[s-cars] Tire choices for S-car

[pkrasusky at ups.com]

Kevin compared:

<<<Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:36:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kevin Barnett <bluevr6 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [s-cars] Tire choices for S-car

Time for new tires on the Audi.
235/45/17

What would you choose and why:

   * Falken Azenis ST-115 - $118 (shipping included) - this is what I
     am currently running and have liked them so far.  Front tires at
     wear bars, back tires bald.
   * Sumitomo HTR-Z - $61 + shipping. - Old design, but still in prodiction
   * Sumitomo HTR-Z II - $79 + shipping
   * Kumho ECSTA AST - $85 + shipping (didn't like the old Kumho 712's,
     but heard  that they have improved)
   * General Exclaim UHP - $87 + shipping (don't know numthing about these)
   * Fuzion ZRi - $98 + shipping
   * Dunlop SP8000 - $104 + shipping - $50 rebate of 4 which would
     cover shipping and that a little.

Kevin>>>



Kevin-

I've enjoyed the feedback on all the above choices thus far.  Esp. Dave D's UHP pick - that one I didn't see coming.  Who knew?  And on the Sumi's, I'm surprised - I know a coupla people running them that seem to enjoy their perf. per dollar factor.

FWLIW and a bit late to the game, I've got SP9000s on Alumibitch which are a direct ascent from the SP8000s - and I do like them.  At a net of ~ $75 per that's a good deal.  I've not found mine noisy at all - much less so than my CUMho MX's of yesteryear.

The PO of der 930 had fitted the Fuzion's just prior to my getting.  I was aghast.  He said "yeah but they're Z rated says so right there" - um yeah that's the NAME - they're W rated.  HA!  He also said Tire Rack highly recommended them.  And to his defense 245/45/16s are getting really hard to find for the rears.

I wanted to hate them, really I did.  *BUT*, come to find out Bridgestone owns them, they grip great, no noise from tread or squeal, have decent enough turn in, and are wearing "OK" (by 911 standards).  I'm looking forward to burning through them only so I can + the sizes.  Really hard to beat the perf. per dollar ratio IMO.

I'd knock out the Falken's due to the pricing being way beyond that what gets you a really good alternative.

Consider going 245 even 255 depending on your wheels and driving style.  255's FTMFW on UrS's IMnsHO!!!  8-)  YMMV.

HTH, good luck, yada yada.

-Paul


ps.  12mos out of rubber - HA!  Love it - makes me feel er normal...