Tire choices

[oliver2000]

Well at 29,000 KMs we have two bad SP9000's due to what appears to be a alignment issue. I have read that the MSP had different specs than the MP3 and I have complained to Mazda that at 29,000km's we should not have two bad tires as the have been rotated regularly.....anyway a story for another day..

I am looking at the following tires to replace all 4 on the stock rims ( plus get a alignment ) and wondering if anyone has a opinion on which way to go....

All in stock size of 205/45/17

Yokahama AVS ES100
Toyo Proxes 4
Kumho Ecsta Supra
Falken ZE-513 Zlex

The reviews I have read put all of these in similar status....just wondering how they feel on the MP3

 

[luckezero]

Yokahama AVS ES100
Toyo Proxes 4
Kumho Ecsta Supra
Falken ZE-513 Zlex

I'd stay away from the AVS ES100 if you do a lot of hard cornering. It doesn't really have sidewalls designed, IMHO, for hard cornering auto-x as much as say a Parada Spec II would. The tire guy I talked to was all about Paradas instead of AVS ES100. I forget if Paradas are available 205/45-17 tho. I've had AVS ES100s on a mid-engine, RWD car. They worked great in that application... but chunked a little on the sidewalls. I had the Supra 712s on a Golf and thought they were horrible. They look great, but took away all the steering feel. However, they hardly ever would squeal, which is nice.

I've currently got some Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. Gorgeous looking, awesome on the road. I was only able to get them in 215/40ZR17, but they don't rub and they are very solid and smooth. Only thing is they may SLIGHTLY degregrade outright acceleration and have a slightly smaller sidewall, but not much. Whatever you do, I wouldn't recommend a 205/40...

 

[02p5]

I've used the Kumho Ecsta Supra and they are good bang for the buck tires but somewhat shaky on the corners. I'm using the Toyo Proxies T1-S and I swear by them now. They are great tires.

 

[davens]

Recently switched to the Proxes 4...I like.
Only been 1200 miles though. Still waiting for a good downpour to check wet weather capabilities.

 

[scott42]

Depends what you're looking for, but I've got Falken Azenis ST115's and I really like them.
So far they have worn much more evenly than my dunlops (I had the same issue as you; very uneven wear even with rotations), they are rediculously more quiet (which was what I was personally looking for) and they handle just about as well as the dunlops (based on how hard I drive; which is not very). Wet weather is great at speed. Very deep water grooves.
Good luck!

 

[PaulMP3]

I just dropped my car off at mazda along with some Toyo Proxes4. I went for 215/45 zr17 I hope they dont rub.

 

[mp3moose]

^those shouldn't rub at all.

 

[PaulMP3]

thats what i figured, especially since that is the size the MSP wear. I think one MP3 owner said his 215's rubbed. I noticed the proxes4 seem a little taller then some other 215/45's but i hope im good. Im back to stock springs now so that should help.

 

[Mr. Win]

you live in canda so you want an all seaon tire right? avid h4 by yoko look very promising along with the contentail extreme contact.

i have the parada spec2s and i love them to no end.

 

[oliver2000]

you live in canda so you want an all seaon tire right? avid h4 by yoko look very promising along with the contentail extreme contact.

i have the parada spec2s and i love them to no end.

All season does not matter...we store the car winters.....

 

[MrMp3]

I would buy the parada spec ll I love them and they last a good while

 

[contacthansel]

Sup sup... (just in case yer considering a different size)

i just bought the Falken Ziex ZE-512 tires, but not the 205/45's, i got the 215/40's. Frankly, they were cheaper, and they had really good reviews and recommendations. The day after i got em installed, i went on a 2000 mile road trip (total miles). They have awesome traction in the rain, they have the same road noise as the stock. But b/c of the /40 series, they are little bit more harsh on bumps, just a little. One thing though, they fill in the fender quite nice. For me, there's a visual difference. They don't rub.

