Sumitomo HTR ZIII, any good?
04-03-2009, 12:39 PM
#226
Rennlist Member
05-04-2009, 04:19 PM
#228
Rennlist Member
05-04-2009, 04:33 PM
#230
After one year and just over 10,000 miles I can report that the HTRZIIIs on my 968 daily driver are wearing like iron, still have plenty of grip, and are just now becoming a little noisier. Several tire gurus have asked me about cupping problems, but I have not had that as of yet.
They are not perfect and there are better tires - but you have to spend almost twice the money to gain a slight advantage. I'll be buying another set.
They are not perfect and there are better tires - but you have to spend almost twice the money to gain a slight advantage. I'll be buying another set.
05-04-2009, 04:35 PM
#231
Burning Brakes
After one year and just over 10,000 miles I can report that the HTRZIIIs on my 968 daily driver are wearing like iron, still have plenty of grip, and are just now becoming a little noisier. Several tire gurus have asked me about cupping problems, but I have not had that as of yet.
They are not perfect and there are better tires - but you have to spend almost twice the money to gain a slight advantage. I'll be buying another set.
They are not perfect and there are better tires - but you have to spend almost twice the money to gain a slight advantage. I'll be buying another set.
05-04-2009, 05:42 PM
#234
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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I installed mine a few weeks ago in my 95 993 C2 and I think they're great - quiet, perform well in both wet and dry conditions. Certainly not a track tire, but you can't touch them in terms of value for the money...
05-04-2009, 10:12 PM
#237
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Houston, TX
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Here's my experience with the Sumis.
I have 2 sets of wheels :
- 18" hollow turbo twists with Michelin Pilot Sport Cups. = my track wheels.
- 17" original Porsche Targa wheels, with Sumitomos HTRZIII = my street wheels. Pretty heavy combo BTW.
This weekend I was at the track for a DE. I though it would be fun to shave the Sumis a bit on the track and see how they were doing. I found them a bit "greasy" on the street compared to the other street tires I had.
I was a bit reluctant to take the sumis to the track, everybody in the advanced group runs R-compound tires and I thought I'd be super slow.
The weather forecast with showers on sunday closed the deal, as my MPSC are quite bald now, I would take the Sumis.
Well... what a surprise ! I've not had that much fun at the track for a while !
It was like discovering the 993 again.
The steering was very precise, the car was way more balanced than with the MPSCs, it inspired lots of confidence, and I was surprised how much grip I had.
Even though my lap times were probably a few seconds slower than with track tires, I had way more fun.
The tires were so easy to drive that I could try many different things and the learning experience was also a lot better.
You know sometimes you run a track session and you have the feeling you did always the same thing, just run the same boring line. With the sumis every lap was just fun.
I had one session in the rain and they did good, still easy to drive, no surprise.
So for those of you that wonder if the Sumis will be good at the track, a big YES.
And for those of you that run R-compound tires, try once to go back to street tires, you'll love it.
Best money I ever put in tires, considering they're $79 for the fronts and $99 for the rears !
I had so much fun that I'll definitely run them again at the next event.
I have 2 sets of wheels :
- 18" hollow turbo twists with Michelin Pilot Sport Cups. = my track wheels.
- 17" original Porsche Targa wheels, with Sumitomos HTRZIII = my street wheels. Pretty heavy combo BTW.
This weekend I was at the track for a DE. I though it would be fun to shave the Sumis a bit on the track and see how they were doing. I found them a bit "greasy" on the street compared to the other street tires I had.
I was a bit reluctant to take the sumis to the track, everybody in the advanced group runs R-compound tires and I thought I'd be super slow.
The weather forecast with showers on sunday closed the deal, as my MPSC are quite bald now, I would take the Sumis.
Well... what a surprise ! I've not had that much fun at the track for a while !
It was like discovering the 993 again.
The steering was very precise, the car was way more balanced than with the MPSCs, it inspired lots of confidence, and I was surprised how much grip I had.
Even though my lap times were probably a few seconds slower than with track tires, I had way more fun.
The tires were so easy to drive that I could try many different things and the learning experience was also a lot better.
You know sometimes you run a track session and you have the feeling you did always the same thing, just run the same boring line. With the sumis every lap was just fun.
I had one session in the rain and they did good, still easy to drive, no surprise.
So for those of you that wonder if the Sumis will be good at the track, a big YES.
And for those of you that run R-compound tires, try once to go back to street tires, you'll love it.
Best money I ever put in tires, considering they're $79 for the fronts and $99 for the rears !
I had so much fun that I'll definitely run them again at the next event.
