"Nomen Nescio" > wrote in message
...
> Cars of the 50s used the equivilant of -90 profile, almost round in cross
> section. In those days, most tires were bias ply and 20,000 miles was
> considered pretty average durability.
>
> The VW Rabbit was equipped with slightly more oval tires, usually -80
> radials. Typically, tires were good for 60,000 miles on the fronts and
> 100,000 on the rears. This was very a commendable improvement. The
> fronts
> wore out first because of higher weight, braking forces, and higher slip
> angles in turns than the rears. If the tires were rotated, 80,000 miles
> in
> mixed city and highway mileage was overall achievable with economy
> radials.
>
> Now we are in the age of -45 and lower profiles yet. What is the
> experience with these low, but wide tires. Are they proving to be as
> durable as the -80 radials of 25 years ago?
>

Durable. Yeah. But the ride can be the ****s on anything less that 40s.
80,000 miles? No way. Maybe 30,000. But it's a good 30.

Brad