Porsche vehicles are known throughout the auto industry as one of the most highly engineered driving machines. Their engineers meticulously analyze every aspect of the vehicle's execution from weight savings and balance, all the way down to how the tires perform.
Porsche vehicles from 911 Carreras to Cayennes have tires that are specifically engineered for the vehicle through collaboration between tire manufacturers and Porsche themselves. Original Equipment Porsche tires are commonly referred to as N-Spec tires because the sidewall of the tire will be branded N0, N1, N2 or N3 and so on. The "N" is the designation for Porsche approved tires and the corresponding number identifies the version, with the higher number assigned to newer generations of the tire.
For instance, if you shop by vehicle and look at the 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe, when you choose "View Original Equipment Tires" the website will display all of the tires that may have come on the vehicle as Original Equipment from Porsche. You will find on the list the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 N2, Pirelli P Zero N2, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A N0, and Bridgestone Potenza RE050A N1.
For more information, read "Porsche N-Specification Tire Approvals."
There are many cases where it can be useful to remove your wheels and tires yourself.
Regardless of the reason, there are three essential tools that'll make removing your wheels from your vehicle a safe and easy process.
1. Lug wrench - Gorilla's Extendable Lug Wrench Set is perfect for the job. The handle smoothly extends and locks to give you the extra torque you need to break those lugs free and loosen them.
2. Floor jack - The wheel and tire need to be off of the ground before you have a chance of getting them off of the vehicle! A floor jack makes lifting the one corner of the vehicle as easy as pumping a lever. We offer a lightweight aluminum floor jack that will be a great addition to your garage.
3. Jack stands - Once you have the wheel up in the air, use a jack stand to secure the vehicle in its raised position. Using solid jack stands is an important safety measure to have in place in case your floor jack fails or is inadvertently knocked out of place. Purchase a sturdy set from your local hardware or auto parts store, or you can purchase them as a floor jack and stands combination (picture shown above).
You can save money and learn more about your vehicle by performing simple vehicle maintenance yourself.
The Dodge Challenger SRT8 is the epitome of the new age American muscle car. A massive HEMI V8 and performance-tuned suspension make the Challenger a top choice among auto buyers looking for vintage-inspired good looks. There are two versions when it comes to the tire packages offered on the Challenger SRT8. Typically, if you're in a region that sees winter weather, the Challenger comes with the 245/45ZR20 Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires on all four corners. If you're in a warmer climate or opted for the performance tires, the Challenger SRT8 would have come with 245/45ZR20 front and 255/45ZR20 rear Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar Max Performance Summer tires.
Since the Challenger SRT8 with Max Performance Summer tires are staggered larger in the rear than in the front, you lose the ability to rotate the tires front-to-back. Although the tires are staggered, the wheels are not and the same 20x9 wheel is used at all four corners.
I have had many Challenger SRT8 owners using the factory Dodge 20x9 wheels with Max Performance Summer tires switch to 255/45R20 in the front. Now that the 255/45R20 tire is used at all four corners, you can have the best of both worlds: wide performance tires and the ability to rotate tires from front-to-back to gain overall treadlife and more even tire wear.
Shop by tire size 255/45R20 to view the options available and reap the benefits of being able to rotate your tires.
The anti-roll bar, also called an anti-sway bar, connects the left and right suspensions together and anchors to the vehicle frame. Typically used at the front and rear of the vehicle, the anti-roll bar is commonly used to adjust the handling balance of the vehicle and limit the amount of sway or body roll during cornering.
In essence, an anti-roll bar works as a torsion spring, so as you approach a high speed corner, the vehicle will begin to lean downward toward the outside corner pushing upward on the outside end of the anti-roll bar. The upward movement of the outside end of the anti-roll bar is transferred to the inside end of the anti-roll bar, which responds by also applying the same upward movement to the inside cornering of the suspension. This compresses the inside corner of the suspension while also providing torsion to the anti-roll bar so the outside edge can better resist the upward movement. All this results in a vehicle that'll remain level even while making high-speed corners and keep traction more equal for the inside and outside tires.
Whether you're looking to increase performance on your daily driver or looking to have the ultimate autocross/road race machine, we offer a wide array of anti-roll bar products.
