My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

For the last couple of years I thought the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's were going to be the next set of
tires for my '04 SSB Coupe. Thanks to "herfire" posting about the Kumho ECSTA SPT's I decided to
see how they stacked up with other high performance tires I had considered.

Here are the top seven rated tires that I compared using Tire Racks ratings. I used three figures to choose
my next set of tires...

- overall score
- tread wear score
- price

The top four and how they stacked up according to the numbers:

1. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 ~ 69.8 / 7.5 / $1,156

Attachment 50950

2. Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 ~ 69.7 / 7.9 / $848

Attachment 50951

3. BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2 ~ 66.4 / 7.9 / $808

Attachment 50952

4. Kumho ECSTA SPT ~ 65.7 / 8.0 / $492

Attachment 50953

And the last three (sorry, no pics, the forum limit is 4 per post)....

5. Michelin Pilot Sport ~ 64.4 / 6.7 / $1,110
6. Bridgestone Potenza RE 050A ~ 64.1 / 6.6 / $888
7. Continental Sport Contact 2 ~ 61.4 / 6.3 / $848

My next set of tires are going to be the: Kumho ECSTA SPT's !!!

Comments/opinions pro and con are welcomed...

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

I bought a set of Kumho ECSTA ASTs for my Saab Turbo and they lasted 35K and were no noisier than the Michelins they replaced. Tread was good enough for winter on all but a few occasions. I was very happy. Enough to get a set of ASX for the wife's Turbo Beetle. Only 5k on those so far, but no problems.

When the time came recently to replace the Saab's tires I went with Kumhos again. I do not drive aggressively or fast and these are great tires for the money.

When it's tire time for the Crossfire, I will be looking for an all-season tire, so the SPTs might not be the best for me. I could see the ASX, but I'd need to go for a set of 18's all around.

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

Interesting post. I really like the looks of the Goodrich. But from the comments I've read about how noisy they are, I would not consider them.

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

wow! you can buy 3 sets of those for the price of michelins! no brainer.

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

Thanks...

Yeah, the BFG' are rated the noisiest...

Michelin PS2 - 8.6
Goodyear - 8.4
Kumho - 8.0
Bridgestone - 7.4
Continental - 7.3
Michelin PS - 7.3
BFG - 6.6

As Dan said above... it's a "no brainer". If you go by the overall score, the Kumho ECSTA SPT's are an
all-around good tire. Figure in tread wear and their price of $492 and they become a real winner in my book,
that is unless you want to spend almost twice as much for the other brands...

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

I have posted about these a couple times. I have a set to use as rain tires for autocross...so I actually haven't had them on my xfire yet.

However, I had them on my RX-8 and was very please with them. Not the *best* dry performer, but very good. They're hard to beat in the rain. Not great longevity, but fairly normal for summer high performance rubber. And you can hardly beat the price.

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

Thanks for the kind words "ben47". I have learned so much here and had a few chuckles (Maxwell dimmer switch) that I'm glad to put my 2 cents in. Going to need tires on the front of my car and will purchase Kuhmos' just hope they are good in the Florida RAIN.

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

herfire... you're welcome. It's not about how much you post, but rather what you post.

Okay, here is how the two OEM tires (Continental and Michelin) and the other two I was considering
(Goodyear and Kumho) compare in wet and dry traction, again using TireRack numbers...

Hydroplaning Resistance / Wet Traction / Dry Traction = Total Points

1. Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 ~~ 8.9 / 9.1 / 9.2 = 27.2
2. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 ~~~~~~~ 8.6 / 8.7 / 9.4 = 26.7
3. Kumho ECSTA SPT ~~~~~~ 8.2 / 8.3 / 8.5 = 25.0
3. Continental Contact Sport 2 ~~ 7.4 / 7.6 / 8.6 = 23.6

Goodyear wins when it comes to wet traction, but with a solid third place finish, having the best wear
rating AND the best price, the Kumho's still are my first choice in replacement tires for my Crossfire.

As for driving in the Florida rain, I would think the Kumho's would do just fine, however I have a suggestion
for you. Buy a complete set of new tires. Mixing different brands/tread patterns has never been a good idea,
especially on high performance tires...

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

Buying the Kumho tires at TireRack, having them mounted and balanced at Discount Tire, I priced a set for $679.19
out the door (includes road hazard insurance, shipping and tax).

Keep us posted on how you like them. I'm still 3-4k miles away from having to buy new tires (so far my Michelins
have 31k on them)...

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

Discount Tire has always been good to me - beat tire rack every time so don't rule them out as a supplier. They can get Nitto as well. I plan to do their Invo's on the stock wheels for racing once I wear out the PS2's. Their website does not list the correct size for the rear but Nitto does make it. I roll on their 555's for every day cool. :cool: I have been very happy with them. Worth the look at least.

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

Already checked that out. They want $905.08 out the door. Buying them through Tire Rack and having Discount Tire
mount and balance them is $679.19 out the door... :confused:

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

I have the BFG's, I have not noticed any increased noise yet, but I have heard that the noise gets bad later in their life.

Re: My Next Set of Tires... Part 1
 

Well i just bought my black 05' srt6 last wednesday. love the car!!! I have had 73 cars so far, from 2 srt10 vipers, Z06, 2 TT supras, so just about one of everything. i have to say i am very happy with my new purchase. The rear michelin 255-35-19 tires were bald when i purchased it.

but back to the tires, i just bought some 275-30-19 kumho spt, i have to say the are the biggest pieces of **** i have ever driven on!! i just got them on yesterday afternoon. I do drive my cars aggressively, and almost wrecked it last night, after swerving and the rear tires have felt like jello, the rear slingshots from left to right! I have already did some burnouts and about 100 miles on them, and still the same. I am taking them back and getting some, probably PS2's. I hate to spend that much money, but in this case, you get what you pay for.

My 2 cents. btw i have tried different airpressure as well, i am at 40 right now cold. still sucks.