Tire Review Thread
- Thread starter drumsbeloud
- Start date
DE31 said:
I was wondering this myself. I currently have:
Yokohama Parada Spec-2
205/45/16 on stock 16" P5 wheels
I like the cornering ability of these tires. Good wet traction, too. My only complaints are road noise (which you will get with any performance tire, so I can't really complain) and the size.
I've driven P5's on stock tires and the ride is a lot more comfortable than my tires. I think it has to do with the sidewall size. I want a larger sidewall but keep the 205 width. 205/50/16 are larger in overall diameter than stock, so I wasn't sure if that was the way to go. Anybody running 205/50/16 on stock wheels have any comments or suggestions? Any good or bad things about running this size on stock rims? Thanks.
Falken 512
Tire : Falken Ziex 512
Size : 195/55/15V on Enkei RSF2 stock wheel size
Category : All Season Perfomance
Review : These tires are so-so. They grip well in the wet, and they grip very well in the dry. The downside is that they wear out quickly, mostly on the outer edges, despite higher pressure(42psi). In all honesty, I am tough on my tires, so keep that in mind. They stick well in the corners, and make very little noise while doing so, even when at their limits. Minimal road noise overall.
Recommend : Maybe in 195/50/15V. The old 502's were a much better tire. If you want a decent tire for cheap for the weekend thrashings, and you take it easy during your commutes and such, then yes, go with these.
What I don't get is all the tire places(online and in-store) claim that the 502's are no longer made. However, Falken has re-done their site like 3 times in the last 2 years, and the 502's are still listed, complete with all the sizes available. I'm going to contact them, and if they still have 'em, I'm getting them when these are toast.
Tire : Falken Ziex 512
Size : 195/55/15V on Enkei RSF2 stock wheel size
Category : All Season Perfomance
Review : These tires are so-so. They grip well in the wet, and they grip very well in the dry. The downside is that they wear out quickly, mostly on the outer edges, despite higher pressure(42psi). In all honesty, I am tough on my tires, so keep that in mind. They stick well in the corners, and make very little noise while doing so, even when at their limits. Minimal road noise overall.
Recommend : Maybe in 195/50/15V. The old 502's were a much better tire. If you want a decent tire for cheap for the weekend thrashings, and you take it easy during your commutes and such, then yes, go with these.
What I don't get is all the tire places(online and in-store) claim that the 502's are no longer made. However, Falken has re-done their site like 3 times in the last 2 years, and the 502's are still listed, complete with all the sizes available. I'm going to contact them, and if they still have 'em, I'm getting them when these are toast.
Last edited:
anarchistchiken
Member
- :
- 03 Silver Protege5
Why do you need mud and snow tires? I'd go with the proxes.
Tire: Toyo T1R (TIS Replacements)
Size: 205/45/16
Price: About $380 for 4
Category: Ultra High Performance
Review: These tires are the shiznit. I've had them for about 5 thousand miles. The car handles likes its on rails. Grip is awesome for spirited driving. Its a very predictable tire. I have gotten the back end out on a few occations and the fronts just dont give up. They are all wearing out evenly, car lowered on tein springs, ranging between -1 to -2 degrees of camber all around.
Recommend?: Very much, Yes (dance)
Size: 205/45/16
Price: About $380 for 4
Category: Ultra High Performance
Review: These tires are the shiznit. I've had them for about 5 thousand miles. The car handles likes its on rails. Grip is awesome for spirited driving. Its a very predictable tire. I have gotten the back end out on a few occations and the fronts just dont give up. They are all wearing out evenly, car lowered on tein springs, ranging between -1 to -2 degrees of camber all around.
Recommend?: Very much, Yes (dance)
Last edited:
shane02pro5
25ish_psi
- :
- New Caney TX
My Toyo Proxes 4 are also a M&S tire (it says it right on the sidewall).
In my opinion the best tire I've ever had for everyday wet and dry traction! 215/35/18 $540
Pirellis were $10 more per tire.
Highly recommended!
