Tires,Tires,Tires

[Guzzi SVT]

As you may guess this thread is about tires, 20 in general. Two things.
1. The no spare option that comes with the Performance Package bit me in the butt the other day while going to lunch when my front tire kicked up a 6" extension for a 3/8" drive ratchet, at least it was a Craftsman. It went right through the edge of my DR tire with 2" still sticking out. Luckily I slowly made it to a nearby Firestone dealer where they installed the only tire they had in stock. Total $255! The repair kit didn't work because I had to pull the extension out if there was any way I was going to be able to drive it.


So my first question is, what kind and where can I get a compact spare tire, jack and lug wrench for this car with 20's?

2. I need all weather tires and am looking at the Cont DSW. I was thinking of going with profile 40's instead of 45's. They are quite a bit cheaper. I have H&R spring on the car which lowered the front 1/2" and the rear 2". Has anyone tried this yet and if so how did they look?
I have 245/35-20 on my XKR and they look fine. I don't want the rubber band look but do want an aggressive sport look.

Thanks for your in put.

 

[SFM5S159]

I've posted this recently in another thread; but I'll say again, I am very happy with the Conti DWS tires. I put them on a few weeks ago so it is early, but they are great so far. No snow yet, but I've got to think that an AWD car with these tires will do fine. Really I plan to use my second vehicle if we get snow anyway but you never know.

Right now I'm flying with no spare and maybe no repair kit...I don't know if it's in the car? I bought my SHO used and it may have been lifted...

I am running the 245/45/20's. I paid $254 ea and got a "free" Magellen GPS from Tire Rack.
Mike C

 

[watts]

FWIW - i'm not a SHO owner (yet) but I run Conti DWS on my 03 WRX and it handles great in the snow. The only negative i've heard on these tires is the soft sidewall but that would be alleivated by a 40 series on a 20" wheel on your SHO. I can really feel the softness on my 16" wheels but the ride is better than the 18's i used to run with summer performance tires.

Edit: just realized this was my first post! Been lurking for some time now - thinking SHO for my next vehicle in a year or so. Hi!

 

[SFM5S159]

I heard the same thing on the sidewalls...but I don't know how it's really a factor on a 45 series like you say. I'm happy with it. I didn't see a real difference. Good luck on a SHO purchase. I love mine.

Mike C.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Are any of the DWS sizes you are considering XL (Extra Load) sizes? IF so, they would have a stiffer sidewall. My DW's (summer only version) are XL and are definitely stiffer than the stock Goodyear 20's. This is a positive from my viewpoint, as I like a more responsive tire. Would like a set of DWS for the winter, but since we spend so little time in the snow (only at Christmas), I can't justify it... just suck it up and drive the Goodyears up north and back, and then switch back to my other wheels.

 

[thebigjimsho]

Well, there is no doubt that the DWS is the best for the snow in the Hi-Po All-season category. But, I wouldn't expect them to be as good in the summer as most other highly rated Hi-Pos, either...

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Conti's are rated so highly (both DW and DWS) because they are great handing tires that also wear well. There are better tires in all categories that they compete in, but the Conti's are the best compromise in both categories. My DW's are going to last around 40,000 mi. The DWS are likely going to go even farther as they have a higher treadwear rating.

 

[Got5onIt]

I was thinking about this very issue today. I'm glad to see a thread about it!
I think we just need to know if the standard Taurus comes with a spare/donut and the brake caliper differences between the trim levels. The SHO 20" wheels are an available option for any 2012 Taurus, so the overall diameter will be the same on the spare and should be useable on our SHO's if it can clear the brakes.
I was definitely surprised to see a missing spare tire on my PP SHO, since it doesn't use runflats.

Coming from a CTS-V & Jeep SRT8, I'm very familiar with performance vehicles lacking a spare. Of course, these cars came factory with runflats.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

My Pontiac G8 GT's came with "Fix-a-FLAT" mounted to a tire pump. What is most troubling is that the tire well will hold a full sized spare just fine! Pontiac did it for 2 reasons..... #1. $$$ savings... #2. Weight savings #3. The bragging right that this car weigh's less than 4,000 lbs. (It did in 2008). I run full sized spares in mine, but have yet to have a flat.

 

[Guzzi SVT]

Full size spre?

"I run full sized spares in mine, but have yet to have a flat."
Is that in the SHO? Does it fit in the spare wheel well w/obumping up the trunk floor . I would buy a spare full size wheel if it will fit. Is yours a 20?