View Full Version : Tire Question - Technical Discussion


Sargeant_002
05-13-2008, 08:13 PM
Basically this is one of my first rear wheel drive cars...so maybe I'm just not used to how they handle and follow the road.

When I first got her she had Cooper Zeon 2XS on the back, and some all season's that didn't match on the front. It handled odd enough with that setup. I then decided to move the good tires from the back to the front, and got a matched set of Zeons for the rear. HOWEVER - I put 245/40/R18's for the rear and I'm running 225/45/R18 and I know that's OK - that's not my question. My question is this....

The 245's on the rear have a "REINFORCED SIDEWALL" and the tire tech at the shop said that MIGHT mess with the handling characteristics. Does anyone know if this could cause an issue? Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is a foolish question, I know FWD and AWD quite well - still a new world to me...haha....

Brian-

FeelGuud
05-13-2008, 08:26 PM
well it will give for a lil rougher ride and it will handle better around corners..i think

Sargeant_002
05-13-2008, 08:55 PM
well it will give for a lil rougher ride and it will handle better around corners..i think

I'm aware the lower sidewall and rougher rides - although those specs are almost identical in overall tire diameter - it's the "REINFORCED SIDEWALL" in the rear set of tires and not in the front (that I'm aware of) that I'm wondering about.

Brian-

Sargeant_002
05-14-2008, 09:33 PM
Anyone!!?? Thanks!

Brian-

SolarYellow510
05-15-2008, 12:11 AM
On a car tire, a reinforced sidewall generally just means the load rating is higher than typical/expected for that size and model.

I wouldn't expect much from Cooper Zeons in any case. If they were the same all around, the car still probably wouldn't be great.

Sargeant_002
05-16-2008, 12:04 AM
On a car tire, a reinforced sidewall generally just means the load rating is higher than typical/expected for that size and model.

I wouldn't expect much from Cooper Zeons in any case. If they were the same all around, the car still probably wouldn't be great.

You wouldn't expect based on personal experience or the mass public preference? My friend had some on his little Mercury Capri XR2 Turbo and they held great, they seem to be doing good on my 8 - just figured it was the cheapest and most sensible option given the circumstances!? To each there own though....thanks anyway...

Anyone else think it's an issue?

As the back tires get more miles on them and I get used to the car - it's feeling a bit better - probably just they way the RWD's wander...no worries....

Brian-