Buying rear tires....let's hear some advice
10-22-2002, 10:49 AM
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Buying rear tires....let's hear some advice
I checked the DOT codes on my rear tires and they are actually about 10 years old! PO didn't drive the car much. Well they're hard and I lose traction often. I'm attending a DE in a few weeks and am a little worried about driving at high speeds on these tires. So, I'd like to hear some reccomendations. This is a daily driver. I will attend around 1 DE a year, and maybe a few autocrosses. I've got a chipped '86 951 w/ phone dials. If any of you have run Pirelli Super Sport 7000's please use that tire as a benchmark. That's what I used to have on my 400+ hp Z. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being best, 5 being average in the performance tire category) I'm looking for:
price 8, wear 7, dry traction 5, wet traction 3, asthetics 3, road noise 3.
Thanks!
price 8, wear 7, dry traction 5, wet traction 3, asthetics 3, road noise 3.
Thanks!
10-22-2002, 11:21 AM
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"Price" is very subjective. What's inexpensive for me maybe higher than you would consider. I do recommend that you not purchase rear tires only. I feel the tires should match front and rear to provide consistant handling characteristics across all weather and road conditions.
One other caution, not all, but some people will tell you that the tires they have on their car are the best. Often this is because the "new" tires replaced an aged set of bald tires. Of course they would be better than the last set, but they may not be the best tire they could have purchased.
I have Bridgestone S03's on my 951. They look awesome, the road noise is acceptable, and the price was inexpensive for me (around $750 for the set and $80 or so for the install). However, the tires replaced "aged" Dunlops that were originally on the car - so I can not tell you if these tires are better than new Dunlops whould have been. I also can not comment on wet handling as the car never sees a wet street.
When I was doing "research" on the tire purchase I looked at Tire Rack (where I bought the tires as well) and read the reports of those who had purchased multiple sets of tires for their car. I felt these people were the only ones who's opinion counted as they had multiple tires on the same car.
Just my $0.02.
Later
<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
One other caution, not all, but some people will tell you that the tires they have on their car are the best. Often this is because the "new" tires replaced an aged set of bald tires. Of course they would be better than the last set, but they may not be the best tire they could have purchased.
I have Bridgestone S03's on my 951. They look awesome, the road noise is acceptable, and the price was inexpensive for me (around $750 for the set and $80 or so for the install). However, the tires replaced "aged" Dunlops that were originally on the car - so I can not tell you if these tires are better than new Dunlops whould have been. I also can not comment on wet handling as the car never sees a wet street.
When I was doing "research" on the tire purchase I looked at Tire Rack (where I bought the tires as well) and read the reports of those who had purchased multiple sets of tires for their car. I felt these people were the only ones who's opinion counted as they had multiple tires on the same car.
Just my $0.02.
Later
<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
10-22-2002, 11:21 AM
#3
Wow, looks like you thought about this. I would recommend checking out <a href="http://www.tirerack.com" target="_blank">www.tirerack.com</a> and check the reviews by consumers. They rank it all those things you chose and more. You can just pick something similar to your picks.
10-22-2002, 12:28 PM
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As icat mentioned the Tirerack reviews are only useful for those that have had multiple sets of tires on their cars. That's why I wanted to ask the readers of this forum for opinions. I figured the percentage of readers having run multiple sets of tires would be higher here. The Pirelli's are my only reference point as the tires I have on the car are worthless. I can't justify replacing all four tires as the fronts are almost new.
10-22-2002, 01:03 PM
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Well why don't you buy the same that you have on the front? If you're going to do a DE you shouldn't screw around with tires. More $ down the tubes if you crash.
I have SO3s on my M3 - great tire! I have Yoko AVS I on my 944 because I couldn't resist the price ($60 closeout at tirerack). Ran them on the track (rain & dry) 3 days now and am quite pleased. Also had them on my old M3. I had Bridgestone RE730 on before and was also quite happy. Can't really say either was better. Had Dunlop SP8080 and Kumho 712 on my M-roadster and wasn't really jazzed by either.
