Tire observation
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 939
From: Chattanooga Tennessee
Tire observation
As some pointed out when I brought my car home 520 miles in the mostly wet and dark a month ago..."check how hard those Michelins have gotten"
Well, after screeching around corners at speeds I thought were too slow for the chassis technology, I know I will get the car line up by an old corvette guy with experience as I did on the '69, however:
I took the car out for a spin a moment ago and drove into and out of a steady shower, on the backroads I did a little testing of the stopping that I really haven't taken the time for just "sunday driving" around town. The result? These 20 year old 205's seem hard as a rock and REALLY lock up and skate down the road. I've owned other antiques, and I was surprised how little adhesion I had with a little water on the asphalt! I guess it's time for those Coopers...
On a side note, when was the last time you pushed your Corvette to swap ends on purpose? I know today I did
Oh, the things you're willing to do before restoration...
Well, after screeching around corners at speeds I thought were too slow for the chassis technology, I know I will get the car line up by an old corvette guy with experience as I did on the '69, however:
I took the car out for a spin a moment ago and drove into and out of a steady shower, on the backroads I did a little testing of the stopping that I really haven't taken the time for just "sunday driving" around town. The result? These 20 year old 205's seem hard as a rock and REALLY lock up and skate down the road. I've owned other antiques, and I was surprised how little adhesion I had with a little water on the asphalt! I guess it's time for those Coopers...
On a side note, when was the last time you pushed your Corvette to swap ends on purpose? I know today I did
Oh, the things you're willing to do before restoration...
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,155
Likes: 9,464
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
No one should drive a car over 10 mph on tires over 10 years old. You are only asking for trouble Have you ever seen a mid year when a tire blows out. It's not a good sight
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 939
From: Chattanooga Tennessee
I hope never to! These Michelins have zero checking or cracking and virtually brand new tread depth, but are most definitely rock hard (of course, a new Michelin passenger tire is in my mind known more for longevity than grip, even new).
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,738
Likes: 3,723
From: Central Arkansas
I used to think Michelins were the best tire around. But after living with a set on my old Explorer years ago I've sworn them off. I got up to about 50,000 miles on them and they just seemed to stop wearing and it looked like they would last forever. Then I realized that any attempt to stop the truck on a downhill grade on a wet street was just an exercize in locked wheels and sliding like I literally was on ice. Very frightening.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,155
Likes: 9,464
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Years ago when I had my first car dad gave me a set of rallys with Michelines that where about 8 years old. They looked new with plenty of tread. They were a tad hard and fun in the rain. But being cheap I ran them Until one day I come out from work and saw one of them blew out sitting in the parking lot.
