Tire Options

[SilverGA2001]

Ok, here's what I've come up with finally. These are tires I feel I can actually buy and live with myself. All tires had to have an All Season capability, at least an H rating, and preferably V or more. These are the only ones I'm considering as of now. Tell me what you think

Bridgestone Potenza RE 950 - H rated, Installed - 673.84

Bridgestone Potenza RE 730 - Z rated, Installed - 682.32

Dunlop SP Sport A2 - H rated, Installed - 543.30

Sumitomo HTR+ - After calling their 1-800, it seems I can only get these through Tirerack since there are no dealers in my area and no shop will special order these. These are looking better and better though, with a W speed rating, AA traction, and decent reviews on snow traction vs. Performance and Handling. Just going to be more fuss involved. No price either, since I'd have to get them installed locally.

The Bridgestones... I want something more then a H rating, even though most people say "it's just how fast you can go..." Well, you also sacrifice some sidewall rigidity. I'd rather not give up any if possible, instead increasing if possible. There's only 11 dollars difference in the two. Hmm..

The Sport A2, I'm really unsure about these, we have them on our '00 GTP and they serve well on that car, but they don't seem to like cornering as much as I'd like. Straight line their awesome, wet traction is excellent, and snow seems to be decent. Their price is the only reason I've kept them in mind. Being more then 100 cheaper then the Potenza twins.

Whatever tire I get, will be put through hell, there is no doubt about it. With my strut tower braces and my rear sway already installed, and my front bar (sitting in the garage :( ) going on in the spring, and probably Springs within the year, I'm going to mulch the next set of tires I'm sure. Yet I will still need a All Season rating. I don't/won't have a second set of rims to change on and off, and it's too much hassel for me to be honest. So of these tires... What should I do?

[PACE]

ever consider the Michilin Pilot Sport ? I just bought a set and they are incredible..225-45-17 ZR rated....

[RAMAIR1]

Michelin Pilot Sport=$$$$$$$
Damn nice tires though...
My Sumitomo's just arrived today via Tire Rack. I will be sure to evaluate them on the Tire Database as soon as I get to try them out in all conditions

[SilverGA2001]

Originally posted by ECAP
ever consider the Michilin Pilot Sport ? I just bought a set and they are incredible..225-45-17 ZR rated....

I looked into the Michelins, yes. Very nice ratings on the Michelin Pilot Sport and Sport A/S, but their just too expensive for me. :(

I've looked at Kumho, Pirelli, Dunlop, Goodyear (God forbid), Michelin, Yokohoma, Faulken, Hoosier, Continetal, BF Goodrich, Toyo, and I'm sure a few others. I've definitly put some research time into this. I've printed 73 tires off of Tirerack. :eek:

[PACE]

My boy works at Bell Tire....He just sold me a set of 4 Michilin Pilot Sport 225-45-17 for.....(drum roll)......$150. They had 2k miles on them but still have great tread life about 80%....I didn't realize how expensive they really are.

[RAMAIR1]

Originally posted by ECAP
My boy works at Bell Tire....He just sold me a set of 4 Michilin Pilot Sport 225-45-17 for.....(drum roll)......$150. They had 2k miles on them but still have great tread life about 80%....I didn't realize how expensive they really are.

Your buddy hooked you up to say the least. I used to work in tire shops...it was nice to get the good take offs. I didn't pay for tires for basically 5 years...

[mfuller]

Well, I can tell you of my experience with Bridgestone Potenza RE-730's....

Mine were the generation 1 tires (that supposedly got horrendously loud as they wore, but I never noticed), but Gen 2's use a very similar tread, but I don't know about the rubber compound. Regardless, the gripped great in the dry and very good in the wet. Sidewalls were pretty stiff, although no quite enough for my tastes. I put them through hell and wore then down to the nylon cords in 8000 miles. Naturally, as they lost tread, wet traction got scary, but dry traction was still not bad. They did wear very evenly, though. Took a lot to make them squeal, and the slip angle on them is a bit larger than other brands in the same category.