Stef
I have SO3s on my M3 - great tire! I have Yoko AVS I on my 944 because I couldn't resist the price ($60 closeout at tirerack). Ran them on the track (rain & dry) 3 days now and am quite pleased. Also had them on my old M3. I had Bridgestone RE730 on before and was also quite happy. Can't really say either was better. Had Dunlop SP8080 and Kumho 712 on my M-roadster and wasn't really jazzed by either.
Stef
10-22-2002, 01:48 PM
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Just my opinion, but I am a big Bridgestone fan. I have RE730's on my 951, and they are awesome. They were about $160 a tire, and offer really good all around performance, plus the look great.
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10-22-2002, 01:55 PM
#8
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What ever you do try to have all four tires of the same type... if the rear are 10 years old... might as well change the front ones...
Do try to have all four the same.
I am just a sucker for the S02s... maybe when I get the 17" or 18" wheels I will look for another brand of tire...
Do try to have all four the same.
I am just a sucker for the S02s... maybe when I get the 17" or 18" wheels I will look for another brand of tire...
10-22-2002, 02:22 PM
#9
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[quote]Originally posted by jleake:
<strong>...I can't justify replacing all four tires as the fronts are almost new.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Then at least match the rear tires with the same brand/model as the fronts, if they are still available!
WARNING It is NOT recommended to have a combination of new / used tires on a car, especially if this car is to be driven on a track! Having such a combination will produce unpredictable results: you are changing the limit of traction on only one end of the car, and thus will drastically change the handling characteristics of your car!
How old are your front tires? You say they are nearly new: if they're less than 1/2 year, with minimum wear, IMO, you should be ok with new tires on the rears only. But if your front tires are older, I don't advise you matching them up with brand new rubber, even if your old tires still have tread left. (Older tires have worn out rubber, regardless of the amount of tread left!)
Many regions will not let you run with a mis-matched set of tires on your car (ex: Dunlops up front,Michelin's in the rear)
From the PCA-NNJR DE rules: "All tires should be of the same manufacturer and type. Front tires should be the same size. Rear tires should be the same size."
Just my $0.42
-Zoltan.
<strong>...I can't justify replacing all four tires as the fronts are almost new.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Then at least match the rear tires with the same brand/model as the fronts, if they are still available!
WARNING It is NOT recommended to have a combination of new / used tires on a car, especially if this car is to be driven on a track! Having such a combination will produce unpredictable results: you are changing the limit of traction on only one end of the car, and thus will drastically change the handling characteristics of your car!
How old are your front tires? You say they are nearly new: if they're less than 1/2 year, with minimum wear, IMO, you should be ok with new tires on the rears only. But if your front tires are older, I don't advise you matching them up with brand new rubber, even if your old tires still have tread left. (Older tires have worn out rubber, regardless of the amount of tread left!)
Many regions will not let you run with a mis-matched set of tires on your car (ex: Dunlops up front,Michelin's in the rear)
From the PCA-NNJR DE rules: "All tires should be of the same manufacturer and type. Front tires should be the same size. Rear tires should be the same size."
Just my $0.42
-Zoltan.
10-22-2002, 02:56 PM
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The fronts are Falken Ziex ZE-502's. I think they are about 1.5 years and 7k miles old. Any opinions on these tires? I understand the desire to match them, but can't find much info on the Falkens. Who sells them? Thanks! I would also like to hear opinions on going down in size to 245/45-16 for the rears (stock is 250/50-16). Good and bad! TIA
10-22-2002, 03:04 PM
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I have run the RE-730's as well. I love them. They do get some noise after 15,000 miles or so. The GEN-2's are reported to not have this problem.
My father ran some Kumhos on his PT Cruiser and got about 20,000 out of them. (highway only) Great price, decent grip, terrible wear.
