jan ken po

General Exclaim UHPs, tirerack.com, $410 shipped. So I wouldn't pay any tire shop more than $500 bucks for those of equal quality w/ mounting & balancing.

jedcred

I recommend General UHPs also. I have them currently, and they run well, but a little louder than the originals. Depending on your tire shop, you should be able to get them for closer to $400 installed. Ask around; most shops are willing to deal if you tell them that somebody got this price elsewhere.

Untouchable08

What kind of wheather are you driving through?

chibial

sunny southern california weather.

///M3N

General Exclaim UHP's have good ratings as well in Tire Rack.

cklassy

General Exclaim UHP's all the way.

Untouchable08

check out tirerack.com and do there little pick what fits you thing, i picked out pirellis for mine and they have been great for me i drive in water and sun but whatever fits your taste.

PsssTkiD

i like mine. Pirelli Pzero nero m+s

Untouchable08

second that i love pirelli's check tirerack for good prices and most places match tehre price so if you see a local place selling them see if they will amtch the price or if they can beat it!

anonymouse

I had those on my bimmer. They are alright but pretty long treadlife and a really quiet ride

guhvies

I've got General Exclaim UHPs @ 1000miles and climbing very slowly...

eckc21

i've heard good things about Pzero Nero M+S and that's the one i am planning to get when I need to make the change. I noticed though that it is all-season tire, how does that affect the handling comparing to the stock Mich's performance tire? And is its thread life really that good?

kenzobenzo

Well, i'm one of those guys who likes to shop for inexpensive tires, but yet have a great rating (ie. 370 treadwear, AA A). So i get to one of these websites called onlinetires.com and i come across these Riken Raptor ZR. These Z-rated tires i got were 225/45/17 @ $69/tire and 255/40/17 @ $83/tire. Nice tread design, and i believe Rikens are tied to Michelin, if i remember correctly. Just throwing in my 2cents worth.

Happy modding!

rubenl

I have the Zero Nero's on our 05 C230, great handling and good ride quality, the set has about 15k on them and the rear's are starting to show wear but not too extreme , the fronts still have a lot of tread on them....

rlee02135

i like the goodyear eagle f1 gs-d3
they ride good and look great

patrick_y

Although I'm still on my stock Michelin Pilot Primacy tires, I've already acquired my next set of tires.

I thought the BF Goodrich g-Force Sport would be a good choice. Very good handling and long-term reliability. I was told to expect 30k miles out of them. They're also very reasonably priced at around $125 installed at Costco.

PsssTkiD

to me, i just like it. i have gotten like 4 rotations on them and still looks new to me!! it hugs the road

chibial

so its a toss up between the pirelli's and the general uhps..


hmmm..

if you were lookin for longevity in the tire. which would you go for.

i mean i cant rotate my tires, staggered setup... so how much "MAX" milage could i get out of either the pirelli's or the generals? keep in mind im driving freeway mostly. no spirited driving, just regular.

FrankW

longevity = Kumho, General, BFG kdw, and Goodyear Eagle gs-d3.

performance out of these 4 from best to last: Goodyear, BFG, Kumho, then General.

Bing

Ultra-high-performance tires: Better by design


Tougher government standards, more capable vehicles and a competitive market are making high-performance tires the norm on cars you're likelier to see at the mall than on a racetrack.

We tested Z-rated ultra-high-performance summer tires--a small but fast-growing segment that trades the winter capability of all-season tires for the ultimate in wet and dry handling and grip.

Ultra-high-performance tires aren't for everyone, however. Our tests also show that different high-performance tires can perform very differently, even within types. Here are the specifics:

"Ultra" tires can involve a trade-off. Our top-scoring, ultra-high-performance Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 delivered superb wet and dry grip. But many others compromised wet or dry performance. The low sidewalls that help give ultra-high-performance tires their responsive handling make most ride more harshly than other types. What's more, their grippier tread tends to wear more quickly.


HOW TO CHOOSE

See Choices to determine the right tire type and size for your vehicle and needs. Then check our CR Quick Recommendations for standouts among the ultra-high-performance tires tested for this report, along with high-scoring all- season, winter, and SUV tires still available from previous tests.

Whichever tires you're considering, here's what to focus on:

Put safety first. Snow and ice may not be a factor where you live. But any summer ultra-high-performance tire should perform competently on dry and wet roads, although they are not designed to be used in any winter weather.

Upgrade with caution. Upgrading to ultra-high-performance tires from all-season tires often requires larger wheels ($1,000 or more) to accommodate their larger sizes. You also pay a price in ride comfort, tread life, and noise. See our full report on retrofitting these tires in our January 2004 plus-size tires report.

