JRichter

I didn't think it would go any lower than 20 series, will these fit the 8?

http://www.motorauthority.com/kumho-...file-tire.html

The race for ever shorter sidewalls and ever wider contact patches is nearing the limits of what is possible with Kumho's debut of a tire with a sidewall height aspect ratio of 15 in its new ECSTA SPT KU31. Designed for super-high-performance models like the Ferrari F430, Dodge Viper and Corvette Z06 or ZR-1, the tire also bears a tread width rating of 385mm, or just over 15".

That's a very, very wide tire, and that width is what makes the 15-series sidewall height possible. The numerical figures that determine a tire's size - in this case, 385/15ZR22, contain a wealth of information about its construction. The tread, or section, width of a tire is the first number. The sidewall aspect ratio is the second number, trailing the forward slash, and represents the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the section width.

In order to get a tire's sidewall down to just 15% of its width, a very wide tire is necessary for there to be enough material to provide for proper inflation, sidewall deflection over bumps and through turns, and adequate passenger comfort. Nevertheless, at just 58mm tall, the sidewall is about 50% shorter than that of a still fairly low-profile 275/40 tire.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

That's going to be fun to mount

Tellurium

You got that right, not to mention the instant you hit ANY bump- say goodbye to your wheel.


Might as well just make it solid rubber like wagon wheels.

Socket7

I suppose it would be great for track day.

Don't think I'd use it anywhere else though.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Actually if you check out most racecars...they have a much larger sidewall than that.

When they get that short...there is no compliance..and the contact patch suffers with any lean at all...the tires can't stay on the road

Those would look better than they will perform....in corners anyway

JRichter

I remember when 50 series was all the rage.

The AMG kit keeps us closa to the ground,
We're gettin good grip from the 50 series tires,
The Alpine's bumpin but I need the volume higher,

DailyDriver2k5

I remember when I got 205/40/16 on my Jetta GLI back in the day(1994), people were stupified how small the sidewall was, when the norm was standard 13"-14" wheels on some nasty 175/70 series tires! ! LOL!

But back to to topic , yeah those tire would offer great steering response, but as far as handeling, I would like to see the tires in action before I past judgement. 15-series is almost no sidewall, like somebody mentioned earlier, you hit a pot hole or some road debri, goodbye tires! The compound for those tires would have to be super strong in order to handle the abuse of public roads.

bse50

A good tire needs some flex so dunno what to say... show use?

Rotary Mike

If anyone other then Chevrolet uses a ZR-1 for the show circuit

bse50

They internets: The rear tires appear to be a whopping 335/25Z/20 size!

You CAN doesn't mean it comes with.
Anyway a car without a good chassis needs lower tires, if you have a well engineered chassis you can rely on higher ones without having drawbacks

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

can you explain the benefits of running a lower profile tire?

i see all the race rx8s running 17" rims and /50 sidewalls.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

I think what I meant was that if they are too short they suck

Short = very stiff which isn't always better than flexible

Will depend on the suspension design as well

There are reasons for the different racing tires sidewall heights...some are class rules...ie they are mandated to use specific tires....

and as said earlier if they are too stiff they don;t let the contact patch stay in contact with the road when the car leans....decreasing grip.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Haha, I remember the crappy 205/40-16 BFG Euro's I had on my CRX. It was like getting 20's when I stepped up to 16's.

YaXMaNGTO

Freakish tire.