd say with 99% certainty that this will be the case for his car too.

Thanks every one, I'm going to talk rubber with Bridgey today. Having only ever used the one tyre before (RE92 - this is also part of the Potenza range) I wouldn't have a clue out there. The Potenza G3's sound good - I'll see what's legal and what's not. Let you know what I find out - and prices!

I'll see what's legal and what's not. Let you know what I find out - and prices!
Cool, do so. Just remember you're tyre placard will probably specify a load rating of 95. It will be interesting to see what they say. 50 series rubber for 225's only achieve 94.

The GR50 Donuts aren't a bad tyre if you are looking for long life. I was using them for about 3 years and getting about 45,000Kms out of them with rotation and driving very hard. They grip reasonably well in wet/dry and are cheap. Run the pressure nice and high; I was running about 40psi cold.

haha, i ran the GR50s at about 34 psi, thats what teh tyre dude told me :shock:

Wheel A
Rim " Tyre width Tyre profile R mm Wheel circ m Diameter
15 205 65 323.75 2.033 647.5

Wheel B
Rim " Tyre width Tyre profile R mm Wheel circ m Diameter
17 225 50 328.4 2.062 656.8

Difference: 9.3 (+/- 15 mm)

Seems legal in NSW

Since you're after cheap tyre, 205/65/15 RE 92 cost some 95 bux ea, u have limited range. Checked any Falkens? I currently have Toyo TPG 235/45/17, but they cost some 200+ ea.
What's your budget?



I think I'd have gotten them except they were not legal on my car. I'd say with 99% certainty that this will be the case for his car too.

Ive got donuts, potenza G3's 225/60/15 , good grip, good higher speed stability, quiet.
But slower speed steering response nothing special, plus are a harsh ride and feel every bump much more loudly than the RE92 and brought out rattles in the car.

OK I've been in to Bridgestone to have a chat with the tyre people. Asked about the Donuts - I was surprised to here the guy say that he doesn't recommend donuts on Aussie Sedans - "On an Astra they're brilliant, but on a Magna stick with an RE88, or R530, even RE92". The RE 88 has a deeper tread.

Forgive me for sounding a bit vague with this - got sooo much going on at the moment.

Wasn't necessarily looking for a cheap tyre, but a safe tyre that gives a good compromise for City, highway and offroad.
Looked at 17" wheels too - recommendation from both the tyre place and the suspension place was to stick with my 15's - the sidewall give of 17" is too firm for the corregated, pottholed roads I often travel on. Every so often I've got to travel sandy tracks so have to let the tyres down. Don't want to trash the rims when out bush either. Bummer - so sticking with the 15"s for now. When I'm rich and famous I'll invest in a set of city rims and rubber.

Anyway - apparently for the Magna there is only a narrow range of tyres available that are legal in SA as the vehicle has a high load rating. There were the Bridgey Potenza Range, some firestones, some Michelins and Toyos available, all in the $95-130 per tyre.
Since I only need to replace 2 tyres I'll keep them a matched set for now.

Anyway I'm going to work on some cold air ducting for the front wheels. Anywone used 90mm Ag pipe before - you know the corrogated/perforated flexible pipe? Cheap anyway - does it work? I'm going to slat the front cutouts (fog lap area in front the wheels) and cut through the plastic in the front wheel arches to help combat my brake fade (coming back through the hills yesterday was a little interesting).

With End of FY appraoching all suspension/zorst/rubber work is happening next week.. Spensive!

Anyway asked about getting a strut brace fitted, the suspension guy just said "You don't need it unless you're doing highspeed racing or going 4WDing in it you're not are you?" I just smiled and explained my 4WDing expedition accounting why my front left tyre is now scrubbed to the indicator marks on the outside. He was shocked and impressed all at the same time. Getting pics ready to post up later.

For once they're correct - ok, stick with your 15"

U don't use engine/low gears on downhills???

Certainly use engine braking, just crazy drivers, trucks and the like coming down through the hills had me doing balet on my pedals last night.

Seems legal in NSW
You forgot about the load rating http://www.caraudioaustralia.com/forums/images/smiles/silly.gif

just FYI... i got my 16" bridgestone Potenza GIII's at Bridgestone Kew, Melbourne... and they were much much cheaper than everywhere else i tried in melb for the same tyre...
i think $145 each...

was very very happy with Bridgestone Kew in all regards.

WSDsmurfhasnolinksorinterestsortiesorstocksinbridg estonekew.

OK I've been in to Bridgestone to have a chat with the tyre people. Asked about the Donuts - I was surprised to here the guy say that he doesn't recommend donuts on Aussie Sedans

I'm suprised he said this, didn't they advertise the Dougnuts with a Commodore and Brocky?

Sorry should have made made myself a little clearer. Forgot to add that the Doughnut was not recommended for on-road/off-road driving that I do - they are fine for most people. Sorry for the confusion.
David

IMHO find a palce that does a deal on 17's + tyres and take the stock crap rubber. use it till they become crap then fit decent rubber.

IMHO find a palce that does a deal on 17's + tyres and take the stock crap rubber. use it till they become crap then fit decent rubber.This is probably not such a good suggestion for the kind of terrain Preacher Man is covering.

17" rim + stock crap rubber + corregated roads = :shock:....:mad:....:rant:....:flame:
Having said that, its a good suggestion for me...hehe.

That's my plan when the dollarydo's present themselves so I can get a nice set of rims and rubber for when I'm stationed in the city. Spending on average 8 months per year in regional SA - remainder in the city. The Magna looks just so much ncer with a good set of rims - just not practical when I'm off-roading her.

Enquired about slotted rotars to held in keeping the babies cool - never even thought about gravel. So I'll run ducting back to the wheels later this week. If I didn't spend so much time playing in the dirt it would all be easy.

This is probably not such a good suggestion for the kind of terrain Preacher Man is covering.

17" rim + stock crap rubber + corregated roads = :shock:....:mad:....:rant:....:flame:
Having said that, its a good suggestion for me...hehe.

Bowers in Carrington/wickham do 17's and rubber from $1200 atm

Bowers in Carrington/wickham do 17's and rubber from $1200 atm
Yeah, but I'm going 18s when I have the money (which I don't at the moment), and I have a mate who does some fitment work for Bowers, so he'll be hooking me up. :D :D
Gotta love mates rates.

That's my plan when the dollarydo's present themselves so I can get a nice set of rims and rubber for when I'm stationed in the city. Spending on average 8 months per year in regional SA - remainder in the city. The Magna looks just so much ncer with a good set of rims - just not practical when I'm off-roading her.

Enquired about slotted rotars to held in keeping the babies cool - never even thought about gravel. So I'll run ducting back to the wheels later this week. If I didn't spend so much time playing in the dirt it would all be easy.

surely u dont want to be jacking and changing 4 tyres all the time?
why not go in between and get a set of 16's with 60 or 55 series tyres. could even get 2nd hand OE 16's eg Verada. that way fill the guards out and improve handling but still have enough sidewall compliance for gravel.
another option could be to look at tyres that fit large rims with low profile that are meant to have a bit of ability on dirt, maybe something from the latest subaru outback or volvo X90 etc