New Tires

[Leanne]

Since last year's tires are toast, it's time for new rubber this season and who better to ask than those with the experience and first hand knowledge?

Unlike some, I'm not interested in changing tires at races. I'm looking for a good performance tire that can withstand the daily commute to work, maintain grip in the rain, last a couple seasons but still provide improved performance on the autocross course.....all without breaking the bank naturally!

Any suggestions or opinions?

[AlienDNA]

Leanne,

What car are you putting them on and do you have a preferred size in mind?

[finboy]

http://www.hankooktireusa.com/pdf/uploads/Ventus%20RS2%20Z212.pdf

or these

http://www.falkentire.com/615micro.htm

or these

http://www.kumhousa.com/Products/PtnDetails.asp?mainCatID=1&PtnID=KU15&refAction=PtnDetail

[Leanne]

1995 V-6 Mustang.
245/45R16
Wish I could go bigger but that's all the car allows. Just finding rims with the right off set was a nightmare. Of 300 styles there was probably only 5 that would fit.

[finboy]

dang...these come in that size

http://www.hankooktireusa.com/pdf/uploads/Ventus%20RS2%20Z212.pdf

[finboy]

ouch.. $$ for that size

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?width=245%2F&ratio=45&diameter=16&vehicleSearch=true&startIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&speed_rating=TR&speed_rating=UR&speed_rating=HR&speed_rating=VR&speed_rating=ZR&speed_rating=WR&speed_rating=YR&RunFlat=All&x=60&y=7

[gatherer]

V710s ... have the tire shop change them every second week :p

[AlienDNA]

1995 V-6 Mustang.
245/45R16


Dang! That doesn't leave you much choice, as finny pointed out. I'd recommend the Bridgestone S-03s for a heavily dented but not broken bank ;)

[Leanne]

Thanks for your help guys!

[Tashko]

dang...these come in that size

http://www.hankooktireusa.com/pdf/uploads/Ventus%20RS2%20Z212.pdf

You could PM bbqman (Carl) from TRAC Racing Depot (www.tracracingdepot.com) as they usually have good prices on Hankook's. That's where I got my Z212's. Seem to be a pretty good tire after the little bit I've driven with them.

[Leanne]

Any thoughts/comments on the Bridgestone Fuzion ZRi's?

[StewPiddass]

I got the Z-212 from Carl this weekend, can't wait to try them on. Looks like an incredible tire and you can't beat the price.

[craig]

Any thoughts/comments on the Bridgestone Fuzion ZRi's?

I have a pair of 245/45x16 ZRi's that I'll sell for cheap ... however, depending on how fast you want to go in Solo2 level, you may not like the level of absolute dry grip that they offer.

Pro:
- work as well as SO-3's in wet
- inexpensive
- very predictable at and over their limit
- wear like iron
- won't chunk at the track (at least with me driving at 8/10ths)
- not a noisy tire (even at their limits)
- IMHO, better than similarly-priced tires (Ecsta Supra 712, Yoko ES-100)

Con:
- relatively narrow tread in 245/45x16 - 8.6" tread width IIRC.
- less dry grip than 5-year-old SO-3's

I think that it all comes down to pricing. ZRi's were half the price of SO-3's. I don't have the Hankook RS-2 pricing in front of me, but if the prices are comparable, I'd go with the RS-2's this year.

YMMV.