I commute on some truly awful roads (surface-wise), so most of the time, I run fairly low front tyre pressures (32 - 34psi)

This gets rid of a little of the crashiness of the ride (I'm also on Eibachs and uprated shocks). However, I've also realised that it had another benefit - traction.

For the Cat & Fiddle meeting at the weekend, I expected to have a whizz up and down the pass, so I put the correct pressure in - 38ish psi. The ride was noticeably harder, but cornering was better - crisper turn-in.

All as expected so far....

However, today it rained. I'm still running the higher pressures and I still used exactly the same roads. However on a hill climbing away from a small roundabout, where I always get wheelspin in 1st and 2nd, I also lit up in 3rd and 4th and got a squirm in 5th the Mondeo behind me must have wondered why there was so much noise and so little forward motion - he stayed with me to 80, after which I finally stopped spinning the power away and got some decent acceleration.

Whilst I'm not surprised at losing traction, I AM surprised at just how much I've lost. Time to let the tyres down again

Quote:

---

the Mondeo behind me must have wondered why there was so much noise and so little forward motion

---

I had this the other day...

What tyres are you running on the road Nigel? Pirelli P6000s and P Zero are awful in the wet IMHO. Not exactly super in the dry either!

This is the bane of my life - as with all the torque my oil burning shopping trolley kicks out you need all the traction you can possibly get. Unfortunately the tyres are of such low profile I don't really have the luxury of dropping a few psi for fear of smashing the rims up on potholes - so wheelspin city it is. It hasn't got any form of LSD or viscous coupling to help either - just a crude TCS / ESP system that actually does its best to crash you, almost wrenching the wheel from your hands should you provoke the rear of the car.

I did used to drop the pressures at the front of the coupe however - made a big difference, mainly to all the squeaks and crashing noises emanating from the dashboard region over rutted roads...

I think Nigel wears Toyo T1-Rs. I have used 35psi all round since Hanny's suggestion and it offers the best balance between both I feel, although I have about half the hp

I used these Toyos at 38psi (at the front) and have noticed they're wearing down quite heavily to the outer edge but are ok towards the centre.

New set all round tomorrow morning.

Now the weather is closing in i never reccomend manufacturer spec tyres pressures, specially in the rear wheels as im sure andym and tubesaway will atest the roundabouts near me can be lethal and have proved so in years gone by and every week or less now you'll find some bmw or merc or mgf/tf has slid off while easing off or applying too much power so its not confined to just rwd's. it makes it good when you have the tyres just so as you can set the break away limit so the back end steps out first(which i find easier to control) and on some of larger roundabouts manage a 4wheel drift when its safe

Definately helps even with the softest setting on my koni adjustable you notice the difference over rough ground and if you like your cornering can even out tyre wear a little

So what do you guys run?
When I picked mine up, the guy had it at 32 Front and 28 rear, which felt soft and wallowy. So I popped it up to Fiat handbook spec - 2.7 & 2.2 bar, 39 & 32 psi respectively. It now seems better handling, but a bit harsh and crashy over my local potted roads.
Do the front tyres really need to be 3lb firmer just because it's a turbo? I notice the 20V is a reasonable 36psi in the handbook.

I've got the standard 20VT alloys with 205/50-16 Pirelli P-zeros on. Do the LE/Plus tyre spec of 225/45-16's fit on the std wheels? what's the larger wheels' width 7J?

'97 P 20VT. Ink Black

I use 39 fronts as if i go any lower i find it accelerates tyre wear greatly. And i usually go for 34-35 rears.

Might have to make some adjustments now though with my renewed suspension.