How 'bout some tire advice?

[N40GL]

Okay, folks. Here's what's up.

I've got a Kenny Brown Marauder. Kenny changed out the stock BFG's to the Pirelli PZero Assimetricos; fronts are 255/45/ZR18. Rears are 255/50/ZR18. I'm on my third set at 50K miles.

I need another set now, and I'm not all that thrilled with the mileage I'm getting on the Pirellis, although I absolutely love the handling.

In looking through the sizing charts at Tire Rack, the only full set that comes in these sizes are those darn Pirellis.

However, if I go to 255/45/ZR18 on the front, and 255/55/ZR18 on the rear, I can fit a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's on there. A bit less expensive, and a higher UTQG rating.

Here's where I display my ignorance. I want to keep the same 'nose down' stance of the MM, and I'm also worried about fitting a tire in the rear that's too wide for the opening.

So I'll throw this out to the forum with two questions:

1. What's the biggest tire anyone is running on the stock rims in the back?

-and-

2. Anyone want to render any advice on tires in general?

Thanks,

Mark

[Hotrauder]

Mark, Search the Tire Matrix. In a nut shell everything you need to know about tires and fitment for our cars. good luck. Dennis

[Breadfan]

I had a thread earlier with some Marauder tire choices, and it has a table that indicates the tire widths that should work with various wheel widths.

This has a lot of info in it, plus there is a link to my website with the tables, maybe this can answer some questions?

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=26999
and
http://www.neuralimpulse.com/maraudertires.html (linked in the above thread)

PS. It also has links that you can do a tire size comparison, so you can see the overall diameter of a tire, matching front and rear diameter you have could help keep the stance, or keeping a similar ratio, etc.

[N40GL]

I never knew about this! What an awesome chart - thanks, Breadfan!

I think I'll leave my post up, just to see if there is any feedback on Goodyear as a brand choice.

Mark

[Haggis]

Mark I called Tire Rack a month a go and they are backordered on Pirelli in size 255/50/ZR18 (rear tires) until the new year. The salesman at Tire Rack told me to try Avon tires, since they had them in the size I needed. Since I have never heard of Avon tires I decided to forgo his suggestion and he also told me that they use the Avons on Bentlys.

[Breadfan]

Gordon,

We tried Avon tires on my Dad's '99 Camaro SS. They are a cheaper alternative, I don't think they would quite compare to a Pirelli.

That being said, we like them better than the Khumo 712's which were always popular. They have worn well on his car and I can attest they have very good grip and are quiet. I don't recall the exact model he has.

Avon is a big Motorcycle tire maker I believe.

In May when I did my search, Tire Rack did not have any Avon's that fit our car's in the sizes I searched. This may be a new entry, someone would have to be a Marauder Guinea Pig. :)

I was leary about Avon tires when my Dad got them for his Camaro, I was like "Hey you're driving a Camaro, why put "Avon Lady" tires on?" I found out they do not have a pink sidewall though...


Mark I called Tire Rack a month a go and they are backordered on Pirelli in size 255/50/ZR18 (rear tires) until the new year. The salesman at Tire Rack told me to try Avon tires, since they had them in the size I needed. Since I have never heard of Avon tires I decided to forgo his suggestion and he also told me that they use the Avons on Bentlys.

[KillJoy]

Since I have never heard of Avon tires I decided to forgo his suggestion and he also told me that they use the Avons on Bentlys.

Avon makes some sweet motorcycle tires.

KillJoy

[ckadiddle]

255/55 size fits fine on the stock rims and keeps the tail up. They are a fraction of an inch taller than the OEM size rears were. I have the OEM size ( I forget what it is) on the front. I am running BFG KDW2s and like them just fine, but then, I aren't s/c-ed. :) Also the 255/55 is within the size difference range that doesn't irritate the traction control.

[Marauderman]

I changed to Nittos--all corners---with the 255x45 up front on stock rims and 295x45 on rear widen 9.5 rims...all works well-

The stock rim can actually take a larger tire , but not advisable for street wear----stay at the max (255) for the OEM's....

The nittos wear better than anything so far--I am very pleased--got over
10k miles on them and you can't tell it on any of them...I'm keeping some of the stock tires I took off in the attic for swap and shop use with members for stuff I may need .........check on the Nittos and also the "rake" is most definiately still there with all being 45's..due to the tire sizes---check them out......Tom

[madusa's chyld]

I took my 04 to the shop and was told my rear end needed to be overhauled because i was running 255-55-18 on the rear, had them on for about 6000 miles. so be careful with tire size the mm is kinda anal about that.

[Mad4Macs]

I took my 04 to the shop and was told my rear end needed to be overhauled because i was running 255-55-18 on the rear, had them on for about 6000 miles. so be careful with tire size the mm is kinda anal about that.

If I were you, I'd be looking for a another shop! Your rear end might have needed an overhaul, but unless you were running 2 different sized tires on your rear axles, the tire size had NOTHING to do with it.

[Breadfan]

Agreed. If anything was wrong with the rear it was mabye the axle TSB or your trak-lok was worn which even on an n/a car isn't that hard to do.

[Mike Poore]

Agreed. If anything was wrong with the rear it was mabye the axle TSB or your trak-lok was worn which even on an n/a car isn't that hard to do.

Actually, there's more to the axle story. Brian's OASIS report on the Black '04 I'm dealing showed the same rear carrier unit clutch pack repair on that car as mine had. Interesting too, the serial numbers of the two cars are very close, less than 1,000 as I recall. Mine would make a grinding, grating noise when negotiating a hard left turn from a stop, on an uphill grade. In my case, the clutch pack, as well as axles and bearings got replaced, because I had the axle TSB from the CVPI in hand, although it didn't actually apply to my car. According to Brian's OASIS the only thing done to the Ohio car was the addition of a bottle of friction modifier, and perhaps that's all mine needed.

[magindat]

I took my 04 to the shop and was told my rear end needed to be overhauled because i was running 255-55-18 on the rear, had them on for about 6000 miles. so be careful with tire size the mm is kinda anal about that.

:bs:

They saw you coming.

[magindat]

Nitto 420S 255/55/18.
Why doesn't anyone believe me?
I have over 25K on my 20's!!!!