What tires should I get?

[DSC]

I currently have mismatched tires (520 tread ware on 3, 480 on the other one) with a "B" heat rating and they just HAVE to go.

Dunlop sport 8000, Kuhmo ECSTA Supra 712, or Yokohama A520? Those are what I'm looking at now and are within my $100 or less per tire price range. I'm running stock 16" SE rims(205/55/16). It rains a LOT here so water traction is important. Ride noise and comfort are of little concern to me. Also, I drive about 15-20k miles a year, and they need to last at least the entire year. This is my daily driver but I will be doing solo-2 twice a month and possibly a track day or two in the summer. So from the list above or other, what tire should I go with and why?
Thanks in advance!

BTW, my current tires are from the previous owner...must have cost him a whole $30 each <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/whatsthat.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':whatthe:'>

[silviasichigo]

Yokohama makes a good tire it wears evenly if you Cast, camber, and tow are with in specs they hold the road really good. I have them on my wife's 180 they replaced the G' grid.

[LanceS13]

I can't compare with the other two b/c I haven't tried them, but I can't complain much with my Kuhmos. &nbsp;They're a good street performance/weekend racer tire and they'll take a beating. &nbsp;Mine took 20K, 7 autx's, and 3 track days before I finally flat-spotted and corded one on the last track day. &nbsp;They're also CHEAP! &nbsp;I wouldn't use them for a dedicated race tire by no means, but for budget performance, they get the job done. &nbsp;Check out tirerack's comparison (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare2.jsp?compare=true&partNumber=&make=&model=&price=&width=205%2F&ratio=55&diameter=16&sortCode=&speedRating=&qty=&stockMessage=&type=T&URL=&newCompare=true&AddToUser=true&manufacturer=Dunlop&manufacturer=Kumho&manufacturer=Yokohama&performance=UHP&startIndex=0&sortValue=1&qty_055ZR68000_=4&qty_055VR62000EBMW_=4&qty_055VR62020E_=4&qty_055WR62000E_=4&compareList=4&qty_055WR68000E_=4&qty_055VR62000E_=4&compareList=6&qty_055VR6ES712_=4&qty_055WR6ES712_=4&compareList=8&qty_055WR6A520_=4&qty_055ZR6I2_=4) of the three.

[SR20Fastback]

I love yokohamas. I live in the Seattle area, it rains all the time here and they hold up very well. They've also been used for about 15k miles so far.

[AceInHole]

Falken Azenis are supposed to be the hot AutoX tire...... &nbsp;I've heard a520's don't last very long.

The khumo's will put up with a lot of abuse before wearing thin.... and they're not bad in terms of grip, either.

[guidot]

I'm actually thinking of the Ecsta Supra's myself...looks like a quality tire! &nbsp;$60 on tirerack! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

[tnord]

i've had both a520 and sport 8000 (my current tire). the a520's grip better, but don't last as long. probably as a result of having a softer compound. i have no complaints about the dunlop's, my friend had 13k on a set of 8000's when he sold the car and said there was significant tread left. on the other hand, i saw a set of A520's that wore out under hard driving in about 12k.

[AceInHole]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (tnord @ April 23 2002,10:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i've had both a520 and sport 8000 (my current tire). the a520's grip better, but don't last as long. probably as a result of having a softer compound. i have no complaints about the dunlop's, my friend had 13k on a set of 8000's when he sold the car and said there was significant tread left. on the other hand, i saw a set of A520's that wore out under hard driving in about 12k.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Yea... I was looking at a520's and there's a lot of tread, which wouldn't leave as "flat" of a footprint as something like the Falken Azenis, which has very little treading, and could almost be a slick like a Hoosier Autocrosser.

For a daily driver though, I'd say Khumo's are the best bet. &nbsp;Cheap to replace, yet they last, while still good enough to autocross with. &nbsp;They also get pretty good wet weather traction.

[BadMoJo]

hmm, I was actually comparing the same 3 tires. I need to buy a set within the next couple weeks. I was also wondering if i was going with the right size. I have some 17x8's +31 offset all around. I was gonna put 235/40/17's on them. Most Likely the Kuhmos because I don't wanna wear them out to quick, and those still have good traction.

btw, I remember WeST said he hated them. Why was that? I am kinda interested.

[LanceS13]

BadMojo, that size should be perfect.
WeST probably didn't like them b/c they aren't the best tires out there. &nbsp;I'm sure there are several more expensive options that would far outshine the 712's. &nbsp;However, the Kuhmo's performance per dollar is its saving grace...they're cheap and they're much better than all-seasons...and likely as good as some of their more expensive competition.

[adey]

anyone care to comment on Dunlop W-10s? I've heard about them but know absolutely jack about tires. &nbsp;Good? bad? performance tire? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'> &nbsp;
I'll be getting some rubber for my baby as soon as I get the cash.

[MazingerS14]

Get the most expensive Z rated "Blem" tire you can get <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> &nbsp;You can get a $250 tire as a blem for under $100. &nbsp;Only hard part is finding an outlet that sells them. &nbsp;Sometimes places don't wan't to sell them because of liability so just tell them that you are using them for a dedicated auto-x cross car that never get driven on public roads.

