| Author |
Message |
JPM (John_308qv)
| | Posted on Monday, April 09, 2001 - 5:47 pm: | |
I made the switch to 225/45/17 front and 225/40/17 rear on my 86 Porsche 944 turbo and loved it. I didn't experience any problems with clearance/reliability at all. Just had the alignment redone. The handling was greatly improved over the original 15" wheel and tire setup. I was thinking of doing the same thing with my '85 308 but for some reason I hesitate to do it. Is the Ferrari too delicate to take the additional cornering forces? Probably afraid of the $$$ if something goes wrong.
By the way, the ride actually improved, but that was probably due to an improvement in tire technology. Used Yokamaha AVS tires and was very pleased with them. |
BretM (Bretm)
| | Posted on Sunday, April 08, 2001 - 1:07 am: | |
Bridgestone's are only Ferrari standard because they give them the best sponsoring now. Just as Goodyear used to be, or how Shell is now lubes whereas Agip used to be. Standard doesn't mean that they are the best, just a good deal for Ferrari. Yeah, if you're not gonna get lighter rims you might as well not change. Lightening up will definitely help acceleration as unsprung weight has a dramatic affect on a cars handling. You are gonna see more performance, but you are also going to see more mechanical problems. It's the best way to improve your cars performance really though. |
Awang (Wang)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 07, 2001 - 8:03 pm: | |
The Bridgestones are current Ferrari standrad equipment. Just make sure that the wheel offsets are correct and that the unsprung weight is not substantially increased i.e the wheel rims are lighter than stock e.g. like Billy's magnesium wheels |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 07, 2001 - 3:15 am: | |
Bret mentions the extra strain on suspension and other drivetrain parts...The paranoia of stub-axle failure!! We've discussed this before here. Its probably a million-to-one chance, but.... |
billy zissis (89tr)
| | Posted on Friday, April 06, 2001 - 11:29 pm: | |
I have changed my rims on my tr with a set of magnesium 18inch Fikse rims and let me tell you the car drives better and is a lot quicker because I have shed about 60 lbs of unsprung weight. It handles better, sure you feel every ripple in the road, but that is what having a great steering set up is all about. You have to feel the road not have it damped and uncommunative. I used to have Pirellis, made to much noise. Go with the new Michelin Pilot sports. Just watch those deadly pot holes. |
BretM (Bretm)
| | Posted on Friday, April 06, 2001 - 11:19 pm: | |
It definitely would change the handling of the car, possibly for the better though. I am not sure of what the tolerances that are factored in by the factory are, but changing an inch in tire width is quite substantial. I think the drivetrain would be able to handle it though. The only thing you would have to see is if you would have to put on a widebody kit to make the wheel wells deep enough. As far as tires, I have found Pirellis to be excellent all around tires; wear, acceleration, cornering, etc. and have found Bridgestones to be not worth the rubber that was used to cast them. Anyway, do you want Japanese tires or Italian ones?
Remember though that the further you get away from stock, generally speaking, the more headaches you are gonna have. There are so many things to be factored in like bearings, various strengths, that it would be hard to say if it is wide to switch. I have heard of running 225s on the fronts and 245s on the backs of 308s in the form of slicks for tracks days so I guess this would apply to a 328 as well. Also, by running lower profile tires (even though the sidewall will actually be about the same height because it is a smaller percentage of a larger number, it will be spread across an extra inch so it incurs more vibration) you are just gonna start abusing your suspension, joints, bearings, etc of your car.
There are benefits and drawbacks to switching. I guess you have to decide is it worth it to you. Or another idea is to get another set of stock rims and mount the slicks like I mentioned earlier on them. |
Anthony Calia (Ciccio)
| | Posted on Friday, April 06, 2001 - 10:50 pm: | |
Hello,
I have an '87 328 GTB and am interesting in replacing the stock 16 inch wheels and tires with 17x8 front and 17x9 rear Speedline SL 703 Modular wheels. Tires 225/45/17 & 255/40/17. Ferrari of Long Island has told me if I were to do this it would "upset" the handling of the car. Does anyone have any experience or opinions in making this kind of a change. I generally only use this car on nice days and run it at the track (non-competative) at least three times per year. Further does anyone have a tire reccomendation, I was leaning toward the Bridgestone "Pole Positions" or Pirello "Rosso's"
Thanks For Your Help |
|