Well, the trusty Berlina is once more in dire need of new rubber, I've gotten pretty decent mileage and traction out of the last set, Yokohama ES 100s. I'm looking at a couple of other options: Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1, more Yoko ES 100 and Bridgestone Potenza RE 960 Pole Position "all season".
The Dunlops are listed as an extreme performance 3 season tire and have been described as a pretty decent auto cross choice. I'm sure I will love the slide characteristics and traction, I'm concerned about short life. I tend to slow way down when it's wet out, so I don't care as much about wet weather performance out here is sunny California. That said, at the moment it's blowing 20 to 30 with higher gusts and raining cats and dogs! The reviews say the Yokohamas are noisy (hasn't bothered me so far, although the plastic trailing arm bushings did). I don't like them as much as my all time favorite tire, the Yokohama A008, but they're adequate for my driving style. The Bridgestones look interesting, better wet performance, quiet, etc. I'm not sure about how grippy they are and what the slide characteristics are. What I liked about the A008s was the way they oozed into a slide, were controllable while in it, then oozed back to traction, all quietly without the Pirelli howl. Any feedback from users of these tires on an Alfa? Other recommendations? I'm looking at mounting 195/60 tires on Cromodora 14" wheels. Thanks! Stevan Thomas 73 Berlina -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
