Sumitomo HTR Z III Tires
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,879
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Sorry to bump an old thread, but I just had my rears replaced with the Z III tires (235 50 17). The only reason I replaced my tires was because I got a nail in the left rear and I was already thinking about replacing all fours before this.
Does anyone have longterm updates on the Z IIIs? I got 29,400 miles out of the RE040s on the back and still had a few more thousand miles out of the original set that I got when new (7 years ago! :O). The RE040s are still on the front since I couldn't fit 4 tires + 1 flat tire on a rim in the car.
The fronts have probably 3k miles left in them, but I was never crazy about the RE040s in the wet or the dry for that matter. It didn't make sense to replace them for $250 more than the Z IIIs, which have a better traction rating (AA vs A), tread wear (300 vs 140), and speed (Y/186 vs W/168).
So basically, should I get as many more miles from the RE040 fronts before switching out to the Z IIIs if they are not that great of tires??? I don't have much money (grad student) so I can't really afford another set to "try out" what works. Obviously I don't drive my Z hard, which is why I got 29.5k miles out of the RE040s (still more left). I don't do track days, 1/4 mi or anything like that. Thanks.
Edit: one of the reasons I'd like to replace the fronts sooner is because they are old and been through a lot (driven them in snow and 15 degree weather) so I don't really want them to structurally fail on the highway (no AAA for me anymore). Plus, I'd know the front and rears have similar mileage if changed closely. So if the Z IIIs are really not that great and won't last more than 8k miles, I'd like to keep my RE040s on the front for another 3k miles (maybe 1 year at my rate).
Does anyone have longterm updates on the Z IIIs? I got 29,400 miles out of the RE040s on the back and still had a few more thousand miles out of the original set that I got when new (7 years ago! :O). The RE040s are still on the front since I couldn't fit 4 tires + 1 flat tire on a rim in the car.
The fronts have probably 3k miles left in them, but I was never crazy about the RE040s in the wet or the dry for that matter. It didn't make sense to replace them for $250 more than the Z IIIs, which have a better traction rating (AA vs A), tread wear (300 vs 140), and speed (Y/186 vs W/168).
So basically, should I get as many more miles from the RE040 fronts before switching out to the Z IIIs if they are not that great of tires??? I don't have much money (grad student) so I can't really afford another set to "try out" what works. Obviously I don't drive my Z hard, which is why I got 29.5k miles out of the RE040s (still more left). I don't do track days, 1/4 mi or anything like that. Thanks.
Edit: one of the reasons I'd like to replace the fronts sooner is because they are old and been through a lot (driven them in snow and 15 degree weather) so I don't really want them to structurally fail on the highway (no AAA for me anymore). Plus, I'd know the front and rears have similar mileage if changed closely. So if the Z IIIs are really not that great and won't last more than 8k miles, I'd like to keep my RE040s on the front for another 3k miles (maybe 1 year at my rate).
Last edited by NismoKid; Mar 3, 2010 at 05:30 PM.
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 28,899
Likes: 1,906
From: Twin Cities, MN
I've had my Z III tires since last summer. I also autox'd with them and liked how they gripped just enough. 
I've only put about 2k miles on them, so I don't know how well they'll last but I'm putting them to the test! Zdayz in May and hopefully lots of autox this season!
I've only put about 2k miles on them, so I don't know how well they'll last but I'm putting them to the test! Zdayz in May and hopefully lots of autox this season!
I have had the Z III tires on my Z for almost 30k, my size are the same as the original poster. I just go new Volks GT-AV's and because of the size had to put on different tires. Hankook Ventus V12 Evo K110. If the Sumitomo would have made 19in, I wouldn't have hesitated to get them again. I've never had a problem with them. Cheap yes, but they suited my needs just fine.
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