[DeTomaso] wheels

Mon Jul 24 18:41:58 EDT 2006

Jim,

You have it right...there are many variables. Problem is my stock car has stock sway bars, but has new Billet Aldan shocks...I'm not sure what the spring rates are compared to stock, I have assumed that they are very close to the stock spring rate.

I am now leaning toward 18's rear, 17's front because what I am hearing is that the 16's will probably go the way of the 15's really soon. What I'm also hearing is that a 285 to 300 tire size will allow the car to over steer under power and won't push or over steer with a neutral throttle. Maybe a bigger or adjustable sway bar will give me the traits I want. I first need to find out what spring rates are and then do a little skid pad test. That would actually be quite a bit of fun for all the Pantera club members to do...where can we find a skid pad to use???

Tom Borcich
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: pantdino at aol.com<mailto:pantdino at aol.com> 
  To: greg.jacobs at jacobsracing.com<mailto:greg.jacobs at jacobsracing.com> ; martinipd at hotmail.com<mailto:martinipd at hotmail.com> ; JAYTCREC at aol.com<mailto:JAYTCREC at aol.com> ; Tborcich at msn.com<mailto:Tborcich at msn.com> 
  Cc: detomaso at realbig.com<mailto:detomaso at realbig.com> 
  Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 11:58 AM
  Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] wheels

  i don't claim to know a lot about this stuff, but I do know that handling balance involves looking at the front and rear suspensions as SYSTEMS.   Tire size and type is only one variable, the others being (at least) sway bar size, spring rate, and ride height.  

  So knowing that a person is happy with a certain size tire is meaningless to you unless you know the other variables, as using those tires on YOUR car may make it understeer like a pig or tail-happy.  We should probably get in the habit of listing those other variables when we respond, as it would be much more helpful.

  My car is basically stock ride height (spacers removed), stock L springs and shocks, w 17" diam front 8" wide, rear 10" wide wheels and 285/40-17 rear, 215/45-17 front tires, stock L sway bars. It handles like I want it to for the street--it understeers a bit, but that's better than EVER having oversteer on the street, when you never know what may be around the corner.

  Jim Oddie 

  -----Original Message-----
  From: greg.jacobs at jacobsracing.com
  To: martinipd at hotmail.com; JAYTCREC at aol.com; Tborcich at msn.com
  Cc: detomaso at realbig.com
  Sent: Sun, 23 Jul 2006 3:09 PM
  Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] wheels

I run 15x10 in the front (285/40/15) and 15x14 (345/35/15) in the rear. With
a proper suspension alignment it drives like a dream both on and off the
track. I use the PI billet setup. Highly recommend it. 

;)

Greg

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com<mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com> [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com<mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com>] On
Behalf Of PEDRO MARTINI
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 1:23 PM
To: JAYTCREC at aol.com<mailto:JAYTCREC at aol.com>; Tborcich at msn.com<mailto:Tborcich at msn.com>
Cc: detomaso at realbig.com<mailto:detomaso at realbig.com>
Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] wheels

Same experience Jay. Agree with your analysis. Maybe if you are Dennis 
Quella or Greg Esakoff you can handle the added rubber on the back of your 
Pantera otherwise here's one more reason to consider adding  taller and 
narrower wheels. There is a decreasing supply of 15-16" W,Y or Z rated 
tires. The availability of 15" tires to fit the Pantea is aready all most 
history. Even high speed 16" tires are becoming harder to find.
PM

>From: JAYTCREC at aol.com<mailto:JAYTCREC at aol.com>
>To: Tborcich at msn.com<mailto:Tborcich at msn.com>
>CC: detomaso at realbig.com<mailto:detomaso at realbig.com>
>Subject: [DeTomaso] wheels
>Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2006 08:52:06 EDT
>
>Hello and Congratulations
>Almost everyone goes with the 11" rears.  I had them in a Compomotive  5
>spoke and used 315/35 tires and then I sold them because I didn't like  the

>car's
>handling with them on - too much understeer especially at street  speeds.  
>The
>car was more of a chore to drive!
>I drive a "street car" 1972 pre-L now with 106,000 miles on it.
>I called M at PE and asked for 9.5" rears but at that time he was  not sure
>of the backspace and later I called Bobby Byars at Precision  Proformance 
>and
>had the wheels custom ordered.  They fit perfectly and do  not stick out 
>from
>the fenders like (some of) the 11"ers.
>I run a 285/40x17 rear and the car drives beautifully.  This size  also 
>costs
>less than the 335s, especially if you are going to wear them out on a  
>quick
>basis.  If you get 18 inchers then the tires will probably  cost more.  I 
>have
>the 8x17 on the front with 235/40x17 tires.   You can go with 16" fronts if
>you like.
>Just so you know, the Byars wheels (which are made by Boyd  Coddington)
>differ from the others which differ among themselves.  I  like them and 
>cannot say
>if the others are "better."
>All of the designs look good to me.
>Take a look at the tire and wheel sizes run on all of the super new cars
>(Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborgini, Corvette).  On the "street" models the rears

>  are
>closer to 285.  Even the new Ford GT uses only 315s on the rear.   Except 
>the
>audacious Viper which was running 335s.
>My opinion about the 9.5" rears is in the minority however among Pantera
>owners.  So, do what you like most and be happy.
>Jay Curreri
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