Need help choosing good longlasting tires

[kermit80]

Got some 16" SSR rims and my tires are bald as hell....i'm affraid they going blow all at once or something soon.  Living in Hawaii so don't deal with snow or hail...just rain sometimes...not really a racer...just enjoy the beauty of a 240sx as is....looking for some tires that have good treading and that will last a long time...plus ones that are at a good price normally.....can anyone suggest any??

[Jeff240sx]

I had Kumho's.  I liked them.  Good traction, lasted about a year, and they are like $70.  Some people just don't like them though.
I have $95 Dayton ZR tires now, and they just suck.  They break loose at the slightest sight of boost in 1st and 2nd.  My bald ass Kumho's gripped better than my new tires.
So... there is my suggestion for a good, cheap tire.  Kumho ZR.
-Jeff

[LanceS13]

Jeff, I think you mean Kuhmo ECSTA 712's. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
That's what I would suggest as well...as long as you're not planning on being competitive in any kind of motorsports. &nbsp;They're cheap, have decent but not great grip, and last a while. &nbsp;Mine have about 18-20K miles including 7 autox's and still have about 1/8 to 5/32's of tread left. &nbsp;
BUT, they are hardly a match for Azenas or AVS Intemediates on an autox course.

[adey]

Actually, mummies (mummys?) often still have quite a bit of hair left when they're unwrapped.

...anyway I've only heard good things about Kumho. I don't plan on using them any time soon (don't know why, maybe it's the name that repulses me) but from what I've read, they've got pretty good (not great) treadwear and good grip for the price (they're cheap!<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> I don't know where the grip comes from though, since I've also heard that they're very 'hard' tires (the compound, not the sidewall).

On the other hand, if you're only looking for long life and don't plan on tracking or driving the car hard, go for some regular touring tires... those things have a treadwear of like 450-500!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>

[SaintlyCharBoy]

fwiw, my next set of summer street tires are going to be falken azenis sports, grippy as hell for a street tire, but last "OK" 15-20k mi

check out vulcan tire (http://www.vulcantire.com)

-Sean

[SSJ2Gohan]

I have the dunlop w10's for about a year now and about 20K miles. &nbsp;They are a Z rated tire but everyone at the NTB I got them at had them also and they said as long as I take care of them like rotating every 5000 miles and balancing them (which is free if you buy them there) they will last a long time. &nbsp;

Mine are still in great condition. &nbsp;Im looking to push 35000 out of them and thats good for a Z tire. BTW, I live in VA so I dont see snow very often. &nbsp;240's suck ass in snow and with Z rated I wont even try. &nbsp;But snow hardly happens around here.

And your in Hawaii so you guys dont even know what snow is <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[silforty]

I work at a tire retailer, and I have found that the most popular tire sold at this place is Toyo. I see that the treadwear on the proxes is pretty good and they are not bad as far as price goes. I personally had Kuhmo ecsta 712 on my 17s and loved them except when the weather was cold. The ride was a lil rough until they warmed up. I'm also happy with the Dunlop d60 A2( NOw called Sport A2) on my stock rims. they are pretty good all around tires. IMHO

[kermit80]

Hey guys....thanks for the tips....looking for more if other people read this...but i am thinking i may go with the kumhos....i found a place locally that sells them for $100 each..and they seem to be the cheapest so far...sad yeah?? living on an island can be a bitch sometimes.....and i gotta buy them tires fast..with that dock strike going on...who knows how long that will last....don't wanna be riding on rims cause there ain't tires left on the island....but anyhow...keep them suggestions coming...ain't going to buy them tires for a couple more days still....mahalos folks...

[adey]

$100 a tire for 16" rims?? what width are you getting the tires? 275/35/16 or something?? While I haven't bought Kumhos before, I've heard they're really good value-for-money, and $100 per tire for 16" rims doesn't sound particularly cheap to me!

FWIW I got my 205/15/60 Dunlop FM-901s (nice tire, 200/A/A) for something like $70 a piece. by the time they were shipped, mounted and balanced they came up to about 100/tire... that's AFTER shipping/install/labor!

I don't know, maybe I'm just a cheap bastard, but $100 for Kumhos... &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

[kermit80]

hey adey..

yeah man not sure if your in Hawaii....but the shipping kills you...plus the local place will mark it up themselves for some money.....cheapest tire i found so far for 205/50/16's were some GT Champerros....i never even heard of those....so i didn't want to chance it.....this place i found for $100 Kumhos will charge $10/tire for replacing my old tires and stuff....so i might just go ahead.....but i'll probably make a few more calls before i go down to pick them up...just to be safe...

[Archangel]

Every tire has a treadware rating on it. I believe it is normally 100 - 500 on most tires (I'm not sure on that.)
But still it should be available from any tire manufacturer's website for each tire they make. &nbsp;So that could be helpful.


From Tirerack.com:
"While traction and temperature resistance ratings are specific performance levels, the treadwear ratings are assigned by the manufacturers following field testing and are most accurate when comparing tires of the same brand.

Treadwear

Treadwear receives a comparative rating based on wear rate of the the tire in field testing following a government specified course. For example, a tire grade of 150 wears 1.5 times as long as a tire graded 100. Actual performance of the tire can vary significantly depending on conditions, driving habits, care, road characteristics, and climate."

[HippoSleek]

Agreed treadwear means jack b/n brands.

Agreed Kumhos seem to fit the bill for cheap, high performance, good in rain (not snow), fairly long lasting tires. &nbsp;GrassRoots Motorsports have them an excellent review for grip in wet and dry.

[kermit80]

Thanks guys.....yeah i am getting them Kumhos!!! &nbsp;I am getting them from my dealership and having them slap them on while i have the car in service. &nbsp;I got a few other problems....like my brakes making weird noises on the front right after goiing a certain speed...and then my back one sqeaks...i am just too irked to take that one off and clean....and coolant is running alittle hot...tried flushing but i think i going do it again. &nbsp;But anyways yeah i am getting them tires for 90/tire now....which is better then $100... but anyways....thanks for the replys..... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>