[SilverGA2001]

The RE-730's are out. Substituting the RE-940's in their place, since the tire shop was wrong, and the 730's are not an All Season. Seems to have been a mix up.

The RE-950's are semi alive.

The Dunlops are hanging in there because of their price.

The Sumitomo's are elusive as hell, but I'm trying. Slightly worried that they carry no Treadwear warranty, as compared to the others listed.


**On a funny note... this straight from the Tirerack Reviews section...

Vehicle: 1999 Pontiac Grand Am GT Sedan
Location: fredericksburg, va
Driving Style: Average
Driving Condition: Combined Highway/City
Reviewer's Overall Ratings: 7.89 out of 10
Review Submitted 2002-06-13

The treadwear is amazing. I am going on 70,000 miles and still have about two months worth of wear left, and I drive an average of 133 miles a day. They wear evenly if you rotate regularly. I rotate every other oil change.

Tire in question... Goodyear RS-A

[StarFire]

I have the RE-950s, and Dry & Wet traction is very very very good. The only beef I have is in the snow. They go perfectly find in the snow as long as you are going straight (and know that you can't gun it :rolleyes: )...the biggest thing is making turns, they just don't grip well in snow and making turns. I'm talking about 1/2" or more (the or more is the tough stuff). But all in all, never gotten completely stuck anywhere in the snow with them, actually traction control worked out well with them. They are no worse than the RSAs...pretty much the same in the snow, just a lot better traction in wet/dry.

-=StarFire=-

[SilverGA2001]

Update:

Bridgestone Potenza RE950 - 520 bucks installed (found a new shop)

Dunlop SP Sport A2 - 543.30 + tax = 575.90 total

Still looking at Sumitomo HTR+'s, but I'd have to get them online. They carry no tread warranty, and their little known. I need more input from those here that have them.

Briefly looked at Coopers, since their kind of popular in the Dayton area. No way, their tires don't seem worth the money for their performance. Looked at the performance tires, the Cobra line. Just not very appealing.

Whatever tires I get, I need a 4 wheel alignment. So that's gonna cost more. I can't get any of these tires through Tire Discounters, where if you buy 4 tires they align for free. :(

[SilverGA2001]

Days later and I'm more confused then ever about what I'm going to do. :(

I'll have about 700 to spend. If anyone has options to offer, I'm listening.

[RAMAIR1]

Originally posted by SilverGA2001
Days later and I'm more confused then ever about what I'm going to do. :(

I'll have about 700 to spend. If anyone has options to offer, I'm listening.

It's only been a couple of days, but so far I am extremely pleased with the Sumitomo's. Cut through the snow with ease. I was worried that they wouldn't be very true, being "bargain" tires. Not the case they are just as round as any Michelin I've seen and I've never seen a bad Michelin... Low weight required to balance them as well. A quality pick in my book. Good luck with the decision.

[CaliGrandAM]

well if you want to save some money buy futura 225/50/r16 z rated tires. They are pretty good.

Otherwise I heard good things about kuhmo and michelin tires. Good year is all right too. But the last 3 i mentioned are a lot more expensive.


EDIT: futura tires are cheapter. Only 100 per tire in local area here. When other tires start at 160 and only V rated... although not like we going to pass 150mph anyway.

[phantom505]

Instead of making my own thread I figured I would piggyback off this one. Here's the deal: I live at 5000ft and it is very dry. It may sorta rain about 10 days a year. Anyone with a brain stays off the roads here when rains because nobody can drive in rain here. So what do you think my best options are? (and drag slicks aren't even if they would be fun)

[sharukhl]

Originally posted by RAMAIR1
It's only been a couple of days, but so far I am extremely pleased with the Sumitomo's. Cut through the snow with ease. I was worried that they wouldn't be very true, being "bargain" tires. Not the case they are just as round as any Michelin I've seen and I've never seen a bad Michelin... Low weight required to balance them as well. A quality pick in my book. Good luck with the decision.

Which sumitomo is this? the HTR 200? That's the one i think I'm gonna buy, but it's a summer only tire. I'm doing that because i live in california, and it'll be a long time before i see snow.

