I've been quiet---or too many tires to choose

[jhawk1000]

I have not been shooting much the last week or so and have just been working and trying to decide on new tires for the Porsche. I have been to just about every tire distributor in our city and have tormented the poor internet sites running numbers to get the best price possible. I started out "poor boying" it then went plumb silly looking at the competition tires. Goodyear has one out called the F1 which is one of those "Oh My God" speed rated tires with a sexy tread style and ratings up the cazoo. Well, I tried to order 4 tires and could get the rear ones but not the front ones until 9/25/04 so then I started over. It looks as if, after reading every review known to mankind, comparing prices and drooling over the tread design which looks like the Goodyear F1, I am ready to order and have them drop shipped to my mechanic for installation. Now that is where the savings seem to just vanish. It costs much more to have them installed than if I had a flat tire. But bottom line is that it is still cheaper than waltzing into my local Performance store, paying the exorbitant ancillary fees for disposal, for valve stems, for warranty and then paying the Governor of my state her 6+% for sales tax so I am entering the realm of internet tires.

Porsche is coming along well. It still has a stall problem when it gets hot but my mechanic assures me that all will be well next week. Linda is tired of me being on the Porsche list and ebay showing her every new carpet, new floor mat design, power seats and rear leather but she humors me with a "that's nice, honey" every so often. Got new sheepskins for the bucket seats and it is looking very nice and with the new catalytic converter work, runs like a striped ass ape with a blow torch on his rear end.

Linda got a Stofen diffuser for her flash today and I got two real eyecups for the D70 from B&H today. These are the real deal, part number 2939 I think and they were $6.50 each and fit the S2 also or at least they say so but we have not tried yet. These still slip over the eyepiece and do not attach real securely but I got a couple.

Will try to take some wildlife photos this weekend. I was trying for a good wildlife shot last night but Linda took humbrage at me bringing the camera in while she was showering. :) Oh well, at my age I get my excitement whenever and wherever I can find it. (Now this paragraph will either get me killed or celibate)

Night all, see you when I have some pictures to post that do not include Linda and water. :)

Mel

[Swampy]

Another reason to come out here Mel. ;) I'm sure there's other great shops, but I am good friends with the service manager at Stuttgart Performance. They have a porche racing team and I hear they do some pretty nice things to Porches in thier shop.

http://www.stuttgartperformance.com/

[Andre]

Mel,

Take a look at Cooper Xeon tires. They are a high-performance tire with a low cost - at least in Canada they are trying to break into the market. I was happy with the set that I bought.

I currently have Michelin Sport Pilots and they are excellent - but very expensive.

Andre

[jhawk1000]

Well, all, the decision on tires has been made, they are due to be delivered to my Porsche mechanic's shop tomorrow to be mounted and balanced. After agonizing over them sexy Goodyear F1 DS-G3 tires, I broke down and talked to my mechanic who also sells tires (Bridgestones, Continental, Michelin and Dunlop) and he told me to order Kumho Ultra High Performance tires. He said that they are better than the other's selling at twice the price. I thought that he was talking himself out of a sale so I did some research and got on the Porsche list and found that Kumho does indeed make an excellent tire at 1/2 the price so it will be a German car with Asian tires, with new custom fitted New Zealand sheepskins, and an American blonde who is straining at the bit to get it back from the shop. I also bought new upper and lower leather rear seats (purely cosmetic) and custom Porsche floormats. Spent all day Sunday detailing the car so when it comes home in a couple of days, it will look new. Will be looking for a new steering wheel and perhaps a new set of carpet and some new door pockets to make it really be new again. Ah, the joys of renovation and the cost!!

Have not been taking many pictures but Linda and I took pictures of the championship softball game in the lawyer's league tonight. We left in the third inning when it was 17-11. ( A real pitcher's duel)

Will get back to doing my photo thing soon but when I am on a mission, all effort is concentrated on that thing. Lately it has been looking at every online Porsche vendor known to mankind. Hell, I found some parts in the UK and almost asked for help from you guys over there :)

Mel