scathing

Now that I've done over 10,000km on my current tyres, I feel a bit more confident about making comments about them. Make & Model: Bridgestone Potenza RE-01 Size: 255/40 R17 Dry: 5 Wet: 5 Value: 3 These tyres aren't cheap, given their grey import status. And I am not too impressed with them. I suppose in isolation they don't grip badly, but compared to the other tyres I've driven on they're not that good. They don't grip that well, wet or dry. I was getting noticably more wheelspin with these tyres than on my last set (DZ101s), and I got good life out of those tyres too. The only thing I can say is that the tyre life has been quite good, but as I was expecting these to be sports tyres they're not meeting my expectations. If they were sold to me as commuter tyres I'd probably rank them a bit higher in value, but chances are I could get hard-as-f**k tyres for less.

Evidently, you see if they bought a Camry. I found out later that night that they were driving a Camry. Apparently it was in the news, and the car didn't just punch through a shop window and stop at the counter. The guy ended up down the back of the shop or something.

The mission statement for the GT-R was "Porsche 911 Turbo performance for 911 Carrera money". So I'm estimating that the car will be around $180K, since the entry model 911 is just under $200K. I've seen some people reckon it'll be under $150K, but I think they're dreaming. I'm not saying its not a nice dream, but I don't think they can have it cost effective for that price.

Another car crash appeared in the news: News Interactive and SMH Since its not some young P plater, notice how News Interactive (who owns The Daily Telegraph) isn't calling on the driver and his demographic to have their licenses taken away from them? Its not the first accident involving an old person recently yet they don't get picked on like young people. Also notice how the make and model of the vehicle wasn't mentioned, which means it probably wasn't an imported sports car. Although since he crashed into a Reject Shop, it would be reasonable to infer that the driver must have been trying to return his Commodore.

Heat cycles only become an issue if you get the tyre temps up really high. For street use I doubt you'll ever truly "heat cycle" the tyre unless you're going at ten tenths. When your tyres get really hot and then cool down, the rubber hardens and gets more brittle. I can't tell you the exact chemical / physics reasons why, it just does. The more times you heat them up and cool them down, the worse it is. Obviously, a hard compound means less mechanical grip. Being more brittle means that the life can be compromised because the tyre crumbles instead of wearing. This is why (semi-)professional racers will throw away tyres with plenty of meat if they can afford it, or relegate them for practice. I remember when I watched a mate doing Formula Ford racing in the NSW State championship. Some of his competitors were using brand new tyres for each of the 2 competitive sprint races at that meet, and had another set for the practice rounds the day before. If you're commuting reasonable distances every day I'd say to avoid the RT615 and AD07 - they are way too soft. You might get 10,000-15,000km out of the tyres, but that's not enough for a daily. And they're not exactly cheap enough to justify a tyre with half the life of a "regular" tyre.

Yeah, having to wear heavy leathers in the middle of the Summer heat, unless you want to take the risk of losing most of your skin if you come off the bike while being a squid. Summer's coming - buy something with air con and that you can cruise around in while wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

No idea, mate. If you've got one, locate your tyre placard or owner's manual. It should be printed in there. The standard R33 GTSt / Maxima / S14 200SX rim is 16x6.5, and I don't know if they had an optionally larger rim, so on the safe side I'd stick to a 7.5" wide rim unless you can find "official" documentation saying the car came with something bigger. N.B. This interpretation of the ADR is not national, so this is strictly a NSW-only thing. VicRoads says that you can go 1" wider than the widest rim for any model using that chassis without an engineer's cert, regardless of if its on the tyre placard or not. So from my Commodore example, you could go 1" wider than the rim on a HSV Clubsport R8 while still remaining legal in Victoria. I point that out just in case you ask in the "Suspension, braking and tyres" forum and some Victorian tells you that you can go 1" wider than the 17x9 that comes on a GT-R (assuming the two share the same chassis, which is another thing I don't know but I'd hazard a guess at). If my assumption about the GTSt and GT-R chassis is accurate it would be legal for them, but its not for you unless the tyre placard for the GTS-t has the rims for the GT-R. Before anyone asks, I'm not 100% sure if VicRoads has a rule on the diameter of the wheel (in case someone replies back telling us there's a only 1" diameter increase permitted on the rim). I'm only aware of the differing width rules between states because of an article in a Hot Tuner edition of Motor Magazine which pointed it out.

