New Tyres

[Ext User(sgam@hotmail.com)]

ShazWozza wrote:
> David Springthorpe wrote:
>
> > I've decided I should best get a couple of new tyres for my 2001
> > Astra. Any recommended or not recommended suppliers on Sydney Northern
> > Beaches ? I'm thinking of Bob Jane T-Marts or Owen's Tyres at
> > Brookvale.
>
> The problem is finding a place that doesn't employ moron wheel alignment
> 'technicians'. At places like Bob Jane's you can often drive away with a
> worse wheel alignment than you drove in with.

This is a terrible generalisation. If you happen to go to Bob Jane's
in Doncaster (Victoria) the guy who does the alignment may well be the
same guy who set up the Holden Astra factory race cars for Targa Tas a
few years back.

> It all depends on the quality
> of the staff.

Wherever you go, this is true.
>
Cheers,
Steve

[Ext User(sgam@hotmail.com)]

Actually, I scored a set of Michelins a while back rather cheaply. In
a bind at the time, short of money, the retailer told me that the Astra
was imported with these tyres, which were then removed and cheaper
tyres fitted in Aus. by Holden. So the Euro OE tyres are these
Michelins (apparently) which I still have fitted to my Datto. Very
happy with them. I paid $75 per corner, got excellent cornering
(though fairly soft sidewalls - 36psi or more really required), quite
good wet performance. Only downfall is they are relatively easy to
lock up - at least compared to the Yokohamas that they replaced. As I
said, I was on a budget at the time, and all things considered, a very
good buy. Lasted a lot of k's too. (Past tense because about to buy
new tyres this week, hopefully - back to Yokohamas for me!)

[Ext User(David Springthorpe)]

On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 16:01:12 +1000, John_H <john4271@hotmail.com>

>>Stop thinking! And don't.
>
>If he was thinking, he wouldn't! :)

I did, at Brookvale - no reason for regrets as yet.....

[Ext User(ShazWozza)]

sgam@hotmail.com wrote:

>> The problem is finding a place that doesn't employ moron wheel alignment
>> 'technicians'. At places like Bob Jane's you can often drive away with a
>> worse wheel alignment than you drove in with.
>
> This is a terrible generalisation. If you happen to go to Bob Jane's
> in Doncaster (Victoria) the guy who does the alignment may well be the
> same guy who set up the Holden Astra factory race cars for Targa Tas a
> few years back.

As if I am going to drive 2000km to Melbourne for a wheel alignment.

As generalizations go it is not terrible. There are always exceptions. The
exception in the case of franchises like BJ's is to find good aligners.
Wheel alignment is just another profit centre at the end of the fitting
process. I seriously doubt if the aligners are properly credentialed in
anything but using the particular brand of whizz bang alignment gear the
franchise has leased.


..

[Ext User(David Springthorpe)]

On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 11:23:38 GMT, ShazWozza
<shaz_wozza@elementspring.com> wrote:

>As if I am going to drive 2000km to Melbourne for a wheel alignment.

Another dumb question - how do you know you need a wheel alignment
apart from uneven tyre wear ?

[Ext User(Ben Thomas)]

Trevor Wilson wrote:
> "David Springthorpe" <david.springthorpe@XXXidx.com.au> wrote in message
> news:orkj3256sgafmt0g7taiev300kmj0g6j63@4ax.com...
>
>>On Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:35:12 +1000, David Springthorpe
>><david.springthorpe@XXXidx.com.au> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I've decided I should best get a couple of new tyres for my 2001
>>>Astra. Any recommended or not recommended suppliers on Sydney Northern
>>>Beaches ? I'm thinking of Bob Jane T-Marts or Owen's Tyres at
>>>Brookvale.
>>
>>Also recommendations for tyre brands - I do some unsealed surface
>>driving for bushwalking purposes ?
>
>
> **I just fitted my Dunnydore with some El-Cheapo Pirellis. (P6000). After
> living with Japanese tyres (Toyos and Bridgestones) for the last few
> decades, I find the Pirellis very impressive indeed. They handle well and
> are very quiet. Wet weather, dry weather, nothing seems to faze them. Still,
> it's early days.
>
>

They were pretty average on my FWD SSS Pulsar.

It seems the driven end determines how suitable a tyre is.

That said, for FWD I've found Michelin Precedas to be good, very long
lasting, and worth the premium price. Bridgestone Potenzas are good too,
as are Continental ContiSports.

--
Ben Thomas, Melbourne, Australia

"Red Bull tastes like canned carbonated concentrated evil."

[Ext User(John Henderson)]

David Springthorpe wrote:

> Another dumb question - how do you know you need a wheel
> alignment apart from uneven tyre wear ?

You don't. But it helps to know what unevenness you're looking
for.

1) measure the tread depth of each tyre at 3 points, near inside
edge, centre, and near outside edge. It's normal for a bit
more wear near the outside edge because of cornering, but any
other discrepancy needs to be investigated.

2) rub your hand along the tyre's tread. Rub your hand
backwards and forwards, feeling for differences in the
smoothness of the wear as your hand changes direction. Do the
same across the tyre. Any very obvious difference means it's
time to get the alignment checked.

John

[Ext User(David Springthorpe)]

On Wed, 12 Apr 2006 07:14:29 +1000, John Henderson
<jhenRemoveThis@talk21.com> wrote:

>You don't. But it helps to know what unevenness you're looking
>for.
>
>1) measure the tread depth of each tyre at 3 points, near inside
>edge, centre, and near outside edge. It's normal for a bit
>more wear near the outside edge because of cornering, but any
>other discrepancy needs to be investigated.
>
>2) rub your hand along the tyre's tread. Rub your hand
>backwards and forwards, feeling for differences in the
>smoothness of the wear as your hand changes direction. Do the
>same across the tyre. Any very obvious difference means it's
>time to get the alignment checked.

Guess it's a bit late now, now the new ones are on, but will remember
for future reference.....

[Ext User(D Walford)]

David Springthorpe wrote:
> On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 11:23:38 GMT, ShazWozza
> <shaz_wozza@elementspring.com> wrote:
>
>
>>As if I am going to drive 2000km to Melbourne for a wheel alignment.
>
>
> Another dumb question - how do you know you need a wheel alignment
> apart from uneven tyre wear ?

There are lots of symptoms but the most obvious is when the car doesn't
got straight when you let go of the steering wheel, if a road if heavily
cambered its normal for the car to slowly steer down the camber but on a
flat road it should not turn by itself a noticeable amount.
Another symptom might be that the steering is vague in the straight
ahead position at freeway speeds.
Heavier than normal steering feel could also mean that the alignment
needs looking at.


Daryl