Originally Posted by crt_ben

As promised, pics of the rim protectors on the Conti's. As you can see it's not extreme, but the tire clearly sticks out past the rim, enough to protect it from light scrapes. I imagine the rim would still touch if you really ran it against the curb.

JOsworth / Jon89, I agree that the load rating is of some concern, and I wish it were higher. That said, the combined load rating of all the tires is 5,908 pounds, and I would imagine that is spec'd as "normal" operation with momentary loads or impacts being higher. Given that cushion of 2,000lbs, I'm comfortable running the tires.

I'm eager to get the matching fronts to really evaluate handling. I've only had the car for a few months, and I'm already taking the onramps and offramps as fast as I do with my MR2 turbo. The DSC is kicking in on the front tires a bit so those are definitely the limitation - they are some nearly worn out Toyo's. I never push the MR2 to the limit because it's a snap-oversteer spin before you blink kind of car, but I'm pleased that I'm taking the two ton Jag around corners as fast as a sub 3,000 pound mid engine two seater.

Originally Posted by JOsworth

Not to go too off topic.... Pictures Please???!!!!

Originally Posted by ChrisSTR

What an educational thread. Spent about an hour in here.

Not to off-track, but what PSI do you guys keep your tires at? Particularly the STR owners with the 245/40 275/35 18 inch combo.

Originally Posted by fordboy

Hey Joe your weekend sounds like one I had last year. I was going home after a 12hr shift in the middle of the night. Everything was good until I was in the center lane of the freeway in the S.F. bay area and couldn't change lanes as I came up on a pot hole about 3ft. around. To say the least I hit it about 70mph. When I got to the side of the road I thought I just bent one rim. I then noticed that I didn't have a jack or lug wrench. Forgot, I just bought the car a month before, it's on 20's, & I'm two hours from home. Luck would have it I called a buddy with a car trailer to pick me up. While waiting some dozen other cars bent their wheels in the same hole. After getting home in the morning I found out I bent 3 wheels, ruined one tire, broke two belly covers, & broke the oil pan. $3000.00 worth of damage. Insurance paid for everthing then went after the state of california and got their money back. What a long night. Now everything needed to change a tire is back in the car.

Originally Posted by fordboy

Hey Joe your weekend sounds like one I had last year. I was going home after a 12hr shift in the middle of the night. Everything was good until I was in the center lane of the freeway in the S.F. bay area and couldn't change lanes as I came up on a pot hole about 3ft. around. To say the least I hit it about 70mph. When I got to the side of the road I thought I just bent one rim. I then noticed that I didn't have a jack or lug wrench. Forgot, I just bought the car a month before, it's on 20's, & I'm two hours from home. Luck would have it I called a buddy with a car trailer to pick me up. While waiting some dozen other cars bent their wheels in the same hole. After getting home in the morning I found out I bent 3 wheels, ruined one tire, broke two belly covers, & broke the oil pan. $3000.00 worth of damage. Insurance paid for everthing then went after the state of california and got their money back. What a long night. Now everything needed to change a tire is back in the car.

Originally Posted by ChrisSTR

Driving around in NYC is a non-stop curse session for me. It's a disgrace how highways can be allowed to remain in such deplorable conditions with the monstrous taxes we pay here. I can't think of a single highway (perhaps the very small Clearview Expressway in Queens) where I'd feel secure in flooring the STR without concern for potholes, bumps, lumps, nooks, and crannies.

The state where a car is driven is always a big consideration for me when purchasing. It should be for most.

Originally Posted by ChrisSTR

Driving around in NYC is a non-stop curse session for me. It's a disgrace how highways can be allowed to remain in such deplorable conditions with the monstrous taxes we pay here. I can't think of a single highway (perhaps the very small Clearview Expressway in Queens) where I'd feel secure in flooring the STR without concern for potholes, bumps, lumps, nooks, and crannies.

The state where a car is driven is always a big consideration for me when purchasing. It should be for most.

Originally Posted by Brutal

the rear toe steers the car like a rudder on a boat. if not close to even it will scrub the tires (more wear, loss of mpg). if both rear tires point to the right, they will steer the car left, and visa versa. So I preffer them even(within a couple numbers is fine).
I like more toe in due to the fact that the road as you drive is trying to force out(toe out) the tires. What I recommend is what Ive found through experience over the years working on Jaguars (and alot of vehicles) that it gives the best tire wear, I dont like directional tires cause if you have a tire pull (more sever that a suspension drift) you can swap the tires side to side to counteract the affect. You have to brake down the tires and flip them on the rim and then move them. The reason I like alignments and recommend useing the machine as the tool it is and not the final answer for alignments. Is I service and look at the same customers cars month after month year after year. I know that if I did an alignment with new tires ( or rotated to get square rear tires up front)and a few months later they back for an oil change and I see irregular wear. I know 1 of 2 things. they hit something to knock out alignment...pothole, curb..or the tires dont like my previous alignment. (and I have pulled cars on the rack to check and adjust for free without saying anything to the customer, its about doing the right thing and learning, if what Im doing isnt doing what I thought it would I want to know it
This is how we discovered Stype had insufficient toe in.

Originally Posted by agp22

I thought toe in was negative.

Race cars are usually set toe in to allow the tires to warm up fast.

I would use regular pressure, yes.