On your tranny problem [seems more important]

Check this thread out, you may have a clutch problem. Hopefully not a tranny problem.

One last thing have you done anything to your linkage, speed shifter and/or any changes.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2608

Trouble hitting second gear? Second gear should be simple and easy to get into fast. Maybe a clutch problem like Mr. mouse said or maybe your synchros are jacked up.

No modifications to shift linkage, etc. The car shifts fine; I think the problem is the operator. I'm letting the revs drop too much before engaging the clutch.

I do occassionallly, feel a vibration coming from someplace deep when decelerating in third. I'm trying to ID a pattern, and have been thinking it may be tires or road feedback.

Letting the revs drop? Do you mean your are letting the engine chug at low rpm before shifting to a lower gear? It says in the manual you can damage the engine if you let the engine lug along at less than 1,500 rpm.

Do you mean down shifting, if so try to match your rev's to your speed, blip it.

~~~or~~~

Do you mean, letting off the throttle and idling down is creating a vibration?

per se lugging it?

Can't suggest anything for your shifting issues, but I put Kumho Ecsta MX's on my 97 and they're quite good tires. They also stay quiet after 10k, which is good considering you can't rotate your tires.

30K on the original tires? Jeeze...I would imagine they are quite ready to be changed.

Not sure what you are talking about concerning shifting, though, sorry.

And as for tires, we could all sit here and tell you what WE like the best, but unless one of the members sells tires for a living, we have limited experience with the tires we have personally tried.

I'd get on the phone with a tire specialist, or go visit a shop that deals with high performance cars/tires, because they will be the ones that can answer your questions. All WE can do is say how much we like the tires on our car.

Subanez, Evander13 asked for a tire recommendation, and I did extensive research on tires with a Tire Rack professional and on my own and reported what I found and purchased.

If Eugene wants to know what tires we've put on our boxsters, why we bought them and how they're wearing, why not give him input?

It's free and unbiased advice, and I did the same thing on the boxster forums when I needed tires last month. I knew that smart boxster owners, just like yourself, may be able to suggest tires that the "tire expert" on the phone may not want to sell me because he doesn't get his weekly bonus if he doesn't push one brand over another.

Now Eugene, Subanez also made a very good point which you should certainly follow. Ask tire experts what they think.

I spoke with a guy at Tire Rack that did not seem to care about his wallet nearly as much as my safety and the performance of my vehicle. You may want to call them and discuss your options.

FYI, I had selected a less expensive version of the Kumhos and the Tire Rack guy called me the day after I placed the online order and told me they'd be super-loud after 8K because they really needed to be rotated. I'm glad he called and cared enough to help me determine which tire was best for my car and wallet.

Like I said earlier, it's free advice. Take it or leave it.

Indeed, Randall, I was not seeking to belittle any of the advice given here...only to warn that following ONLY the advice given here might lead to a misguided decision.

These forums are great ways to pass on what we've learned through our own experience, and what works and what doesn't in our eyes--that's why we sign on to this site and talk to each other.

I apologize if my remarks seemed scathing, I only meant to suggest that a qualified tire technician might be able to answer some of his more pointed questions better than we (or at least I) might.

No offense taken! :)

BTW, Subanez, I would love to know what tires you have on your Boxster and if you are happy with them or not. And if money were no option, what tires would you buy?

Now here's a nice twist to this thread... finding and listing the most expensive tires money can buy!

Jefla,

I suspect you are firmly in Pilot Sport territory. If they no longer carry 17" sizes (as reported above) you might consider 18" wheels so that you can run wider tires.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Sport+ PS2

My second choice would be the Yokohama AVS Sport, because I love the turn-in but others would go for the s-03 Pole Position. All 3 of these tires are excellent.

I am a big fan of 18" wheels. If I were you, might watch the message boards for a nice set - or if you can't wait go to wheelenhancement.com (for takeoffs). Or if price is really no object have some wheels custom made in just your size and offset.

Can't advise on 2nd gear in a 5 speed - my 6 speed is different. You can buy a B&M shifter to shorten the throw, but that might make things more 'notchy' when shifting.

re: 'driving all the twisties' - come feb, march consider a visit to Dale's track schedule and sign up for some race track fun. If you are interested, it pays to sign up early and often. http://vista.pca.org/jsr/jsrpca/dales.htm

