...but just in street driving. AO48s on slightly lighter than LSS wheels. Versus stock wheels with AD07s.
* The steering feels a bit heavier but is still pretty light
* Parts of the ride quality improved! Due to unsprung weight factors I suspect...the weight dropped quite a bit, especially for the rears. A certain train track crossing I go over frequently seems clearly better with the lighter rollers. I think the wheels are about 4-5 pound lighter up front and about 9-10 pounds apiece for the rears.
* Parts of the ride deteriorated. Broken surfaces, concrete and so forth, things with sharp sudden impacts come through much more emphatically on the AO48s. The 10% LSS spring rate change is more of a fine tuning thing and not really a ride thing. I don't have the LSS dampers on the car but it appears that the lion's share of the ride differences between LTS and LSS is due to the rubber. As expected.
* On many/most roads you don't really notice any ride difference.
* Tire noise is basically inaudible with the AD07s...but you can really hear the AO48s...even on the highway with the top down! It's not a low loud roar...it sorta sounds like more wind noise. I wouldn't call it unbearable, but you will certainly notice it the first time you get the car up to speed a bit. I'll have to check but I don't think I really noticed it much at say 25 MPH.
* The steering feel going into turns is better (turn-in) and there is markedly less tendency to wash out with understeer. I haven't yet cornered the car at the limit....but I can note that when you hit the ABS it allows the tires to make different sounds. The car feels more capable and confident with the grippier rubber.
* Does anyone know the low temperature limit for the AO48s? There is some temperature below which they are not supposed to experience cuz it will hurt the compound. I guess it leads to some permanent changes, but there is not a great deal of information on this matter. I'm not talking about where they grip best or at what temp they start to get squittish on cold tires. For example I think the AD07s are not supposed to experience sub 14 F temperatures.
* The steering feels a bit heavier but is still pretty light
* Parts of the ride quality improved! Due to unsprung weight factors I suspect...the weight dropped quite a bit, especially for the rears. A certain train track crossing I go over frequently seems clearly better with the lighter rollers. I think the wheels are about 4-5 pound lighter up front and about 9-10 pounds apiece for the rears.
* Parts of the ride deteriorated. Broken surfaces, concrete and so forth, things with sharp sudden impacts come through much more emphatically on the AO48s. The 10% LSS spring rate change is more of a fine tuning thing and not really a ride thing. I don't have the LSS dampers on the car but it appears that the lion's share of the ride differences between LTS and LSS is due to the rubber. As expected.
* On many/most roads you don't really notice any ride difference.
* Tire noise is basically inaudible with the AD07s...but you can really hear the AO48s...even on the highway with the top down! It's not a low loud roar...it sorta sounds like more wind noise. I wouldn't call it unbearable, but you will certainly notice it the first time you get the car up to speed a bit. I'll have to check but I don't think I really noticed it much at say 25 MPH.
* The steering feel going into turns is better (turn-in) and there is markedly less tendency to wash out with understeer. I haven't yet cornered the car at the limit....but I can note that when you hit the ABS it allows the tires to make different sounds. The car feels more capable and confident with the grippier rubber.
* Does anyone know the low temperature limit for the AO48s? There is some temperature below which they are not supposed to experience cuz it will hurt the compound. I guess it leads to some permanent changes, but there is not a great deal of information on this matter. I'm not talking about where they grip best or at what temp they start to get squittish on cold tires. For example I think the AD07s are not supposed to experience sub 14 F temperatures.