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#1. Re:Sumitomo HTRZ II INFO - from Vince Throckmorton
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Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2001 11:23:14 -0500 From: Vince Throckmorton <vince@rjthrockmorton.com> Subject: Re:Sumitomo HTRZ II INFO FYI I put a set of Sumitomo HTRZ II on my 98 sedan with Eibach springs, x brace and strut brace only, (stock shocks). After about 12,000 miles and 2 CCA driving schools at Gateway International they were starting look to be at the end of their life. I noticed a strange feeling the other day similar to the same feeling a soft sidewall tire will transmit, while headed to a service station to check pressures and get some air, the right rear went flat. When I checked the tire the tread had seperated from the carcass on the inside edge about 10"! Upon checking the rest of the tires each had started the same seperation just not as drastic. The inside edge was as thin and soft as a rubber glove! Other than this major flaw the tires performed good on and off the track compared to the stock Michelin's, but I wore the Michelins down much faster and more than the Sumitomo's without this failure. I actually had cords showing on the inside edges of the Michelins when I replaced them and have worn Dunlop Sport 9000's down this far as well without failure. If any of you use the Sumitomo keep an eye on this, it could have been hairy at the wrong time. New set of Kumos are on the way. Vince Throckmorton 98 M3-4
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#2. Re: Anyone got one 245/40ZR17 MXX3 for sale? - from David Ripton
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Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2001 12:30:33 -0400 From: David Ripton <dripton@wizard.net> Subject: Re: Anyone got one 245/40ZR17 MXX3 for sale? "Dorffer, Rich" wrote: > > David asks> Anyone got a single 245/40ZR17 MXX3 for sale? If not, I'll > probably go with the 235/40 size. I think they should fit okay on the BMW > 10-spoke 8.5" rims, since LTWs came with that configuration in the back. > (I'd buy a matched set of two for the rear axle.) > > I am guessing you have traction control on your car based on the wheel sizes > you mentioned (correct me if I am wrong since you could have a 95 with > staggered wheels/tires). Won't the 235/40 tire size potentially cause > problems with the traction control or is a 1.3% reduction in rear tire > diameter insufficient to be a problem? The car is a 1998 M3/4, so TC is an issue. You're right that running 225s in the front and 235s in the back might theoretically confuse the TC. We know that the TC works fine with the same size tires all around, and that it's fine with the stock 225/45 F, 245/40 R configuration. I haven't noticed any TC problems with a 225/45 spare tire on the back, either. (I unfortunately have more experience with that configuration than anyone should, though not enough to state conclusively that the TC is 100% perfect.) So I'd expect by interpolation that the in-between case 225/45 F and 235/40 R would also work. I know you can't always interpolate with digital systems, as there could be two discrete tire-size-profile cases programmed in, but I seriously doubt that's how BMW implemented their TC system. Too brittle. BMW would want their TC to work reasonably well with the spare tire on the back, with out-of-spec and uneven tire pressures, if marketing decided to change tire brands or sizes from year to year, etc. So my guess is that there's a single TC algorithm with pretty reasonable tolerance for the tire sizes it can handle, and that my proposed setup would fall well within that tolerance. A couple of people have offered to sell me worn 245/40 MXX3s, so this is probably moot. -- David Ripton dripton@wizard.net
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#3. F1 Magazine - from Darling Christopher Maj AMC/CEXR
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Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 11:51:28 -0500 From: Darling Christopher Maj AMC/CEXR <chris.darling@scott.af.mil> Subject: F1 Magazine Hi everyone. I wanted to pass along a tip to whoever is interested. If you are like me, you probably get your automobile tests and reviews from "AutoWeek" and your in-depth race coverage from "Racer." ("Motor Trend", as you know, is RIGHT OUT.) Call me reckless if you like, but I broke with the routine and checked out a new magazine. I was browsing the rack at Borders this weekend and stumbled upon "F-1, Formula One Magazine." The thing is huge and costs like eight bucks. But it's full of in-depth articles and behind-the-scenes photos from the F1 circus. And plenty of stuff about BMW-Williams (OBMWC). Check it out. Cod
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#4. [E36M3] Long Term Kuhmo ECSTA 712 Report (long) - from Bob Lenarcik
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Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2001 10:11:28 -0700 From: Bob Lenarcik <lenarcik@pacbell.net> Subject: [E36M3] Long Term Kuhmo ECSTA 712 Report (long) Since there seems to be a bit of traffic on this subject, I thought I'd add my 2 cents' worth. I ordered a set from Tire Rack at the end of May 2000 right as they first started shipping. $109 a pop was a little too hard to pass up. If they turned out awful, I'd beat the crap out of them and replace them quickly and only be out $450. I've probably put 15k miles on them now. First a little background: I have 97 M3/2. I've added: UUC Strut brace up front, Dinan rear brace, X-Brace underneath, UUC Swaybarbarians - middle setting up front, full soft rear, camber correction bolts to give me -1.7 deg. camber up front (tried the swapped strut mounts with -2.2 deg. camber which caused way too much inside tire wear), JC Intake and SW. Dedicated track wheels and R-Compound tires so street tires don't see the track. I have had the following tires on the car: - Michelin MXX3 Pilots - original tires on stock wheels. Got 12k miles - Yokohama AVS-S1s - 245/40-17s rear 235/40-17s front on stock wheels. Got 25k miles - Yokohama AVS-Sports - 245/40-17s all around on 17x8 wheels. Swapped front strut mounts around 16k miles - got 21k miles before inside wear got too much and had to replace them. - Kuhmo ECSTA Supra 712s - 245/40 all around. Changed strut mounts back to stock and added camber bolts. Added UUC Swaybarbarians at the same time. Car now has >74k miles. Impressions: Pretty nice ride. The tire isn't as wide as the AVS-Sport in the same size - looks more like a 235/40-17 sized