Well, it finally happened on Monday (7th May, 2007) evening when I drove down my Alto with its new Footwear...
Background-My Stocks: Car came with JK Ultima XP 145/80R12 74T as stock. It helped me in all my long drives without a single puncture. In all the 16325 kms, it faithfully accompanied me and survived all the situations be it hills, beaches, heat of TN, AP, Orissa and Bengal, good/bad roads. The Stocks also thanked me for the regular rotation, alignment and balancing that I have done strictly within 5000km.
Life must go on: Although I was nostalgic about my JKs but life must go on and I have to upgrade to at some time. The stocks didnt handle well in the curves and the wet weather. The research was on for quit some time now. But during the Saligrama drive (which was powerpacked as for first time there was not female in the car), I decided the footwear needs to be changed where the handling will improve a lot, and i need not have to stretch my stocks as I did in the Shiradi ghats where I felt slight body roll as well...
Which Tyre: Initially I wanted to put 145/80R12 tubeless Turanzas. Checked out Suzuki Japan website and found that Alto sells in abroad with 155/65R13 as stock and I did some analysis on tyre bible and the error was 0.95% which is absolutely nothing. Definitely Suspension will not take any beating if I change to 13". I fail to understand MUL selling on 12"? Why cost cutting on the footwear...Ok, 13" means I need to change rims as well so why not Alloys?
Which Shop: After Shiva Tyre to Sai Iyengar to Tyre Zone and finally into Super TireTec (discussed in a separate thread, "tyre shop in bangalore"). Thanks to Rover, I liked the attitude of Prakash, the owner of Super TireTec and also showed him team-bhp website and what people think about him and other guys. He was impressed and told that he might join in as well.
He gave me 2175/- per tyre for Michelin XM1 (155/65R13 73H) Tubeless. I already bought the Alloys (C9350 Aura) from the distributor himself. ALso exchanged my 5 JKs with wheels at 700 / wheel. I put in alpin nuts which looks great and Prakash also gave me a 21" spanner free of cost.
Finally I came out of the shop as a very satisfied and happy customer. Anybody thinking of change of tyre please move to Prakash, His phone number is there in the other thread, You can also name team-bhp or my name or Rover's name (Ronnie)...Thanks to Rover to introduce me to Prakash...
Demo on new tyres: I can see a marked difference in the handling and the ride comfort too didnt changed much beacuse of the lower Aspect ratio.
I thought to do some fun on seeing a empty Inner ring road at Koramangala. while returning back Monday night, I thought to check its handling...In Inner ring road at the S turn at Domlur side, I took the speed up to 100kmph and left the accelerator at the start of the curve and car handled beautifully on the fast lane and while I came out of the curve the speed was 85kmph, I didnot apply breaks...I could never do in this speed and with that ease in my stocks....
Some questions for experts: 1) Do you require any run-in for new tubeless tyres? Any suggessions pls shoot... 2) After reaching home, I touched the Alloys, front was very hot and rear was cool...Is it because front is disk brakes and the heat is conducted to the Alloys, is this phenomenon normal in all cars? 3) I am using 30psi pressure. Is it OK? I plan to keep 30 for city and 32 for highway...
Here are some of the pics
The threading:
The Wheel
The Car
Abhi