Performance Street Anti-Roll Bars:
Eibach Anti-Roll Kit:
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Further reduces body roll
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Cold-formed from high strength aircraft grade steel
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Designed to fit without vehicle modification
H&R Anti-Roll Bar:
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Perfectly complements H&R springs, coil-overs, performance shocks and cup kits
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Crafted from spring steel that is stronger, more resilient than other materials
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Bent on proprietary machines designed by H&R to produce complex curves and a perfect fit
Hotchkis Sport Anti-Roll Bars:
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Improves handling while reducing body roll
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Designed for the everyday commuter and occasional road course or track use
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Includes tubular front and rear anti-roll bars
Autocross/Track Anti-Roll Bars:
Hotchkis Sport Suspension AutoX Anti-Roll Bar:
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Improves handling and reduces body roll
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Track-tested, lightweight, hollow
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Includes greasable bushings and brackets
Hotchkis Competition Anti-Roll Bars:
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Designed for the highly competitive road course and autocross course
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Maximizes tire performance and achieves slight oversteer
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Tubular front and rear bars with greasable polyurethane bushings, brackets and 90-degree zerk fittings (where applicable)
Shop by vehicle to view all anti-roll bars offered for your daily driver, autocross or road race vehicle. Also, take a look at replacement shocks and struts to complement your new anti-roll bars by reading, "Which Bilstein Replacement Shock or Strut is Best for Your Vehicle?"
Our database of Recommended Installers is always improving. We recently got all of our listed installers signed up for our Price Pledge program, to make sure everyone is able to fairly compare installation costs between different shops. Installers who participate in the Price Pledge program agree to display exact quotes for installation services based on tire aspect ratio. That's the middle number of your tire size. To learn more about a tire's aspect ratio, read "Tire Size Guide." Additional or optional related installation fees are also displayed. These services may include valve stems, disposal of old tires and service of TPMS sensors.
We have also recently added a map feature to our web search, so that you can easily see which locations are most convenient. This is especially helpful if the shop has an address that is not on a well-known street. As always, we accept customer reviews regarding your experience at the installers we work with. Reviews are averaged on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Shops that maintain an average of at least 4.5 stars out of 5 are highlighted as Price Pledge Plus installers. These are listed at the top of the search results for their local area. But first, all Recommended Installers must meet our uncompromising criteria:
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Use proper mounting and balancing equipment including touchless or rim clamp, European-style tire changers and high-speed computer spin balancers.
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Employ properly trained technicians capable of safely performing damage-free installations.
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Be an automotive business that can offer additional services to customers (alignments, complete repairs, auto detailing, etc.)
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Possess a positive attitude and the ability to treat Tire Rack's customers with the highest level of professional courtesy.
Find a Recommended Installer near you!
One vehicle that really stood out to me at the Detroit Auto Show was an ibis white Audi with traditional chrome wheels.
It's hard to find the right finish for a white car. Silver tends to blend too much with the body color. While a grey or black finish might contrast too much. I tend to believe chrome stands out on a larger white luxury car without being over the top. Wheels are a personal taste and you should go with the look you want.
If you drive an Audi S6 and you like the look of a chrome wheel, then you're going to love the savings on the Sport Edition ST5 marked down from $248 to a closeout price of just $79*.
Of course a great deal on wheels isn't complete without the right tire. The 265/35R19 Michelin Pilot Super Sport offers exceptional grip with decent wear for the Max Performance Summer category. Developed for the driver who cares about how tire technology can enhance their vehicle's performance and safety, the Pilot Super Sport delivers durability, handling and traction while increasing treadlife. For just $1516* plus shipping your Tire & Wheel Package will be mounted, balanced and shipped ready to install.
*Prices subject to change
Last week, a few fellow Tire Rack sales specialists and I had the opportunity to test the new BFGoodrich g-Force Rival at its official release. The event was held at NOLA Motorsports Park outside of New Orleans, Louisiana. Testing involved low-speed and high-speed autocross, as well as open track testing on a road course. While we haven't received the tire in stock (along with freezing temperatures in Indiana) to complete a full test on our track, my initial impressions were very favorable. It was composed, stable under lateral cornering load and had the grip level expected of an Extreme Performance Summer tire.
The tire was also very quick to respond to changes in steering input and extremely stable under high speed braking. After my brief time with the tire, it looks to be a front runner this year in its category. We were impressed with how well the g-Force Rival fared against its competitors while in New Orleans.
