Help me choose a tire ...

[TouringBubble]

Alright, after my RS2's died in under 8000 miles, I've decided to go with something a little more tame for the street this time. I've picked a few to consider based on a few factors, but if you have other suggestions, please chime in. Otherwise, let me know if you have any experience with the tires I've listed. I will not be driving hard on these for the most part ... I'll get separate sticky tires mounted on my BBSs for that.

What I'm looking for:
$90 - $110 each (I've got a tire guy that can get most brands)
300 - 350 TW
W, Y or Z rated
Decent dry and wet traction ... AA or A.

These are the ones I've found so far ...

Dunlop Direzza DZ101
BFGoodrich g-Force Sport
Yokohama S.drive
Falken Fk452
Nitto NT 555 Extreme Performance

[blkonblk2red]

i think the dunlop direzza are good tires for the money :)

why no the kdw's? 245-40-17? thats what i got :-D and they are around 159 a piece... i know its over bugget but thread wear is also 300.. see if your guy can get them for 130ish or what not? i think sams has them and kauffmen matches prices...

[BlewByYouEvoVIII]

for the money the Z1s

[TripperFx3]

Why not the Star Specs? Despite their low treadwear rating they actually last for quite a while. They are supposed to be just as grippy as the RE01R's, but actually last a bit longer. Ask Ryan about the longevity of his RE01R's.

[TouringBubble]

I'm looking for 20k+ from this set ... RT615, RE01R and Star Specs are out. I am much less concerned with grip that you think ... I had these RS2s and they were great for grip, but I never used them for that. I did one mountain drive and some auto-x on them, but I'll have dedicated auto-x tires this season. I want moderate grip and longevity.

Chintan, 245/40 is too small for me. If i went 245, it would be on a 45. With the 6-speed, I can't put up with that gearing shift. I shift enough as it is ... =)

[TouringBubble]

So, Dunlop Direzza DZ101 is the pick currently? If I got 14k from the stock Advans, you think I could get 20k out of the Dunlops?

[BlewByYouEvoVIII]

I got 22K on a set of RE01Rs. If you daily them they last a long time and actually grip much better than Star Specs IMO. The Star Specs are better in the rain though. The Star Specs are much cheaper if I remember correctly. Just have a 2nd set of wheels for autox/track as Im sure you do.

[TouringBubble]

I've heard of people getting 20k+ on sticky tires, but I want to be SURE that I'll get at least 20k. I'm considering adding a little toe out up front as well which will scrub the crap out of any soft tires on the street.

I'm currently running -2.4º camber in the front and -1.3º in the rear, but with 0 toe, so the wear is fairly uniform.

[mouse]

I have the star specs right now and really enjoy them. I have about 5k on them and 1 Auto-X. They seem to be holding up well. I did have a set of KDW's on my S2000 and enjoyed them, they are very noisy, but they a wonderful in the wet. I dont trust my Dunlops at all in the rain. Maybe because I totaled my S in the rain on the factory Bridgestone's. I know you dont have them listed but I would highly advise not to buy Pirelli's, terrible tire and horrible to balance. They always have super high road force and the customers at the dealer normally swap out for Michelins after the first set. Tire rack has some great reviews, I would check that out. Good luck on your choice.

[bomjoon]

dood if you DD them falkens you can get 26k+ out of it.

i got 22k with trackday and 5 mt runs with the 1st set of the falkens i had...

im on my 6th set and i love them... but you know that since i told you liek 300040039994 times.

[TouringBubble]

You got that much from RS2s?

[bomjoon]

no the RS2 lasted a while but didnt grip much. and expensive as hell.

the falken 615 lasted 22k+ the 1st set. the others... not so much... lol

i think the 3rd set of the 615 lasted me like 8k. i was hard on them.

[TouringBubble]

Oh, sorry .. brain fart. You said Falken. So, you got 22K, then less, then 8k? I need a definite 20k from these ...

[bomjoon]

i garentee you that they will last 25k+

but you have to DD them. no launching, no going to old 280, no mt runs.

so basically dont drive like i do in my neighborhood then youd be ok. LOL

[bomjoon]

besides the falkens are only like $125 per tire.

have discount tire or your local tire company get them for you and match the price.

then say you dont pay tax on the internet and take that off as well and out it towards your installation which should not be more than $50 for all 4.

[TouringBubble]

Or, pay $100/tire and save $100 ...

[em1toevo]

+1 for the G Force Sports. I like them for the money.

[TripperFx3]

Those are the ones that are going to be on my new wheels and I hear they are fairly hard compound. Not sure about longevity though.

[bomjoon]

dont cesar have bf's?

falken 615's or i aint yo friend no more. :P

[TouringBubble]

Then stop texting me if I'm not your friend! =)

Ummm ... I'm not sure what he's running on the Evo. He's got KDW's on the Skyline though.

[TouringBubble]

With lots of feedback from different sources, I think I'm down to these choices ... it may depend on what my friend can get me.

Falken Fk452 - $91 - Y, 300, AA, A
Nitto NT 555 Extreme Performance - $104, W, 300, A, A
General Exclaim UHP - $96, W, 380, A, A

[jktripp]

ive had the falken's and the nitto's before and was happy with both... prob be fine with either of the three choices

[blkonblk2red]

yeah out of those three falkens :)

[TripperFx3]

Aren't the FK452's Falken's "luxury" sport tire? I've experienced the Generals on my friends Mazdaspeed Miata and they give great grip for the price. But I believe the 452's will last longer.

