How do you like your tires? Suggestions?
02-28-2003, 11:12 AM
#31
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I aim to do what you're doing Erik - continentals for the cold'n'wet half of the year and then a set of Goodyear Eagle F1's for the less cold'n'wet half!
Cheers
Dave
Cheers
Dave
02-28-2003, 06:08 PM
#33
Burning Brakes
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What's considerd "discount" tires? Asian tires? I picked my Kumhos because I could buy 3 sets for the price of 1 set of Pirellis, Bridgstones (Asian yeah) or Michelins.
Granted the Kumhos may have only 30K miles in them, but the way our cars have been know to devour front tires (for well known, but very common reasons) why put out more cash than needed? - Ruf
Granted the Kumhos may have only 30K miles in them, but the way our cars have been know to devour front tires (for well known, but very common reasons) why put out more cash than needed? - Ruf
02-28-2003, 08:29 PM
#34
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Barry I had the same results with Bridgstone RE71's. They were nice tires... for the short period of time that they were on my '85 S2.
My brother [drives a '95 VW Golf which is going on its **third** engine because 1. He didn't know that driving through water 30 inches deep after a strong rainstorm was a bad idea, and 2. He apparently could not remember to tighten the oil drain plug after changing his oil-] had Bridgestones on his car for years with good results...so I took a chance and tried the RE730's. They've been there for about 20k miles now, and are doing pretty good. I'll probably get another 10-15k out of them. Not bad for less than $500-
Normy!
'85 S2 5 Speed
My brother [drives a '95 VW Golf which is going on its **third** engine because 1. He didn't know that driving through water 30 inches deep after a strong rainstorm was a bad idea, and 2. He apparently could not remember to tighten the oil drain plug after changing his oil-] had Bridgestones on his car for years with good results...so I took a chance and tried the RE730's. They've been there for about 20k miles now, and are doing pretty good. I'll probably get another 10-15k out of them. Not bad for less than $500-
Normy!
'85 S2 5 Speed
02-28-2003, 09:45 PM
#35
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Rob,
HTR Z II's are very good, sticky, and quiet.
I am on my second set of Sumitomo
Performance is excellent. My 0-60 and 1/4 mile are still under about 5.9 and 14.1.
Considering my shocks and springs are the original Boge setup and have 122K miles on them tire grip on the twisties has saved me a few times
Value is outstanding. I Can get a set F/R of 17" (GTS Cup Wheels) mounted, balances, w/ valve stems and installed for about $460 to $480.
Downside, they are bit slick in fresh So Cal rain... If I had iffy weather more often might consider a different tire, but in the dry I don't think there is better value for the money.
HTR Z II's are very good, sticky, and quiet.
I am on my second set of Sumitomo
Performance is excellent. My 0-60 and 1/4 mile are still under about 5.9 and 14.1.
Considering my shocks and springs are the original Boge setup and have 122K miles on them tire grip on the twisties has saved me a few times
Value is outstanding. I Can get a set F/R of 17" (GTS Cup Wheels) mounted, balances, w/ valve stems and installed for about $460 to $480.
Downside, they are bit slick in fresh So Cal rain... If I had iffy weather more often might consider a different tire, but in the dry I don't think there is better value for the money.
03-01-2003, 06:40 AM
#36
Burning Brakes
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Rufus,
Why buy an expensive sports car and equip this car with cheap Asian tires?
Why not (also) buy a Kia? - I guess you can get more than three for one Porsche.
Still I think the tires are the most important safety equipment - And especially on a fast sport car!
If you destroy your front wheel, then your alignment is not ok.
Why buy an expensive sports car and equip this car with cheap Asian tires?
Why not (also) buy a Kia? - I guess you can get more than three for one Porsche.
Still I think the tires are the most important safety equipment - And especially on a fast sport car!
If you destroy your front wheel, then your alignment is not ok.
03-01-2003, 11:36 AM
#38
In Your Face, Ace
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NITTO EXTREME TIRES.
Although not 'purist approved', they have an excellent product with a lot of choices and they look and perform great! Prices are quite reasonable also.........
<a href="http://www.nittotire.com/main.asp" target="_blank">http://www.nittotire.com/main.asp</a>
Although not 'purist approved', they have an excellent product with a lot of choices and they look and perform great! Prices are quite reasonable also.........