Shop around. Mail-order retailers tend to offer the lowest prices. But our latest price survey also revealed good deals at new-car dealers and other tire sources.











High-performance all-season car tires: Better by design



Tougher government standards, more capable vehicles and a competitive market are making high-performance tires the norm on cars you're likelier to see at the mall than on a racetrack.

Mainstream cars like the Buick Park Avenue Ultra, Ford Focus, and Toyota Camry are among the 15 percent of new vehicles sold with tires that can sustain speeds far higher than the legal limit, compared with 10 percent in 1997. But more precise handling and better heat resistance at normal highway speeds are the important reasons that high-performance tires, especially H-speed-rated, performance all-season versions, are quickly redefining the tire market.

Tires that run too hot can be especially risky on the road. Federal investigators cited heat buildup as a contributing factor in the 270 deaths and 800 injuries tied to tire failures on Firestone tires from the huge recall three years ago. As a result, greater heat resistance is a major part of newly revised federal safety tests that tires must pass. Tire makers have until June 2007 to phase in the new tests. But some are already producing more H-rated (130 mph) and other high-performance tires at the expense of lesser S (112 mph) and T (118 mph) models.

Lower prices from small players like Hankook and Kumho are also making higher-performance tires more appealing as replacements. At as little as $45, some H-rated tires now cost the same as S- and T-rated models in our November 2001 test.

Those are the trends behind the Ratings of H-speed-rated, performance all-season tires. High-performance tires aren't for everyone, however. Our tests also show that different high-performance tires can perform very differently, even within types. Here are the specifics:

Tire marketing can be misleading. Performance all-season tires include two subcategories aimed at different drivers. "Sport" models are touted for handling and grip, while "touring" models promise better ride comfort. But our tests show that some of both belie their descriptions.

An example is the top-rated sport Falken Ziex ZE 512, which gripped well on wet and dry surfaces while providing a smoother ride than the high-scoring touring Bridgestone Turanza LS-H.

Some tires save you fuel. Our tests predict a nearly 2-mpg difference between the most- and least-efficient performance all-season tires, based on our rolling-resistance scores in the Ratings.


HOW TO CHOOSE

See Choices to determine the right tire type and size for your vehicle and needs. Then check our CR Quick Recommendations for standouts among the high-performance tires tested for this report, along with high-scoring all- season, winter, and SUV tires still available from previous tests.

Whichever tires you're considering, here's what to focus on:

Put safety first. Snow and ice may not be a factor where you live. But any tire should perform competently on dry and wet roads. Tires we score highly can handle a variety of conditions.

Upgrade with caution. Switching to performance all-season tires involves little risk, though it may require buying a slightly wider size to retain the proper diameter and load capacity for your car. But upgrading to ultra-high-performance tires often requires larger wheels ($1,000 or more) to accommodate their larger sizes. You also pay a price in ride comfort, tread life, and noise. We have a full report on retrofitting these tires in our January 2004 Plus-size tires report.

Shop around. Mail-order retailers tend to offer the lowest prices. But our latest price survey also revealed good deals at new-car dealers and other tire sources.



















Good Luck!

GP2GP

Great info but based on my understanding of CR testing methods and sample size, or in some cases the lack thereof, I prefer a much broader sample size.

http://www1.jdpower.com/corporate/aw...ID=791&CatID=1
http://www.jdpa.com/news/releases/pr...asp?ID=2002072

FrankW

based the on the comparison between the Toyo T1-S and the Eagle F1 GS-D3 I can tell you that consumer reports are idiots. I currently have the GS-D3 and have drive friend's car on T1-S countless time rain or shine. t1-s is very noisy and in rain it doesn't track that well at all. The GS-D3 on the other hand is one of the quietest performance tires around and by far the best in rain/wet condition. They even rated the ES100 at good noise level which is total BS. I know cuz I had those tires on the 18".

BleedzMerc

PERSONAL FAVORITE: Bridgestone S03s.

Perfect for tearing up the road especially in the rain.

drexappeal

Frank, I'd have to disagree on the F1's being quiet. Mine are noisy. I can hear them in the cabin easily. I feel like the stock Michelin PS's were quieter than my tires now. It doesn't really bother me at all (cuz I actually like tire noise when the car is going), but just thought I'd throw my $.02 in.

How do they compare to the T1-R's though. Aren't the TOYO T1-R's supposed to be better than the T1-S's?

FrankW

you can still hear tire noise from the gs-d3 of course and the PS2 is quieter, but I'm saying the gs-d3 is one of the quiet ones. also keep in mind that your old tires were 17" with thicker sidewall and less contact patch.

I've drove the t1-r and imo the gs-d3 is far better. the t1-s was loud, but perform better in dry than the t1-r.