Fun chuckable contact patch..?
Discussion
There have been recent threads on PH and opinions expressed elsewhere about how modern and extremely capable cars are only fun at antisocial speeds. At lower speeds they are merely expensive and very flash conveyances.
RWD, good suspension, precise steering and feedback, easily modulated brakes and a lack of additional nannies seem to be important for enjoyment and engagement. The Viper is squarely in this desirable place.
Something like an Elise which has a lot of 'tire area vs. torque' and is very capable at a track is perhaps less enjoyable on the road. The contact patches for a Viper are huge and although I appreciate that this is needed for high speed performance, iI question whether it is desirable for fun within more socially acceptable limits?
Aside from conversations down the pub, does having a large amount of rubber detract from the enjoyment?
'Corners on rails' is an amusing metaphor but I don't want to be a train driver...
RWD, good suspension, precise steering and feedback, easily modulated brakes and a lack of additional nannies seem to be important for enjoyment and engagement. The Viper is squarely in this desirable place.
Something like an Elise which has a lot of 'tire area vs. torque' and is very capable at a track is perhaps less enjoyable on the road. The contact patches for a Viper are huge and although I appreciate that this is needed for high speed performance, iI question whether it is desirable for fun within more socially acceptable limits?
Aside from conversations down the pub, does having a large amount of rubber detract from the enjoyment?
'Corners on rails' is an amusing metaphor but I don't want to be a train driver...
Great cars, But there can be problems with all that tyre rubber.
Because the tyres are so wide 335 x 30 x 18" or 19" in wet weather they have a hard time displacing all that surface water.
So unless you are a Race Car Driver with Balls of steel, you need to slow the car down hard, people in small hatchbacks and narrower tyres will fly past you in the wet, So be it.....There is nothing to prove.
You are driving a poster Icon, they aren't.
In the Dry it's a whole different story, and you can keep up with many performance cars and even get inside some of them on bends (On track).
In General ...if the road is wet no problem, but if you see large lakes of surface water across the road, brace yourself for a aquaplane moment and rear end twitch!
Another thing that can be a PIA is, if you are on the inside lane of most motorways, due to the large amount of trucks and lorries on the road, the lanes become rutted and with the wide tyres of the Viper you may think you have something wrong with your steering! Move into the next lane and everything will be just fine.
Problem now with Viper tyres is getting hold of them! Michelin only produce them in limited batches and seem to sell them to the USA rather than to european owners, Pirelli also make a tyre but hard to get also. and is very expensive
Toyo produce the R888R for the American market but have no current plans to sell it to the European owners. 19" inch tyres are available, but 17" and 18" tyres are very hard to find and many that you do find have old date codes on them.
Im currently on the older Toyo R888, but due to the soft compound they wear out quicker than the michelins. No Idea what I'm going to do when this current set run out? (I don't want to change to a rear 19" wheel)
Because the tyres are so wide 335 x 30 x 18" or 19" in wet weather they have a hard time displacing all that surface water.
So unless you are a Race Car Driver with Balls of steel, you need to slow the car down hard, people in small hatchbacks and narrower tyres will fly past you in the wet, So be it.....There is nothing to prove.
You are driving a poster Icon, they aren't.
In the Dry it's a whole different story, and you can keep up with many performance cars and even get inside some of them on bends (On track).
In General ...if the road is wet no problem, but if you see large lakes of surface water across the road, brace yourself for a aquaplane moment and rear end twitch!
Another thing that can be a PIA is, if you are on the inside lane of most motorways, due to the large amount of trucks and lorries on the road, the lanes become rutted and with the wide tyres of the Viper you may think you have something wrong with your steering! Move into the next lane and everything will be just fine.
Problem now with Viper tyres is getting hold of them! Michelin only produce them in limited batches and seem to sell them to the USA rather than to european owners, Pirelli also make a tyre but hard to get also. and is very expensive
Toyo produce the R888R for the American market but have no current plans to sell it to the European owners. 19" inch tyres are available, but 17" and 18" tyres are very hard to find and many that you do find have old date codes on them.
Im currently on the older Toyo R888, but due to the soft compound they wear out quicker than the michelins. No Idea what I'm going to do when this current set run out? (I don't want to change to a rear 19" wheel)
Edited by fatboy18 on Monday 25th November 22:46
You should get these, cheap as chips as well
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
I used to run kumho v70a on mine but somehow they disappeared from the market as well.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
I used to run kumho v70a on mine but somehow they disappeared from the market as well.
I’ve noticed the inherent problems with such wide tyres too! Aquaplaning and tramlining seem to be something I’ll have to get used to!
On my gen3, I’ve got Michelin Pilot Supersports on the front (275/35R18) and Pilot Sport 4 on the rear (345/30R19).
They’re not really winter cars! During the warmer and less wet months, the grip is immense as the contact patches are huge.
On my gen3, I’ve got Michelin Pilot Supersports on the front (275/35R18) and Pilot Sport 4 on the rear (345/30R19).
They’re not really winter cars! During the warmer and less wet months, the grip is immense as the contact patches are huge.
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