Puck

[HippoSleek]

I looked at those two before getting my last set of tires (Kumhos vs. 8000s). &nbsp;Of the two, I would have gotten the Kumhos. &nbsp;

If they still had them, I would get the RE71s (I did) or the AVS-intermediates. &nbsp;When I got mine in Feb. they still had both of these in 205/55/16. &nbsp;IMHO, either is better than the 712's or the 8000s.

[hurleyboi514]

im definately going w/ the Falken Azenis! &nbsp;my friend just got them on his WRX and he said the grip level is amazing! &nbsp;he loves them, and they look bad ass as well...

[West]

The best bang for the buck Tires IMO are Sumitomo.

Kumho are ok for the money, but expect them to excel in any way at the track.

I realize everyone isn't rich and cant buy Yoko AVS's but at least get the Sumitomo tires if your going to use them on the track and street.

Yoko A520's is what I rode on since I had my Z. I had them on my Z, Silver s13, and KA-T (Yes im a car whore). The rubber is a little hard for my taste, but for the price they last and perform at a acceptable level.

You dont even want to hear my views on Dunlop. I almost hate them as much as Kumho's.

[tnord]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (HippoSleek @ April 26 2002,11:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I looked at those two before getting my last set of tires (Kumhos vs. 8000s). Of the two, I would have gotten the Kumhos.

If they still had them, I would get the RE71s (I did) or the AVS-intermediates. When I got mine in Feb. they still had both of these in 205/55/16. IMHO, either is better than the 712's or the 8000s.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
i also have had a set of RE71's. they gripped better than my current dunlops, but after about 12k miles and 2 high speed autox's they were toast. i would say the RE71's and the A520's are similar while the dunlops and kumho's are one step down in grip.


ahhh.........c'mon mark, i wanna hear you bitchin about dunlop, then i can see why my tires suck so bad. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

[toddnappi]

I have some Kuhmo 225x45x16. They're pretty sweet. $88 on tirerack.com which ain't bad. They seem to get good traction in dry and wet and also they got really good ratings on tirerack.com too.

[DSC]

Ok, I've been looking around some more and I think the Falken Azenis look like the best tire. &nbsp;They are only $10 more than the kuhmo's after shipping. &nbsp;Treadware is ok(200), dry traction is said to be awsome, nice stiff sidewalls. &nbsp;Only thing I'm worried about is wet traction. &nbsp;I can't find anything about their performance in wet. &nbsp;Anybody have any info on these?

[Grant]

Kumho's are good for the money, but the A520 would be the best choice, much stickier tires, but shorter treadlife. Sumitomos are supposedly better than Kumhos.

you might want to try 225/50/16.

[Mike98&#39;240]

The Kuhma ECSTA Supra 712 is exactly what I have been using since last June, and they still are in good shape....

I had them rotated not too long ago, and they dude told me I should be able to run them anywhere from Nov...to Dec... with no problem... They hold up very well from my personal experience... There is no way you can go wrong on the Price!
I ordered my from tirerack.com... they have good service!

I live in South Carolina and have made 4 trips to Myrtle Beach from my home area which is 4 hours there and back.

Also I have made 3 trips up to App State, in NC which is about 3 hrs each way....

All I can say is these tires hold up very well, and I drive a lot <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
You may want some tires that can stick a little' better to the road, but these are damn reliable <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>


http://webpages.charter.net/misha/240sx.JPG

[Fourgig]

The 712's are a great tire for the price. &nbsp;They are very slippery when new. &nbsp;After about 500 miles, they're quite sticky. &nbsp;Wet traction is quite good as well. &nbsp;The thing I liked about the 712's is they are very predictable. &nbsp;They let you know well in advance before they totally lose traction. &nbsp;The rubber is fairly hard so they'll last quite a while. &nbsp;I did one and a half seasons of autox and 3 track days before they went almost bald. &nbsp;Once you hit the wear bars, the traction drops off dramatically though.

The Azenis Sports have AWESOME dry grip. &nbsp;They also need some breaking in for maximum grip but they're very sticky right off the bat. &nbsp;They won't last very long though. &nbsp;I expect they'll only last about 10k ~ 15k max. &nbsp;I haven't had a chance to test them in rain but I have driven on wet roads and it seemed fine. &nbsp;I have heard conflicting reports about wet traction. &nbsp;Some people say that wet traction is great and some say it's terrible. &nbsp;I couldn't care less since I live in California where it only rains about 10 days a year. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

I liked the Dunlop W10's for dry and wet but I've never autocrossed on them. &nbsp;They were great for hauling butt up and down the mountain road where I lived a few years ago. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> &nbsp;The SP Sport FM901's are replacing them now. &nbsp;The tire sellers have been saying that they are better than the 712's. &nbsp;Haven't heard any independent reports yet so I'll wait to see what happens.

I've heard some good things about the Sumitomo HTR Z II tires from autocrossers. &nbsp;They're about $10 more than 712's.