Given
87%
while driving a
Alfa Romeo 147
(215/45 R17) on
a combination of roads
for 10,000
spirited miles
When You buy a new car and want to tune it to the maximum level of cornering grip and want to keep comfort as well, I think you would do it as follows.
1) Buy good Shock absorbers. How harder the tyre got pressed on the road how better the grip. But when you want to have comfort as well buy progressive chock absorbers, the Koni FSD or the cheaper Monroe Reflex. On bad roads they give a smooth ride and on good roads with sharp corners they got ferry stiff and sporty and less body roll. You can buy the best tyre, but when he is not on the road, because he lifts up by every puddle, you don’t get all out of it.
2) Place progressive springs as well because of the same reason.
3) Check your wheel mount and replace arms.
4) Check you wheel bearings.
5) Check the alignment.
After doing this then starting to search the best tyres to feel what your car needs and try different combinations.
1) When you feel to much tramlining, buy tyres with softer sidewalls on the front. I replaced the Pirelli Pzero Nero 91Y on the front for the Dunlop SportMaxx RT's. Also 91Y, but with softer sidewalls. Tramlining was gone. No minor corrections anymore, but a very good driving in straight line. And keeping very strong cornering grip as well. The Pirellis are good in cornering but the Dunlops are a big step forward.
2) On the back I replaced the Pirelli’s 91Y for Continental Sport Contact 3 87V. On the front you have the engine and you need 91, but on the back with 87 the weight balance got a little better, and the car got less bumpy and more comfortable.
The Pirellis where better in the wet but with the Conti’s on the rear axle I felt progression in sharper steering feel and more stability. The car now drives very very sharp in cornering and is very comfortable and quiet as well. Totaly perfect.
3) Search for the exact tyre pressure, by experience, and keep them on it every week. It makes much difference.
So I found the right finetuned combination for my car.