So has anybody tried BOTH sumis and kumhos? There was a big budget tire thread here/the other forum a cpl years ago. I think the OP was re: the sumis - but I tried the kumhos instead (they were priced a bit more, thought i would get a better tire)

are they comparable? I'm buying new tires this week and was planning on switching back to the contis

 

Well, $340 is well $340. I'm not against spending $340 more for the Michelin tires, but I'm not convinced the Michelin tires are $340 better than the Continental tires.

The Conti's have in my experience now over 35K miles with the Turbo have delivered good grip, road feel, handling, acceptable levels of tire noise and good tire life, all at levels comparable to what I experienced -- at least with the Boxster -- running Michelin tires.

Thus I think I'm staying with the Continental tires and in fact could switch over the Boxster to the same brand come its next tire service. I'll see what the price difference is first but if it is on the order I see for the Turbo tires, Conti's will be on the Boxster and not Michelin's.

Sincerely,

Macster.

 

"Sidewall squishy" is exactly the terminology my Tech used when describing these tires. I'm thinking of going with the Contis when I put new tires on Sally in the spring. I think I may get another summer out of the Michelins on Lucy. Snowshoes going on her soon.

 

Those that think the sidewalls are "squishy" what tire f/r pressures are you running?

 

Stock pressures, which is actually a little harder than my preference, but I did it to try to ameliorate some of the squishiness. In all candor, I do have 77k on my suspension (got pss9's in the garage waiting to go on), so some of the squirminess I detect could be attributable to that. My buddy's 04 tt cab with 40k miles and n-rated michelins feels WAY tighter.

 

I tried 36/44 F/R before and my car rides like a buckboard. I am at 34/40 or so and it feels much better. Good luck on the PSS9, that should take some of the harshness out of the suspension.

Must be a slow news week, it usually takes forever to get to 3 pages on a thread on RL.

 

Much like the other brands, Kumho makes sticky and not so sticky tires. The Ecsta XS is a GREAT and sticky tire, atleast on the SpecMiata. But the key is not to chuck all brands that don't meet a certain price point... Do some research, try to talk with others using that tire in the same scenarios. The NITTOs I'm running on track have been GREAT! Maybe as good or better than the MPSCs...

Mike

 

I've got the SUMIs on my street wheels and they're as quiet as my Pilot Sport Ribs were and stick very well overall...

Mike

 

I started a huge 6speed sumi thread a while ago....the original is in the 993 section here on rennlist.

Good tire. Street tire. Affordable. Plenty for any legal +.. stuff....not track specific by any means.

After all of this, anyone have YOKO A08's? Do you damage them by using them in the cold like R888s?
TIA

 

I think I'll stick with Continentals ... old habits are hard to break I guess.

 

I like the Michelin PS2's. They are very consistent, reasonably long lasting (220 tread wear) and quiet. I know it's cliche' but saving a few hundred on a car like ours is just not worth it. I guess a lot depends on if you track your car or not. The track will prematurely wear any tire so the trade off of tire life to price gets screwed up pretty quickly. Plus, who cares how quiet the tires are when you have earplugs and a helmet on @!.

 

I might get the Pilot Super Sports in April when released...my plan is to DE with AD08's....but the reviews of the supersports have been positive.


Sumi's are on the car and are nice....not quite as good as the mich ps2's...but half price.


Jeff

 

An update of sorts. Headed out Friday after T-Giving on worn out Contis. Got almost to Fresno and had to hard brake and car got all squirelly. On a hunch pulled off freeway into gas station and checked tire pressures. Right rear low by 5psi. Drove to Fresno Porsche and service manager had tech put car on rack and inspect tires. Down the wear bars. And a nail and a piece of metal in the right rear tire.

No one would plug/patch tire. Dealer did not have any tire service facilities.

Turned around and tried Livermore Porsche. Closed. Called Stead Porsche in Walnut Creek. Was told new tires could be installed on Saturday. Drove there and spent night at nearby motel. Next day, oh no tires in stock.

Called Niello Porsche in Sacramento. Was told it had tires for my Turbo in stock. Bridgestones. By 3pm Saturday on the road -- in driving rain -- with new Bridgestones. Out the door price a bit over $1700.

Spent Saturday night at home in Livermore then headed out Sunday. Ran into snow across NM I-40 but car and tires ok, but I didn't press my luck.

Had to have the alignment checked after brushing curb in Topeka. Had this done at Springfield MO Porsche dealer. Alignment out a tiny bit -- front toe wide and one rear tire's toe out a bit. Regular alignment is $250. Service manager dropped it to $180 and then added a special discount on top of that to lower the price to $160.

(One can can save a few bucks on an alignment at a Porsche dealer...if he's willing to drive 2000 miles!)

Nearly 5K miles later Bridgestones doing ok.

Oh, Springfield MO Porsche service manager a bit taken back by the $200 Niello charged me for mounting and balancing. Springfield Porsche service manager says he charges $100 for 19" wheels/tires and less for 18" wheels/tires.

Sincerely,

Macster.

 

I guess it's all about location and available consumer discretionary income... I can see things being a lot cheaper in middle America than on the right or left coast...

Glad you like the Bridgestones.
Mike

 

Just read a bunch of reviews...plan to get Michelin super sports in the widest fitment safe for awd.