Anyone who is a regular reader of this site knows I beat the hell out of my tires this season. Over 2,000 intense miles of backroad driving on my Tail of the Dragon trip, plus a Lime Rock track day and a few thousand more miles of pleasure driving took their toll, and I was down past the wear bars on my front tires. In the rain, the car was getting downright scary, trying to wander around on the highway. On my drive up to Lime Rock for the vintage races, I braked late for a right turn on damp pavement and skidded clean past the intersection. At that point I knew it was time for new shoes.
I considered the BF Goodrich G-Force Sport tires I had enjoyed on my Skip Barber Formula car, but finding them out of stock I opted for the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Wide Oval tires, which promised good value and high performance in the summer months. I don't drive my car in the winter, so I decided to ditch my Goodyear all-weathers for something sportier. As you can see, they were pretty much bald near the sidewalls.
I have only driven on them for one day, but I can already say that power delivery feels a heck of a lot more positive off the line, and there isn't even a hint of chirping in the corners anymore. But I have many miles of fun ahead this fall in which to wear them in. A quick plug for anyone in the NYC area: Epic Auto Care in Jersey City did a great job installing the tires for me. Their crew was friendly, professional, and the facility was super clean and well-run. The fees were also reasonable compared to shops in Brooklyn. Definitely recommended for anyone needing tires fitted in the area. Plus you get a free car wash! The guys had a lot of fun inspecting the Alfa's inboard brakes, too.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 2:35PM