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Re: SM2 Tire Choice

To: "Dave Hardy" <dave2020@mindspring.com>, <autox@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: SM2 Tire Choice
From: "Eric Linnhoff" <knuckledragger@kcweb.net>
Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 03:09:24 -0500
----- Original Message -----
> Will we at some point see Miatas with
> 335/35/17's, because that's what is needed to put the power down?  Or will
> the extra size and weight of the huge rolling stock hurt the performance
> more than the infinite power helps it?  I dunno, just pondering.
===========================================
I doubt we'll ever see that size tire outside of the pony car and Vette
fenders.

A lack of power is why most small SP cars run the 21" tall tires.  What will
likely happen is that as folks get more and more power they'll go to taller
tires, and as wide as they can fit for increased lateral grip, in order to
stay in 2nd gear and just use the additional power & torque to "pull" the
gearing.

Ideally, for most cars, you want to have a tire height that allows one to
rarely need 3rd gear as the up & down shifts are potential oopsies waiting
to happen on transition happy autocross courses.

For Neons, even in SP trim, a 23" tall tire is nearly ideal for our gearing
and power.

Eric Linnhoff in KC
'98 Dodge Neon R/T (see-dan)
#69 STS
www.geocities.com/eric10mm/KnuckleDragger


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