1. 07 TL-S vs. #2. 07 IS350 vs #3. G35 at Willow Springs Racetrack.
04-17-07, 06:51 PM
#106
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where do you get this information about the cars being different? According to the print article the comparo was on the big track. The video is unquestionably on the streets of willow, not the big track. That alone accounts for a significant time difference.
So there were two blue TL-S's at the track with the same driver, and he drove one for the video on the streets of willow springs and the other with the all season tires on the big track for the comparo? I'm not buying that. Look at the pictures from the print article. Same wheels as the car in the video. Sorry, I don't believe for a second there were two identical cars with different tires.
So there were two blue TL-S's at the track with the same driver, and he drove one for the video on the streets of willow springs and the other with the all season tires on the big track for the comparo? I'm not buying that. Look at the pictures from the print article. Same wheels as the car in the video. Sorry, I don't believe for a second there were two identical cars with different tires.
I think you are right about the TL-S having the same tires (video and comparo). I also checked out Tirerack for OEM tires for all three cars.
Here are the OEM tires for these cars. TL-S had the Potenza RE030 which is high performance summer tires. G35 had RE050a and IS had RE050 which are both max performance summer tires and a class above the high performance summer that the TL-S had. Both G and IS had better tires suited for tracking
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/bridgestone/bridston.jsp
It seems to me the TL-S got the short end of the stick with crappiest tires of the bunch and still managed a 2s ahead of IS & G.
I've been to Willow Springs a few times supporting motorcycle racers (including a couple of 24 hour races.) I know (after drivers/riders) tires make the biggest difference on the big track with all other mechanical things being close (and on these cars, everything else is reasonably close - weight, power, & aerodynamics), and power is a very close second to tires because of turn 8 & 9 leading onto the quite long front stretch.
So, somehow, a car with more weight, less power, and less grip managed to get around Willow Springs big track faster than two other cars with more power and more grip? How? Suspension design differences? Seriously?
So, somehow, a car with more weight, less power, and less grip managed to get around Willow Springs big track faster than two other cars with more power and more grip? How? Suspension design differences? Seriously?
You know, I think I might have to believe the magic suspension that you had mentioned earlier.
04-17-07, 09:23 PM
#107
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: BC
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello guys, I am new to this forum as you probably tell already. I am also a member of the Acura forum. I saw the title of this thread and that's why I joined this forum.
First thing first, I must say the people here are are very nice and knowledgable. I have to admit that you guys are even more well-mannered than people in the Acura forum, and definitely lightyears ahead of the people at the infiniti forum. People here simply have what I called, "class." I really enjoyed reading these 8 pages of posts.
Anyways, I think someone here mentioned about the VDIM and/or some sort of stability system in the IS350 during the test. Well, what Best Motoring usually does is, they would have the system on for a couple of laps, then turn it off and do a few more laps, and compare the difference. Of course, they would only count the fastest time. Now, that's how Best Motoring does it, but I'm not sure about the magazine (XA Car). I'd assume they did it the same way since Tsuchiya, one of the Best Motoring hosts, was the one conducting all of these tests.
Another thing, the tires used on the TL-S in the VIDEO are Bridgestone Potenza RE050's, which are the STANDARD tires for the Type S models. If you prefer, you can opt for the Bridgestone Potenza RE096A tires, which have higher performance than the RE050's. One thing that we are unsure of is whether the tires used in the MAGAZINE are the same ones in the VIDEO. We can't simply assume the TL-S used the better tires while the G35 and IS350 used the standard tires just because the TL-S was 2 seconds faster. Like many have said, tires are important for lap times, but other factors are also important too. Remember, the NSX-R is capable of running 7:56 on Nurburgring, which is the same as a Porsche 911 GT3 (old 996 model) even though the power to weight ratio favors the GT3 by a large margin.
Anyways, this is a great thread, I will definitely keep on checking!
First thing first, I must say the people here are are very nice and knowledgable. I have to admit that you guys are even more well-mannered than people in the Acura forum, and definitely lightyears ahead of the people at the infiniti forum. People here simply have what I called, "class." I really enjoyed reading these 8 pages of posts.
Anyways, I think someone here mentioned about the VDIM and/or some sort of stability system in the IS350 during the test. Well, what Best Motoring usually does is, they would have the system on for a couple of laps, then turn it off and do a few more laps, and compare the difference. Of course, they would only count the fastest time. Now, that's how Best Motoring does it, but I'm not sure about the magazine (XA Car). I'd assume they did it the same way since Tsuchiya, one of the Best Motoring hosts, was the one conducting all of these tests.
