Don’t judge a car by its tires: What happens when you give an FR-S some grip?
Road&Track wrote:As much as we love to drive the wonderfully balanced Toyobaru twins, we were displeased at how the BRZ stacked up against the Mazda Miata and Hyundai Genesis Coupe in a recent test (see “The Great New Hope... or Hype?” July 2012). Yes, the BRZ dominated our subjective ratings with its balanced chassis, but it lacked an edge around the racetrack. We theorized that the tires were holding it back.
The Subaru-Scion twins are shod with Michelin Primacy HP 87W GreenX summer touring tires. They have a UTQG treadwear rating of 240 and howl in the corners like a beagle strapped to the roof. Buy a Prius in Europe upgraded with 17-in. wheels, and you’ll get these same sad tires. That’s right, these sporty coupes have hybrid tires, tuned for low rolling resistance, not grip.
But what happens when you slap on some sticky stuff? Will it go quicker? Will it ruin the sublime handling?...