Hi all, I'm new to this board and, assuming it passes the pre-purchase inspection, will be the owner of an '84 308 sometime this week. The car needs new tires and I've been looking at the various Pirelli, Firestone, Michellin, Goodyear etc. options but could use some help narrowing it down. I intend to stay with the standard size and plan to get summer high performance tires. This car will not really be raced, only driven (occassionally pretty fast) with love and pride. Any quick help would be appreciated. This is my first Ferrari, so I will likely have more questions later. Thanks!
Welcome to the board. Try doing a search on this topic it comes up often. I am getting GoodYears put on mine this weekend. Be sure to post pictures if you get it, good luck! Matt
I am running Falkens - incredible tyre. 78 308 gts with 16 inch QV rims do a search for falken on google to get to the website - great prices. john
SEARCH is your friend. You can start by reading this thread, then search Tech Q&A for 'tires' in the title (use adv. search): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49062
I have a set of Goodyear Eagle on my 84 308 qv original size and its an excelent all around performance tires.
Jawad, Hope it works out for you. Check out the Tire Rack website, specifically, the max performance summer section. Take a close look at the tire characteristics that matter to you, like wet braking, noise, dry traction; and price. The overall highest rated tire may not be what you really want. I've got Goodyear F-1s on my 308 and am very happy with their grip and precise feedback. hth, chris
this is great news, another NYC ferrari guy (308 no less!) I also run Goodyear F-1 great tire but hard as rocks....I think the choice is bridgstone, goodyear, pirelli, with Yokohamma and even dunlop also being popular..kuhmo is also a good choice. Here is what I did...I ordered the 4 tires from tirerack over the internet....got a great selection and deal and my doormen still talk about the car nut that got four large tires delivered to the building lobby ( ups really does not wrap tires -- they just show up with a label stuck to them.) I called around to all the shops in my neigborhood about mounting the tires..the minute they heard "ferrari" they all said forget it. ( remember the car can only carry really 2 tires inteh passenger seat and maybe the spare) so I go down to the garage and remove a wheel and put on the spare..I then take the wheel and the new tire down to the nearest cheap tire changing place and they change it ( don't know or care it is from ferrari) balance etc for a few bucks..return and repeat did I think 2 or three trips, leaving the car on teh jack for a short time once to save a trip.
Thank you to everyone who responded. Your advice is appreciated. I did go back to the Tire Rack web site and used it very effectively and then followed up with a phone call to the rep. It looks like for my purposes, the best performance/noise/wear/price combination may be the Goodyear F1s. So I am looking into that first. The outside reviews on that tire seem great too. Again, thanks, and I will let you know what happens (if the car passes the pre-purch. inspection tomorrow and i buy it, I will definitely post some pics once it's in my possession). Cheers, J.
how did it go? dying to know..what color, who did PPI, how much what year? usa or euro..b or s...WELCOME! nothing was beter than when I by a ferrari..hands down...don't know why..more than any other car...enjoy and take a pic of that big smile (yours) and post it!
Unfortunately, I got a bit of a run-around with the PPI so it got delayed till next week (crossing my fingers and hoping it happens early in the week). It's a black 1984 QV spider, USA version, all original except for a touch of paint on the very front, I'm told. Just under 30,000 original miles. Has its tools and original spare. Missing the instruction manual that came with the car. Top is in great shape, all the rubber seems pretty supple (nothing seems hard/cracked). Guy who owns it now has several Ferraris... I think the price is fair (i'll reveal after the deal or if it falls through, just out of "good form"). That said, what do you think is fair assuming the car is in very good shape? Outside and in it looks very good, just a couple of minor paint dings but otherwise looks very clean. No obvious oil or fluid leaks, or structural damage (that I can see from a walk-around). Interior is in great shape. All original. Carfax came back clean. Went for a ride in it and it sounds and feels fantastic. Accelerates very nicely, shifts well with no obvious slips or grinds. Granted, I was only in the passenger seat, which is all the more reason I'm insisting on a thorough PPI. The guy I'm trying to get to do the PPI is Doug Pirrone of Berlinetta Motorcars. My research shows he's quite an authority. Seems he's worked on cars for and sold cars to both Ralph Lauren and David Letterman. I'm out of town next weekend and hoping I can get it (PPI, purchase, new tires shipped and put on, and DMV inspected/plates obtained) all somehow done next week -- while juggling a career as a young corporate lawyer. NOT EASY!!! I'd love to unveil it for the first time at the NYC Hospital Run being organized on this board. It's clear most people on here who own Ferraris are veterans and know way, way more than me (and many have much bigger horses in their stables), but for me, it has taken a while to work up the guts (and "disposable" income) to do this and, it being my first and my not being nearly as mechanically knowledgeable as you guys, it's quite a nervous thrill, I must say. I've heard stories of people with money just buying a Ferrari with no research or inspection and having it blow up in their faces and absolutely refuse to make that mistake. It helps to have such friendly people on this board. I'll definitely post the pics if and when I get it -- and you bet there'll be one massive grin on my face!
I'm pretty new to this as well, bought a 328 in December. So far, nothing has blown up and I like the car more everyday. It's like a movie star on the road, and I can't stop for gas without someone coming over for a look/chat. Just get a thorough, independent PPI and if something needs doing don't put it off. And absolutely make sure you DRIVE it before buying it. The ergonomics are either charming or torturous, depending on your stature, girth and shoe size. You'll either fall in complete automotive love or else wonder what Enzo was smoking when he shoved the pedals way over to the right... We had a couple of guys on this board who bought these cars without driving them, based on looks, and they ended either selling or scrunching into them.