Another thing, the tires used on the TL-S in the VIDEO are Bridgestone Potenza RE050's, which are the STANDARD tires for the Type S models. If you prefer, you can opt for the Bridgestone Potenza RE096A tires, which have higher performance than the RE050's. One thing that we are unsure of is whether the tires used in the MAGAZINE are the same ones in the VIDEO. We can't simply assume the TL-S used the better tires while the G35 and IS350 used the standard tires just because the TL-S was 2 seconds faster. Like many have said, tires are important for lap times, but other factors are also important too. Remember, the NSX-R is capable of running 7:56 on Nurburgring, which is the same as a Porsche 911 GT3 (old 996 model) even though the power to weight ratio favors the GT3 by a large margin.
Anyways, this is a great thread, I will definitely keep on checking!
04-17-07, 09:57 PM
#108
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hello guys, I am new to this forum as you probably tell already. I am also a member of the Acura forum. I saw the title of this thread and that's why I joined this forum.
First thing first, I must say the people here are are very nice and knowledgable. I have to admit that you guys are even more well-mannered than people in the Acura forum, and definitely lightyears ahead of the people at the infiniti forum. People here simply have what I called, "class." I really enjoyed reading these 8 pages of posts.
Anyways, I think someone here mentioned about the VDIM and/or some sort of stability system in the IS350 during the test. Well, what Best Motoring usually does is, they would have the system on for a couple of laps, then turn it off and do a few more laps, and compare the difference. Of course, they would only count the fastest time. Now, that's how Best Motoring does it, but I'm not sure about the magazine (XA Car). I'd assume they did it the same way since Tsuchiya, one of the Best Motoring hosts, was the one conducting all of these tests.
Another thing, the tires used on the TL-S in the VIDEO are Bridgestone Potenza RE050's, which are the STANDARD tires for the Type S models. If you prefer, you can opt for the Bridgestone Potenza RE096A tires, which have higher performance than the RE050's. One thing that we are unsure of is whether the tires used in the MAGAZINE are the same ones in the VIDEO. We can't simply assume the TL-S used the better tires while the G35 and IS350 used the standard tires just because the TL-S was 2 seconds faster. Like many have said, tires are important for lap times, but other factors are also important too. Remember, the NSX-R is capable of running 7:56 on Nurburgring, which is the same as a Porsche 911 GT3 (old 996 model) even though the power to weight ratio favors the GT3 by a large margin.
Anyways, this is a great thread, I will definitely keep on checking!
First thing first, I must say the people here are are very nice and knowledgable. I have to admit that you guys are even more well-mannered than people in the Acura forum, and definitely lightyears ahead of the people at the infiniti forum. People here simply have what I called, "class." I really enjoyed reading these 8 pages of posts.
Anyways, I think someone here mentioned about the VDIM and/or some sort of stability system in the IS350 during the test. Well, what Best Motoring usually does is, they would have the system on for a couple of laps, then turn it off and do a few more laps, and compare the difference. Of course, they would only count the fastest time. Now, that's how Best Motoring does it, but I'm not sure about the magazine (XA Car). I'd assume they did it the same way since Tsuchiya, one of the Best Motoring hosts, was the one conducting all of these tests.
Another thing, the tires used on the TL-S in the VIDEO are Bridgestone Potenza RE050's, which are the STANDARD tires for the Type S models. If you prefer, you can opt for the Bridgestone Potenza RE096A tires, which have higher performance than the RE050's. One thing that we are unsure of is whether the tires used in the MAGAZINE are the same ones in the VIDEO. We can't simply assume the TL-S used the better tires while the G35 and IS350 used the standard tires just because the TL-S was 2 seconds faster. Like many have said, tires are important for lap times, but other factors are also important too. Remember, the NSX-R is capable of running 7:56 on Nurburgring, which is the same as a Porsche 911 GT3 (old 996 model) even though the power to weight ratio favors the GT3 by a large margin.
Anyways, this is a great thread, I will definitely keep on checking!
04-17-07, 10:56 PM
#109
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello guys, I am new to this forum as you probably tell already. I am also a member of the Acura forum. I saw the title of this thread and that's why I joined this forum.