[RAMAIR1]

Originally posted by sharukhl
Which sumitomo is this? the HTR 200? That's the one i think I'm gonna buy, but it's a summer only tire. I'm doing that because i live in california, and it'll be a long time before i see snow.

Sumitomo HTR+

I've been seeing a whole lotta that white ****

[SilverGA2001]

Originally posted by RAMAIR1
Sumitomo HTR+

I've been seeing a whole lotta that white ****

I'm still thinking about the HTR+'s. Only way I can get hold of them is from Tirerack. I called Sumitomo and the nearest shop is Cleveland, which is about 4 hours from me. So something happened to one, it'd be hard to replace locally. That kind of bothers me. Another thing, while I was talking to the guy at Sumitomo, he was very honest when he said that from the description of my driving style and suspension mods, he said I might not see good tread life out of these tires. So I'm wondering still about what to do for tires. :(

[phantom505]

Going through all the posts in the tire database the Bridgstone Poleposition S03 sound nice, but they all talk about wet traction being great.

What I really want is something that handles hot tarmac well and has okay treadwear. Think these will do that?

[mjhurley1]

I've read very good reviews on Firestone "Firehawk SZ50". Anybody else heard or read anything on these tires?

[koolZ71]

hey matt theres a place in greenville that installed my re950s for 515.00 and thats with lifetime rotation and balancing

[SilverGA2001]

Originally posted by koolgt
hey matt theres a place in greenville that installed my re950s for 515.00 and thats with lifetime rotation and balancing

I got a shop here for 520, same deal. I just don't want the RE950's I think. They won't stand up to my driving.

[koolZ71]

Originally posted by SilverGA2001
I got a shop here for 520, same deal. I just don't want the RE950's I think. They won't stand up to my driving.

y not...they handle everything i have thrown at em except for drifts:) but handle corners like a mother f'cker

[SilverGA2001]

Originally posted by koolgt
y not...they handle everything i have thrown at em except for drifts:) but handle corners like a mother f'cker

I've been warned off the RE950's by quite a few people, who said after some wear, they might as well be RSA's. In fact, after telling Grismer Tire in Vandalia my suspension mods and my driving style, he said this tire isn't for you. Might want to try something else. So I'm looking at the Sumitomo's, only to find out from their customer service line that I'll run through them very quickly as well, but they'll be stiff, which is what I want. I want a tire that's so stiff and rides so harsh, that I can feel pebbles. :D

*Anyway I look at it as I'm about to waste 450-600 dollars, because nothing is going to last well for me anyway.

[luniz]

Matt you are still looking for tires? Let me know what you buy and give me some feedback on how they perform. I figure that if the tire meets your sadistic driving, then it will suit me just fine:D

[SilverGA2001]

Originally posted by luniz024
Matt you are still looking for tires? Let me know what you buy and give me some feedback on how they perform. I figure that if the tire meets your sadistic driving, then it will suit me just fine:D

LMAO Yeah man, still looking for something that'll meet my standards. It's hard, I find something about each tire that I don't like. I know I'm being overly picky, but man, having good rubber on the ground is seriously important. Even if they're only going to last 20,000 miles. lol I'm still taking suggestions though. Hint hint guys.

I even thought about getting some Bridgestone S03's and buying a cheap set of rims on Ebay to put some Blizzaks on. But I don't want two sets of 16"s running around. lol I'd just wait to do that til I could afford rims and tires.

[koolZ71]

well just to let u know 950's got a 40k mile waranty on em..just wear em out and get new ones for free

[SilverGA2001]

Originally posted by koolgt
well just to let u know 950's got a 40k mile waranty on em..just wear em out and get new ones for free

Yeah, I have to call Bridgestone's customer service and ask about their Abuse policy.

[luniz]

Originally posted by koolgt
well just to let u know 950's got a 40k mile waranty on em..just wear em out and get new ones for free

Usually tire warranties come prorated. Only if you run them real quick like 5,000 miles will you get new tires.