Public service message for the Brotherhood - check your tires

Read a previous post about changing tires every 5 years. We got our car last year and the rubber looked great. Then I checked the date codes and found they were 10 years old. We had worn down the rears half way by that time. While shopping for tires, I made sure to tell the salesmen that I wanted fresh tires. Believe it, that stopped me from buying 2 sets of tires, what's funny is that the I wanted only matching sets and either fronts or rears were much older. It seemed hard to find 17" sizes for the 348.
Guys, don't risk your lives on old ones.
Thanks for sharing.

 

Great advice brothers I agree!!

 

So I guess I shouldn't drive my 92, with original tires, at highway speeds.

 

Let us know how it works out!

 

I recently replaced my 2006-vintage Bridgestone rear tires. I don't even know what model they were.

Now I have PSS all around. The crashiness in the ride has mostly disappeared...I was beginning to accept it as part of the "old car charm," but the new tires were a pleasant surprise.

 

Great post. You can't take it with you. Make the most of your life now so you will have the memories later.

Robb

 

Bought new Michelin Pilot Super Sports today to match those on the GTS.

But the Berlinetta has a bigger edge now...

Robb
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It'll look good with Challenge wheels.

 

I'm not sure how much of this is tough in cheek but in all seriousness please don't. I wouldn't get in the car with you and if I was your friend I would talk you into buying new rubber before driving it again.

It doesn't need to be a 100% chance of blowing out and killing you to not do it. Somewhere between the 6-10 year range the chance of a tire failing on you goes from almost non existent to possible. It's not worth it. You can get a full set of decent performance tires for $600.

 

Thanks Robb,

I think most people lose perspective after awhile. These cars when new cost as much as the average house in the US. If you want it to perform at or near (or better) what they did when new the cost of entry isn't $40k. In 10 years these cars will be valued at 2-3 times what they are adjusted for inflation so these costs will seem trivial but we aren't there yet and psychologically many have a hard time keeping up with ALL the maintenance that keeps them performing how they should.

Our unwavering passion might been unique right now but in time we will have company.

 

My tires look great but are over 9 years old now. New Pilots from Tire Rack are on the list before summer.

 

New Michelin PSS on all four corners changed my 355's ride from dump truck to Bentley!
(coming from 10 year old front tires too)

 

Sounds like the pilot super sports are the way to go? Yes I can do a search on the tire topic but this is the current discussion. My car has Pirellis now (they match but dates front vs rear do not). With the older pair being 6+ years old maybe time to get a matched new set on all 4 corners of the pss. This thread was helpful!

 

I have Continental Extreme Contract DW's on my car. For the 12,000 miles I have traveled on street driving I could not be any happier.

I have not tracked the car.

 

Good to know Watson. At the end of the day there are probably several excellent options that would work fine for what we (or at least I) use the car for- brisk street driving in good weather, not track, rain or crazy pushing the car sort of stuff. I always ultimatly ask my tire shop what they recommend (Bill at Euro Tire in Fairfield, NJ), but factor in the opinions/info from f-chat.

 

My own research on tires quickly narrowed down to RE11's or PSS if you want the best performing tire, and mileage isn't a concern. After all, many of us are taking off tires 10years and older that are only half worn out.

I put the RE11's on the F355 for the closest to stock look with updated performance. My factory tires were Bridgestone Expedia's. Love the RE11'1. However, I put the PSS on the BoxsterS and they are great too. Can't go wrong with either one. ------ J.R.

 

Congratulations! You have passed the official initiation into the Ferrari Brotherhood.

 

I just got my car and have only driven it a few times. The first thing I noticed was a harsh ride and tires just didnt seem sticky to me, especially the rears. Tread was ok, but date codes, rear 2004, front 2010, made feel better. Better in the fact that new rubber will make a big difference.

Like Andrew, the money keeps flowing out because of this site. I am scratching my chin thinking about redoing the wheels before I put on the new rubber. The new center caps will look better with fresh paint on the wheels......there goes another 2k. Oh, and I just paid an extra $48 shipping to Daniel to get some parts overnight, so I can work on the car this weekend! He is great. Got to get back to work.

 

Make certain who ever paints your wheels understands that they are magnesium.
Do not powder coat...the heat involved in this process can crack the metal ...highly dangerous
Seek proper advice.
These are special, performance cars ...respect them..they are powerful machines
There are brilliant threads here on painting 355 wheels to the correct color and spec.

 

Actually I was in the brotherhood, spent the money for 5 years owning a 360 and sold the car when other priorities were going on last year (house work/jobs). I tried but failed to get back into the porsche world, and somehow ended up back here (this time with a 355) Same vacuume created from the money flying out of my wallet, but hopefully the same achy cheeks from the massive grin when you get the oil/car warmed up and start to dip into the throttle...makes the expense turn into a great investment (i.e. positive mental therapy)

 

I think this sums it up for me. I'm going to talk to my tire guy on both options, see what he thinks, the price/deal he can get on either option, etc... unless he makes the case for a third option he thinks is suitable, in which case I'll check f-chat to confirm

 

Thank you. Good advice. The place that has done wheels for me in the past does beautiful work, but I am planning to have a talk with them prior to dropping off these.

 

Thanku

 

Looks like you have the 8 wheel drive model?

 

I bought a full set of Khumo ecsta spt from tire rack and had Gateway Tire, down here in Memphis install them on the wheels and road force balance them. I put them on the car.myself. I never let a shop touch my car. They were not too expensive and I've used gateway for years. I will replace them in 5 years, or if I wear them out. I'm not worried about mileage/resale. This is a drivers car, not a garage queen.