MaximusMorpheus

iTrader: (3)

Does anybody have any info on the Avon Tech M550 A/S? Want to replace OEM's and this tire stuck out.

Found this link-- http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....7&page=2&pp=30

Just wanted more info about them.

wheeldream76

Nice tires. Very durable and quiet. Good reviews. I have Avon Tech M500 (summer version) for 10k + miles. Very good. However, they are VERY heavy. ~29 pds for 225/50/17. You can get tires that are 24-25 pds and it will make a positive difference.
If you don't care about tire weight - get them!!

MaximusMorpheus

iTrader: (3)

Thanks, so is the 550 A/S the same weight as the M500?

d00df00d

iTrader: (4)

29 lbs is HUGE. I would never, ever get tires that heavy, regardless of traction.

MaximusMorpheus

iTrader: (3)

Is 5 lbs difference between stock tire a big disadvantage?

d00df00d

iTrader: (4)

It's a very noticeable difference, especially in the ability to track properly over rough pavement and dips in the road.

You may or may not notice the decreases in handling, braking, acceleration, fuel economy, ride quality, etc.... but unsprung weight is ALWAYS bad.

MaximusMorpheus

iTrader: (3)

I was looking into maybe putting 235/50R17's instead of 225/50 to get less wheel gap. Is this worth it?

wheeldream76

Yes, it may help some. However, if you go to 235/50...don't get the Avon tires because you'll reack 30pds per tire. !!! This is huge.

HOw does your tire weight affect your car performance....here is the math.

1 extra pound of TIRE weight will add 8 pounds to the overall weight of your car when moving. It is a very simple physics relation/formula.

So....if you get Avons that are 29 pounds, compared to 25 pouds Kumho's for example....there is a 4 pounds difference per tire. You have 4 tires. This makes 16 extra pounds of TIRE weight. Multiply this by 8 and you'll get how much extra weight your car will have to carry after you put the AVONs. This is almost like adding an additional small person. It is A LOT.

d00df00d

iTrader: (4)

True... but that's a very rough formula and it really only works for acceleration and, to a lesser extent, braking.

What it doesn't explain are:

1. Ride quality. Adding a lot of dead weight to your car (e.g. passengers, cargo) would actually make your ride a little smoother. Adding even a little unsprung weight will make it rougher. So I guess the formula kinda still works for this, but it's more like every pound you knock off your wheels and tires has the same effect as adding 8 pounds of dead weight to your car (although I think it's more like 10 or 12).

2. How the wheels track over a rough surface. If you have low unsprung weight, when your car goes over a bump or a dip in the road, your wheels will just move and follow the terrain so you keep traction. If you have a lot of unsprung weight, you'll kinda skip off the bump instead of staying in contact with the road.