Well, I got the Diamonback tires, which were the virtually unanimous recommendation, from all y'all, & had them be installed, today, & couldn't be HAPPIER, with them, looks-and-performance-wize!! I took before-and-after pics, of Horace, so if anyone (beyond the ones who've already requested the shots) want to see them, please write to my office confuser, & I'll 'Reply' , with the pics: esierraadj@xxxxxxxxxxx The former P225/75R14 "Tempra"-brand 2" wide white- wall tires, look relatively tiny, in comparison, to the the 2 1/4" wide 235/75R14 'Backs, which carry no side-wall identification (at least, on their outboard-sides; I didn't 'check' on the black-wall side, because they were so well 'tandem-wrapped', for shipment; I had the tire shop un-wrap them) . The 'Backs, and 235-series Cokers, really look "right" ; I I just kept standing back, & staring at the car, like I'd never seen it, before. The 235's also make the car stand higher, especially @ the rear, so, if your car is sitting a little bit low, in the caboose, these tires should elevate it, some. My pics WILL show an increase in ride height. He really looks "alert", "on-point", and light on his 'feet', now. The other tires, for whatever reason, seemed to "plow" into corners, and felt like they were rolling- under, the suspension. These guys seem to travel right-over a turn, with less suspension movement. One guy asked me to find out how much balance weight the wheels required. I had the weights all be installed on the inside of the rims, but the installer praised the tire construction, for roundness, & the most weight that only one wheel required was 1/4 oz, which, reportedly, was within "spec", for the wheels. I also had the shop check the rims, for any stress-cracking, from radial-usage (over the past 16+ years) & the shop said that the wheels all looked fine. I paid [IIRC] $50.00 extra for a black-band to be put between the white wall, & the inner circumference (to approximate the appearance of OEM) ; the black band extends out 1/4" between the wheel rim , & the white wall, so it's barely-visible. If you have a "colored" wheel rim, I'd probably forego this expense, but, for a white-rim, ANYTHING would be good, to break-up the "Gansta" white-wall look. I'm, NOT trying to take credit for 'discovering' the Diamondbacks, just re-enforcing the comments I received, in recommending them. BTW, with shipping, they cost something like $793.00, so, if they 'last' the 8-years, that the other 3 sets of Horrie's tires 'did', then, they'll cost about $100.00/year, or $8-bux/mo., or $2.00/week, or $.30/day.... I'd hate to think what this hobby 'costs', on a "miles-driven" basis. Finally, & what I WILL take credit for: the Jag "XJ" fan clutch continues "to amaze" me, in how much of a noise-reduction improvement it is. I haven't taken a trip, to find out how much MPG improvement, it will provide, but the "Urban-Myth(??) is that the viscous clutch might 'save' 6-10 H.P. . It IS sweet, and, these clutches are readily available, for about $45.00. Neil Vedder ************************************************************* To unsubscribe or set your subscription options, please go to http://lists.psu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=l-forwardlook&A=1 |