05-05-2009, 01:59 AM
#238
Drifting
Thread Starter
Besides the 993, I've now got a set on my daily driver, an 06 E350. They are quieter than the Michelins that were on it and ride better. Only thing I'm noticing is they might not be quite as crisp on turn-in but they are very close and at half the price definitely the way to go.
05-05-2009, 04:08 AM
#239
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I have to say the Sumi HTRIIs have been great tires for the money, a bit heavier response than the Yokohamas or the S02As I had on before, but these things wear incredibly, I have over 24 kmiles on them.
The only complaint I have is that they are kinda noisy after they are worn a bit–but I hear that is common with symmetrical directional patterns.
I needed to look at something under the car to day and when I got down on my knees to peek under there I was shocked at how worn the inner sides of my rears were. I guess I haven't been under there in 7k miles or so since my last oil change.
They were ready to go any second!
So I ordered a set of HTRIIIs and will have them on tomorrow. I am really looking forward to them, especially with all the good reviews here. For me the only drawback with the Sumis that I had was that they are a bit heavy feeling, but since I spend the majority of my miles on the freeway the lack of nimbleness is more than offset by the fact they don't dart around. So the heavier vibe is actually a plus for me.
Just a reminder: Especially if you have your car lowered at all; take a peek under the rear now and then. The car just chugs along with no problems and you get busy and before you know it 6-7k miles have gone by... The outside tread that was easily visible lead me to think I had another 3-5k before I even had to start thinking about tires. The inside showed that I should have been thinking of it 3kmiles ago
The only complaint I have is that they are kinda noisy after they are worn a bit–but I hear that is common with symmetrical directional patterns.
I needed to look at something under the car to day and when I got down on my knees to peek under there I was shocked at how worn the inner sides of my rears were. I guess I haven't been under there in 7k miles or so since my last oil change.
They were ready to go any second!
So I ordered a set of HTRIIIs and will have them on tomorrow. I am really looking forward to them, especially with all the good reviews here. For me the only drawback with the Sumis that I had was that they are a bit heavy feeling, but since I spend the majority of my miles on the freeway the lack of nimbleness is more than offset by the fact they don't dart around. So the heavier vibe is actually a plus for me.
Just a reminder: Especially if you have your car lowered at all; take a peek under the rear now and then. The car just chugs along with no problems and you get busy and before you know it 6-7k miles have gone by... The outside tread that was easily visible lead me to think I had another 3-5k before I even had to start thinking about tires. The inside showed that I should have been thinking of it 3kmiles ago
05-05-2009, 04:08 AM
#240
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I have to say the Sumi HTRIIs have been great tires for the money, a bit heavier response than the Yokohamas or the S02As I had on before, but these things wear incredibly, I have over 24 kmiles on them.
The only complaint I have is that they are kinda noisy after they are worn a bit–but I hear that is common with symmetrical directional patterns.
I needed to look at something under the car to day and when I got down on my knees to peek under there I was shocked at how worn the inner sides of my rears were. I guess I haven't been under there in 7k miles or so since my last oil change.
They were ready to go any second!
So I ordered a set of HTRIIIs and will have them on tomorrow. I am really looking forward to them, especially with all the good reviews here. For me the only drawback with the Sumis that I had was that they are a bit heavy feeling, but since I spend the majority of my miles on the freeway the lack of nimbleness is more than offset by the fact they don't dart around. So the heavier vibe is actually a plus for me.
Just a reminder: Especially if you have your car lowered at all; take a peek under the rear now and then. The car just chugs along with no problems and you get busy and before you know it 6-7k miles have gone by... The outside tread that was easily visible lead me to think I had another 3-5k before I even had to start thinking about tires. The inside showed that I should have been thinking of it 3kmiles ago
The only complaint I have is that they are kinda noisy after they are worn a bit–but I hear that is common with symmetrical directional patterns.
I needed to look at something under the car to day and when I got down on my knees to peek under there I was shocked at how worn the inner sides of my rears were. I guess I haven't been under there in 7k miles or so since my last oil change.
They were ready to go any second!
So I ordered a set of HTRIIIs and will have them on tomorrow. I am really looking forward to them, especially with all the good reviews here. For me the only drawback with the Sumis that I had was that they are a bit heavy feeling, but since I spend the majority of my miles on the freeway the lack of nimbleness is more than offset by the fact they don't dart around. So the heavier vibe is actually a plus for me.
Just a reminder: Especially if you have your car lowered at all; take a peek under the rear now and then. The car just chugs along with no problems and you get busy and before you know it 6-7k miles have gone by... The outside tread that was easily visible lead me to think I had another 3-5k before I even had to start thinking about tires. The inside showed that I should have been thinking of it 3kmiles ago