In my opinion the best tire I've ever had for everyday wet and dry traction! 215/35/18 $540
Pirellis were $10 more per tire.
Highly recommended!
anarchistchiken said:
Toyo Proxes4
I actually got these tires about a year ago in July and started a thread to track its qualities over time:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73351&page=1&pp=15
As of today I've logged 45K km (approx. 28K miles) and they are still gripping strong, even in the wet. Break point (where they start to slip) is about approx. 65+ kph, 90deg turns. Still it's only a mild chirp, fully controlable and gradual. They are wearing out evenly (but I do rotate after every oil change). Camber set at -1.5 in the front -1.0 in the rear.
Recommend: Definitely, if an M&S tire is what you're looking for expecially if you want stock tire size.
I actually got these tires about a year ago in July and started a thread to track its qualities over time:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73351&page=1&pp=15
As of today I've logged 45K km (approx. 28K miles) and they are still gripping strong, even in the wet. Break point (where they start to slip) is about approx. 65+ kph, 90deg turns. Still it's only a mild chirp, fully controlable and gradual. They are wearing out evenly (but I do rotate after every oil change). Camber set at -1.5 in the front -1.0 in the rear.
Recommend: Definitely, if an M&S tire is what you're looking for expecially if you want stock tire size.
Last edited:
Tire: Falken Ziex 512
Size: 215/45ZR17
Paid about $65 each for them.
Category: All Season Performance
Review: I like these a lot. Actually I have these on all my cars. I got them for my MR2, and was impressed enough with the price and performance that I'm on my 3rd set. They stick like glue, and have last a long time. Besides that, they're very inexpensive.
Recommend?: Yes
Size: 215/45ZR17
Paid about $65 each for them.
Category: All Season Performance
Review: I like these a lot. Actually I have these on all my cars. I got them for my MR2, and was impressed enough with the price and performance that I'm on my 3rd set. They stick like glue, and have last a long time. Besides that, they're very inexpensive.
Recommend?: Yes
Last edited:
- :
- 2001 Pro 2.0 LX
- :
- DC
- :
- 03 Protege ES
Tire: Falken Ziex 512
Size: 215/40ZR17
Category: All Season Performance
Review: When i upgraded my wheels in July of 2005, i also bought a set of these to go with it. Keeping in mind i upgraded from the stock 16" to 17", these tires performed like magic. i had a cracking good time with these the first few hundred miles. compared to the stock tires, they reduced road noise by about 10% (non-scientific guess). my friend says he can feel the difference in ride quality-not as smooth and more bumpy, but it feels exactly the same to me maybe even better. dry traction is spot-on, wet traction feels marginally better than the stock tires. i still unwillingly spin out when accelerating from a stop on wet road. i'd like tires with enough wet traction that i dont spin out. these tires do wear a little faster than i had hoped; but this is on a 50mi. a day commute. going on 5,000 miles i've come to the conclusion that i'll probably replace these by summer of 2006. i have yet to drive this on winter roads, and i'm about to find out. the results may be off because i'll have close to 9,000 miles on these tires by then. other than that, these tires are a good investment.
Recommend: Yes
===============================
Tire: Falken Ziex 512
Size: 195/50ZR16
Category: All Season Performance
Review: these tires are on the OEM 16" wheels. tread is at the wear indicator bar at 12,000. tire rotation was done 2x (5000 miles) along with 2 alignments. mileage warranty is 30,000 and i am going to contact discount tire direct about the replacement options.
Recommend: NO! Not if they only last 12,000 miles even with proper rotation and alignment. 215/40ZR17 size lasted longer
===============================
Tire: Dunlop SP Sport 5000
Size: 195/50-16
Category: Ultra High Performance All-Season
Review: I would hardly call these Ultra High Performance. these OEM tires barely any wet traction, and dry traction was "decent" at best. very noisy compared to a low-profile tire like the falken above.
