Stop And Turn Or Lotsa Squirt

[bcl]

For me, easily handling and braking, then the thrill of rapid overtaking in 4th.

From a standing start on road tyres the ford is just too hard to launch to give me much of a thrill.

I’ve never felt totally comfortable on the open road in the Ford T (because I run it back to back with my STi, with which I’ve done quite a few track days), and probably won’t until I know the limits of the car by taking it around the track, which I’ve done only once, but in the wet.

I know it is a competent and fairly well balanced handler, but the weight and rear grip levels at the rear mean it needs more work. My Alcon 6-pot front and 4-pot rear brakes give superb breaking, and I’m looking at my options for another suspension with adjustable damper settings.

My current Falken 451 19” 275/30 are barely OK, and more for show. My spare set of 18” Falken Azenis RT215’s, although 245/40, give me far better dry weather handling and grip.

It’s best to learn the limits of your and yours car’s ability around a circuit, not on the open road. Run off the circuit a few times, and only then will you understand what I mean.

Brian

[Slymeat]

I can't lie I like the twisties', that said I don't mind stearing with the back wheels aswell, nuf said. It has to be a compromise you need enough power, but not so they you don't have the final say as to when it all breaks loose.

[Cro]

  Geeseman said:

Firstly, do you even have 19inch wheels cro? If not, I dont see what your interest is.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't have 19's as I said above I have 17's. What has that got to do with anything? 19" wheels do not give better traction over 17" wheels.

  Quote

Until you answer I'll have to assume that you are simply stirring the pot, which gets back to the issue of you having a beef.

I am not stirring the pot at all. I am trying to find out if the safety features on your car are a match for the power you have on tap. You don't seem sure yourself, and that is why I am trying to figure it out.

The comment I am referring to is this:

  Geeseman said:

I've AP racing brakes on my car as well as lowering it for better handling. Car is a good package as is although yet to run it on a circuit to really find its limits. You can never have too much breaking ability but I think what I have now matches my power level. Im happy to use the power on the streets which is also why I have bigger brakes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

  Quote

Personally I couldnt give a rats arse about your tyre grip. I don't know why you brought it up in comparison with my comments. I can only assume that its a vein pissing contest in which I have no interest at all...

I bought it up because you mentioned how wide your rear tyres were. I also gave you information on my view on how you could have increased rear end traction without going to larger and more expensive rims.

In any case, I also said I was not interested in how wide your rims were because they do not count for anything unless they have a great set of tyres on them.

This is no pissing contest as you put it. As I have mentioned before, brakes and tyres go hand in hand. There is no use having a good set of brakes without some good tyres to provide the traction required in stopping your car.

I refer to your comment above again:

  Quote

You can never have too much breaking ability but I think what I have now matches my power level.

Since you don't know yourself, I thought I might be able to help you find out for sure.

  Quote

Of course, I don't expect this post to last, like the others... Too much to expect from soneone hiding behind a bloody forum status...

When have I hidden behind my moderator status? I have always been open with the forum. I always use my own logon to remove posts, as I have nothing to hide.

A lot of members could vouch for this.

I am simply trying to find out what your tyres are rated at. In the time you have taken to write out some of your replies you could have gone to the garage and checked rather than personally abusing me and trying to change the topic.

AGAIN: I JUST WANT TO KNOW YOUR TRACTION AND TREADWEAR RATING.

[eatV8]

Geeseman, you NEVER answer a question asked. I have asked several questions in the past, lots of people have. You always answer you don't see why it is relivant. You stick your nose in everywhere, talk crap and NEVER back it up when someone asks. Be a man, stop being such a tool all your life. Everyone is really getting sick of you and your crap you bring to this forum.

[Geeseman]

  Cro said:

When have I hidden behind my moderator status? I have always been open with the forum. I always use my own logon to remove posts, as I have nothing to hide.

A lot of members could vouch for this.

