Surviving NYC - Shocks and Tires

[RedHookGal]

Re: Tires

I decided on the Eagle HP Ultra Plus's. A nice all season tread with with enough performance characteristics to maintain the vette's integrity.

I am curious about your experience with the HP's, since from what I see at TireRack.com and elsewhere they are supposed to be terrible on any amount of snow, which is definitely important.

And also, how common is it for there to be sidewall blowouts on the Dunlops? I understand that NYC would be the place that it could happen, considering our roads, but I have only had blowout issues with Firestones (tread separation on my 280ZX and on two work trucks!).

Resto - I understand what the hardtail is like in NYC - in the late 80's a friend and I built a '66 Triumph Bonnie chopper with a hardtail and a girder front end. When I met my partner in 1990 she absolutely refused to ride on it; smart gal that she is. Only then did I buy a Harley with shocks. And BTW: It just looks like we all moved, but only because we keep looking for that perfect rent-stabilized apartment!

And CKA, have you noticed what they are finally selling again?

 

[CKA_Racing]

hahahaha.. no way. Spalding balls. Cool.
Yup, there are perfect for stick ball and stoop ball.

 

[resto75]

Its funny I mentioned stick ball around here a few years ago and no one knew what I was talking about except some from NYC.

Well we now have a jpeg of the ball any one have a broom handle photo ???

 

[c4ever]

Oh man, this is great. Stickball and Stoopball:J :J Now those were the days.

Remember the Pinky?

Carlo

 

[84goldvette]

HP's in Snow

Sorry I can really atest to how the HP's perform in the snow. The only time my vette makes it out in the winter is to get a car wash and warm up the tires to prevent flat spots.

I have heard comments from both sides of the fence about the HP's in snow. All I can tell you is that I put HP's on my Dad's Audi and our winters up here are probably about the same as yours and I would never put family into tires I don't trust.

I only bring up the situation about sidewalls because you mentioned the amount of potholes in New York. Bruising the sidewall of a tire on a pothole or any other obstruction is the main cause of tire failure.

The HP's have a number of features that reduce this chance and one of the main reasons why I choose that tire.

Check out www.goodyear.com

AB

 

[RedHookGal]

Even More Fun!

Well, today I finally had the time to really dive into the car with both hands - first off was tightening down all the spots that I have found where it has an opportunity to squeak and rattle, followed by getting out the contact cleaner going after any corrosion I saw.

While at it, I wanted to get a really good look at the underside, so I jacked it up and got out my creeper. What did I find? A complete non-cat exhaust system, of the type that I see in the Corvette Central catalog with twin pipes and no crossover. And it looks like it has been there a while, considering the rust on it (actually, the rest of the underside looks much better - it must have been a really cheap system).

I am not happy - I may not be an environmentalist when it comes to my vehicles but I do want to be responsible, not to mention the fact that it is flat-out illegal to not have the cat on the car. And I also suspect that while it may be ok for track use, having the two sides not connect may not be good for a daily driver - doesn't it create a variance between the two sides of the motor?

So, while the shocks remain the first thing on the list, for tires I will need to wait for a while, and just get a pair for the front since they are a bit worn. Money has to go to getting the exhaust taken care of. But speaking of tires - anybody know what a PathMark tire is? Those are what's on the back, and I have never heard of them. Searching Google, I saw a post where it said that they are made by Goodyear for Wal-mart, but I did not see anything else on them like that.

Kathy

btw: No pix of a stickball bat alone, but here is one with the balls:

 

[Rod in OKC]

Hi Kathy,

It might be a little too late to jump in here, but after that pretty good link about my shocks and everyone's helpful opinions, I thought I'd share my thoughts.

I went ahead and ordered the plain black, no-name TPiS shocks from Corvette Central. First of all, if you're going to put them in yourself, don't buy into that "2 hour job" nonsense. There is definitely a learning curve, though.

With 68,000 miles on the original Delco / Bilsteins, the '95 was badly in need of new shocks. The new TPiS's are great!!! I too wanted something with a relatively soft ride. Originally being a Connecticut Yankee and being weaned on wonderfully fun twisty, turny roads, I'm pretty disappointed now that I'm a transplant to Oklahoma. Everything here is laid out in one mile grids and is as flat as can be. No chance to take a nice S-turn and test the car's handling anywhere.

In any event, The TPiS's went in perfectly and, after a couple of hundred miles, are giving me a nice smooth ride. I might also mention that I have the Michelin Pilot Z4 tires with the 255 front / 285 rear setup.

I looked at all the numbers stamped into the tubes of the new shocks and can't find any reference to who might have made them, but TPiS buys them and modifies the valving.

In all fairness, I might mention that I put Sears shocks on my '76 and they were nice and smooth as well. I had no complaints about them at all and that car had the FE7 suspension with all the aftermarket poly bushings.

Good luck with your decision and, again, thanks to all who helped me.

Rod

 

[Heyspike]

Ah the old el on Fordam road, stickball, how about flippin' cards, and all that candy you could buy at the Candy store!!!! And if you were real lucky, you had a nice top.

 

[BlackNBlue95]

just installed my KYB's and it seems like I have a much firmer ride then before.. but I had bilstiens with 47K miles on them before.. so I dunno if you want a soft ride maybe try monroes they have a new shock line out called reflex I test drove some cars on a track same car different shock and they seemd to be soft when you need soft and hard when you need hard.. so I can reccomend trying them though I never tried them on a vette so can't say there.. but the KYB's I like them but for pot holes I dunno..
-Rick

 

[RedHookGal]

Ah the old el on Fordam road

Heyspike - now you are making me hungry. For a couple of years I lived on Arthur Ave near 184th St. - oh, the food you could get just outside your door; amazing.

Thanks Rod for your comments on the black shocks - a couple of people have sent positive comments about those off the board, too. And considering the comments from Rick, I think they may be more appropriate than the KYB's (thanks for the update Rick, too). Considering the current pothole nightmare I really don't need stiffer shocks, even if it is just for a break in period!

 

[leericardo]

C4's and potholes

Another good subject, but don't try to make your Vette something its not...I liked the guy that said "don't hit the pot holes", yeh, right. Your Vette will never like cobblestones or pot holes, ok? Spring rates were reduced for '85, after the jarring '84 lumberwagon ride, so I would leave that alone. I like to cruise the city in my '86, so put on a set of NAPA Gas Deluxe shocks for $88 and kept the 50 profile tires at 28 lbs which helps. Don't ever go to 17's with 40 profile tires. I feel your pain, dealing with NYC streets, but admire you for keeping the dream alive under difficult conditions. And don't we look cool...even without tatoos!
AND when you go on vacation, Hiway 50 across Nevada at 120 mph (tires fully inflated) is the smoothest ride I have ever had in my Vette!