Tire Talk

[LynchburgCSI]

I recently picked up some fun wheels.



Anyways... I'm doing some tire research. I'm not sure what car i'm going to be running them on yet (probably a gen 3, gen 4, or gen 5 camry). The recommended tire size on these wheels (18"x7.5") is 225/45R18 and I believe this size will be fine on any of those gens. If that's true, then the next thing is finding the right tire.

Two things I've been reading (along with lots of tire rack browsing): http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...mparison_tests
AND
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...mparison_tests

I was pretty sold on the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, but i'm starting to rethink that choice. Let me say a bit about my driving style. I'm a spirited driver and will be using the car as my daily driver. These wheels may stay on the car all 4 seasons, but I could use them as a summer-only set. I will autocross this car and like having a good tire. That being said, wet performance is something I take into consideration (my wreck was probably causes by the tires in wet weather.) I'm in virginia, so snow and ice isn't as big of a deal, although we do occasionally get some snow and ice.

Basically, I'm looking for a good solid high performance all-season or summer tire that will last and give me the wet and dry weather performance i'm looking for... for hopefully less than $170/wheel.

[ONE_to_HATE]

fuck yaaah!

go with 225/40-18 .. the req. size for that wheel is based of a gen6 and the wheel wells on those are monsters. The 225's would actually be squared up to the wheel itself- no stretch, just plain' ol good ass fit.

[73sport]

Let me narrow the field and say avoid these:
Zexius Xi-427 >> Another thread Got new shoes on the ride...

Which read as follows:
Heck my little 17"X7" +38mm TSW's rub the left rear qtr when loaded running 235/50's. But previous sets of the same from other tire vendors didn't. So these are just a tad fatter in the side wall.

I'd been running Zexius Xi-326's, a descent tire for the money. Wore those out (60, 000 miles) and put on their EVIL twin the (BAD>>)Zexius Xi-427. These were Sh|t! Noisy, didn't matter what pressure I ran them at it always oversteered in every long corner and snap at the apex. Scary nasty hateful tire! I took them back as they were simply unsafe.

(GOOD>>) Put on the Proxes 4, a 235/50R17. These rub the qtr as mentioned above but drive real nice at all speeds, all conditions. You can safely steer in the corner and don't need to constantly adjust wheel input on fixed radius corners like those other crappy tires having to saw the wheel constanly to not crash. They go great in the snow too!

Point: wheels fit the car, tire sidewalls vary by design. . .

I've ran Toyo's on all kinds of cars. Always happy. Check out the R888's. . .
http://toyotires.com/tire/pattern/proxes-r888

They don't seem to make the ones I ran on the 4000lb Torino, but they were damn good tires. . . Yokohama
http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires/advan_ad08.aspx The Neova's look good too!

[Bdub215]

Contiential ExtremeContact DWS

[LynchburgCSI]

okay... assume I have a 96 LE V6... OEM size is 205/65R15. Miata net says a 225/40R18 (1.6% too fast, reads 59 @ 60) is about perfect, like ONE_to_HATE said, but 235/40R18 (0.4% too fast, reads 59.8 @ 60) also looks good. I doubt an extra 10mm of width will kill me. I just wanna be sure running a 235 is okay.

I'm ruling out the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec and other Extreme Performance Summer tires (g-Force T/A KDW 2, Proxes R888) because of tread life. I don't think I want a tire that wears out after 15,000 miles. Not worth it.

The Continental ExtremeContact DWS seem like a great Ultra High Performance All-Season tire. I'm weary of buying from Contential, but I'm trying NOT to discriminate. BDub, do you have these tires? What kind of driving/competition do you do? Remember I need something that will be okay with autocross too.

[ONE_to_HATE]

you can run 235's .. but it'll look like its pregnant. LOL! but still go with the g-force kdw!! - flush it out to yr fenders with spacers and count how much compliments you get!

[LynchburgCSI]

Originally Posted by ONE_to_HATE

you can run 235's .. but it'll look like its pregnant. LOL! but still go with the g-force kdw!! - flush it out to yr fenders with spacers and count how much compliments you get!

I have spacers lined up for these suckers. I see good reviews on these tires. What about tread life? And I assume you own these... what's your driving style and use?