<a href="http://www.nittotire.com/main.asp" target="_blank">http://www.nittotire.com/main.asp</a>
03-01-2003, 05:30 PM
#39
ViribusUnits,
In truth, the reason I had them I.D. the lugs to wheel holes is that far to many posters were writing that they had, essentially, installed the same tire or, in the least, the same sized tires and were suffering from excessive, untimely wear, and front end problems ranging from minor wheel hop and shimmy to severe pulling.
All things being equal I just figured on putting things back the way they were. That means wheel to lug association, located on the same axel as before, front, rear, left, and right and the same tire presure as before. Same Ride heigth as well.
There may be absolutely nothing to this methodology but for now I have zero problems across the speedometer range and did not have to go thru the extensive loaded, unloaded scenario with adjacent time/costs issue. Everyone here in Midland was a disappointment including the Mercedes, Corvette folks.
The one shot I had was the private mechanic who worked on Old Mr. Beal's F-1 McClaren and his fab' Diablo. When Mr Beal passed away several months ago I wasn't sure the cars and mechanic would remain in town so I worked with what I had.
This may not work for anyone else but I am happy.
John S.
P.S. Rufus,
I am with you on cost.
Erik,
Most of us don't race, and the Ecsta's perform more than adequately for our purposes.
Here, in this part of Texas and I would imagine over in Viribus' neck of the woods it get's so damn hot if you install those 'sticky', high dollar tires they wouldn't last long enough to make any assesment other than they wore out to fast to warrant spending that kind of money on them. Last summer was fairly cool, yet while my crew was installing thermo-plastic road markings -stop & yield bars, turn arrows etc... by 11:00 A.M. the pavement was already in excess of 130 degrees F. by 3:00 P.M. it would run from 141-147 degrees. I suspect that there are few days in the year when Northern Europe let alone you Vikings experience road temperatures at this extreme. Some of us do have solid reasons behind the cheaper rubber doughnuts.
And the damn roads are just plain straight, too. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
In truth, the reason I had them I.D. the lugs to wheel holes is that far to many posters were writing that they had, essentially, installed the same tire or, in the least, the same sized tires and were suffering from excessive, untimely wear, and front end problems ranging from minor wheel hop and shimmy to severe pulling.
All things being equal I just figured on putting things back the way they were. That means wheel to lug association, located on the same axel as before, front, rear, left, and right and the same tire presure as before. Same Ride heigth as well.
There may be absolutely nothing to this methodology but for now I have zero problems across the speedometer range and did not have to go thru the extensive loaded, unloaded scenario with adjacent time/costs issue. Everyone here in Midland was a disappointment including the Mercedes, Corvette folks.
The one shot I had was the private mechanic who worked on Old Mr. Beal's F-1 McClaren and his fab' Diablo. When Mr Beal passed away several months ago I wasn't sure the cars and mechanic would remain in town so I worked with what I had.
This may not work for anyone else but I am happy.
John S.
P.S. Rufus,
I am with you on cost.
Erik,
Most of us don't race, and the Ecsta's perform more than adequately for our purposes.
Here, in this part of Texas and I would imagine over in Viribus' neck of the woods it get's so damn hot if you install those 'sticky', high dollar tires they wouldn't last long enough to make any assesment other than they wore out to fast to warrant spending that kind of money on them. Last summer was fairly cool, yet while my crew was installing thermo-plastic road markings -stop & yield bars, turn arrows etc... by 11:00 A.M. the pavement was already in excess of 130 degrees F. by 3:00 P.M. it would run from 141-147 degrees. I suspect that there are few days in the year when Northern Europe let alone you Vikings experience road temperatures at this extreme. Some of us do have solid reasons behind the cheaper rubber doughnuts.
And the damn roads are just plain straight, too. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
03-01-2003, 07:39 PM
#40
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FWIW:
I have kuhmo ecsta's on the '88 A/T car that my wife drives and she loves them. They are the stock sizes and they replaced a set of Dunlop sp 8000 which she complained were noisy and did not have good wet traction. Keep in mind that she does not drive the car hard so I believe the traction comments were from some slipping when starting from a stop in the rain, and ocassionaly under braking.