Recommend: NO
===============================
Tire: Goodyear Eagle RS-A
Size: 195/50-16
Category: High Performance All-Season
Review: Had to replace 2 OEM tires with these. they are no better than the OEM tires themselves. they offered no additional performance or grip compared to 2 used tires still on the car. still just as noisy. to make it worse, they cost $150 each. the falkens were about $80 each.
Recommend: NO
===============================
Tire: Falken Ziex ZE-329
Size: 195/50-16
Category: All Season Performance
Review: Replaced as a pair along with a pair of Falken ZE-912. This was because of road-hazard replacement warranty. The odd combination produced a low-frequency pulsating hum when cruising between 45-65mph and below 3000 rpm. Strangest road noise but my ears were a bit sensitive to the hum. Went away when the tires were rotated (if the shop ever remembered to rotate them). Confident dry grip, decent wet, decent snow/ice in the limited amounts we get in my area.
Recommend: I'm starting to like Falkens a lot.
===============================
Tire: Kuhmo Ecsta ASX
Size: 195/50R16
Category: ultra-high performance all-season
Review: Current tires on car. I've had these changed twice now. These were a great price, a high UTQG, and an all-season performer, or so i thought. For the first several hundred miles they are quite grippy but the drawbacks of this tire become more apparent as life goes on. Not very good in light to medium snow. I thought it was a trade off from being all-season and bad luck in the snow storm, but its just not very confident. treadlife is a lot less than expected also; the Falken 512 was a 360AA and these Kuhmos are 420AA, but even with regular tire rotation and correct air pressure, Khumos will be replaced sooner.
Recommend: Good price and initial performance, not for wintery areas
your life and the lives of your passengers rides on top of these tires, go for the falkens! hey, falkens were used by mazda in their rev-it-up program ^_^
Size: 215/40ZR17
Category: All Season Performance
Review: When i upgraded my wheels in July of 2005, i also bought a set of these to go with it. Keeping in mind i upgraded from the stock 16" to 17", these tires performed like magic. i had a cracking good time with these the first few hundred miles. compared to the stock tires, they reduced road noise by about 10% (non-scientific guess). my friend says he can feel the difference in ride quality-not as smooth and more bumpy, but it feels exactly the same to me maybe even better. dry traction is spot-on, wet traction feels marginally better than the stock tires. i still unwillingly spin out when accelerating from a stop on wet road. i'd like tires with enough wet traction that i dont spin out. these tires do wear a little faster than i had hoped; but this is on a 50mi. a day commute. going on 5,000 miles i've come to the conclusion that i'll probably replace these by summer of 2006. i have yet to drive this on winter roads, and i'm about to find out. the results may be off because i'll have close to 9,000 miles on these tires by then. other than that, these tires are a good investment.
Recommend: Yes
===============================
Tire: Falken Ziex 512
Size: 195/50ZR16
Category: All Season Performance
Review: these tires are on the OEM 16" wheels. tread is at the wear indicator bar at 12,000. tire rotation was done 2x (5000 miles) along with 2 alignments. mileage warranty is 30,000 and i am going to contact discount tire direct about the replacement options.
Recommend: NO! Not if they only last 12,000 miles even with proper rotation and alignment. 215/40ZR17 size lasted longer
===============================
Tire: Dunlop SP Sport 5000
Size: 195/50-16
Category: Ultra High Performance All-Season
Review: I would hardly call these Ultra High Performance. these OEM tires barely any wet traction, and dry traction was "decent" at best. very noisy compared to a low-profile tire like the falken above.
Recommend: NO
===============================
Tire: Goodyear Eagle RS-A
Size: 195/50-16
Category: High Performance All-Season
Review: Had to replace 2 OEM tires with these. they are no better than the OEM tires themselves. they offered no additional performance or grip compared to 2 used tires still on the car. still just as noisy. to make it worse, they cost $150 each. the falkens were about $80 each.
