From what I can find, the Toyo T1-S's come in 285/40/18 but there is no 255/40/18 available. The Bridgestone S-03's come in 255/40/18 but there is no 285/40/18 available.

At the moment, I'm thinking about doing T1-S's with 245/40/18 on the front and either 275/40/18 or 285/40/18 on the rear.

Toyo T1-S sizes

Bridgestone S-03 sizes

 

Your second option is exactly what I am thinking I'll do. I know it won't keep the ratio of front to rear exactly where I want...but for my purposes it will actually afford me a couple things: One) the understear certainly can't be worse, can it? Two) the 245's are significantly less than when you go past that breaking point in pricing. three) I love the Toyo's!

Russ, PM me with what wheels you've narrowed it down to...since we are shooting for the same look...lets talk.

 

I voted T1S. Here is a link with all their T1S tire sizes:
http://www.toyo.com/tires/tire_specsheet.cfm?id=2

The stock Bridgestone RE40 suck. I am slipping a lot, even in misty rain! And I don't drive like a maniac. I am comparing my experience to the Michelon Pilot Sports that came stock on my previous car. Rear wheel drive SLK.

My disdain for the stock RE40 prevents me from driving the Z like I want to because I am afraid of losing the rear traction. So even though I hear wonderfull things about the SO3, the RE40 left a bad taste in my mouth.

And Toyo provides a 500 mile/45 day trial offer. What else is there to really ask? Try it out and if you are not happy you get a full refund! check it out at http://www.toyo.com/500_mile_offer/index.html

 

I hear a lot of guys voting this way....think I'm going to give them a shot.

 

I really don't have anything to compare to, since I have been driving an SUV for the last three years, and before that I always had the cheapest tires I could buy for my camaro and supra that I had before. I just got back from sears point raceway (running on the RE40s) and they did seem to slide quite a lot, but were at least very predictable on the dry track. I don't plan on buying new tires until at least a bit more of the tread is worn off my current ones, but I think I will be going with the TS-1's when I do.

 

I had a set of 450 extremes on my Accord. They worked fine but got louder as they wore, maybe because they were all seasons.

 

Kumo's are about the same price as the Toyo's....you just need to look in certain places

Check out www.treadepot.com and you will be happy you did!

Everyone send me 50% of what you save and we'll call it even.

 

kuhmos even the MX's are not near the class of the s03's and the t1's. they were designed to be cheap compared to the other tires in that area.

here's my personal experience. i owned a daily driven 91 miata b package with a flying miata stage 2 turbo kit. this car was putting down about 230rwhp (least that's what link estimated it at) and was very light (something like 2300 with me in it).

i had s03's on there with some lightweight panasport rims. the car handled good until it rained. it slid everywhere and couldn't find traction. after a couple thousand miles it got worse and the s03's would start to slip all the time, not just in the rain.

i decided to get some rotas which were a little lighter than the panasports i had at the time. i then started thinking about how unsprung weight (and how far out the tire is, rotational mass hurts the farther out it is also) and started looking for a good lighter tire than the s03's. i read some reviews and purchased the t1's. i could then drive the car in the rain and not worry about it breaking loose. i had them on the car for over 15,000 miles and not once did i have any problems. the car also felt quicker which i know it was considering i dropped about 5lbs of unsprung weight on each wheel. the car handled like a dream. i wouldn't trust any other tires.

as for sizing get the 245/40/18's front with 275/40/18's rear. that's all they make them in. you should be able to get them for 600$ or less. these are by far the best tires for the money. another thing i find funny is everyone who has voted for bridgestones really hasn't spoken up about them. all the people who own toyo's have. relatively intresting.

 

Like one of the earlier posters, I had a CLK 430, and it came with Michelin Pilot Sports. Those tires were like a revelation. Sticky, stiff-alled, progressive, predictable breakaway, good in the wet.

There are several tires that look like they would be good matches for the Z suspension. I get the Pilot Sports put on in a couple weeks, and I am ready. If the same characteristics are present in the Pilot Sports in the sizes for the Z [I just bought the same sizes as the OEM Bridgestones], then I am in for some fun.

 

How many miles can one expect to get out of the S-03s and T1-Ss?

 

i had the t1's on my miata for right at 20k and the s03's only lasted for right at 15k.

 

i have the T1-S 235/45/17 with 97 load rating,another thing i notice gone un mentioned in this so far,toyo has the best load ratings ive seen, excelent traction,i too bought from treadepot.com they had the best price...also thought i'd mention the toyo T1-S is the ONLY tire used on the speed channel's touring car and GT's they are standard off the shelf tires but shaved to 3/32's...something to think about

 

What's the benefit to shaving the Toyo's?

Thanks!

 

I'm not exactly sure, but my understanding is that for some compounds, shaving will increase tire traction and life by reducing the flex of the tread due to the deep grooves. I've really only seen people shaving R compound tires, but I guess you could do it to the standard tire as well. The problem is, you basically give up any wet weather ability, so you would probably want to avoid shaving your daily driving tires.

-D'oh!

 

I ordered my S-03s from www.onlinetires.com In 245/35-19 and 275/35-19.

Tire Rack was 944
they were 860

 

WOW, that is amazing, that is about wholesale cost from Tirerack to a dealer or retailer that has an account with Tirerack.

 

If you want the Toyo's the best place I found (not too many to choose from) was http://www.treadepot.com I went for the 245/45/18 & 255/45/18 for my newly acquired Track model Rays, it was 832 + shipping.

 

I would 2nd that - the Kuhmo's I use on my Alty work great, are wearing very well, not the MX but the Ecsta Supra 712. Less expensive than my last set (Conti Contacts), don't squeal like pigs in the corners, either.

Strange, but places like TireRack don't pop up the Kuhmos on "search by vehicle" as being available for the 17" wheels.

What's up with that??? Maybe they top our as V-rated, no W?

SteveZ

 

I have no faith in Toyo after experiancing their FZ4 tires.

The FZ4 is hands down the worst tire on the ENTIRE planet.

 

Why? What happened?