[DeTomaso] tire opinion

Fri Mar 9 18:25:08 EST 2007

Mario,

  While you continue to log the largest data base in the world on Pantera tire options just make sure YOU get the damn tires before Vegas and ORR season. Those V rated tires will work qualify for GT (140 Mph) division. Forget about the mix&match on using multiple tire mfg's front and back.

  Mad Dawg Antenucci
  Team Pantera Racing
  If you're not on the edge you're taking up space"
  www.teampanteraracing.com

Garth Rodericks <garth_rodericks at yahoo.com> wrote:
  More tires to choose from. I just found that Hankook offers a 
295/50/15 tire in a V speed rating. The only problem is their 
limited selection of Hankook Ventus tire sizes for the front.

Rear: Hankook Ventus ST RH06
295/50/15 420-A-A V speed rating $134.99 ea.
http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Hankook&tiremodel=Ventus+ST+RH06

Front: Hankook Ventus HRII H405
205/50/15 340-A-A V speed rating $94.99 ea.
205/60/15 340-A-A V speed rating $86.99 ea.
http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Hankook&tiremodel=Ventus+HRII+H405

I currently have 305/50/15 tires on the rear of my car, and 
205/60/15 tires on the front, which provides a nice visual balance.
See pic at bottom of this page:
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3350045562/m/6900094662/p/35)

Switching to a 295/50/15 tire on the rear means the rear tires 
will have a shorter sidewall and shorter overall diameter.

Rear Tires: Current Tire Toyo Hankook
305/50/15 295/50/15 295/50/15
Sidewall Height: 4.84 4.43 4.43
Section Width: 8.07 8.86 8.86
Overall Diameter: 24.69 23.86 23.86

I was previously planning to go with the Toyos 295/50/15 on the 
rear and 225/50/15 on the front, which I believe would yeild a 
nice visual balance in sidewall height and overall tire diameter. 
However, Hankook does not have a 225/50/15 size available. Hankook 
offers a 205/60/15 (same as my current front tire) and a 205/50/15. 

Front Tires: Current Tire Toyo Hankook Hankook
205/60/15 225/50/15 205/60/15 205/50/15
Sidewall Height: 4.84 4.43 4.84 4.04
Section Width: 8.07 8.86 8.07 8.07
Overall Diameter: 24.69 23.86 24.69 23.07

So, my concern is that if I switch to the smaller 295/50/15 rear tire, but keep the current 60 
series size on the front, it may create the illusion that the front tire/wheel is larger than the 
rear. However the 205/50/15 just strikes me as too small. Maybe I should forget my quest 
for "V" rated tires and just go with the Toyo tires like I was planning to do.

What's your opinion? What size combinations are others with stock wheels running?

----- Original Message ----
From: Garth Rodericks 
To: Stephen Lebowitz ; detomaso at realbig.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 6, 2007 11:06:30 AM
Subject: tire opinion

Stephen,

I'm in the same situation and have been researching and searching for tires since last 
Summer. I just visited one of my local tire shops to check their prices and availability 
against what I found online. So, here's my opinion...

Buy Toyo Proxes. I've included links to the best prices I've found so far. FWIW, each tire is 
approximately $40 more from Americas/Discount Tire. You have two different options for the 
front tire - Proxes 4 or Proxes T1-R. I prefer the Proxes 4 on the front because I think the 
tread pattern more closely matches the tread pattern of the S/T on the rear. Anyway, I've 
included them both so you can decide for yourself.

Front: 
Proxes T1-R 225/50/15 91V (149mph) $97
http://ec-securehost.com/OnlineTires.com/Toyo_PROXES_T1-R.html or

Proxes 4 225/50/15 95V (149mph) $71
http://www.ec-securehost.com/OnlineTires.com/Toyo_Proxes_4.html

Rear: 
Proxes S/T 295/50/15 HR (130mph) $100
http://www.ec-securehost.com/OnlineTires.com/Toyo_ST.html#ToyoST

My comments on your choices follow:
1. Dunlop GT Qualifier T - T speed rating - 225/15/50 front and 295/15/50 back - about $430 mounted
>>> These tires are only rated to 115 mph. You will likely exceed that in "spirited" street 
use. And, the GT Qualifier is not known for excellent grip. The Toyo's I listed above offer a 
better combination of performance, handling and style at about the same price point.

2. Nitto NT 555R Drag Radial - VR speed rating - 275/15/50 all the way around (only available size) 
- about $750 mounted (these are the tires Dennis (aka Dawg) wrote about last week)
>>> These are NOT the tires the Dawg wrote about last week. These are Drag Radials. 
DO NOT use these on your Pantera. The are not designed for the side loads your Pantera 
can generate. I believe MD mentioned the Nitto NT01, which is a DOT approved road race 
tire. However, it's not available in a size suitable for the rear of our cars. Anyway, do not 
mount drag radials on your Pantera.

Cheers!
Garth
#4033

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Mad Dawg Antenucci 
Team Pantera Racing 
  The 1st & still the only vintage race team in open road racing 
www.teampanteraracing.com