Ferrari Mailing List: Re: 308GTB in New Zealand update and a question

[Dennis Liu (bigheaddennis]

What?  Unbelievable.  You 308 actually has cold air conditioning?  Get out!
:-)

Re tire pressures - don't give too much credence to factory recommended air
pressures.  Actually, don't give ANY credence to them.

1.  Those recommendations were written for tire technology of 30 years ago.
Tire composition, design and sizing have changed dramatically over the last
30 years.  Arguably they are the component of a car that has made the MOST
advancements in 30 years.

2.  What the factory wants is not necessarily what YOU want.  Notoriously,
most if not all manufacturers set up their cars, in factory spec, to have
nice, safe, predictable understeer.  That's why on many sports cars,
particularly mid and rear engined ones where you're most likely to suffer
the deleterious effects of oversteer, particularly TTO, you'll see a bias in
pressures towards the rear (e.g., 28/34).

Thus...  You need to consider the type of tyre, the conditions under which
it will operate, AND what you want the car to do.

For example, if you're going with modern 16" rubber, particularly if it's a
"max performance" or "ultra high performance" compound, and you're driving
it mostly in warm temps (60F-80F ambient), and you'd like the car to be more
neutral in handling, I'd go with 34/32, front to rear (measured cold).  If
it's hotter than that, drop a pound or two (tires will heat up more).
Maximum stick on street tires come around 40 lbs hot, and if you drive
aggressively on the street, it's easy enough to add 4+ pounds (10+ lbs on
the track).  More pressure increase in the rear, particularly on a 308.  For
street use, I'd like to shoot for a target temp of 36-38 lbs HOT.  The ride
will be a little stiffer, but you'll enjoy yourself more.

Just my $0.02.

Vty,

--Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Gavin [mailto:gavinnz [at] xtra.co.nz] 
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 11:28 PM
To: Dennis Liu
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: [Ferrari] 308GTB in New Zealand update and a question

Hiya,
Well my Ferrari has bitten me in the arse big time!
After my two days of glorious driving a couple of weeks ago I came down with
pneumonia... all I can put it down too is the hot sunny weather (hot car
inside) and without being aware of it I had the air cond vent pointing at my
left chest for the whole trip.. so that bit of me was cold...

So... I am out of hospital now and recovering...
CAN'T wait to be able to drive the car again!!!

Now a quick question... my car is fitted with 16 inch Ferrari wheels... 7
inch front and 8 inch rear...
What tyres pressures would be best for the car with that set up?  I expect
it might be the factory recommendation for the QV model as they had
something like that wheel set up didn't they?

Regards
Gavin
'78 308 GTB
New Zealand


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