[TouringBubble]

Well, i'm not sure my friend can get the Falkens, so it might be General for me. I've got to get in touch with him.

[bomjoon]

general has ugly thread pattern.

but then again so does your face...

[TouringBubble]

it does. /cry

the BFG has a ugly pattern too, but apparently lots of people like those as well ... this is getting difficult.

Does anyone have experience with the Nitto 555? Does it wear like a 300 should? Any input on sidewalls? It seems like it might be an over rated ricer tire and that worries me.

[Evolvedgti]

it does. /cry

the BFG has a ugly pattern too, but apparently lots of people like those as well ... this is getting difficult.

Does anyone have experience with the Nitto 555? Does it wear like a 300 should? Any input on sidewalls? It seems like it might be an over rated ricer tire and that worries me.

Whether you want to believe the "reviews", here is ........

http://www.carreview.com/mfr/nitto/tires/PRD_995_1577crx.aspx

I went with the INVO, but I get them next month when i come back for a few days. ( no impressions yet)

[bomjoon]

matt im not gonna force you to get 615's but really they are the best as far as wear / cost/ perf. goes...

they are 200 but its actually more than that.

have you ever ran 615's? they are truely the best tire ive tried. for what it is.
why you think i keep going back to them?

[TouringBubble]

I understand Joey. Like I said on 4touge, they are the best for the price. But the issue is that I have to be sure that this next set will last. I don't want to buy new tires in 10k or even 15k this time as I need to save cash to pay off some debt. My next set will likely be 615s or Star Specs, since I'll be able to afford tires more often.

[ZIGZAG]

I second that. Wearing the Direzza Star Specs 245-45-17's, and there's a great balance between the wear and grip. Good in both wet and dry. Also good feedback from the Auto X boys.


Why not the Star Specs? Despite their low treadwear rating they actually last for quite a while. They are supposed to be just as grippy as the RE01R's, but actually last a bit longer. Ask Ryan about the longevity of his RE01R's.

[ZIGZAG]

Also depends on what kind of restraint you have Papa! A 300 treadwear tire on any Evo is a no no for me personally. Will let you go in a pretty unpredictable manner if you push it on the twisties. 240 is my personal limit.

[TouringBubble]

I drive very tame on the street.

[bomjoon]

I drive very tame on the street.


LOL



... how bout them sumitomos? they is under $100 per tire.

[TripperFx3]

lol Gran. I broke my Proxes 4's out on the track accidently, but it was very controllable none the less. I also have around 380AWHP. Let me know what you go with and how you like them because the G-force sports I got on my new wheels will be gone soon. I may get another 10k out of them.

[jktripp]

haha!!!! i got an idea!!!! buy 2 of each and mount each wheel(one brand up front and one brand in back). then you will know which one wears more...... then get rid of the crappiest of them, and replace it, and keep going till you know.... then let us know so we will all know which ones to get... thanks in advance.;)

[Hikaru]

Matt I don't know if you are interested but I have 4 Z1 Star Specs I need to get rid of. They are sized 255/40 17. I've driven on them for almost 2 months (maybe 1000mi.) but bought 18" wheels so I have no need for them. You can have em cheap...

[hope666]

for the money the Z1s

Ryan he meant DZ101 I had them before on my Red EVO VIII and they suck bad. Yokohama S-Drive I have them right now and they are were good, surprisingly close to Dunlop Z1 or Z1 Starspec.
If you can spend some more buy Dunlop Z1, these are great tires.

[TripperFx3]

Might be a good deal through Hikaru. I'd take them off your hands if I was still in GA. Well PM how much you may want for them shipped. If he doesn't take them and your letting them go for a good price I'll pay for shipping, but obviously dibs go to the Bubble man lol.

Hope, how long did you have the S-drives? I know they're the replacements to the AVS ES100's which the drifters swore by because they gave decent grip and lasted forever, so if you don't mind what were the draw backs/pluses to the S-drives?

[ZIGZAG]

Dude!!! Run with these if it's in your budget.!


Matt I don't know if you are interested but I have 4 Z1 Star Specs I need to get rid of. They are sized 255/40 17. I've driven on them for almost 2 months (maybe 1000mi.) but bought 18" wheels so I have no need for them. You can have em cheap...

[bomjoon]

hikaru is a great seller...

whatever he might be selling...

[bomjoon]

yo jason.
call me i want your tires.

678 677 0516 i text you but i dont know if you still got the number you gave me b4...

[TouringBubble]

^ ass.

Just kidding. I probably wouldn't have gotten them. For the price, I'd rather have something that will last. I'm weird, I know.

[bomjoon]

yeah you are weird... but thats why i like you. you is different than dem other whities...

[TouringBubble]

Thank Joey ... I think. =)

I got the tires mounted today. 235/45/17 G-Force Sports.

[jktripp]

glad to hear you made a decision, hopefully they will be great for what you are needing. i will be curiously awainting your results of how many miles you are able to get from them....

[bomjoon]

cool man...

but why 235's?

[TouringBubble]

Price mainly. But, they will also wear better sitting square on the tire and I don't need the grip of a 255. Now, my race tires will be 255/40s.

[Hikaru]

Glad you got some tires man. Sounded like you really needed em!

[TouringBubble]

I should have taken pics. There was 0 tread on 3 aside from about 1/32 on the shoulder of 2. The other had about 1.5/32 on it.

I think a drifter grabbed them ... I saw a guy w/ a boosted 240 loading them up while I was leaving.