TRX tires vs Standard

The answer is yes. My car had a new set of TRX's on it when I bought it.
TRX's are old technology, old rubber compounds, and ride like a truck. If you want to keep your car original, like I did, then just buy a set of extra 15", 16" or whatever rims and keep the TRX wheels in the barn, attic, garage, whatever, for the future. I run Z rated Pirelli P4000's on series 1 400i 15" rims thanks to the suggestion from Aidan and couldn't be happier.

 

I have never had TRX tires on my car so I can't compare. I will say though I'm very happy with my P4000s like Dave has.

 

I've had BFGoodrich on my 1980 400i (225/60/15) for several years and I'll do it again here in florida. They look great,ride great. and handle very well, indeed. About a hun each at Tire Rack. Also, lost less than 1/2inch of hight from the 70 series and they corner much better than the taller/softer 70 series and the car looks much more agressive with the wider shoes.I hope that this is of some help. Jacques.

 

I understand that 16 inch wheels will fit as well and may offer more choices of tires.

 

I put new TRX's on my car when I bought it 4.5 years and 16,000 miles ago. I have driven it in 2"/hour rainfall (Dave knows what that is like) and kept 70+ pace around Wash DC loop. They sure can pump water! I do "touristic" rallies with the FCA in PennJersey and Mid Atlantic Region. All of those 2-seaters can not lose me on the twisty bits no matter how hard they try and I have pulled away from lots of them at times. We run rain or shine and those TRX's really shine in those conditions. The tires are not modern but they are a lot better than they look.

Yeah, I think about making the wheel / tire change, but I will save that for when this set wears out in a few years. 16,000 miles have worn less than half the tread.
Ken

 

yeah Ken from a financial aspect I think it is all about if an owner is planning on keeping his/her car longer than the time it would take to go through 2 sets of tires, whether from mileage or time. If they think they're only going to keep the car for the current set and the replacement set then the dollars are a push and they might as well stay with TRX's. However if there is any chance they'll keep it longer then the money says swap wheels and tires and keep the TRX wheels in the garage for the next owner.

But that is just the financial side. The ride difference between TRX's and other modern rubber is huge. If any of you were closer to me I'd be more than happy to let you bolt my wheels/tires on your car to go for a ride to see for yourself. Seriously, why not, I wouldn't mind.

I changed mine because of the ride and modern tire benefit and not for the financial reasons. I mean let's face it if money was the real issure we'd all dump these money sucking cars right now.

 

Pretty funny though considering how I bit$h loudly about the cost of TRX tires yet the new 28ga shotgun I just picked up as a toy cost more than a set of TRX's including shipping, mounting, and taxes.
I really need to get my priorities in order!

 

I would like a set of new non metric wheels and tires for my car, but it does not make $ sense to do it for the reason Dave mentioned. Like Ken I brought a new set of TRX,s when I brought my car three years ago, like Ken I have also driving my car in rain, snow, and high speed runs totaling over 15,000 miles with nominal tread wear. I have been very pleased with the TRX's on all counts except for cost. I really do not understand the "old rubber" theory as a issue since I can not comprehend Michelin not using a common new formula and tire wrap method and only using the old tread molds to make the TRX tires. So in my mind the only TRX specific quality's of the TRX tires we can buy today would be the aspect ratio of them the bead lock and the tread pattern. Rubber and belts would be "off the shelf" modern stuff.
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for what its worth, I recently put a pair of new TRXs on the front of the 412 and the diference between new and old is astounding so the point that was made that Michelin may be using modern techniques might just be right...Marc

PS..it was a pleasure meeting you last week , Ashman

 

Interesting. It would seem to make sense for them to use at least modern,on hand, compounds.
As for the tires in general I agree they are old technology but aren't as bad as lots of people say. How many of us here actually have a set that isn't a bit old? I could pound nails with a chunk off of mine.