Recommend: NO
===============================
Tire: Falken Ziex ZE-329
Size: 195/50-16
Category: All Season Performance
Review: Replaced as a pair along with a pair of Falken ZE-912. This was because of road-hazard replacement warranty. The odd combination produced a low-frequency pulsating hum when cruising between 45-65mph and below 3000 rpm. Strangest road noise but my ears were a bit sensitive to the hum. Went away when the tires were rotated (if the shop ever remembered to rotate them). Confident dry grip, decent wet, decent snow/ice in the limited amounts we get in my area.
Recommend: I'm starting to like Falkens a lot.
===============================
Tire: Kuhmo Ecsta ASX
Size: 195/50R16
Category: ultra-high performance all-season
Review: Current tires on car. I've had these changed twice now. These were a great price, a high UTQG, and an all-season performer, or so i thought. For the first several hundred miles they are quite grippy but the drawbacks of this tire become more apparent as life goes on. Not very good in light to medium snow. I thought it was a trade off from being all-season and bad luck in the snow storm, but its just not very confident. treadlife is a lot less than expected also; the Falken 512 was a 360AA and these Kuhmos are 420AA, but even with regular tire rotation and correct air pressure, Khumos will be replaced sooner.
Recommend: Good price and initial performance, not for wintery areas
your life and the lives of your passengers rides on top of these tires, go for the falkens! hey, falkens were used by mazda in their rev-it-up program ^_^
Last edited:
Dunlop FM901 195/50/16 'V' rated on OEM Rims 200 A A Ultra High Summer's.
(on stock suspension / stock with MP3 springs / B-Spec Springs, MSP swaybar kit and Illuminas)
+ Very Affordable
+/- Softer feeling sidewalls give a slightly slower steering response, but a more comfortable ride than stock. You'll get used to it.
+ 2 years of street use and about 20 circuit track days. Treadwear holds up very well.
+ Predictable in the dry. Audible at the limit. Never faltered under heavy braking for track days.
+ Great in a straight line in the rain (even at very high speeds...).
+ Wet track days are rare, but this tire did great.
- Very loud when driving.
: 36/34 psi was the sweet spot for stock or MP3/Racing Beat springs suspension. A little more in front for current suspension.
Recommendation : Absolutely
=========================================================
Toyo Proxes T1-R 195/50/16 'V' rated on OEM Rims 280 AA A Ultra High Summer's.
(B-Spec Springs, MSP Swaybar Kit and Illuminas).
+ Extremely quiet tire.
+ Comfortable for street driving.
+ Very quick steering response.
+ Did okay in the rain on the track.
+ Pretty stable in a straightline in pouring rain (even at very high speeds)
- Pricey
- Poor grip in low temps (say under 10 degrees Celcius)
- I do not trust these tires for track days. Too squirmy under hard braking with an unsettled rear end.
Recommendation :
Spend your hardearned money elsewhere if you want a track tire.
Even though it's probably good for a street tire there are probably other better and more affordable choices.
=========================================================
Fuzion ZRi 205/50/16 'W" rated on Kosei Racing Penta 16x7 Rims 320 A A High Performance Summer's
(B-Spec Springs, MSP Swaybar Kit and Illuminas).
+ Quiet tire.
+ Affordable
+ Very, very quick steering response
+ Good grip at low temps (lowest so far is 3 degrees Celcius)
+ Stable under hard braking and cornering in the dry (incl. track days)
- Very, very stiff sidewalls gives a really bone jarring ride.
- Relatively poor straightline performance in pouring rain (just a tad better than stockers)
- Took awhile to figure out optimum tire pressure setup of 37/34 psi for track, and 33/30 psi for street.
- Tires a bit too hard for track days. They did chunk up just like the stockers.
Recommendation :
For Street Use a good tire considering the price.
For Track use, maybe not.
==============================================================
Hankook Z212 RS2 205/45/16 "W" rated on Kosei Racing Penta 16x7 Rims 200
AA A High Performance Summer's
(B-Spec Springs, MSP Swaybar Kit and Illuminas / Espelirs, MSP Swaybar Kit and Illuminas)
+ Very quiet tire.
+ Comfortable for street driving including streetcar tracks.
+ Good steering response.
