412i Michelin TRX Tire replacement

Just got my new tires delivered from Longstone. Great service and quick delivery.

Two more thumbs up for Longstone.

Just for clarity I use the 240/45 tire, ie the TRX GT. The lower profile does look good on the 400's and I like the more modern look of the thread better.

The first set was bough at the millennium (manufactured late 90's) and the latest set is two new ones now that goes in front and two in the rears from 2018. All TRX GT, ie 45 profile. Should last a few years. The car has only covered 33k miles form new .

Will the 45 profile go out of production?

 

Hi Sebackman

Thank you for your kind words.

To my knowledge i beleive they plan to continue to make the 240/45R415 TRX GT. It is really made for a BMW 635 CSi. The dimentins are on here

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/michelin-classic-tyres/trx/240-45r415-michelin-trx-gt.html

OD 640mm

this is the 240/55R415 TRX

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/michelin-classic-tyres/trx/240-55r415-michelin-trx.html

OD 679mm

That is a difference of 39mm (about 1 3/4") I think that is quite a big difference. That will lower the car, change the gearing, make the wheel arches not so full and the speedo will be out. I'm not sure it is a route i would choose to take.

Have you fitted and driven on them yet? might you want to re think it? we can probably help if you haven't driven on them.

 

Hi Longstone,

Thank you for your kind offer. I have been running the 45 profile all around since the millennium and aside from the speedo reading wrong I think they are better in all aspects. I use a GPS for speed info.

Handling and stability is better, they run more silent and, in my opinion, improves the look of the car with the lower stance and thread pattern.

It does get lower but I have not had any problems with that and I do think they look the part in the wheel houses.

I have attached a picture so you can be your own judge on that.

Kind regards
//Rob

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The 45 profile (lower ride) increases the risk of hitting the exhaust manifold/pipe on road irregularities such as badly designed speed bumps.

 

You are right, but remember that the ride height only lowers with half the diameter change which is about 20mm. The distance change between the axle (center) and the tire thread surface (ie not 40mm, as mentioned).

I have used the 45 profile tires in +20 years without problems. Ok, I do admit that I'm a bit cautious driving over speed bumps and often go diagonal if they are massive. But I have not hit anything yet. Knock on wood.

 

Oo sorry i cannot agree that handling will be better.

yes maybe directional stability could be slightly improved by having less side wall heighth. However i dont think the 412 is renown for wandering at cruising speeds. I always thought that was one of its strong points.

But the ride will be quite dramatically effected by having nearly an inch less ride height, which again i always thought was a strong point of the 412.

The TRX GT is still a great tyre, and it is still a cool car.

What i often think in circumstances like this is it would be great if there was an easy way to simply swap back to stasndard set up for a day and try it, but that doesnt come cheap.

Have you seen this page about Vintage Ferrari Tyres?

https://www.lucasclassictires.com/Vintage-Ferrari-Tires_c298.htm

there will be a 400 and 412 page on there soon but you can get the 16" P7 off there if you need them.

 

All it takes is finding another 412 with the correct 415mm TRX tires and swapping them for a day, which I would gladly do if we were in the vicinity.

Sent from my MAR-LX1M using Tapatalk

 

If memory serves me well, one of our member has two cars, one with metric wheels, one with regaular modern tires. His conclusion was that the modern tires did not offer significant performance increase (more afordable though).

The new TRX are very good. The coumpound seems much more soft (after 900km, mine do show some wear, which never occured with the older tires).

@sebackman has a cab, the shorter radius makes the overall ratio shorter, which could be a good idea for a cab that is probably not going to reach 240kmh very often.

 

A problem Michelin have historically had is that the longevity of their tyres has meant people end up with old rubber on their car.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/michelin-classic-tyres/trx.html

It is the carcass structure tha makes a Michelin. the best houses have good foundations.

 

An inexpensive new tire is way better than the top of the line 10 year old tire.

 

don't use 10 year old tyres.

you can get new ones here

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/240-55r415-michelin-trx.html

The next set of these we sell will have the date code 1322 on them.

However inexpensive modern tyres will never be good on these cars either. It is like comparing 2 turds.

 

couldn't have said it better.

 

The Michelin 215/70VR15 XWX we have on the shelf currently have the date code 3522 that is pretty good for an effectively obsolete tyre.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/215-70-15/215-70wr15-michelin-xwx.html