2004 Focus ZX3 Commuter

[BabyDiesel]

Aero is all benefits, man!

And what size and brand tires do you run now?

[MisterMundane]

Right now im runnng 215/45r17's and will stick with this size. Tire is GT Radial Champiro 328. Its a pretty soft rubber, 280 tread rating for softness. So it performs amazing when driving hard. But since I barely do that i want to go with a harder rubber compund to last longer.

[BabyDiesel]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...m=1&pagemark=1

I suggest the Potenzas!

[Fat Charlie]

I had mixed results with Assurance Fuel Maxes (good on Subaru, not so good on minivan), but I'm happy with the Avid Ascend on the minivan. That's what the Honda's getting when the time comes.

[BabyDiesel]

If I remember correctly what Capriracer told me in an old tire thread, higher load ratings are better for FE. Not sure on the science behind it, but I assume that with a higher load rating there is less sidewall deflection.

The Pirellis and Potenzas and the X-ice XI3s have a 91rating compared to 87 for the rest.

[MisterMundane]

thanks guys Im hoping I can last most the season on current tires, but i may not be able to. so i will take your suggestions into consideration!


also, *almost* broke 45MPG on my last trip. I was able to do 4 trips though so thats awesome! (2 days, commuting = 4 trips) warmer weather helps a lot.

[MisterMundane]

yeah, uhm, this aint the thread to post in man.

[MisterMundane]

well, haven't been here in a while!

Haven't really been monitoring my MPG as much as I used to, ie. I stopped using fuelly. Got to be really annoying entering info every single day.

The ultraguage is still hooked up though, and lifetime average MPG is sitting right at 30 MPG. which is pretty great considering how I drive it sometimes!


However, this car is being retired from Daily driver status. Will become a project car, Rally style build! roll cage and everything.

picking up a new commuter, a 2008 Focus coupe! Will create a thread for that when I pick it up, and will monitor it on fuelly until I get annoyed entering data again haha!

[spacemanspif]

Congrats on the new ride. Planning to gut the new focus like the last or are you going to keep full interior? Friends had mk2 Foci and all said they did better than me on mpg even though I was trying for good mileage and they just drove the car.

[MisterMundane]

Originally Posted by spacemanspif

Congrats on the new ride. Planning to gut the new focus like the last or are you going to keep full interior? Friends had mk2 Foci and all said they did better than me on mpg even though I was trying for good mileage and they just drove the car.

haha no the new one won't be gutted. It will stay the way it is. It's too nice to gut! Has quite a few nice options. heated seats, power everything, etc.

Yeah the 2.0 duratec in the mk2 Focus was setup for better MPG. Final drive ratio is probably geared towards mpg as well. Rated 35 MPG highway by EPA. Pretty stoked about that! My 2004 was only rated for 30. and i managed to eek out 35 on highway in summer, so Im hoping the new one will do a little better as well. Gotta get that ultraguage installed as soon as i get the car home! will be nice to have right from the start.