My father ran some Kumhos on his PT Cruiser and got about 20,000 out of them. (highway only) Great price, decent grip, terrible wear.
10-22-2002, 03:39 PM
#12
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[quote]Originally posted by jleake:
<strong>snip...I would also like to hear opinions on going down in size to 245/45-16 for the rears (stock is 250/50-16). Good and bad! TIA</strong><hr></blockquote>
Um, I believe your rear stock size is 225/50-16, not 250. What kinda 944 do you have again? (If it's a 87+turbo or an S2, the stock rear size is 225/50-16)
That said, I switched up from 225/50-16's to 245/45-16's without any problems. Pros: more traction, plus it fills in the rear wheel well better. Cons: more $$! I would also recommend upgrading your fronts from 205/55-16's to 225/50-16's at the same time, otherwise, you'll have more understeer with just 205/55 front and 245/45 rear rubber.
-Zoltan.
<strong>snip...I would also like to hear opinions on going down in size to 245/45-16 for the rears (stock is 250/50-16). Good and bad! TIA</strong><hr></blockquote>
Um, I believe your rear stock size is 225/50-16, not 250. What kinda 944 do you have again? (If it's a 87+turbo or an S2, the stock rear size is 225/50-16)
That said, I switched up from 225/50-16's to 245/45-16's without any problems. Pros: more traction, plus it fills in the rear wheel well better. Cons: more $$! I would also recommend upgrading your fronts from 205/55-16's to 225/50-16's at the same time, otherwise, you'll have more understeer with just 205/55 front and 245/45 rear rubber.
-Zoltan.
10-22-2002, 03:46 PM
#13
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Actually, stock is 205/55/16 in the front and 225/50/16 in the rear.
250/50/16 is taller than stock.
I'm running 225/50/16 in the front and 245/45/16 in the rear.
I've had three sets of tires on my 951. The first set came with the car when I bought it and were horrible. Eagle GT+4's. I then purchased a set of Michelin MXX3's. They had excellent dry grip, great turn in and were mediocre in the wet. These tires used to be considered by TireRack to be the king of dry grip.
Right now I'm running S03's and am very happy with them. They grip and turn in as well as the MXX3's, have excellent wet grip, ride better, and run quieter.
I can't comment on wear since I track the car frequently and that tends to chew up the tires quickly. For what it's worth, the S03's are wearing slightly better than the MXX3's. I think my next tire will be the Michelin Pilot Cup Sports.
I've driven another 951 with super sport 7000's and didn't come away impressed with them.
250/50/16 is taller than stock.
I'm running 225/50/16 in the front and 245/45/16 in the rear.
I've had three sets of tires on my 951. The first set came with the car when I bought it and were horrible. Eagle GT+4's. I then purchased a set of Michelin MXX3's. They had excellent dry grip, great turn in and were mediocre in the wet. These tires used to be considered by TireRack to be the king of dry grip.
Right now I'm running S03's and am very happy with them. They grip and turn in as well as the MXX3's, have excellent wet grip, ride better, and run quieter.
I can't comment on wear since I track the car frequently and that tends to chew up the tires quickly. For what it's worth, the S03's are wearing slightly better than the MXX3's. I think my next tire will be the Michelin Pilot Cup Sports.
I've driven another 951 with super sport 7000's and didn't come away impressed with them.
10-22-2002, 03:53 PM
#15
[quote]Originally posted by Tim Strayer:
<strong>I wouldn't bother matching the Falkens...</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'll add to that, a lot of Falken tires are sold at Sears, to ricers that think they are "cool". They think they are good, maybe for the road but I don't think you will be happy with them on the track. Nittos are also in that catogory.
<strong>I wouldn't bother matching the Falkens...</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'll add to that, a lot of Falken tires are sold at Sears, to ricers that think they are "cool". They think they are good, maybe for the road but I don't think you will be happy with them on the track. Nittos are also in that catogory.