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Tires are the most important parts on a car Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 05:37:45 In Reply to: So, you want to save money by buying cheapo tires, Chaz, Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:58:14 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
The car connects to the road only through the tire patch. If it connects anywhere else, it is time to call your insurance agent and possibly an ambulance. That tire patch area totals only about the same as a sheet of notebook paper. The turning forces are all transmitted through the sidewalls of the tires.
The biggest handling differences can be made by changing tires. The best suspension in the world will be crappy if the tires don't measure up. The best brakes in the world won't stop the car unless the tires do their job. We happily fly along the highway at 75 mph, and the only thing keeping us from rolling into a ball is the tire sidewalls keeping air in. And that tire is dissipating all the heat generated as the tire flexes with every rotation.
I drive a Saab for safety - I'm not about to compromise that by cheaping out on no-name tires. Personally, I prefer Pirellis, but opinions differ. But I've had plenty of brand name tires, and they've been OK. But I never go with Mastercraft or RoadRippers or Pep Boys This Weeks Special.
Yes, many of those cheap tires are built in the same factories as the Pirellis and Goodyears. So what. The tires are built to different specs - that's why they are cheaper. Thinner sidewalls, fewer belts, different inspection process, cheaper materials. The factory builds what the buyer asks them to build - just because they may make expensive high-performance tires doesn't mean that all the tires are built the same, just with different printing on the side. And many tires are made who-knows-where.
Tires are expensive. Hitting things is more expensive, and quite often hurts.
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