[bigbird]

as i mentioned before, id suggest the Nitto NEO GENs. considered a performance tire but with a fantastic wet and snow weather rating. not to mention their ware rating and cost are very good. I love these tires. best dry weather tires and best slick weather tires ive ever had for the price.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...n=NT+NeoGen+ZR

for a DD Ken, dry perfomance should be second to tread ware and slick condition performance especially if your keeping them on all year...(like me). thoes old tires are partially to blame in your little accident.

[LynchburgCSI]

Originally Posted by bigbird

as i mentioned before, id suggest the Nitto NEO GENs. considered a performance tire but with a fantastic wet and snow weather rating. not to mention their ware rating and cost are very good. I love these tires. best dry weather tires and best slick weather tires ive ever had for the price.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...n=NT+NeoGen+ZR

for a DD Ken, dry perfomance should be second to tread ware and slick condition performance especially if your keeping them on all year...(like me). thoes old tires are partially to blame in your little accident.

Very true on those old tires leading to my wreck. That's why this thread is here. I want everyones opinion. Thanks for mentioning them again. They do seem good and cost is down over the gForce's. You actually wore through a whole set? How long did they last? You ever autocross (abuse) them? And yes, performance is now kinda second string here.

[EEngineer]

oh the luxury of being in the US

up here in Canada I don't buy tires period...

i simply drive to US, walk into a discount tire store and pick up whatever good set of tire they have on sale
haggle a little bit because of the cash&carry purchase and i usually get a good 10~15% discount.
and voila!

on to contribute to this thread.....

ever thought of BFG G-Force Super Sport A/S? pretty nice for the price

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

i bought a set of those before for $500 at discount and went back to canada with them...and traded them for my first set of rims w/ tires that lasted me year-ish LOL

never got to use them.

[LynchburgCSI]

Originally Posted by EEngineer

oh the luxury of being in the US

up here in Canada I don't buy tires period...

i simply drive to US, walk into a discount tire store and pick up whatever good set of tire they have on sale
haggle a little bit because of the cash&carry purchase and i usually get a good 10~15% discount.
and voila!

on to contribute to this thread.....

ever thought of BFG G-Force Super Sport A/S? pretty nice for the price

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

i bought a set of those before for $500 at discount and went back to canada with them...and traded them for my first set of rims w/ tires that lasted me year-ish LOL

never got to use them.

Them seem to have more than just a few complaints about wet weather traction... which scares me. So I'll probably skip them. But thanks for the suggestion!

[LynchburgCSI]

$452.00 for a set of 225/40R17 NeoGens. And great reviews. I think I'm sold even without TN testimony. Someone throw me a better deal!

[Gothmog3VZ]

I just picked up a set of Nokian NRHi's; These things are amazing!!! They've got a stiffer sidewall than my old tires (Sumitomo Srixon-4's), and the roadholding is fantastic. To illustrate, gunning my car in 1st, the old sumitomos would start slipping at about 2700 RPM WOT. These things only slip if I pop the clutch (like any other tire would, duh).

Unfortunately, the NRHi isn't produced anymore, IIRC, It was replaced by the NRVi. You might wanna look into those

[LynchburgCSI]

Originally Posted by Gothmog3VZ

I just picked up a set of Nokian NRHi's; These things are amazing!!! They've got a stiffer sidewall than my old tires (Sumitomo Srixon-4's), and the roadholding is fantastic. To illustrate, gunning my car in 1st, the old sumitomos would start slipping at about 2700 RPM WOT. These things only slip if I pop the clutch (like any other tire would, duh).

Unfortunately, the NRHi isn't produced anymore, IIRC, It was replaced by the NRVi. You might wanna look into those

Theyre not even sold for the US market. Maybe Canada only? The prices I see are high too... especially for a brand i've never heard of. I'll skip them, but thanks!

[Gothmog3VZ]

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

Theyre not even sold for the US market. Maybe Canada only? The prices I see are high too... especially for a brand i've never heard of. I'll skip them, but thanks!

lol
They're the tire company from the old AIM Trimark commercial (the guys who made finnish winter tires, and the investors were all like "Fk this, only 2 mil ppl in finland", except for the Trimark guy who pulled out binocs, and said "aint russia behind those mountains?" )

I lucked out, got the set of 4 for $140 on craigslist, used with 10k km . They look practically new. Guy had winters too, studded, didn't say where he got em though. I thought you could buy em in the states too...

In any case, best of luck getting a tire you like;
It's one of the most important parts on the car (after the backseat, and the change tray j/k)