I was running the stock rims and tires until last week when I upgraded to some 17 inch lightweight forged rims. When I took the car on the highway, I noticed that it felt more loose than it did before and when changing lanes, the car seemed indecisive.

I got an alignment done immediately and this helped a tiny bit but in the end, the car handled better on the stock 15s. I didn't notice but the stock RE-010s were so worn the metal was protruding when I took them off.

The new tires are Falken RT-615 205/40/17 which are their newest ultra high performance tire. I woudl have thought my handling and stability would have improved dramatically. I'm at a loss to explain this and need your guys' opinions.

The sits a couple inches higher now...is this the reason? I also seem to have a very slight 'click' in one or both of my driveshafts now and then however don't forget the handling was fine with the stock wheels so I doubt its that. Suspension is Neuspeed springs with stock shocks for the past 6 years.

 

damn. they look huge on your R

 

its the tire difference (assuming there isnt a problem somewhere).

when I had my old bald kumhos (205/50/15), turn in and response was quick and to the point. after mounting my azenis (old style 205/50/15) the car felt mushy and much more indecisive. honestly, it made me DISLIKE the azenis until I got used to them. It sorta feels like you are low on air pressure on all 4 tires, right?

 

Yeah sorta. I previously has Azenis RT-215 and I absolutely loved them. I thought it was an improvment over the Potenzas. I guess the Azenis RT-615 aren't as good.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DannyITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah sorta. I previously has Azenis RT-215 and I absolutely loved them. I thought it was an improvment over the Potenzas. I guess the Azenis RT-615 aren't as good. </TD></TR></TABLE>

They are. It might just take some getting used to. I would also like to think its from sitting up a bit higher.

 

you have to keep in mind that your new tires haven't scrubbed in yet, also the tread is thicker, which results in tread squirm. give it a few more days of driving and see if your opinion changes

 

Looks Hot Though!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by an2ny888 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you have to keep in mind that your new tires haven't scrubbed in yet, also the tread is thicker, which results in tread squirm. give it a few more days of driving and see if your opinion changes</TD></TR></TABLE>
you do have to "break them in"... all new tires will pretty much feel squirmy when you first start using them. the 615 is a great tire and are an improvement over the 215 for whoever said they're not as good.

i currently have the same exact RT-615 205/40/17 wrapped around some 17"x"7.5" TE37s and i couldn't be happier with them, my suspension is beffed up alot more then yours but i can litteraly jerk the wheel as hard as i can going any given MPH weather it's 30 or 90 and it'll stick no matter what.

just give them a couple days to scrub for you and they'll start grabbing

 

What suspension setup do you have?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DannyITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The sits a couple inches higher now...is this the reason?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The change in tires should not make the car sit a couple inches higher. Not even close.

Calculated outer diameter of old tires (195/55-15): 23.44 inches
Calculated outer diameter of new tires (205/40-17): 23.46 inches

The difference in tread depth, from the bald RE010 to the 8/32" tread of the new RT-615, is 8/32" (0.25 inch), so that would account for 1/4" difference in ride height.

The Azenis is known for being slightly larger than other tires labeled with the same size, but the difference isn't inches.

Are you sure the height difference isn't just your imagination? (Or did you make any changes to the suspension?)

 

There was a thread I remember reading about 17in wheels along time ago. One of the posts said that with a 17in rim the steering wheel is going to fight whith you, its not going to be smooth steering the car.

In my own expirience that has been the case. I ride on S-03





Modified by YellowKahuna at 9:37 AM 5/5/2006

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The change in tires should not make the car sit a couple inches higher. Not even close.

Calculated outer diameter of old tires (195/55-15): 23.44 inches
Calculated outer diameter of new tires (205/40-17): 23.46 inches

The difference in tread depth, from the bald RE010 to the 8/32" tread of the new RT-615, is 8/32" (0.25 inch), so that would account for 1/4" difference in ride height.

The Azenis is known for being slightly larger than other tires labeled with the same size, but the difference isn't inches.

Are you sure the height difference isn't just your imagination? (Or did you make any changes to the suspension?)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Suspension is the same. I just took a tape measure and your calculations are dead on.


Modified by DannyITR at 1:27 PM 5/5/2006

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by clip the apex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its the tire difference (assuming there isnt a problem somewhere).

when I had my old bald kumhos (205/50/15), turn in and response was quick and to the point. after mounting my azenis (old style 205/50/15) the car felt mushy and much more indecisive. honestly, it made me DISLIKE the azenis until I got used to them. It sorta feels like you are low on air pressure on all 4 tires, right? </TD></TR></TABLE>

When I had my R I experienced the same thing. I think you just need to get used to the new tires.

