As many of you already know, my 348 GT/S is about 16 years old and has still 12.000 km in the odometer. When I drove it with it's original tires (and yes, the original timing belt) it felt rock steady even above 200km/h Now I have changed the tires for new Bridgstone Expedias S-01 so that it is kept with the 100% originality tire pressure sticker. I know that the protection chemicals shoul wear out in the next 100 miles or so, but the car just feels too dam instable in the rear above 180km/h One thing is certain, the rear tires are not Left+Right branded, maybe from the 456 front specs? Will it make any diference? Also, the workshop manual states that tires branded with DKM or something similar are not acceptable... Any thoughts?
I would be curious on what the belts look like. old school pineapple or newer, smoother frag type. ;-) on to tires, they might have been stored on their side for quite some time at the warehouse which might slightly change the shape. I bought a set of tires one time that had a coating of dust on them and they didn't feel new for about 300 miles. Also if your car has any alingment issues, older tires were "carved" by this, and the newer tires with the new shape may feel different. a degree or 2 off can do this and it will feel not as stable.
Use the older stock tires for club events and shows. Otherwise get yourself some 355 wheels and newer tires for tracking or just safely driving the car. Use 15mm rear spacers and the high speed handling issue will go away. It would not hurt to install a lower lip spoiler on the front as well, but that would go against a strictly stock appearance.
Thanks for the inputs, but my biggest fear comes from a friend of mine experience. A new rear set of Yokohamas on his 996, wich felt completely insane on that rear above 180km/h.... They just traced them down as unfit for 911's.... Will these S-01 from the front 456 be unfit for my 348 rear?
Sorry, Ron, but when I read this, I think of the quote from Rifledriver, I believe: 'The belt looks brand new... except for the broken part"
Your right of course, that's why I finally got it done. Some of the comments I received when I joined FChat scared me straight.
