Spyder Tires

I like Yoko's a lot.

Well… they have a 740 treadwear rating and a bunch of stuff on the website about how well they do in the snow.

I’d call Carey and see if he’s got any Sportacs left in his stash.

No 205 Sportracs Stan. IIRC, 185/65 is all Carey has. Tire Rack still has some 55’s, but they have to be, what, minimum of 3 years old now?

I just checked Tire Rack to see if anything has changed and they have Sprint+ in 205/55 and 195/60.  UTQG 320, like we like.

But nothing I’ve seen has dissuaded me from Quadtracs on my next change. 400, but I have them on my smart and I love them.

Phil, get 195/60r15 for the rear. Greg supplied 205/60r15 on mine too(Pirelli something) . But I had 195/60 on my old car and now again with the Sportrac5. If Carey has them, grab them.

185/65r15 is the best size for the front. Bigger won't fit the 4.5" rim.

Anything that's commercially available in 185/65 and 195 or 205/60 everywhere is gonna be hard as a brick. I looked on TR and there is nothing but 560 treadwear and UP! Those are NOT performance tires.

Alternatively, if Carey can't fix you up, the Vredestein Sprint Classic is in stock at the Tire Rack in

175/70R15 and 185/70R15. Treadwear 220 for the Front(sticky) and 160 Rear(STICKY!).

$146 each for the fronts and $166 for the backs. $624 plus tax and free shipping. That's a deal right there.

These sizes are VERY close in diameter(within a tenth or two of an inch) but slightly skinnier tread-wise. The front is super close, the back is 1/2" in diameter larger than your 205/60R15. BUT, they are SUPER sticky so you'll have PLENTY of stick.

They fit, they're available, not terribly expensive(like Avon), and they're sticky. I'll buy them the next time I need tires.

You're welcome.

This is why I’d never use those:

Note: Tires exposed to temperatures of 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) or lower must be permitted to gradually return to temperatures of at least 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) for at least 24 hours before they are flexed in any manner, such as by adjusting inflation pressures, mounting them on wheels, or using them to support, roll or drive a vehicle.

Flexing of the specialized rubber compounds used in Grand Touring Summer tires during cold-weather use can result in irreversible compound cracking. While compound cracking is not a warrantable condition because it occurs as the result of improper use or storage, tires exhibiting compound cracking must be replaced.

I suppose one could put their car on blocks every winter, but that’s a deal breaker for me. I don’t drive my car in those temps, but I move it all the time.

eta: Just noticed the same disclaimer for the newer Sprint+.

@dlearl476 posted:

I suppose one could put their car on blocks every winter, but that’s a deal breaker for me. I don’t drive my car in those temps, but I move it all the time.

Or you could have two sets of wheels. I have some all seasons on my steel set and Sportracs on the aluminum set. Done.

You could. I have two sets for all my “regular cars.” I’m out of space.

Of course you wouldn't, David. You're the guy that runs snow tires year round even though there is a warning not to use them above 40F!

I have a set of steel wheels with my old Bridgestone Pole Positions on them for winter storage.

I also store my FV on an ancient set of rain tires on smoothies.

If one hoons, one must pay the price.

That is the price of good tires.

I also have a set of 200 treadwear Falkens for my Cayman. Those are on Panamera wheels. The car winters on the stock wheels and tires.

And of course there are all my Formula Vee slicks (3 sets plus a set of rains). All the good tires get wrapped in black plastic bags(to block UV light)in my dry and temperate basement.

I have two piles. 3 sets of slicks is a little over 6 feet high on a dolly. On a bigger dolly are my Caymsn tires, then the Spyder Vreds, then a set of rains. It really doesn't take up much floor space.

Umm, I run all-season tires with no such limitations.

You were the guy who thought it was cool to run snow tires year round and blabbering about how soft and sticky they were, no? Or am I remembering it wrong?

@DannyP posted:

You were the guy who thought it was cool to run snow tires year round and blabbering about how soft and sticky they were, no? Or am I remembering it wrong?

I have all season “snow tires” that are soft. Sorry I offended you by  “blabbering” about it. Not everyone is as cool and affluent as you are Danny. Nor does everyone have your encyclopedic knowledge and vast experience.  I apologize. In the future I will refrain from contradicting your vastly superior intellect  

ps: There is no disclaimer about running them 40°<.

So, here's a quote from you @dlearl476, on this site, back when we were discussing Sportrac5 group buy through Carey Hines(a true gentleman) of Beck:

"OH, yeah. I know. But it's all for naught. I just realized that until I get my car raised, I need to use directional, not asymmetric, tires, otherwise I'll be replacing the rears every two years because of my camber.

As for summer vs winter tires, with 4 cars my tires crack before they wear out. I prefer the softer compound. I noticed in my Smart that it stuck like glue with the winter tires on once it warmed up. (Formerly Conti WinterContacs, now Vredestein Quadtracs). I went straight from the Contis to the Vredesteins back in late July and the difference was astonishing. If they do as well in the snow, I'm going to be amazed.

Right now I have cheap Walmart snow tires on the Beck. Sticks like glue. Would some high performance summer tires be better?  Perhaps. They'd also be significantly more expensive. I wish I could use the SportTracs, but I need to get better wear out if the rear tires first."

I'll just leave this here, no comment needed. I am neither cool nor affluent. Just a middle-class retired shlub who loves cars.

And it’s true. Do you know what this means on an all-season tire?

I’m sorry if you feel threatened by my personal experience, but it is what it is.  

I know what it means.

I'm also not threatened. I find that VERY often people project their own feelings onto others to make themselves feel better and justify their actions.