Later
-hansel

 

[roni]

i have parada spec-2s and i definitely like them

 

[garretts77]

I had the SpecII in 205/40/17 and they were pretty good, but when they wore out I decided to try the Kuhmo Ecsta MX, and in my opinion they are better. They are stickier, there is less sidewall movement, they are quieter, and they seem to be wearing better. And they were only $1 more per tire. Just my opinion, but they are better than the SpecII's. The SpecII's look pretty, but I feel that the MX's have more grip.

 

[PaulMP3]

I just dropped my car off at mazda along with some Toyo Proxes4. I went for 215/45 zr17 I hope they dont rub.

Got the car back on sat.The tires ride really nice, and are quieter then the sp9000's, but the handling is definitly worse. There seems to be more roll to the car and also on sweeping on/off ramps they seem to want to slide out sooner then the sp9000's. These tires have deeper tread, so i'm assuming that where the extra roll is comming from. This is also making the steering not as quick as before. I knew i was getting into an all season performance tires, so some of this is expected. im just pissed the car lost some of it sporty feel.

As for rubbing with the 215/45's, i had 5 people in my car sunday with a good amount of weight and no rubbing. Even over speed bumps everything was fine.

 

[TX Speed Demon]

I've had some Proxes 4 for about 6-7 months now. I really like them, similar performance to the stock Bridgestones. They are better in wet weather, are quiter and don't track grooves/curves in the road as often.

They do however have a softer sidewall. I don't notice it in day-to-day driving, but when driving hard it does squeal before the bridgestones do. Also I did a VERY SLIGHT curb check (I got about a 1/4 inch mark on my rim) and somehow managed to puncture a hole in the side of the tire right where the lettering is. The tire didn't explode, but when I got home, 1 minute later, I could hear and feel the air coming out, and it was completly flat within 2 hours.

I'd say if you are looking for something that has similar performance to stock and you don't plan on AutoXing on them these are great tires. If you drive like a maniac 100% of the time or go to the track often I'd get something with a stiffer sidewall.

I plan on upgrading to the TS-1s next time if the money is available.

 

[oliver2000]

I've had some Proxes 4 for about 6-7 months now. I really like them, similar performance to the stock Bridgestones. They are better in wet weather, are quiter and don't track grooves/curves in the road as often.

They do however have a softer sidewall. I don't notice it in day-to-day driving, but when driving hard it does squeal before the bridgestones do. Also I did a VERY SLIGHT curb check (I got about a 1/4 inch mark on my rim) and somehow managed to puncture a hole in the side of the tire right where the lettering is. The tire didn't explode, but when I got home, 1 minute later, I could hear and feel the air coming out, and it was completly flat within 2 hours.

I'd say if you are looking for something that has similar performance to stock and you don't plan on AutoXing on them these are great tires. If you drive like a maniac 100% of the time or go to the track often I'd get something with a stiffer sidewall.

I plan on upgrading to the TS-1s next time if the money is available.

Thanks everyone fopr the input so far...

I am waiting now for final numbers on the toyo's and the falken's....I am having the mazda dealer hunt for a good price ( hint I have one already on line )...reason for the dealer is that they have serviced the car since day 1....going to have them do a alignment and see if it was actually off....I think it was from a massive pothole we hit....but you never know...also having them check the front squeeky bushings...want to give them no excuses for the balance of the warranty...

 

[oliver2000]

Got the car back on sat.The tires ride really nice, and are quieter then the sp9000's, but the handling is definitly worse. There seems to be more roll to the car and also on sweeping on/off ramps they seem to want to slide out sooner then the sp9000's. These tires have deeper tread, so i'm assuming that where the extra roll is comming from. This is also making the steering not as quick as before. I knew i was getting into an all season performance tires, so some of this is expected. im just pissed the car lost some of it sporty feel.

As for rubbing with the 215/45's, i had 5 people in my car sunday with a good amount of weight and no rubbing. Even over speed bumps everything was fine.

Could the handling change come from the different size ?

 

[tarmac and beer]

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

you can check how different tire sizes compare to the oem 205/45/17 size. you should be safe using 215/40/17 tires which are wider and have a thinner sidewall; there are many tires choices in this size.