tire. Does everything well for even spirited driving. At the limit, they definitely lack in ultimate grip compared to the AVS-Sports or MXX3s. They took a LONG time to wear in. I was pretty disappointed for the first few hundred miles (800-900) since I expected it to take 100-200 miles for them to stop feeling greasy at the limit. The seem to get better with age. In the wet, they are pretty darn impressive. During the last rainstorm, I was able to drive 60-65 in moderate to heavy rain and the car felt sure-footed. Definitely better than the MXX3's and the AVS S1s and even better than the AVS-Sports at the same mileage (12k miles). I've driven these on the usual city streets and highways around SF Bay. Highway 17 from San Jose to Santa Cruz is no problem but I don't push it to the limit there - too many cops and unpredictable idiots. I routinely drive Highway 9 from Saratoga to Ben Lomond (where I live) and I do push the limit there. The Kuhmos acquit themselves admirably. Their limit is definitely not as high as the MXX3's or AVS-Sports but it actually helps you develop better skills. They seem to grip better at 30 PSI all around but I have run them at 36 PSI which definitely yields better gas mileage. But even then, the AVS-S1s are tops in this category. Tire wear seems to be a little higher than the AVS's but it's pretty even. I'll probably get about 20-21k miles on these, but I am also trying real hard to beat on them. I have to admit that for 90% of the typical driving you'll do day to day, these are a stone cold bargain. For those that want better performance and still save some money over the S-O2s or Pilot Sports, I'd highly recommend the AVS-Sports for all around performance wet and dry. If I wanted a dedicated rainy season tire, I'd go with the Kuhmos in a second. If I wanted a decent day to day tire that won't see any mountain roads or get pushed to the limit every day, I'd go with the Kuhmo's. There'd be enough money left over to almost pay for a set of R-Compounds for the track.
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#5. 235/40/17 MXX3s for sale - from j.demartino@us.qiagen.com
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Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 19:20:53 +0200 From: j.demartino@us.qiagen.com Subject: 235/40/17 MXX3s for sale As a result of moving I am clearing out the garage and have a set of 4 235/40/17 MXX3s I need to get out of the way. The treads measure 4.1mm (new is 7.2mm) at the center of the tire so they have approx 50% tread remaining. They have been run in 2 autocrosses so the outer shoulders are worn as would be expected. I can forward pictures at your request. Located in the LA area. $200 or bo. John John DeMartino QIAGEN Inc. Product Manager Large Scale Plasmid/UP100/Cloning Phone: 800-426-8157, ext. 23507 Fax: 661-702-3652 j.demartino@us.qiagen.com www.qiagen.com QIAGEN. Dedicated to Your Success.
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#6. Re: Fan Breakage - from Vince Throckmorton
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Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2001 12:44:55 -0500 From: Vince Throckmorton <vince@rjthrockmorton.com> Subject: Re: Fan Breakage A.J., I had a similar experience with my 98 sedan on the street. I thought I ran over something whe I was hearing plastic fly out from under the car, but did not see any debris in the road, and I had a passenger to confirm I was not hearing things. Later that day the low coolent light came on and when I opened the hood up to check, all the fan blades were gone except for one sticking in the radiator. It was fixed under warranty by my local dealer who assumed it was a faulty plastic fan, as soon as one blade goes the imbalance causes them all to chunk away. I've had no trouble since. Vince Throckmorton 98 M3-4
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#7. Radiators - from DiVincenti, A.J.
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Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 13:35:02 -0500 From: "DiVincenti, A.J." <ADiVin@lsuhsc.edu> Subject: Radiators Has anyone had any experience with after-market OEM radiators compared to the original BMW part. The original didn't seem that well made, are the radiators from the other suppliers any better or worse? A.J.
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#8. RE: [E36M3] Kuhmo ECSTA 712 First Impressions - from Seth Thomas
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Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 14:56:07 -0400 From: "Seth Thomas" <porsche993@mindspring.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Kuhmo ECSTA 712 First Impressions My impression of these tires is what Mel has said. They are good street tires. They are quite riding down the highway, offer good wet weather traction, and good grip for the price. But they are not really a performance tire. They seem to be a harder compound than the MXX3s or the BFG KDs. They do make noise when you are pushing the car hard. But that is good for a street tire as it gives people with inexperience some warning. One thing that they seem to me is heavier than the KDs I used to have on my car. The car feels a little more sluggish with them. But that is okay with me as I don't need the best performance tire for the street. That is why I have my Hoosiers and track wheels. Besides that I love these tires. You can't beat them for the price. Seth Thomas www.m3ltw.com
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#9. tires for sale - from NickG
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Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 19:51:17 -0400 From: "NickG" <nikog@MediaOne.net> Subject: tires for sale I have several tires up for sale. The sizes available are 225/45-17, 235/45-17, 245/40-17, and 255/40-17. All the details can be seen at http://www.pompano.net/~nikog/tires/index.html . Feel free to email me with any questions. Thanks, Nick
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#10. [OT] Speedvision - from tristar500@mac.com
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Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2001 20:45:17 -0500 From: "tristar500@mac.com" <tristar500@mac.com> Subject: [OT] Speedvision I don't recall seeing anything similar to this on the list. Sorry for the re-post if it was already here. ------ Speedvision was recently purchased by FOX. If you watch and like Speedvision just the way it is and don't want it to turn into the NASCAR channel then please sign this petition. http://www.PetitionOnline.com/svsn/