Time for replacing the tires...need advice

[pidass15]

So this is the first car I've actually had to replace tires on that I actually care about. So I'm kinda confused by all the information out there. Hopefully someone can come in and help me understand.

My biggest question is do I get a summer tire or all-season? I'm in SC, so it doesn't get cold long and when it does it's usually not too bad (only snows every couple years and when it does everything closes down). What are the pros/cons of each?

Beyond that I'm looking to put 225/40 to replace the stock tires and I'm looking for cheap and a long lasting tire (somewhat increase in performance would be nice too). So sorting based on price on Tirerack and the tires look like this...

General Exclaim UHP $87 (summer)
Kumho Ecsta SPT $97 (summer) (320 tread)
Kumho Ecsta ASX $98 (all-season) (420 tread)
Kumho Ecsta MX $112 (summer) (200 tread)
Continental ContiExtremeContact $117 (all-season)
Dunlop SP Sport Signature $122 (all-season)
BFGoodrich g-force super sport A/S $126
Yokohama W4S $126 (all-season)

I purposely left off Avon, Sumitomo, and Fuzion tires simply because I've never heard of them.

The most I'm willing to pay is $126/tire and given what I've read if I go with an all-season the Ecsta ASX sounds like the best bet. If I go with summer I'm liking the General Exclaim (my brother-in-law has General something on his SVT Focus and loves them).

Any feedback?

When I finally do pick a tire is it worth it to buy off Tirerack and pay for shipping or try to go to a local tire shop and buy them if they include mount/balance? Thanks.

 

[fasteract]

ASX is pretty decent all-weather, 12-15K miles with a heavy right foot. Fuzion ZRi pretty comparable to the Kumho. You guys get some pretty good rain down there so a summer tire while new will do but hydroplaning will develop at 5-6/32's and below.

 

[rjs_speed3]

Yokohama S-drives last pretty long (depending on what you do), handle pretty nicely, are smooth, and relaxingly quiet..

Treadwear: 300
Traction: A
Temp: A
Speed Rating ZR

$169.00 each

 

[mcb]

""I'm looking for cheap and a long lasting tire (somewhat increase in performance would be nice too). ""

How the hell could you expect to get that??? ... stocker are like 380CAD(dealer price is a ripoff) they have very good grip and dont last long. Good grip CAN'T goes with last long. Choose what you want good grip tire or last long tire.

 

[whitey4311]

""I'm looking for cheap and a long lasting tire (somewhat increase in performance would be nice too). ""

How the hell could you expect to get that??? ... stocker are like 380CAD(dealer price is a ripoff) they have very good grip and dont last long. Good grip CAN'T goes with last long. Choose what you want good grip tire or last long tire.

WORD!

Why do people buy cars that can go fast and handle great then come time for maintenance buy the bad stuff? The best compromise I found is to buy the decent stuff and dont drive hard all the time to make it last, but when you want to push the car you can and it will do its job.

My friend raves about selling his MS3 for a Evo then put ******* $80 NEXEN tires on it, lol.

 

[MSLou]

i love my generals they are good over all tires but i went for the 235's

 

[jville]

WORD!

Why do people buy cars that can go fast and handle great then come time for maintenance buy the bad stuff? The best compromise I found is to buy the decent stuff and dont drive hard all the time to make it last, but when you want to push the car you can and it will do its job.

My friend raves about selling his MS3 for a Evo then put ******* $80 NEXEN tires on it, lol.

+++111
Get some nitto neogens in the 225/40/18. Excellent tire and priced at about 105 a tire you can't beat it. When mi b-stone are whooped thats what i'm wrapping around my rims.

 

[happy and angry]

Don't skimp on your tires, and check out the stock tire size thread for good advice on proper tire sizing.

You can't have a performance tire that lasts long. Long lasting tires are hard, tires that are grippy are soft. I am strongly suggesting you get tires of similar quality to stock (or better) if you don't want to compromise handling, braking, acceleration, ride quality and comfort. Your tires are the single most important part of your car. They do everything. Power gets to the road through them, braking is controlled by them, handling is largely affected by them. If you get long life tread wear tires, you will notice a lot more wheel slippage under hard acceleration, more understeer, longer stops with less control, and probably a harsher ride.

 

[jville]

Don't skimp on your tires, and check out the stock tire size thread for good advice on proper tire sizing.You can't have a performance tire that lasts long. Long lasting tires are hard, tires that are grippy are soft. I am strongly suggesting you get tires of similar quality to stock (or better) if you don't want to compromise handling, braking, acceleration, ride quality and comfort. Your tires are the single most important part of your car. They do everything. Power gets to the road through them, braking is controlled by them, handling is largely affected by them. If you get long life tread wear tires, you will notice a lot more wheel slippage under hard acceleration, more understeer, longer stops with less control, and probably a harsher ride.

Our/my advice is no good?

 

[happy and angry]

Our/my advice is no good?

No, it's great. It just never hurts to have more information.

 

[jville]

i know i'm just foolin. But i actually put this exact set on jaxjeffs 06 ms6 and he loves them and they are wearing excellent, even with the hr lowering springs, prolly due to his great alignment done by a master technician (this guy lol) and good rotation habbits.

 

[pointysticks]

kumho ecsta MX's. no doubt. i have them on my 911 right now. my second set. i burned the first set by learning how to drive on a track. i went alot, with AX in between. GREAT! one track day, was at thunderhill in the rain. i had the wipers going full speed, and i passed a lotus. he passed me right back, and started spinning. GREAT TIRE! i will put these on my MS3, and replace my p-car with them again. quiet, and decent lasting. great bang for the buck, just like the MS3!

 

[pidass15]

""I'm looking for cheap and a long lasting tire (somewhat increase in performance would be nice too). ""

How the hell could you expect to get that??? ... stocker are like 380CAD(dealer price is a ripoff) they have very good grip and dont last long. Good grip CAN'T goes with last long. Choose what you want good grip tire or last long tire.

It's not either/or. You really answered your own question. Stockers are hella expensive and there are cheaper tires that are comparable.

 

[fatti03msp]

if they make them in your size i would check out

Yokohama Parada Spec-2 i have them and love them

http://www.mrtire.com/tiredetail_po...78&tireid=243478&cfid=887724&cftoken=46257911

 

[MS3077]

if they make them in your size i would check out

Yokohama Parada Spec-2 i have them and love them

http://www.mrtire.com/tiredetail_po...78&tireid=243478&cfid=887724&cftoken=46257911

I have them as well and they're awesome!

 

[fructus]

Your best bet for summer tires is Nitto 555
For all-season Toyo Proxes 4

 

[wisniaPl]

BF Goodrich KDW2's

 

[shane02pro5]

^^ I have BFG G-Force KDW's and they are the stickiest tires I've ever owned (excellent in water too). They have like 300 treadwear too!


You have to think about it like this... If your going to be spinning all the time driving fairly aggressively a stickier more expensive tire will not spin as much so less wear than a higher treadwear tire that spins all the time???

 

[major error]

I'll give a vote to the SPTs.
The are awesome in the wet--I put one side of the car through 1" of standing water at highway speeds and they handled it like it wasn't even there. No lift and no drag.