If I had a $12K lump sum that I would afford to not put into a home deposit etc, I'd sell the R33 GTS-t and buy a GT-R. Personal preference says buy an R32, and have change for mods.

My conclusions on the diameter permitted can be found here. As for the table you're referring to (the "1201kg year models after 1973" thing), that's the maximum width allowed with an engineer's certificate for a car. You can go to a 26mm (1") wider rim than the biggest wheel on your tyre placard without an engineer's cert for cars weighing over 1200kg past 1973, when the relevant ADR was introduced. Note that the width increase permitted (with and without the cert) is not based on what came with your car. Its based on the biggest wheel the tyre placard (which would be the biggest wheel the OEM offers as an option for your vehicle). So, if you had a frontal lobotomy and bought a new Commodore Executive, you can go 1" wider than the SS Commodore's rim (which is the widest OEM rim that is listed on a Commodore's placard).

Can you read the PDF file again and tell me where? And please, read it carefully and the text around it just so you get the context right.

Exactly. Don't believe the spam you get in your inbox.

In width, yes its 1". But he's not asking if he can put 19" wide rims on the car. As for diameter / circumference, this is what the VSI06 you linked to (which I assume you read before linking to it) has to say: Correct me if my interpretation is wrong, but when the RTA says that the diameter measured is the "wheel and tyre combination", they're not just looking at the increase in rim height to determine its legality. As long as he can find a tyre with a low enough profile to fall within that 15mm leeway, he could run any rim size he wants (until the rim itself has the same rolling diameter as the OEM tyre's rolling diameter, of course). So he could get 19x7.5 rims (with the correct offset, of course) and 215/35 R19 tyres, and they'd still be legal in NSW. He could even go to a 20x7.5" rim with a 225/30 tyre and it would still be legal.

How do you figure?

Why not hate on the R34 owners for owning better looking and faster cars than you? [Flamesuit: ON]

Probably closer to the Maxima's. Physically almost identical, aside from the intake / exhaust being different to accomodate the latitudinally mounted engine. On the Nissan Australia site the 3 VQ35DEs make different numbers in their different implementations. Ironically the Maxima makes more peak torque at a lower RPM than the Murano.

I will probably be on the circuit for a supersprint that day, so I'll come around and say hi.

Pop this bodykit on it to go with it, and get some pimpin' SUV wheels. I wonder if APS' twin turbo kit will fit the Murano....?

No P's. Not a grey import. Not a chance. If it does make the news it'll be an "unspecified sedan that got involved in an accident with a high power limited edition WRX, a car favoured by ram raiders and hoons".

An RB25 will have more torque though (which was the original question, and I think / hope mad082 just typo'ed). That said, you want a well balanced car and an RB powered Silvia won't be as well balanced as an SR powered one.

A Boxster isn't a supercar! f**k that. I'll take the Ford. I'll drive it around for a bit, and then sell it to pay for turbos and a rebuild.

I'll find out what supercars you get to sample, if I were to win, before I decide. I can always make a little money to pay for mods. Making lots of money to pay for a drive of a Zonda, on the other hand.......... Its not like Hertz will have one for rental.

I got one on Sunday. The other grand prize is a trip to Europe to sample some of the supercars, and visit the Paris Motor Show. You can keep your Ford. I'll take the trip to Europe and hopefully get a drive of a Lambo / Fazza etc.

Yes, actually.

Here's a post from another forum: Personally, I wouldn't trust 'em. A couple of guys have made the observation that they seem to be identical to the D2 coilovers, aside from the colour, and they don't have a stellar reputation either. But, they are cheap, so if that's your thing...... Can you get your Nismos rebuilt?

It depends on where you go. Generally if I go into a BP and Ultimate is more than 10c more than regular I'll drive straight back out.