Another Tire Thread

RedDragun · 12-05-2006, 11:41 PM

Okay, so Christmas is coming up, and I just got my DET in so basically I have no traction on my LE steelies and economy tires lol.

I will be daily driving, at the strip a couple times, maybe 1 auto-x a month. The tires need to grip like mad, have a high speed rating, do well when it rains, and not wear out very fast. I have stock B13 SE-R wheels sitting in my garage so I will use those.

Price isn't much concern.

Thanks a ton everyone!

JimR · 12-06-2006, 01:06 AM

You're not going to find a tire you described in a size that fits 14x5.5" wheels.

The Falken Ziex 512 doesn't do any one thing particularly well, but it does about everything you could want for cheap in 185/60-14. It's the only tire that I've used both at an autocross (fun run only) and on snow, and not loathed it.

Maybe Yokohama ES100 if you never, ever use them below freezing.

Better yet, upgrade to bigger wheels. DET swap before wheels and tires?

MaddMatt · 12-06-2006, 08:57 AM

Azenis 615s, 195/60/14

RedDragun · 12-06-2006, 09:57 AM

I really can't afford new wheels right now, and honestly I didn't think about it when putting in the DET lol.

MaddMatt, will those do well in everything I subscribed?

MaddMatt · 12-06-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

The tires need to grip like mad,

615s are essentially the tire of choice for STS/STX/STS2 autocrossing. So, yeah.

Quote:

have a high speed rating

They should have at least an H (130mph) if not a V(149mph) rating

Quote:

do well when it rains

615s do fine in the rain. Don't even think about drivcing in the snow with them though.

Quote:

, and not wear out very fast.

May be asking for a bit much here. With daily driving, autocross and dragstip sessions, I'd expect to go through a set a year.

BigB · 12-06-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedDragun

I will be daily driving, at the strip a couple times, maybe 1 auto-x a month. The tires need to grip like mad

Grip and long life are mutually exclusive.

Grip, by it's nature, is a function of wear. Grippy tires do not last very long.

You are asking for the "perfect tire" and it does not exist.

We know what you WANT the tire do, now.

What do you NEED the tire to do? $$, grip, longevity, wet performance. You need to rank those in terms of need and then figure out what tire you want.

jerryeads · 12-06-2006, 11:49 AM

BigB, as usual, nails the oxymorons. You will get an opinion from each of a bazillion folks and thus have a bazillion different opinions - BUT - Matt & Brian are two of the most knowledgeable in this domain. I looked for the 'perfect' street tire and after MONTHS of research chose B'stone RE950s but NOT on tiny little rims. Neither Brian nor Matt would like 'em - I'll get maybe 25-30k out of them; they're kinda slick until hot (but it's fun to spin the tires when the VE cams switch), they're tolerable in rain, worthless in snow. Ask Brian - they're like skate wheels in an autox :-). I'll be listening very carefully to Brian and Matt and a few others when these are gone, but I will edge in the direction of a tad more than the 5,000 miles one gets from the super gooeys.
Jer

Fosters · 12-06-2006, 01:44 PM

I doubt the Azenis would be a good fit for him, once he lists his needs. I think JimR got the closest w/ the 512's. We run those on my wife's car (2nd set), and they are satisfactory.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedDragun

.....have a high speed rating.....

Price isn't much concern.

The speed rating isn't going to do much for you. Does it matter if they are rated for 135 or 150 mph when your trap speed is (maybe) 100 mph, or if you top out in 3rd gear (maybe 2nd?) on the auto-x course? Your putting too much stock in that letter.

I'm willing to bet that that $50 each 512's are easier to buy (or con someone into buying) than $130 each S03's, etc.

~KnuckleDuster~ · 12-06-2006, 01:59 PM

I love my 615's on my DET. I run at 9psi.... but have never driven it in the rain so couldnt help you there.

jerryeads · 12-06-2006, 06:30 PM

KD, it doesn't RAIN over there :-). How many miles do you expect the 615's to last at NINE psi?!! I take it you're going in a straight line?
Fosters is right - the speed ratings are for SUSTAINED speed anyway - heat survival. Unless you're doing track work, NONE of us gets up there and stays up there - certainly not on the right coast - you guys in the middle or on the left coast with some space around you might get to play some - - -

DerekBaker · 12-06-2006, 10:46 PM

I have 615's, i have done a couple auto-x's two track events (half of one in the wet) and daily drive it. I can hardly notice any wear. They do unexpectedly well in the wet, and don't cost an arm per tire. I think these tire would be perfect for what your asking.

JimR · 12-06-2006, 10:55 PM

I'm thinking cheap all-seasons on the stock wheels, then saving for a second set of 15" wheels with Azenis/MX/Z212/etc. for "fun" weekends.

RedDragun · 12-06-2006, 11:33 PM

Yeah, I was thinking the 512's before DET. Only thing is that they don't make the sticky 512's for 14" wheels.

happynole · 12-07-2006, 12:33 AM

They don't make "sticky" 512's at all. That being said, I had 512's in 195/60-14 on stock se-r wheels for about 2 years and had no complaints..........until I picked up a set of used Azenis 215's for this last summer. Big difference. And then I bought 195/50-15 Pole Position S03's for the Hock R's I bought towards the end of summer. Big difference some more. So I guess the old adage holds true in this case, you really do get what you pay for.

RedDragun · 12-07-2006, 12:55 AM

Well there are 2 compounds for the 512's. One has about twice the tread warranty as the other lol. The 30-55 series are 30,000 mile rated, and the 60-65 series are 60,000 mile rated.

Tires would only have to last a year or so. Would the RT615's last that long? What size should I go with?

Edit:

I guess 195/60R-14 86H is all there is.

Coheed · 12-07-2006, 01:52 PM

I have the perfect tire for you. The Potenza RE750. Grips like crazy in the rain, lasts a long long time, and has cornering response that is truly amazing. I have had the Azenis 615 and it sucked in the rain. I had BFG G-Force and I like the potenza RE750 a lot better. The perfect all around tire for me.

RedDragun · 12-07-2006, 02:38 PM

Well looking at those ratings on tire rack, it seems the Potenza's wont do too well in the cold. Right now it is 23* outside. I don't really drive the car in the snow, but it does need to function in the cold.

Will the 195/60R14's fit on stock SE-R wheels (14") and not rub?

Fosters · 12-07-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coheed

I have the perfect tire for you. The Potenza RE750. Grips like crazy in the rain, lasts a long long time, and has cornering response that is truly amazing. I have had the Azenis 615 and it sucked in the rain. I had BFG G-Force and I like the potenza RE750 a lot better. The perfect all around tire for me.

Tirerack doesn't list a 14" tire for the RE750. What I found: Click

BigB · 12-07-2006, 02:43 PM

Then you need all season tires.

M+S tires. Which means you are going to sacrifice grip for cold weather use.

This is good as these tires are usually cheaper than UHP tires.

JimR · 12-07-2006, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedDragun

Tires would only have to last a year or so. Would the RT615's last that long? What size should I go with?

Edit:

I guess 195/60R-14 86H is all there is.

If that's your only car, you don't want that tire for a year of street use. Don't let anyone tell you that is a sane choice for a four-season daily driver.

Get stock-sized all-seasons for your stock wheels, then save up for better wheels and tires for autocross/summer/drags.

I would buy 185/60-14 Falken 512's, then look for a cheap set of 15-inch alloys while I'm saving money for 205/50-15 Azenis. Do it that way, and you can have it both ways.