[DeTomaso] Tires

[Dave Doddek]

I have the 335-245 combo with stock sway bars and the car actually runs
pretty well. Little understeer but not bad.  I have also not had any
unusual wear problems on the rear.  In fact, I have went through 2 sets of
fronts to one set on the rear.  I am now about ready for new tires all
around and wondering what I will buy since the MXX3 is no longer made.

Dave "yes, tires are expensive" D

At 01:30 AM 4/2/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>I don't think there's a simple answer to this question.   I did an 
>analysis of other high performance cars as to their front to rear 
>weight ratios, tire width ratios, car weight, and horsepower, and 
>concluded that something like 285 rear and 215 front were probably what 
>would be fitted if the car were being made today.  So I'm running those 
>sizes on 10 and 8 inch wheels with the same offsets as Campies of those 
>widths.
>
>Most people get 335/35-17 rear and 245/40-17 front (although it seemed 
>that the cars i saw at PI had 225 fronts), mainly because they like the 
>look of the rear 335's.  There are problems with that:
>
>335 is too wide for an 11" rim. Yes, it will fit, but it makes the tire 
>wear in the center very fast unless you run it at very low pressure 
>(mid-20's).
>
>The extra 1" of rim width of an 11" compared to a 10" is all inboard, 
>which moves the tire quite close to the suspension and body metal.  
>Since this also narrows the track, the extra tire width is of less 
>benefit than it would be if the width were outboard.
>
>The 335-245 tires are WAY more expensive than the 285-215, partly 
>because you are very limited as to choice.  Since tires are technically 
>only good for 7 years, it can add up after a while.
>
>Wider front tires means heavier steering.
>
>Those wide rear tires mean the car will understeer more.  I believe the 
>GTS cars had 285 rear, 225 front tires and were pretty well balanced 
>with the 7/8" rear bar.  So obviously if you add another 50mm to the 
>rear and only 20 to the front in tire width, you're upsetting the 
>balance toward understeer in a big way.
>
>If you use all the cornering power of those wide tires, you'll 
>DEFINITELY put way more torsional load on the car than it was designed 
>for, and you'll crack the body.  Whether the various body stiffener 
>kits will prevent this, it's too early to say.
>
>Some racers like the 335 rears because it keeps the rear planted, which 
>I'm sure I'd want to at high speed. But those cars have also been 
>dialed in with special springs and shocks, body stiffening up the 
>wazoo, etc, etc.  So I'm not sure it means much to those of us with 
>otherwise stock suspensions.
>
>I totally respect the viewpoints of those who love the look of the 
>335's, but thought I'd post another opinion.
>
>Donning my flame suit,
>
>Jim
>
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>-----Original Message-----
>From: MikeLDrew at aol.com
>To: jmontero at fcmat.org; detomaso at realbig.com
>Sent:   Sat, 1 Apr 2006 21:06:03 EST
>Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Tires
>
>
>In a message dated 4/1/06 17:05:31, jmontero at fcmat.org writes:
>
><< For a stock, narrow bodied
>car with 17" rims front and back, what are the most common tire sizes.
>I am assuming that the rears are 335/35/17.  What are the fronts?  >>
>
>>>>You want a 245/40-17.  Not all makers have a 245 tire that short.
>Whatever you do, do NOT get a 245/45-17.  It will be substantially 
>taller than
>your
>rear tire and will really look weird.
>
>Cheers!
>
>Mike
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