Hey guys, after spending 2 hours looking through tire threads and polls and reading each one, i'm still confused on which set of tires I should get for my rear 2 tires for my car. I know you would all kill me for saying this, but i've its been 17,000 miles and I havent changed my rear tires yet. They're practically bald. I knew it was time to replace them but for some reason I kept putting it off until it started to become unbearable now and i'm sliding all over the place in the snow and rain (living in New Jersey).


Anyways, back to the question in point- i'm not much of a tire person, so after reading the threads and seeing various tread diameters and patterns and tire brands, I don't know which tire would be best for me. I went to the dealership (bad idea, i know...) and they said I would need Pirelli PZero's (which is the same type that came with the car, I believe) and they quoted me $550 for tires and installation. I don't ever take my car out to the track, but I very often do some spirited driving around the streets and curves so I need something thats got good grip and low noise to them to. Any help on a good tire for the rears within a reasonable price would be MUCH appreciated! And please do explain about specific tire terms; i'm always up to learn more!

 

I always check the treadware of a tire before i buy one. The higher the number the harder the material so it means it doesnt wear out as fast, BUT you loose traction. The lower the number the softer the rubber, wears out fast but grips excellent. On my view regarding tread pattern i like the tires with a good water channel or what ever they call it. what i mean i dont like the tire knobbys too close to each other, and i dont like it too far either because that would create a loud road noise.

Hope this helps you.

 

You'll find some good feedback at www.tirerack.com. Read their (user) reviews and you will gain a greater understanding of what's available, and those which work well. I've had good luck with Michelin. Their PS2 and Pilot A/S work well in my "harsh" weather conditions. My local tire guy (he's a car nut too) will match their price, and provides conscientious service.

Find a local expert you can trust with your ride; you'll realize improved performance and peace of mind when you feel the need to get after it.

 

I got the Falken Azenis RT-615. Outstanding traction.

 

Okay, first of all, if you are only going to replace 2, I would HIGHLY recomend that you stay with the same brand up front. Otherwise, the NEW rear tires will have a differnet roll over rate, and this will make the car EXTREMELY jumpy over bad roads, ie routs, wash board, grooved, etc. This being said, take a close look at your fronts. If they have more than about 33% tread life left, I would stay with that brand.

If they are close to being used up, feel free to explore. Tirerack.com is hard to beat, but I to have found many local dealers that will match their prices, even Sears and NTB to name a few. Tredwear alone will not give you the toal picture on longevity, as two differnt brands with the same numbers WILL wear out at differnet rates. An example is BFG, which I have NEVER had good treadwear with, regaurdless of their rating.

Ask for a recomendation from tirerack, as they are pretty fair with their advice.

Money no object, Goodyear GS-D3, money tight Yokohama, ES100, money REALLY tight Komoho's

Just let it be known, Komo's can be VERY noise after some intiial wear.

Hope it helped

See yeah

 

Tires are all about a balance in a compromise. You are always trading one ability for another. Dry or wet; noise or traction; comfort or turn-in; etc. That is why true automotive enthusiasts own 3 or even more sets of tires (track, summer and winter). If you live in NJ and want to use only one set I highly recommend you buy High Performance All-Season tires. They will not be the best in any one criterion, but they will be ok in all of them and based on the description of your requirements I believe they will address most of your needs.

Forget the nonsense, “I drive aggressively on the street”. Unless you are a total maniac, in which case no tire will help you, you will never fully test the cornering limits of a good-quality tire. Even the emergency braking distance will not vary too much between most quality street tires.

BTW, I have a bunch of used 225/45/17 tires that you can have for good price if you are willing to travel to MA. Or we can meet at Foxwoods one of these days.

I have 4 Sumitomo HTR+, which is probably your best overall choice from my selection. They are 85% new. You can have them for $200

I have 2 Falken Azenis RT-615, which are your best choice for high-performance summer tire. They are almost new. You can have them for $200 plus I’ll give you 1 more tire which has hit a serious pothole. I never had time to examine it so it may or may not be damaged. If you are wondering, yes I have a forth tire too, but that one was definitely damaged.

If you are looking for a budget solution I have 2 Toyo Proxes T-1S. They are 80% new. You can have them for $100. Yes I have 2 more Toyos, but the side edge on both of them is shoot. If you want to mount them and do donuts in a parking lot until they core, I’ll be happy to give them to you. I am sure they will be good for hours of stupidity.

Mounting and balancing is about $15-20 per tire, so keep that in mind when you making your choices.

Good luck.

 

Tires anyone?


I love buying tires. It's an opportunity to change your car's performance and ride. So study up. As indicated, if it's going to be a 4-season tire in an area that sees snow, then definitely get an all-season tire (NOT a summer tire).

TireRack is a great resource. Use it to find and price tires, and assume that most local shops will match price. Or order from TireRack and have them shipped to a local shop.

There are so many options,you really need to examine your mission and buy accordingly. I disagree regarding mixing front and back. While there may be differences in traction and feel, it should not create any risk. In general, you want better traction in the rear so if things go bad, you understeer versus oversteer.

 

 

You must mean Kumhos.

Another up-and-coming performance tire (cheap) is the Hankook Ventus R-S2. It's a summer tire (no snow or freezing temps) but compares to the Falken 615.

 

I do not have firsthand experience with Z212, but it is indeed a direct competitor to RT-615. However, from what I gather, Z212 does not like weight. It is best suited for cars under 3K pounds. Of course I am talking about using it for auto-x or track, not street use. Has anyone here used it?

 

Thanks for the replies guys! Quick question, how good are the stock Pirelli's for the amount i'm getting quoted? Also, the fronts are at about 20% wear and are also stock Pirelli's (i got them changed 3 months ago due to a tire bubble in the front right tire) so I could keep the whole tire "system" at Pirelli's if they are good tires. How much do the PS2's go for (for both rears) and are they compatible if i leave the front as Pirelli's?

 

What Pirelli PZero came with the car Ross or Nero?

 

Nero

 

anyone with some prices for the PS2s and compatibility? I'm almost near the point where i'll just have to stick with the dealer quote and Pirelli's since its become so bad for driving..

 

PS2 is a summer tire and would not be appropriate for you. Nero is all-season and would be fine for your needs. So just get new Neros for the rear. $550 is a rape. It’s at least $150 more than what you should pay. Buying tires from a dealership is retarded. What’s next? Windshield fluid??? Get them online and have a local reputable tire shop mount and balance them. Some tire shops will match online prices. So call a few.

 

No one has mentioned the new Bridgestone RE050A Pole Position. Softer compounds, and stronger sidewall are the trademark of Bridgestone performance tires. It's very sticky and it will last well into the end of tread mark, so you'll get more consistent performance through out the life of the tires. Very good reviews on TireRack.com too.

 

[QUOTE=dchao;2054975]No one has mentioned the new Bridgestone RE050A Pole Position.


I too am interested in this one, but it is so new, I haven't seen it at the track or on any car. If someone out there is running it, post your thoughts please. Price looks reasonable ;-)

See yeah

 

My front tires are still the S03's, but the I've just put on a pair of RE050A-PP's on the back. The performance is on-par with S03, but quieter. Don't forget Z03 is directional (better rubber contact) and the RE050A is only asymmetrical.

Now you can get the RE-01R from TireRack, this one will be the tire for the tracks.