The three tires I am looking at right now are:

1) KUMHO Ecsta SPT

2) KUMHO Ecsta MX

3) FALKEN FK 452

Two Concerns:

1) How does the tread "softness" (I guess it's called) compare with the stock RE040s? I have moderate tire feathering, and I am ideally looking for something with some stiffer tread than the stockers. Do they all fit the bill?

2) All in all, I need a high performing summer tire that will stay on the car even during the colder months when it is only driven once a week. The car will never be driven in snow. I understand that they will do horribly on ice regardless, but I can't have the tire be dangerous when the roads are cold, yet dry.

 

Re> All in all, I need a high performing summer tire that will stay on the car even during the colder months when it is only driven once a week.

I would point out that there is no summer-performance tire you can run safely in cold weather. That’s because the compound used in summer-performance tires is designed for warm weather and turns “rock-hard” in cold weather, and the tire won’t grip at all on a cold or frozen roadway. Ice or snow isn’t all you need to worry about (significant, but temperature is just as important).

Your concern running summer-performance tires is the ambient temperature, even on a completely dry roadway if the temperature is near freezing.

--Spike

 

Treadwear on the RE040 is 140. The Falken is 300. Much longer(harder) treadwear.
I've got Falken ZE912s and love 'em. They've got a 360 treadwear with a 40,000 mile limited warranty and are an all-season performance tire. I drive everyday and have had no problems. They grip quite nicely even in the snow.

 

Thank you for that info. So the tread-life number is also an indicator of tread "hardness"? I didn't realize that.

 

I have no need for snow tires, since I have a DD I equip with them. I just take the Z out in the winter months more just to keep it running than anything. I guess I will have to be VERY careful....oh wait, I already know the consequences of accelerating too fast in cold weather on summer tires

 

I think it's going to be the KUMHO Ecsta SPTs.

The Falken FK452s seem to be more luxury tires, while the KUMHO Ecsta MXs seem like a great tire, but the treadwear is a bit less than the SPTs (MX = 220, SPTs = 320), as they are an Extreme Performance Tire, and since I don't race or autoX, I won't be needing a tire quite as aggressive as that.

Does that thought process sound good?

 

Coming off your other recent post, I get what you are saying.

Be very careful out there (especially when running summer-performance tires in cold weather).
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EDIT: My post should be one up from where it is.

--Spike

 

Do not expect the Khumo MX to handle anything other than perfect conditions. under 50 degrees that tire is down right dangerous

 

That goes for just about any ultra-highperformance summer tire, including the OEM Potenzas.

 

not like this.... I know the oem potenzas suck donkey d1ck, but the khumos are HORRIBLE in cold, wet.... anything other than 75 degrees and perfect pavement. Especially the bigger they get. On the 295s I ran, the center 3" or so of the tire is basically a slick

 

That sounds like you ran too much pressure in them; caused the center to bulge.

We had temps in the 20's a few weeks back and I rode on both my PS2 and Falken RT-615s and both were virtually tractionless. It was like riding on hockey pucks, not tires.

 

yep, it must be user error

Seriously, the tire pressure is not the issue.

regardless, any summer tire is going to perform poorly in cold weather conditions.

 

i just purchase a set of the khumo SPT and so far i love them.

 

I'm going to say go with the Falken FK452 or Toyo T1R for a reasonably priced set that will work in the rain and slightly colder temps.

 

Aren't the FK452s geared more toward sport/luxury? I like their reviews, but was just skeptical about putting them on a sports car.

good to hear ...and btw, it's kumHO hehe

 

My 452s kick up rock constantly while driving. (read sticky)

They've held up pretty well on the 1/4mile and road course. Driving in the 20/30s right now, they have been fine for me.

 

I hope that NEVER happens again Spike!

My fishtailing/spinning was completely unexpected. I keep replaying it in my head like a bad dream because it had every reason to be SO much worse given the traffic that came seconds after from over the hill. I like to drive my car like it was made to be driven every once and a while, and I am very paranoid as it is about her, but now I feel like I am going to be the guy who drives like a grandma.

 

.....452s are making a slight comeback, but SPTs still have the lead.

I should have mentioned in the first post that these will probably see some rain. I take the car on trips every now and then, so I need something that'll take some substantially wet conditions if I get stuck in a monsoon or something. haha

 

I can't comment on the rain too much. I've been ok, but I drive like a great grandmother when it rains here. The streets here turn into oil during rain. HOWEVER, I did not have any problems given my slow *** driving and the slick streets.

 

no offense, but I'm not sure if that helps me.

btw, i'm jealous of you living in Vegas because my DD is starting to rust.