The cars and bikes thread!

[tribe125]

55s would be my choice, if there are suitable wheels. I'd be happy with more rubber on my car but not on Geoff's.

Geoff bought the wrong car - or the right car in the wrong configuration. His test drive was too short, or was on flattering roads. He's now looking for a softer ride, which will inevitably have an impact on ultimate handling. It's a compromise he has to make if he can't tolerate the ride quality.

I'm not sure that just swapping from run-flats will give him what he wants, so have pointed out that the more usual solution to a harsh ride is more rubber. Ultimately, I would take the advice of a BMW dealer who must know the pros and cons of all combinations.

Generally though, I think skinny tyres are a bit of an affectation on road cars, especially those that are meant to whisk you across Europe in comfort. British roads, in particular, are not smooth. Most roads have pot-holes and poor repairs.

[Seriously]

blah blah tyres blah

Forgot to say the other day, if it's not clicked so far the 45 or 55 etc figures mentioned by everybody is the rubber aspect ratio (like a TV screen) , i.e. the ratio of the width of the tyre to the sidewall height...#

Bbut the final diameter (or rolling circumference whichever way you state it) is the key figure that matters. That's what the calculators are for.

[happyscrappyheropup]

1. You'll be fine on 18s. If you go smaller, you'll likely be disappointed at how they look in the wheel wells.

2. Window tints make no sense in moderate climates. You give up a lot of night visibility for "looks", which attract the attention of thieves and the police alike, and unless you live in a hot climate, you don't get the benefits of tinting.

I always tint the windows of my drivers, even my street/race cars (hides the roll cage). Never had any trouble seeing at night, now it's even easier since all new cars have backup cameras and sensors.

[happyscrappyheropup]

Forgot to say the other day, if it's not clicked so far the 45 or 55 etc figures mentioned by everybody is the rubber aspect ratio (like a TV screen) , i.e. the ratio of the width of the tyre to the sidewall height...#

Bbut the final diameter (or rolling circumference whichever way you state it) is the key figure that matters. That's what the calculators are for.

The calculators will get you close (as will the formula I posted) but all manufacturers give ratings for their tires - acceptable wheel width, height, etc. If you go to a site like TireRack.com you'll find them under the "specs" tab when you select a tire.

[Raza]

I always tint the windows of my drivers, even my street/race cars (hides the roll cage). Never had any trouble seeing at night, now it's even easier since all new cars have backup cameras and sensors.

I've been in and driven cars with some pretty serious tint at the back, and parallel parking them at night is a nightmare. You can't see anything. Sure, there are backup cameras now (the consequence of other bad laws), but that's not always the case. And, I'm sure, like me, you grew up with looking out the windows to back up and parallel park. I still don't fully trust the cameras.

[shameless]

1. You'll be fine on 18s. If you go smaller, you'll likely be disappointed at how they look in the wheel wells.

2. Window tints make no sense in moderate climates. You give up a lot of night visibility for "looks", which attract the attention of thieves and the police alike, and unless you live in a hot climate, you don't get the benefits of tinting.

we still do have some hot sunny days in the UK -i tinted the rear in my 4x4 simply to keep it cooler for my travelling dogs -no other reason -without question visibility is severely affected and one has to use much more caution

[tribe125]

There's a limit on the deepness of the tint, I believe, before it becomes illegal.

[geoffbot]

Yeah I'd only go manufacture standard - 20% or something.

[Seriously]

Yeah I'd only go manufacture standard

It's not a watch !

[93EXCivic]

Haha. My Civic when I first got it had a windshield tint and a super over the limit tint on the side. It looked boss though.

I finally got pulled over for it after a two years.