 

Goddamn that's hot. Same as my rims only 2 inches bigger. Man, I got get me some show *****, err, I mean, crazy JDM, umm, well, you know what I mean. Nice rims nonetheless.

&lt;------jealous

 

not just the tire, but when i had my first integra LS, the car didnt feel as "planted" to the ground when i ran 17 inch wheels as it did when i ran some stock 15 inch Si wheels. i would feel more of the variation on the road surface due to the size of the rim and tire with the 17 in. combo. steering felt lighter with the taller set-up, and i didnt like it. thats why i would never go higher than 16 in. on my R.

 

break them in... READ http://www.grassrootsmotorsports.com/ images/samples/august_100_115_tiretest.pdf

regarding the need for shaving to the appropriate tread depth for the BEST handling... i'm sure for you, though, you'll just have to wear them down and then rock and roll!!! Good luck!

 

Regardless if you break them in, the tire side wall is stiffer because if it's lower profile. Also, the wider surface contact area will sometimes catch the grooves in the roadways and make your car feel as if it was loose and/or pull the steering wheel.

As far as I know, and having several cars with different 17" tires on them, this is common. You will find this a bit alarming on roadways that are driven by semi trucks all the time. The big grooves may catch you off guard every now and then. If your concerned, you can take your car to have it aligned again, but have them maybe toe in the front tires a degree or so. Perhaps that will help.

 

When I went from stock, crap 195/55-15 on my stock 97 GSR to 205/40-17 Paradas + Pro-Kits + Illuminas, the thing went from marshmallow to rail car. The steering response was beyond my wildest imagination (now I also had solid bushing camber adjusters on the front UCA's - not sure how much was due to that). In any event, the negatives = violent tramlining (keep both hands on that wheel) and harsh ride and some pretty bad bump impact sounds up front. I went down to 205/45-16 Paradas to drop some rim weight and ride harshness (also lost some of that immediate steering response, but oh well).

I've now been on stock rims with RE-010, Dunlop W-10, S-03, F1-GSD3, RT-215 and RT-615 over the last 3 yrs. Very strange thing I noticed when going to first set of brand new tires on the R (GSD3) was the car felt like a wet noodle at turn-in. I thought it was the tires and traded them in for S-03's (which have a way-stiff sidewall) - unfortunately, that didn't improve things much. I hated the RT-215 initially because it felt just like the GSD3 when new (very light steering effort and sloppy initial response). But... the 215's slowly became stiffer, requiring more steering effort as they wore, becoming very precise by their half-way point. Reason = tread depth as previously mentioned.

First thing I noticed with RT-615 when new = much higher steering effort than 215's had when new - and, better steering response out of the box (though still a little sloppier than they are now, with 8k miles on them). I would give the 615's a chance as I don't think there is a better performance street tire.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. One last question....should I bother with a camber kit? I know it will save my tires but what about impact on handling? I was told negative camber is actually better in terms of handling.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itrdave &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When I went from stock, crap 195/55-15 on my stock 97 GSR to 205/40-17 Paradas + Pro-Kits + Illuminas</TD></TR></TABLE>

I assume you're referring to the stock tire on the GS-R (Michelin XGT V4), which is indeed not very good, and not to the stock tire on the ITR (Bridgestone Potenza RE010), which is excellent.

The Yokohama Parada Spec 2 is a truly crappy tire (although I suppose it may be better than the also-crappy stock Michelins). I'm surprised Yokohama is still selling them, especially since they also sell the ES100, which is better in every way.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itrdave &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've now been on stock rims with RE-010, Dunlop W-10, S-03, F1-GSD3, RT-215 and RT-615 over the last 3 yrs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The F1 GS-D3 is not available in sizes suitable for 15" rims on a GS-R or ITR. The only 15" size available is 195/50-15, which is suitable for pre-'96 Civics but is too small for Integras.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itrdave &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would give the 615's a chance as I don't think there is a better performance street tire.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

that is normal man, its because of the increase of totally diamater your now rolling on.... go back to your stocks for a day and you will see the problem will disappear.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mikestypeRR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that is normal man, its because of the increase of totally diamater your now rolling on....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Huh???

Calculated outer diameter of old tires (195/55-15): 23.44 inches
Calculated outer diameter of new tires (205/40-17): 23.46 inches

 

as many people have said hre, the tyres need to be scrubbed down, when i first got my rt 215's i wasnt impressed, but its been that way with every new tyre... the tread depth is at maximum, juust gotta wear them in bro