8 replies to this topic

[brivinci]

Just about ever comparison I have read on the limited selection of tires we can use never really talks of comfort. Wondering if any of you have had any experience with these two tires.

 

So, my SPi is currently running A048Rs. I'm in the US, usually only drive it in nice, warmer weather and built the car up as a sort of weekend warrior. Fully adjustable suspension, Gaz shocks. The car is lowered to suit these tires short sidewalls. Rear is as low as it can go before the trumpets get loose (with wheel in the air) and the front end is set a touch higher.

 

Now, I dont know if its the tires or the rubber cones but this car rides very harsh. Gaz' are set at full soft for road use. Its completely unforgiving. I was talking to a huge collector of Alfa's (vintage races a lot as well) and he was surprised my tire chose and said that he bets my ride is tough. This is before he sat in it so it got me thinking. Does anyone know from experience if the 048's add that much harshness to the ride over the 539's? I have no idea how old the cones are and the car has Hi-los so not sure what the stock height is to tell if they have collapsed.

 

My brothers SPi runs the A539s but he also doesnt have any of the other bits I do. I've been too lazy to swap them and try them out but also I am sure they would rub as well. I will be needing new rubber soon. I LOVE the way the A048's look and love the idea of the grip. They certainly wear fast though but thats too be expected. Just wondering if people out there can really feel the difference in comfort or is it just my cones that are rattling my teeth out:-)

[Tamworthbay]

I would stick with them. minis will never ride like a rolls Royce and swapping to A539s will make little difference. BUT it will make a huge difference to the level of grip available.

[brivinci]

So, I assume my cones are shot OR I have my car set too low, not allowing enough travel.

 

In the rear, the tires were fouling on the arches. Over a large bump or in a fast bend with a small bump. In a fast bend with a large bump was not fun:-) I installed bump stops on the rear. The kind that attaches to the bottom lip of the inner wheel well. I then disconnected the suspension and moved the suspension as far as it would go until the tire hit the arch and set the bump stops to prevent that. They dont foul now but the rear is very harsh indeed.

 

Thinking a set of competition cones are in order.

[spiguy]

Sounds like you would be better off just getting new standard cones and setting your ride height up to be as close to standard as you can tolerate aesthetically. If you are fouling on the back tyres on bumps, that sounds too low. As for the front, are you sure that you have not lowered it to the point that there is no gap between the top arm and the bump stops?  ie is the car sitting on the bumps because if so then you have essentially zero front suspension travel. Worth checking - you will be able to just swing your head under the car to check.

 

People recommend different clearances for the bumpstop to top arm, I have settled for about 10-15mm on mine and that seems to work fine with the KYB gasadjust dampers and new standard cones that I fitted all round.

[brivinci]

I know I set it up with that in mind for sure. I will check tonight when I am back home. I set the front of the car up first, leaving a gap between bumps and arms, and then moved to the back and set that. I have my car setup with a little bit of a rear bias rake (rear sits lower) to try and reduce wildly squirrely braking situations while tracking the car. Same as my FF race car. Will be interesting to see where it sits now. Would tell a bit about the state of the cones I'm sure.

 

Have you tried the comp cones? I spoke to Keith Calver about them. He recommends them. They are not stiffer, just have a different progression that adds in reducing body roll. I dont plan on running any swarbars so this could be just the thing.

[brivinci]

Well, looks like the cones have given a bit. The front right is just off the bump and the left was on th bloody bump stop. The rear right was set too low so when at full droop, everything went loose. Didn't look at the rear left. Time to sort.

[spiguy]

Definitely get that lot adjusted back to something decent then see how it rides.

[brivinci]

Its going to ride much the same with these cones I feel. They are just not up to the job anymore.

 

I am now going back and forth on cones vs springs. Sracer reds. I am waiting to hear back from a owner who installed them years ago and has a car setup much like mine. Main thing is that he had them as well as brand new cones to test between. Kind of a pointless review when someone is replacing worn out cones to springs and says they are amazing.

 

One thing that really bothers me about cones is the constant change as they "settle". Here in the States (where cars are large. haha) getting my Mini's suspension set to my specs was almost impossible. I actually towed it to 6 different shops to have them do it on their alignment rack. Explaining to each how all the adjustments work and going over all my specs. All failed. The Mini was too small for their computers to "see" it so only the fronts could be done or whatever. The last place is a specialty import shop and FINALLY did it...to the tune of 250USD!!! I really dont want to have to do that multiple times as the cones settle. I can tell you that with the A048's, if you get the suspension wrong, say goodbye to your tires. They will wear down right quick.

[brivinci]

Got the fronts out to compare to the rears. Not only are they collapsed BUT both left and right side adjustable trumpets were dislodged and sitting crooked and not seated in the cone

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