I just put them on the '83 5sp that I drive from time to time, and I am impressed with the grip both wet and dry under more "stressed" conditions <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />
I have 255 x 17 fronts and 275 x 17 rears. I find I have to be pretty careful under hard acceleration in the lower gears when it is wet because I do get some wheelspin, but I think any tire would have limited grip in those circumstances.
So, bottom line, no complaints from me on the KUHMO's. Great value for the money I think.
Cheers <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
Joe
'88 S4 A/T Black/Cashmere (Her driver)
'83S Euro 5sp Pewter/Black (my project)
I have kuhmo ecsta's on the '88 A/T car that my wife drives and she loves them. They are the stock sizes and they replaced a set of Dunlop sp 8000 which she complained were noisy and did not have good wet traction. Keep in mind that she does not drive the car hard so I believe the traction comments were from some slipping when starting from a stop in the rain, and ocassionaly under braking.
I just put them on the '83 5sp that I drive from time to time, and I am impressed with the grip both wet and dry under more "stressed" conditions <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />
I have 255 x 17 fronts and 275 x 17 rears. I find I have to be pretty careful under hard acceleration in the lower gears when it is wet because I do get some wheelspin, but I think any tire would have limited grip in those circumstances.
So, bottom line, no complaints from me on the KUHMO's. Great value for the money I think.
Cheers <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
Joe
'88 S4 A/T Black/Cashmere (Her driver)
'83S Euro 5sp Pewter/Black (my project)
03-01-2003, 08:13 PM
#42
Nordschleife Master
I do not suggest Sumitomo. The 245/40/17s I got are realy lacking in grip.
I attribute the loss of control I had today to them not gripping well in wet conditions. I know they don't grip all that great in dry conditions eighter.
They seem to be wearing very well, and are a cheap tire, but I guess the rubber compound is too hard. The tread pattern also looks like it's got alought of extra wide treads in it.
btw, I think the 928, and God, saved my life today. I went up a straite entrance ramp with too much throtal, the rear end went wild. Thats right, I wasn't turning. The road was damp, but not slick. It happened just as I switched into 4th gear. I let off the gas, and forgot to press the clutch, and that was the end of it. (didn't hit the brakes) I nearly went all the way accrost the median, and nearly hit coming traffic. Thats right, I started in the far right lane, and went accrost two lanes backward, and came to rest nearly crossing the median. (a large deep ditch) I never made it past 55 mph...
When I stoped in the I came to rest in the debree of a formor wreck, by a Ford of some time. There were plastic peices all over the place. That car didn't have the 928's low center of gravity, and the police officer told me it rolded over...
Thank you Dr. Porsche, for building a car built like a brick sh** house, w/ a low CG. Thank you God for getting everything else out of my way, includeing the concrete walls to the storm drain I ended up resting on.
For any one who wants to know, I was not hurt, expecting an excessive dose of adrenlian, and the car was not dammaged in any way. It didn't look like that at first, but once I found the Ford emblem, I felt much better.
Anyways, in short, buy something else, anything else, than the Sumitomo, they REALY suck!
I was getting a good responce from the frount wheels untill the rear end put them out of the steering limits. I was able to keep the frount acting like I was in a simple skid, untill the rear end cought and went around. The frounts' worked well, the Suitomo SUCKED!!!
Eric, I have cheap tires because I have a $5,300 car. I don' run races, and I realy have no need for better. I'm also a college sutudent, and it's easyer to drive w/ in the limits of the tire, than pony up that additional cash. Only reason I didn't get the Komo's on the rear is because the tire shop didn't have them, and I had a nail, and was in a hurry. Not happening twice!
And he's in my neck of the woods, sticky rubber doesn't last long. I've got freinds with other cars that go for the sticky stuff. They basicly disapere. I can't realy afford that...
Anyways, ASAP, Sumitomo's are comeing off.
I attribute the loss of control I had today to them not gripping well in wet conditions. I know they don't grip all that great in dry conditions eighter.
They seem to be wearing very well, and are a cheap tire, but I guess the rubber compound is too hard. The tread pattern also looks like it's got alought of extra wide treads in it.
btw, I think the 928, and God, saved my life today. I went up a straite entrance ramp with too much throtal, the rear end went wild. Thats right, I wasn't turning. The road was damp, but not slick. It happened just as I switched into 4th gear. I let off the gas, and forgot to press the clutch, and that was the end of it. (didn't hit the brakes) I nearly went all the way accrost the median, and nearly hit coming traffic. Thats right, I started in the far right lane, and went accrost two lanes backward, and came to rest nearly crossing the median. (a large deep ditch) I never made it past 55 mph...
