225/40/18 + H-techs on RX-8 rims

[keleko]

the other thread was getting offtopic...

so-
i have stock rx-8 wheels and tires on it now (225/45r18 91w) - and that's just not working
the car sits higher, and is much slower and most important - it's using more gas


and the size i need on that wheel is 225/40/18 , right? right.

what *BRAND* and *MAKE* of tire is the right way to go - considering it's dry (or 2" of water on the road during the rainy season) here in S FL?

also considering i have a set of tein h-tech that will be installed (and still need to get the camber kit)


sooner i get new tires, the better off i'll be

 

[VRMS6]

225/40/18 is the widest you should use on the Mazda3. Im using Toyo Proxes4 for a great all season tire. If your in non winter part of the country then I would recomment the Toyo Proxes T1-R....

 

[MightyMouse]

225/40/18 is the widest you should use on the Mazda3. Im using Toyo Proxes4 for a great all season tire. If your in non winter part of the country then I would recomment the Toyo Proxes T1-R....

The T1-R is getting pretty old in it's design, and there are a LOT better tires out there, especially for the money. I am using Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's, and I am VERY happy with them, and I know a thing or two about tires. Just make sure you get the right tire if you get the goodyears, there is a standard load version which does not have a load rating high enough for our cars, and an extra load version which is more than high enough.

Or, you can read this..

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/tests/CandD_gy_f1_gs_d3/CandD_gy_f1_gs_ds.pdf

 

[bbrich57]

I am running Falkens and for the money I don't think you can beat them. Since you're not in the market for an all-season, go for a UHP! Kumho seems to be getting good press 'round here (and all over, really) too, but more money. I considered them when the BadYears gave it up.
You could also look @ the Goodrich new gens, but they are even more money.
For cheap, good and reliable I'd stick w/Falkens.

 

[keleko]

gonna have to be the cheapo's anyway, cuz i aint gots a job no' mo'

interview shceduled on fri. and another monday, but still at least 2weeks before i see a paycheck even if i start monday

 

[bbrich57]

Don't let the fact that they're cheap fool you. I'd bet Falkens are every bit as good as many, many other brands out there. They certainly outshine the BadYear RS-A's in all ways but dry (absolutely dry ) handling. Not that I wanted them but the cheapest I found the RS-A's for in April was $160 ea. (Retail was $290 ea!! Are they NUT??)
I paid $87.00 a piece for the Falkens, mounted, balanced, installed and w/the $2 take-away tire charge. They have gone up a bit since due to oil prices, but so has everything.
'Sorry to hear about the job, 'n' Good Luck w/the interview.
Like many, I hate interviews, but it is part of the process.
Did you get "downsized" or "outsourced" w/cheap foreign labor?

 

[tsunami]

i have the kumho mx ehp.. extreme is better then ultimate!!!!!!!!!1

they are a great tire for the money not a bad tread wear rating they look decent and i haven't been able to get them to really break loose at all... or the new toyo that replaced the t1-r the t1-s its a bit pricey 150 or so a tire but i hear its a great tire.

 

[bbrich57]

Nice lookin' tread, Derek! Then again, they look kinda' like the Falken 615's. (lick)

(encourage

 

[bpoche]

i have kumho 711's for 1500 miles they are great so far i have 215 40 17's and for $53 ea from tire rack what can i say

 

[bbrich57]

Don't know much about that model, but $53 is hard to beat!

 

[tsunami]

are the 711's all season? i remember looking at them before i bought these i think it was the weight that made me not get them they were a heavy tire in its class... (the mx is only 22lbs woot woot!!!)

 

[ZoomVT]

yeah but that weight is offset by your weight derek.
ha

i have the Kumhos Excta ASX. they are about 70 a pop and they are awesome all seasons. Not to use in the snow though

 

[bbrich57]

Now Boys, play nice.
I don't know where you're all getting these prices from? Kumhos were much more expensive even before oil shot up in price. Cheapest I saw on ANY performance Kumho was over $100 apiece!
$77.00 ea. (before all the other stuff I mentioned) was a good deal in mid-April when I bought my Falkens.

 

[tsunami]

hell that lil loss of weight isn't going to affect s*** if i am in the car lol...

but its a big difference between sprung and unsprung weight...

the tires i bought were 93 a peice i believe... not bad for EHP

 

[bpoche]

thes are the tires i have and are great in the rain
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+711&partnum=14HR7E711&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=27

 

[MightyMouse]

Just for another opinion...

I have yet to try a set of Kuhmo's that I actually liked....and I have pretty much tried them all. Although, the MX weren't awfull, but I wouldn't use my own money to buy them.......

 

[tsunami]

if i had the money i would have gotton the T1-s by toyo... but the mx were 55 cheaper a tire... t1-s are for sure going to be my next tire...

 

[keleko]

Don't know much about that model, but $53 is hard to beat!

add another $34 (average) each for shipping - then you'll have a better price

 

[keleko]

several choices have been mentioned ...
Toyo Proxes T1-R
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
Falken azenis( ?)
UHP (what?)
Kumho mx ehp
kumho Ecsta 711
Kumho Ecsta ASX
Toyo T1-s
fusion zri
Michelin Pilot Sport 2
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
yokohama a048
BFG G-force
Victoracer V710s
Kumho's lead with 3 different models, but which does what? i don't need all season, just what works well in 80% dry/20% wet

how can i make a poll long after a thread is opened?
2nd part would be WHERE in S FL would i go to get the best prices for whichever tire? or would i be better off buying online and having a local shop (again, who?) put them on?

(enguard)

 

[bbrich57]

The UHP I mentioned is a generic term for Ultra High Performance.
My Bud, Tsunami, mentioned EHP or Extreme High Performance.
These two choices are rarely if ever rated all-season, and usually have a lower wear rating, due to the trade off in exceptional performance qualities (will not last as long.)
ASX's are all-season, as are the Ziex (Falken) ZE-512's (360 wear rating) I run, so you probably don't want either of those.
Azenis (I think I spelled that correctly?) are Falkens "summer" performance tires... not All-Season rated. I know several 3 owner around here that have and love them.
Tires are confusing. They require a lot of personal research, and there is no right or wrong answer for every situation/every driver. They are very subjective.
Most people despise the OEM RS-A's (240 wear rating) in everything but dry handling, and more often than not, got lousey mileage from them too. Mine lasted <20K, some have had worse luck, and some better. I couldn't wait for them to wear out so I could replace them.
Basically, look at what other 3 owners are suggesting, the tread wear rating, tempature, and traction ratings. Don't forget the speed rating. Even if you don't plan to max out the speedo, with a 3, stick w/a Z or Y (higher speed) rating. Avoid H rated tires, and below. This is often a way to judge how well the tire will handle and respond to input.
Also, see if the price and any add-ons there might be fit your budget.
Get on Tirerack.com and Discount tires site (America's tire? Yahoo or Google it) and see what people are saying about them (consumer reviews) and if many are complaining about the same things, using the same vehicle, stay away!!
I had several pages from both sites printed out and reviewed them as well as the advice given by my fellow 3 brothers. I changed my mind several times as I wanted to buy tires locally and not have to deal w/shipping and finding a place to mount and balance them, etc.
I went to a local Discount tire store, who honored the website price, charged $8 ea. to mount and balance and $2 ea. to take away the BadYears and there you have it! $87 a piece out the door! I'm happy.