Now that I looked for months to find the best wheels for my taste (HRE's - I started the HRE group buy), I am looking at tires to match my wheels. I do not know much yet about them so help me out. Which tires are the best choice considering handling, wear, looks, and cost (as well as any other reasons to buy and not buy)? My hope is you will vote and more importantly share your experiences and reasons why you prefer a specific tire over others. if I left out a good tire, list it.

Jeff

 

I am getting different points of view from people that know more than me up to this point. Thus far, what i have heard is :

1. Pirelli rosso are nice because they ar bidirectional meaning they can be rotated without taking them off the wheels. Good handling, really low road noise because they have a varied tread pattern. They are expensive.

2. Toyo T1's are suppose to be a long wearing tire and grip better as they wear. Cost is good.

3. Bridgestones S03 are suppose to be good but after hearing all the negative stuff about the stock tires, it scares me a little.

4. Niito: I have heard they are good value by some, not a good tire by more people.

5. Yokohama AVS: heard good things, do not know how they compare to Toyo T1 or Michelin Pilot Sports.

 

i've owned both s03 and t1's on my old turbod miata. the s03's are heavier with the same diameter as the t1's also the t1's are better in my opinion in wet weather than the s03's are. adding more unsprung weight can kill a cars performance so going with a light tire with very good traction will help more. and the t1's are too expensive, they will last a while also.

 

I'm not sure I'm whom you are asking, but here goes. Stock 17s replaced by stock Michelin Pilot Sport A/Ss in the stock sizes. The OE tires were unbearable in their ride characteristics, the A/Ss better in every way.

 

2k3silver350z, which ones are too expensive, the S03's or T1's? You wrote T1's but by the way the sentence is constructed, it seems like you meant the other? I value your opinion on this one since you owned both tires on the same car. This is a perfect controled comparision. BTW, how many hp in that Miata?

Jeff

PS: Boomer, any info anyone has on any tires is welcome to comment. I need a real education on them and not only from sales people since they have a vested interest in selling me what they stock.

 

I have seen tires run to the extreme, and have done so myself.
I have seen a Pirelli model kill one guy I knew and seriously injure another couple I know in 3 seperate incidences. The dead guy was going around 220 MPH when his rt front blew, the couple lost the rt rear 2 seperate times, causing an accident the 1st time and blowing the back section of the car off at around 200, the 2nd time they where both severly injured and the car is now beer cans, also going around 200.
Another guy I know blew a Hoosier at 220 and walked away, car destroyed.
I have known many others, including myself that have run Michelin and now S03's. I feel better with S03 as they are rated as ZY and can handle 186 MPH, our tire tech guy like Yok's and they are rated at 186. I run up to the low 170's, the BStone seemed to handle better and was less noisy than the Mich, the Mich was only rated for 168 MPH. A freind runs the YOKS and they are noiseier(sp) and they don't make the model he was using any more, We, as a group, have done well with only one incident with a tire run at 170 or less in the last 3 seasons of Open Road Racing.
John

 

i meant the t1's aren't too expensive. i missed a key.

 

oh and the link system i was running guessed the car had about 230 or so rwhp. that was about 2 years ago though, i then sold it and bought another 91b package as a toy. i go through cars like crazy. currently i got rid of my rsx-s for the 350z and own a b16'd crx. the crx is currently on t1's and the 350z will be once i figure out what rims i want to purchase.

 

Don't see any Good Year products listed or discussed. Why?

 

Anybody know anything about the Firestone SZ50 EP. They're highly rated on the tire rack survey.

 

As most of you know, the Tire Rack is the best source of customer survey comparison data and size applications online, in my opinion. I have spent dozens of hours researching their site and reading comments by owners about their tires. Obviously, TR is in the business to sell all the tires they carry, but, you can read customer comments on their experiences.

As an example, read the survey, would owners buy another, and how well they rate against other comparable cars' tires. Look up our OE tires and see what they are rated. Read the customer comments and see if they would buy them again. I'll give you a clue; the Bridgestone Potenza RE040s, on a scale of one to ten, only 3.9 persons would buy them again. 3.9 is the lowest rating by customers of TR I have ever seen on any tire.

Only one caveat, not all brands are carried on TR. Not Toyos, Nittos and a few others are available, so you need to go else where for reviews on those brands.

 

 

I used to work at a tire store and Nittos seem to crack in the sidewall pretty often. Personally, I'd go with BFGs or Yokohamas.

 

The reason I did not put goodyear or Firestone SZ50 EP in the survey is I am ignorant concerning performance tires and that is why I started this thread, to learn from people with more knowledge. If we could add the Firestone and Goodyear tires to the survey, it would be great. If not, please give comments on those tires please.

Jeff

 

1. Toyo Proxies T1-S Ultra Performance

ZR speed-rated
Treadwear 280
Traction AA
Temperature A
Price (Seffects.com) Front: 225/40ZR19 $205.99 - Rear: 245/45ZR/18 $234.99 - Replace 4: $882

2. Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position

YR speed-rated
Treadwear 220
Traction AA
Temperature A
Price (Tire rack) Front: 225/45YR18 $187 - Rear: 245/45YR18 $193 - Replace 4: $760

3. Michelin Pilot Sport

ZR speed-rated front 225/YR speed-rated rear
Treadwear 220
Traction AA
Temperature A
Price (Tire rack) Front: 225/45ZR18 $251 - Rear: 245/45YR18 245/45/18 $267 - Replace 4: $1,036

So far, from everything I've read, Toyo Proxies T1-S are the best performers and best value. Z ratings all around and a much higher tread life with a reasonable price (just $122 more than the S-03) makes the Toyos a clear winner. There may however, be a problem fitting the fronts as I seem to only find 40s instead of 45s.

For about $275 less than the Michelin Pilot Sport, a set of four Potenza S-03 is a better deal than the Michelins even considering the Michelins have a Z front rating.

I've used Proxies before and their treadlife is extraordinary. Assuming I can find the right front size, I'm going with the T1-S

 

Thanks for the post hfm!

 

You might find slightly better prices on the Toyo's at Tread Depot

For example,
245/40R18 Seffects.com=205.99 Tread Depot=179
275/40R18 Seffects.com=258.26 Tread Depot=219

 

I think the 40s will fit the 18s but we should confirm. Nice prices Russ. Oh and there is a typo, the 19 for the front Proxies is a 18. Have fun out there.

 

I'm a big fan of the Pirelli Rosso's.

 

I keep looking to find the 285/40-18 + 265/40-18 tires but cannot find it. The closest I could find thus far is 265/40-18 on a BF goodrich but no 285/40 or 294/40. Anyone ever seen this combo on a performance tire?