Here is the link to the whole thread.

https://www.speedsterowners.co...5s-in-the-usa?page=1

M + S tires are certainly not summer tires. They are most probably not performance tires, either.

I find that VERY often people who search for year old threads to validate their pedantic claims most definitely feel threatened.

I find the VERY often people who use words like “blabbering” to describe someone’s opinion most definitely feel threatened.

YMMV

What kind of oil are you using?

Key lime pie, I believe.

@dlearl476 posted:

I find that VERY often people who search for year old threads to validate their pedantic claims most definitely feel threatened.

I find the VERY often people who use words like “blabbering” to describe someone’s opinion most definitely feel threatened.

YMMV

Hmm, I smell something, or should I say someone. Keep grinding!

Cheers. I'm out.

@550 Phil, Tire Rack gives you all the specs on sizing. See if you can look up your current tire, or measure them.  The two specs you need are section width and height.

Current tires

205/60 15

185/65 15

VREDESTEIN HITRAC ALL SEASON

195/60 15

185/65 15

I think these would be much nicer than Yokos.  I'm concerned that Vred Sprint Classic 70s in the front will rub.  They are extremely close now. 

@550 Phil posted:

Current tires

205/60 15

185/65 15

VREDESTEIN HITRAC ALL SEASON

195/60 15

185/65 15

I think these would be much nicer than Yokos.  I'm concerned that Vred Sprint Classic 70s in the front will rub.  They are extremely close now.

205 vs 195:

Front to rear:

165/70’s rubbed at close to full lock on my Beck with a full size beam. NW would 185/70’s work on my car.

Thank you. That was very helpful. Think I’m going to get these Vreds when I get back from seeing granddaughter in Breckinridge. Can’t wait to get out of the heat for a week.

I hear you. It was 77° up at Sundance yesterday. Too crowded, but cool.

@550 Phil, each brand of tire is a little different from another.  185/65-15 is a nominal size, you need the actual size.  This info is provided by Tire Rack.  

HiTrac 185/65r15

section width 7.3”            Overall Diameter 24.4”          Tread width  5.5”

Sprint Classic  175/70HR15

                         7.0”                                            24.7”                                  5”

As you can see, these tires are very close in size.  A HiTrac is a 700 tread wear rating, think 60,000 miles,  while the Sprint Classic is a 220, about 20,000 miles.   The difference in handling will be night and day.  @DannyP gave you, what I feel, is excellent advice.

@LI-Rick posted:

As you can see, these tires are very close in size.  A HiTrac is a 700 tread wear rating, think 60,000 miles,  while the Sprint Classic is a 220, about 20,000 miles.   The difference in handling will be night and day.  @DannyP gave you, what I feel, is excellent advice.

The higher that number is Phil the less performance you will get out of it but the longer tread life you'll get. The lower the number is the sticker the tire will be, and as such the more performance you'll get out of it, but the less mileage you'll get out of it as well. You will also get less overall "comfort" out of a performance tire because it will have a stiffer sidewall. An All-Season tire will have a softer sidewall and more flex which will translate to a softer ride. I know you're looking for Spyder tires but the Vredestein Sprint Classics I had were a superb ride and handled better than any tire I ever had on my Speedster.

The lower the number is the warmer it will need to be to drive on them. But mileage shouldn't be a problem for any of us because the majority of these tires will age out before they wear out. And the same for the temperature because most of us aren't out driving in the cold. If it's too cold for your tires it's probably too cold for you. In the winter just keep them aired up more and don't move the car unless the tires are warmed up. Buy a set of cheap tire dollies and store them on those for the winter if you're really concerned. That way if you have to move the car you're moving them on the dollies and not rolling the car tires.

If you really want to go with the same size combo you currently have, I would look at the Vred Quatrac. They have a wear rating of 400, should be much stickier than the HiTrac.

All that is why I like these:

Not only are they UTQG 400, but they’re 91V (designed for a lighter car)

@LI-Rick posted:

If you really want to go with the same size combo you currently have, I would look at the Vred Quatrac. They have a wear rating of 400, should be much stickier than the HiTrac.

Great minds (sometimes) think alike.

I have these on my Smart and I love them. And they seem to be wearing surprisingly well for a 400AA. And I drive it almost every day.

Get the stickiest tires you can get, and forget about tread life.

For the number of miles most of us put on these cars each summer, the tires will be out of date before they wear out.

And if you can afford to have a toy car, you can afford to pony up for some tires every few years.

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

Get the stickiest tires you can get, and forget about tread life.

For the number of miles most of us put on these cars each summer, the tires will be out of date before they wear out.

And if you can afford to have a toy car, you can afford to pony up for some tires every few years.

^^^^^ That! ^^^^^

@dlearl476 posted:

All that is why I like these:

Not only are they UTQG 400, but they’re 91V (designed for a lighter car)

You guys do you, but there’s no way I could put a tire that looked like that on a Spyder (or Speedster). I try to be about function over form, but there are limits.

It might be chock full of vitamins and gooey goodness, but it looks like a mudder tire for Barbie’s Malibu Dune Buggy.

Pushing 75 and i could care less about treadwear  or  lifetime warranties.

@barncobob posted:

Pushing 75 and i could care less about treadwear  or  lifetime warranties.

Yeah.  Lifetime warranties are shorter for me than what they used to be.

I'm still hoping for an extended warranty.

dlearl476 do you have a link for that tire size calculator. I want to know the true size of the sprint classic front tires. The true diameter to be exact so I can compare to diameter of current Kuhmo tires. I really don’t have much room to spare.

@550 Phil, look above, I posted the exact size.

Tire Size Calculator here: LINK

Have fun!

@JMM (Michael) posted:

Tire Size Calculator here: LINK

Have fun!

Thanks