Pre-orders have now begun for this new tire, which will debut with 15 sizes with rim dimensions ranging between 15 and 20 inches and 205 and 335 section widths. Per BFGoodrich, "The tire will help BFGoodrich target a growing market of drivers seeking extreme performance tires which are versatile enough to be used in auto-cross and track-day events then driven home. The tires have a 200 UTQG Rating (Uniform Tire Quality Grade) which allows them to be used in racing where drivers must compete on 140+ UTQG tires."
If you're in the market for a solid track-ready tire that is still street friendly, give the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival a close look. They are scheduled to ship this coming month for many sizes. Place your order today!
Although it's no DB5, the new 2013 Ford Fusion sure has a luxury vibe. Initial reports from the automotive press indicate this vehicle performs as well as it looks.
Have you just picked up a 2013 Ford Fusion? In addition to its styling and performance, I'm sure you're impressed with the Fusion's safety features. In a collision, your Fusion protects your family with airbags in the front, side and also at knee level. If you live in an area that experiences harsh winter conditions, four dedicated winter / snow tires will give you the traction, confidence and safe feeling you need to handle roads covered in snow and ice.
Winter / Snow Tire Sizes
The Fusion's Original Equipment tire comes in one of the following sizes: 215/60R16, 235/50R17, 235/45R18 or 235/40R19. With a curb weight of 3,615 lbs. (2.5 liter Auto S), most Fusion drivers are best served by a 215/60R16 tire size. 215/60R16 is narrow enough to cut through moderate and deep snow, but wide enough for packed snow, ice and dry roads.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Ford uses the valve stem direct TPMS system, which you can purchase sensors for $32 per wheel. Your Fusion won't automatically learn the new sensor codes, therefore a Ford dealer will have to initialize them as you switch back and forth between your winter and all-season/summer tires. Are you installing the wheels and sensors yourself? Then the the optional Ford TPMS Triggering Tool is really a must as it allows you to initialize the sensors.
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package (Steel Wheel)
While it's a close decision, I prefer 215/60R16 Michelin X-Ice Xi3 Studless Ice & Snow tires on 16x6.5 50mm offset steel wheels at $860* plus shipping.
Winter/ Snow Tire & Wheel Package (Alloy Wheel)
For those who prefer a little more style for winter, I'd recommend the 16x7.5 5-108 48mm ET silver painted Sport Edition SE-16 on the same 215/60R16 Michelin X-Ice Xi3 at $1064* plus shipping.
With the weather changing, be ready by creating your Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package today.
*Prices subject to change
As you may know, Tire Rack is a mail order company, so we don't have traditional local retail locations where you can shop for our products. However, we do
have a handful of distribution centers across the country where we ship our products from, and you can also pick up your order in person.
Orders can be picked up at the following distribution centers:
Note: With the exception of our South Bend, Indiana facility, our distribution centers do not offer installation. Local sales taxes do apply to any purchase that is picked up. Also, the credit card holder must be present at time of pick up along with a photo ID.
Do you live in an area that's not near one of our distribution centers? No problem. We have a list of nationwide Recommended Installers that can provide professional and affordable installation of the tires, wheels and other products you purchase from Tire Rack. All of our Installers are carefully screened to ensure they have the right equipment and experience to satisfactorily serve our customers. In fact, to become a Recommended Installer a company must meet our uncompromising criteria:
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Use proper mounting and balancing equipment including touchless or rim clamp, European-style tire changers and high-speed computer spin balancers.
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Employ properly trained technicians capable of safely performing damage-free installations.
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Be an automotive business that can offer additional services to customers (alignments, complete repairs, auto detailing, etc.)
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Possess a positive attitude and the ability to treat Tire Rack's customers with the highest level of professional courtesy.
Only after these criteria are met is a company approved to become one of our Recommended Installers.
You can see exact quotes for installation by choosing a Price Pledge Installer while in search results. Price Pledge Plus Recommended Installers not only participate in our Price Pledge program but they are also Installers who consistently achieve a 4.5-star or above overall ranking in our survey results. Installers who participate in the Price Pledge program agree to display exact quotes for installation services based on tire aspect ratio. Additional or optional related installation fees are also displayed.
For more information on tire aspect ratios and installation, check out one of my previous posts, "Installation is Even Easier!"
2007 Ford Crown Victoria
2007 Honda Pilot EX AWD