+ Pretty stable in a straightline in pouring rain no detectable hydroplaning
+ Affordable
+ Great dry track grip with predictable breakaway.
- Although no hydroplaning, it has "less than desirable" grip on a wet track.
- Skinnier than expected for a 205 width, as a result the built in rim protector was useless.
Could've gone to a 215 size easily.
Recommendation : Great affordable dry road tire. Get bigger width than normal.
(on stock suspension / stock with MP3 springs / B-Spec Springs, MSP swaybar kit and Illuminas)
+ Very Affordable
+/- Softer feeling sidewalls give a slightly slower steering response, but a more comfortable ride than stock. You'll get used to it.
+ 2 years of street use and about 20 circuit track days. Treadwear holds up very well.
+ Predictable in the dry. Audible at the limit. Never faltered under heavy braking for track days.
+ Great in a straight line in the rain (even at very high speeds...).
+ Wet track days are rare, but this tire did great.
- Very loud when driving.
: 36/34 psi was the sweet spot for stock or MP3/Racing Beat springs suspension. A little more in front for current suspension.
Recommendation : Absolutely
=========================================================
Toyo Proxes T1-R 195/50/16 'V' rated on OEM Rims 280 AA A Ultra High Summer's.
(B-Spec Springs, MSP Swaybar Kit and Illuminas).
+ Extremely quiet tire.
+ Comfortable for street driving.
+ Very quick steering response.
+ Did okay in the rain on the track.
+ Pretty stable in a straightline in pouring rain (even at very high speeds)
- Pricey
- Poor grip in low temps (say under 10 degrees Celcius)
- I do not trust these tires for track days. Too squirmy under hard braking with an unsettled rear end.
Recommendation :
Spend your hardearned money elsewhere if you want a track tire.
Even though it's probably good for a street tire there are probably other better and more affordable choices.
=========================================================
Fuzion ZRi 205/50/16 'W" rated on Kosei Racing Penta 16x7 Rims 320 A A High Performance Summer's
(B-Spec Springs, MSP Swaybar Kit and Illuminas).
+ Quiet tire.
+ Affordable
+ Very, very quick steering response
+ Good grip at low temps (lowest so far is 3 degrees Celcius)
+ Stable under hard braking and cornering in the dry (incl. track days)
- Very, very stiff sidewalls gives a really bone jarring ride.
- Relatively poor straightline performance in pouring rain (just a tad better than stockers)
- Took awhile to figure out optimum tire pressure setup of 37/34 psi for track, and 33/30 psi for street.
- Tires a bit too hard for track days. They did chunk up just like the stockers.
Recommendation :
For Street Use a good tire considering the price.
For Track use, maybe not.
==============================================================
Hankook Z212 RS2 205/45/16 "W" rated on Kosei Racing Penta 16x7 Rims 200
AA A High Performance Summer's
(B-Spec Springs, MSP Swaybar Kit and Illuminas / Espelirs, MSP Swaybar Kit and Illuminas)
+ Very quiet tire.
+ Comfortable for street driving including streetcar tracks.
+ Good steering response.
+ Pretty stable in a straightline in pouring rain no detectable hydroplaning
+ Affordable
+ Great dry track grip with predictable breakaway.
- Although no hydroplaning, it has "less than desirable" grip on a wet track.
- Skinnier than expected for a 205 width, as a result the built in rim protector was useless.
Could've gone to a 215 size easily.
Recommendation : Great affordable dry road tire. Get bigger width than normal.
Last edited:
romecandleboy
Member
- :
- 06' MX-5 Miata
Hankook Ventus HRII 405
$65 each 215-40-17
Difference between these and stockers was night & day
very quiet, handles perfectly in wet/dry conditions
excellent tread life
~I like these so much I'll definitely buy them again -can't beat that price
-purchased from discount tire direct.
$65 each 215-40-17
Difference between these and stockers was night & day
very quiet, handles perfectly in wet/dry conditions
excellent tread life
~I like these so much I'll definitely buy them again -can't beat that price
-purchased from discount tire direct.
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