high performance street tires? ?

[Mark R]

Tess, all the chicks are going for lavender.  It's the "new black" in tire
accessories.  =)

You really need to decide WHAT you're looking for in the tire.  One of your
complaints about past tires is lack of longevity.  Sadly, softer compounds
with less initial tread depth (to stick better and have less tread squirm)
simply don't last as many miles.  Chunking tires either means they weren't
driven smoothly, the compound was WAY off for the application, or the car's
setup (alignment) wasn't correct, causing the rubber (tread) to shear.

It sounds as if you're looking for less of a high end tire but more of a
high performance (but not maximum) street summer tire.  Correct?  Narrowing
the focus is the key.  From your past choices, price was also a
consideration.  If you want an eye opener, go price some of my my Corvette
Z06 rubber:  Michelin Pilot Sport Cup in 295/35-18 (front) and 315/30-18
(rear).  (might be 305/30-18... I always confuse the Hoosier and Michelin
sizes).

Let me know what your priorities are and what size (for availability).  I'll
give you a few of my recommendations and reasoning.

Mark Rosenkrantz (who happens to be both a track junkie and Tire Rack
dealer)


On 3/25/07, Tess McMillan <tessmc at drizzle.com> wrote:
>
> Guys, what is the latest wisdom on high performance street tires in the
> 15" size? I was browsing around on Tire Rack and was confused by the
> dizzying array of brands that don't seem to be the same as the last time
> I went out there...
>
> Many eons ago I had Bridgestone RE71s on my '88 80. I loved those tires!
> But I didn't have a set of track wheels then and chunked them pretty
> badly. My Alfa friends convinced me to try Yoko AVSis -- but those didn't
> last long either. So I went to the old Dunlop SP Sport 5000s .... but the
> Dunlops picked up nails in all 4 tires just a few months after I bought
> them and I figured that brand had been hexed. I switched to the very cheap
> Kumho Ecsta 712. And even though those tires make driving an "adventure"
> (aka white knuckles, esp. in the rain), I've kept driving them because
> they still had a lot of tread.
>
> So, the Kumhos have finally worn out. Looking for recommendations on
> 205/50 15s.... Anyone out there still on 15" rims?  Please, no
> recommendations for the lavender-scented tires that Kumho now offers ha
> ha ha.
>
> Tess
> in Bellevue, WA USA
>
> Det beror inte på vem du är; det beror bara på vad du gör...
>
>
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