My car came with the AVS Sports. They seem to have good grip and are pretty quiet. I've only 4K miles on them (and in the dry only). But overall I'm pretty happy with them.

I've always been a big fan of the Michelin Pilot SX MXX3 tires. It looks like the "new" Pilot Sport Ribs are updated versions of the MXX3. I'll probably go with them when it's time for new tires.

I have to disagree. Those tires came as OEM on my Acura Integra and my RSX. I found them to be neither grippy in the dry, nor especially good in the wet, nor did they wear well. The handling got dramatically better on my Acuras when I switched tires (to Dunlop D60A2s on the Integra and Kumho 712's on the RSX).

I've got the Pilot Sports on my Boxster, but I think next time I need to change tires I will go with the P-Zero Rossos.

I've got Pirelli P7000's on the Boxster right now, and I have no complaints in the dry...though in the rain the rear tires love to spin.

But I would imagine that's the case with most cars.

Hmm. Interesting. Are we even talking about the same Pilot SX MXX3? The ones that came stock on Vipers, Porsche's and M3's in the mid '90s? The Dunlops D60A2's you mentioned are H-rated all season tires. I can't believe they would handle even close to a (pretty much) dry weather max performance tire like the MXX3.

You know, my other car is a 1997 Acura Integra, and the OEM tires that came with the vehicle were Michelin Pilot XGTs, not the SX MXX3...but again, who knows, there are many options for "OEM" tires out there, I guess.

Perhaps I should research this.

Nope, my bad.. You're correct. They were XGTs and not the MXX3.

SO3s
 

Guys, don't beat each other up over this - all I was asking for were your own personal opinions and experiences with Brand X - I'm quite capable of gathering internet and dealer info, but short of calling all the forum members, or emailing, getting other owner's information is rather difficult.

I ended up buying a set of SO3 Bridgestones. I looked at all the data on TireRack, and it was a great source of information, but in the end I like dealing with local businesses even if it costs me a little more. I paid $955 for the 4, mounted, balanced and warrantied for damage. The owner of the tire dealership - Eds in Medford - drives a 911 - as soon as I told the guy behind the conter that they were for a Porshe he said, "hey Ed drives one of those, let me get him for you" Ed was more than happy to share his wisdom, and genuinely cared about customer (my)satisfaction, and he was very informative. He actually recommened the Pilot Sports, and they were only a little more than the SO3s, but I'd read such good things about the SO3s that I plumbed for them.

500 miles later, the SO3s are MUCH quieter than the Pirellis, and they give a more supple ride - but the compliance in the side walls means I've lost some feeling of rigidity when cornering. The SO3s feel just a little "squishier" - not so planted. It is not a traction issue, more a "feel" issue. It hasn't rained here since I got them, so I don't know what wet handling is like, but in the dry there is definietly more traction with the Bridgestones. I would break the Pirellis loose in the dry, and I haven't with the SO3s. I'm going to try running them at higher PSI to see if that alleviates any of the vagueness, but I know I can't have supple ride and rail like handling, can I?

Eugene 2000 S

evander13,

500 miles is about enough to get rid of the mold release and all that gunk in making a tire.

I'll bet the "squishy" feeling is because the tires are new and the tread blocks are much higher than your old, worn down tires. Heck, even a bowling ball would feel squishy compared to worn out tires. :D

Give it a few more miles and I'm sure you'll get used to it.

I end up following evander13. I too did the research w/ tire rack, the web, and here, and am getting S03s from the local B'stone store, for about $940 installed ... They're going to let me clean the rims and fool with the wheel wells while they're doing the install. Good. Any recommendations on a way to liven up the black paint on the (mere 2.7L brake) calipers?

I am a bit troubled by not going w/ a Porsche qulaified tire because its engineers are pretty good at this stuff so their recommendations have weight, and I suspect it's not a marketing ploy (as someone worried). But they can't test everything. User comments on rain traction is what convinced me to go w/ S03s, though. I'm a novice at hot-rodding in a mid engine car and it rains HARD around here. Don't want to loose it because the tires and I can't handle wet conditions, and I for for drives in big rain. (How fast you gotta go to stay dry w/ the top down?) Pretty much all comments on S03s from all sources note superior wet weather traction.

Shifting. Dang, your comments about syncros and trans problems sounded ugly. .... I'm learning that if I shift above 4.8 to 5k and am in 2d by 4k or so, I'm getting the smooth, firm punch I want. But, I think the real issue is that I need to learn to control engine speed better while the clutch is disengaged.

This was my first venture into this forum w/ an issue. It was good. Thanks to all.