When I stoped in the I came to rest in the debree of a formor wreck, by a Ford of some time. There were plastic peices all over the place. That car didn't have the 928's low center of gravity, and the police officer told me it rolded over...
Thank you Dr. Porsche, for building a car built like a brick sh** house, w/ a low CG. Thank you God for getting everything else out of my way, includeing the concrete walls to the storm drain I ended up resting on.
For any one who wants to know, I was not hurt, expecting an excessive dose of adrenlian, and the car was not dammaged in any way. It didn't look like that at first, but once I found the Ford emblem, I felt much better.
Anyways, in short, buy something else, anything else, than the Sumitomo, they REALY suck!
I was getting a good responce from the frount wheels untill the rear end put them out of the steering limits. I was able to keep the frount acting like I was in a simple skid, untill the rear end cought and went around. The frounts' worked well, the Suitomo SUCKED!!!
Eric, I have cheap tires because I have a $5,300 car. I don' run races, and I realy have no need for better. I'm also a college sutudent, and it's easyer to drive w/ in the limits of the tire, than pony up that additional cash. Only reason I didn't get the Komo's on the rear is because the tire shop didn't have them, and I had a nail, and was in a hurry. Not happening twice!
And he's in my neck of the woods, sticky rubber doesn't last long. I've got freinds with other cars that go for the sticky stuff. They basicly disapere. I can't realy afford that...
Anyways, ASAP, Sumitomo's are comeing off.
03-01-2003, 08:24 PM
#43
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Something occurs to me after reading John Struthers post. Let me explain, and then let me know your views-
My dad had the unbelievably bad taste to buy a chevette in 1980. And that was the first car I ever drove- when I was 15, he let me drive it to the model airplane field at the then incredibly fast pace of 45 mph...I was scared to death all the way there, but when I got there [4 miles of rural road from Temperance to LaSalle Township, Michigan; I don't think another car passed us the whole way!] I was elated. I had driven a car!
OH boy what a fireball she was: A 65 horsepower carburated Opel engine and a Peugeot automatic transmission. It somehow lasted five years before the engine literally failed, despite my engineering degree-equiped father's careful maintenance. The car's only redeeming value was the fact that it handled like a go-cart; I amazed my friends later on by doing truly hairy yet totally under control fishtails and donuts in snowy Michigan parking lots. It had great steering; I suspect the rack came from the Peugeot 205-
[Quality control has never been a big issue at general motors. Me and my mom had to pick up my dad at a gas station near LaSalle, Michigan one day when the car was only 2 months old because the main pulley on the engine came off. I'm serious...the main pulley litteraly fell out of the bottom of the car at 60 mph on I-75 <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> ]
-But the other events that CONSTANTLY occured with that car were flat tires. My dad **insisted** on installing these round, black things with the word "Uniroyal" on the side. And oh yes indeed-y deed...they were in fact...
white walls!
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
Good lord!
[Of course their thin "section du blanc" paled in the face of the other truly glowing example of my father's wonderful taste in cars...mom's "Bimini Beige" 1977 DeVille. The white walls on mom's pink Cadillac were no less than 3 inches across~
OK parents: Don't do things like this to your kids! I got some serious hell in high school the few times I drove that thing to school. Of course, it also got some serious attention [admiration] from the faculty as well...something that scares me to this day!
Well, to get back to the meat of this posting, my dad selected the cheapest K-Mart [another link to Michigan...gawd, is there a theme here or what...seeing as they are in bankruptcy because they simply couldn't figure out how the competition was better:. I guess that VAUNTED University in Ann Arbor is better at churning out engineers than managers~
My dad always put low cost cheap no-name tires on his cars...and had tons of trouble as a result. I've tried Nitto, Falken, and Bridgestone on my cars up to this point and had GOOD luck with each tire brand. But Kumho?
Nicole has had problems with hers...how many of y'all have had less than perfect results with yours? For comparison purposes, I can take my hands off the wheel at 100 mph and the car with said Bridgestones will stay in its lane for about a mile-
Normy!