I am simply trying to find out what your tyres are rated at. In the time you have taken to write out some of your replies you could have gone to the garage and checked rather than personally abusing me and trying to change the topic.

AGAIN: I JUST WANT TO KNOW YOUR TRACTION AND TREADWEAR RATING.

As I stated in my last post, you have no obvious reason to discover the rating of my tyres. You don't own 19's, so you won't benefit from discovering the answer. Given this what possible reason could you have for wanting to find out? I'm sure we both know...

Nevertheless, rest assured I am that they are good enough for what I use them.

For the record they are the same as Bcl's. Not the best tyre available but considering I don't do track work and don't drive like an idiot on the roads, the meet my requirements well enough.

Perhaps you should take issues like these to PM, considering that they do not involve anyone else on the forum and appear to be of a personal issue that is taking this topic off track. +10% again....

Edited 28/03/05 11:34 PM by Cro

[Macktheknife]

For me, It's any great bit of private twisty road.

The thinking ahead, considering things like: what might be around the corner, are there any run-offs, is there likely to be any wildlife or stock, taking in little clues like speed signs, (Yes, this private road has them) the treeline, the line of power wires, the camber of the corner, dirt and moisture, other users of the private road etc etc.

Then, fear of the unknown and power of self preservation (This doesn't begin to impact until later in life) balanced with the adrenalin rush of knowing that you might just be playing on the edge of eternal non-driving.

Finally, all this in the pot and you are accelerating hard, braking as hard as your particular setup allows, trying to pick that correct line, balancing the car finely between steering and throttle inputs, listening to the mechanical symphony and when it is all finished, just the great feeling and knowing that you may be able to repeat it again sometime in the future.

So, in summary, I believe you need it all. The charging power, the roadholding and handling, braking, ergonomics, tyres etc.

Though limited when pushed to extremes, my slightly improved T fulfills my needs admirably for my budget.

[Cro]

  Geeseman said:

For the record they are the same as Bcl's. Not the best tyre available but considering I don't do track work and don't drive like an idiot on the roads, the meet my requirements well enough.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you! Finally some sense.

If your tyres are exactly the same ones that Brian has (Falken 451) then they are pretty decent tyres (although not the best tyre out as you said).

They have a AA traction rating and a 280 treadwear rating. On technical terms this indicates that they are a very good tyre, although a bit hard (compared to the standard dunlops) will be able to take the the torture dished out to them.

Now was that so hard?

  Quote

As I stated in my last post, you have no obvious reason to discover the rating of my tyres. You don't own 19's, so you won't benefit from discovering the answer. Given this what possible reason could you have for wanting to find out? I'm sure we both know...

My reason to find out your tyre ratings is that you wernt sure about them yourself. I simply wanted to help you find out if your braking ability was a match for your power level.

Then the was the possibility that your tyres came in 17" (and they do) as they might be better tyres than what I currently have.

This was not the case however.

  Quote

Nevertheless, rest assured I am that they are good enough for what I use them.

I will now that I know what they are and that they are a good tyre (on paper).

  Quote

Perhaps you should take issues like these to PM, considering that they do not involve anyone else on the forum and appear to be of a personal issue that is taking this topic off track. +10% again....

Why? Now everybody on the forum knows there is one extra tyre out there with specifications to match a power level given by certain modifications.

I think it was very informative.

[Macktheknife]

So,

Can we all now get back on the original topic?

[eatV8]

  Macktheknife said:

So,

Can we all now get back on the original topic?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Please lets. This is a great topic. Something I have always said in the past that everyone is hung up too much on dyno's, and straightline speed. So who here has actually done real suspension work to their cars. I think BCL said something about he has... When I say real, I mean not a set of super lows from King Springs. I mean playing with sway bars, coil overs, etc etc. Please list what you've done.

[OwnaXR6T]

I think everything should be in proportion, for me handling matters most, although handling is useless if the car hasn't got straight line punch. The T is much better in a straight line IMO and the shere weight of it lets it down around corners.