First thing first, I must say the people here are are very nice and knowledgable. I have to admit that you guys are even more well-mannered than people in the Acura forum, and definitely lightyears ahead of the people at the infiniti forum. People here simply have what I called, "class." I really enjoyed reading these 8 pages of posts.
Another thing, the tires used on the TL-S in the VIDEO are Bridgestone Potenza RE050's, which are the STANDARD tires for the Type S models. If you prefer, you can opt for the Bridgestone Potenza RE096A tires, which have higher performance than the RE050's. One thing that we are unsure of is whether the tires used in the MAGAZINE are the same ones in the VIDEO. We can't simply assume the TL-S used the better tires while the G35 and IS350 used the standard tires just because the TL-S was 2 seconds faster. Like many have said, tires are important for lap times, but other factors are also important too. Remember, the NSX-R is capable of running 7:56 on Nurburgring, which is the same as a Porsche 911 GT3 (old 996 model) even though the power to weight ratio favors the GT3 by a large margin.
Anyways, this is a great thread, I will definitely keep on checking!
First thing first, I must say the people here are are very nice and knowledgable. I have to admit that you guys are even more well-mannered than people in the Acura forum, and definitely lightyears ahead of the people at the infiniti forum. People here simply have what I called, "class." I really enjoyed reading these 8 pages of posts.
Another thing, the tires used on the TL-S in the VIDEO are Bridgestone Potenza RE050's, which are the STANDARD tires for the Type S models. If you prefer, you can opt for the Bridgestone Potenza RE096A tires, which have higher performance than the RE050's. One thing that we are unsure of is whether the tires used in the MAGAZINE are the same ones in the VIDEO. We can't simply assume the TL-S used the better tires while the G35 and IS350 used the standard tires just because the TL-S was 2 seconds faster. Like many have said, tires are important for lap times, but other factors are also important too. Remember, the NSX-R is capable of running 7:56 on Nurburgring, which is the same as a Porsche 911 GT3 (old 996 model) even though the power to weight ratio favors the GT3 by a large margin.
Anyways, this is a great thread, I will definitely keep on checking!
This is a great forum and I must say that most of the credits go to the Mods.. They always step in at the right time and keep things civilized. I have a couple of comments however,
1. The video clearly showed the tires on the TL-S as RE030 not RE050'. See a screen shot on post #96 by lobuxracer.
2. Googled Bridgestone Potenza RE096A and it came up with nothing..
04-17-07, 11:48 PM
#111
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
04-17-07, 11:54 PM
#112
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
That's not what Acura says on their website. See post 100 or post 109.
I got the same result Googling - the 960A only exists on the TL-S.
And regardless of how they are marketed, the RE030 produced superior grip on this day at this track. It had to, or the TL-S would not have been able to corner faster. It's physics, not marketing.
I got the same result Googling - the 960A only exists on the TL-S.
And regardless of how they are marketed, the RE030 produced superior grip on this day at this track. It had to, or the TL-S would not have been able to corner faster. It's physics, not marketing.
04-18-07, 06:44 AM
#113
Lexus Champion
Join Date: May 2006
Location: FL
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
04-18-07, 07:53 AM
#114
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: California
Posts: 2,085
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My goodness guys the frickin TL-S won already ok!! YES it beat the 350 and the G how about we give props to the TL and move on with life and stop hating on it, (dang and I'm not even a big fan of the TL).
04-18-07, 09:32 AM
#115
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
04-18-07, 06:35 PM
#117
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: BC
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
opps, sorry guys, yes, the standard tires are RE030! Sorry about the confusion! But on the other hand, from www.acura.com, the optional tires are indeed RE096A:
"P235/45 R17 94W Bridgestone® Potenza RE 960A High-Performance (summer) tires"
Just go to acura.com, highlight "TL," under "Learn," click "Packages & Pricing" and you will see. I guess Acura made a mistake or something? lol!
"P235/45 R17 94W Bridgestone® Potenza RE 960A High-Performance (summer) tires"
Just go to acura.com, highlight "TL," under "Learn," click "Packages & Pricing" and you will see. I guess Acura made a mistake or something? lol!
04-22-07, 09:38 PM
#118
Pole Position
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: BC
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know TL's are pretty quick sedans but did not know they can beat us out!!! That is just wrong!!!! FWD beats out RWD!!! That is impossible!!! Straight line...we will kick those TL's **** no probs!! Possibly it was the driver to blame for this. Anyhow...congrats to Acura TL's for the win...as much as I hate saying it!!!