'85 S2 5 Speed
My dad had the unbelievably bad taste to buy a chevette in 1980. And that was the first car I ever drove- when I was 15, he let me drive it to the model airplane field at the then incredibly fast pace of 45 mph...I was scared to death all the way there, but when I got there [4 miles of rural road from Temperance to LaSalle Township, Michigan; I don't think another car passed us the whole way!] I was elated. I had driven a car!
OH boy what a fireball she was: A 65 horsepower carburated Opel engine and a Peugeot automatic transmission. It somehow lasted five years before the engine literally failed, despite my engineering degree-equiped father's careful maintenance. The car's only redeeming value was the fact that it handled like a go-cart; I amazed my friends later on by doing truly hairy yet totally under control fishtails and donuts in snowy Michigan parking lots. It had great steering; I suspect the rack came from the Peugeot 205-
[Quality control has never been a big issue at general motors. Me and my mom had to pick up my dad at a gas station near LaSalle, Michigan one day when the car was only 2 months old because the main pulley on the engine came off. I'm serious...the main pulley litteraly fell out of the bottom of the car at 60 mph on I-75 <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> ]
-But the other events that CONSTANTLY occured with that car were flat tires. My dad **insisted** on installing these round, black things with the word "Uniroyal" on the side. And oh yes indeed-y deed...they were in fact...
white walls!
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
Good lord!
[Of course their thin "section du blanc" paled in the face of the other truly glowing example of my father's wonderful taste in cars...mom's "Bimini Beige" 1977 DeVille. The white walls on mom's pink Cadillac were no less than 3 inches across~
OK parents: Don't do things like this to your kids! I got some serious hell in high school the few times I drove that thing to school. Of course, it also got some serious attention [admiration] from the faculty as well...something that scares me to this day!
Well, to get back to the meat of this posting, my dad selected the cheapest K-Mart [another link to Michigan...gawd, is there a theme here or what...seeing as they are in bankruptcy because they simply couldn't figure out how the competition was better:. I guess that VAUNTED University in Ann Arbor is better at churning out engineers than managers~
My dad always put low cost cheap no-name tires on his cars...and had tons of trouble as a result. I've tried Nitto, Falken, and Bridgestone on my cars up to this point and had GOOD luck with each tire brand. But Kumho?
Nicole has had problems with hers...how many of y'all have had less than perfect results with yours? For comparison purposes, I can take my hands off the wheel at 100 mph and the car with said Bridgestones will stay in its lane for about a mile-
Normy!
'85 S2 5 Speed
03-01-2003, 08:28 PM
#44
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I'm with Abby: have had Nitto NT555's on for 10k miles. Pleased with their handling, pretty good for noise and very happy with tread wear. They haven't been out too much in the rain, but they held their own through a couple inches of slush after a late spring storm in the mountains last year. I'll definitely consider them again when replacement time rolls around. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
03-01-2003, 08:33 PM
#45
Nordschleife Master
Well, you must understand, there are cheap tires, and then there are CHEAP tires.
The cheapest tires for the 928 are better than the CHEAP tires you can put on say a pick up.
The cheapest tire for my 928 that I could find was about $110 a peice, w/o mounting and ballanceing. It was rated to 110+ mph, and had some serious rubber on it.
I used to drive a F-150. The cheapest tire that would go on that pick up was about $50 a peice, includeing mounting and balanceing. I belive it was rated at like 85 mph, and was nearly paper thin. They didn't grip at all, but...
I never had a problem with the cheap pick up tires, and I put 10,000+ miles on them. I also, never even got close to the top rateing, never tested them in hanndleing.
My current set of cheap 928 tires acts well on the frount, poor on the rear. (as I'm sure you can see..)
The cheapest tires for the 928 are better than the CHEAP tires you can put on say a pick up.
The cheapest tire for my 928 that I could find was about $110 a peice, w/o mounting and ballanceing. It was rated to 110+ mph, and had some serious rubber on it.
I used to drive a F-150. The cheapest tire that would go on that pick up was about $50 a peice, includeing mounting and balanceing. I belive it was rated at like 85 mph, and was nearly paper thin. They didn't grip at all, but...
I never had a problem with the cheap pick up tires, and I put 10,000+ miles on them. I also, never even got close to the top rateing, never tested them in hanndleing.
My current set of cheap 928 tires acts well on the frount, poor on the rear. (as I'm sure you can see..)