Oops, more than 3 tires...

Ok, my stock potenzas are history, the back ones are worn out and one of the front ones has a crack in the side wall, not sure if it's from vandalism or plain wear.

I don't want to pay an arm and a leg for tires so I'm down to 3 or 4 choices which haven't gotten bad reviews.

I'm looking to maximize treadwear while still getting better performance in the bends than the stock tires(I do a lot of on-road performance driving with the local car club). Noise is not a terrible concern, I thought the potenzas were quiet enough.

My choices so far are:

Falken ST115s, they come highly recommended by two ppl I know personally and have driven with, both are very good drivers and their oppinion holds some measure of weight (not enough to sell me on their word blindly tho). I can get these tires for $640 installed at tire pros. Rating is 360 A A.

Falken FT-452s, decent reviews, probably a bit more expensive than the 115s, around 680 installed, rating 300 AA A.

I've seen what falken tires look like after spirited driving and the rubber gets all pitted and looks weird, any light shed on this would help.

Other choices are:

Fuzion ZRi, very cheap tire at $99-110 each, and pretty good reviews, rating is 320 A A, installed at tire pros $540, I could save a lot online from this price.

Kumho Ecsta SPT, decent reviews altho apparently noisy, Rated at 320 AA A. Also $540 installed at tire pros.

Still shopping around, but tire pros has given me the best prices so far and the guys seem friendly and competent. They'll give me free warranty and service if I buy thru them.

If you have any of these tires please let me know what you think of them and if you know any different and decent tires in that price range

 

toyo t1-r.

i got mine in 245/40 for about $150 each. paid another $80 to mount them, the cash only special.

 

Falken 452's FTW

The other tires look like passenger tires.

Tires are the most important part of a car, the only part that touches the road.

Don't be cheap......tires are one case where you pay for quality. Cut corners elsewhere.
Beside.....if the difference is only $140 bucks, if you keep the tires for a couple years the difference is only pennies a day.

 

if you are doing hpde you need to get over the wear issue. commit or dont..

my kumho spts did fine for my first track day.

but i think the toyo tr1 would be a great choice.

beers

 

hey to be named, can you give me a few more details on your experience with the 452s? how many miles on them and what kind of driving?

I found a place in town that is giving them to me for $580 installed, and I could get the 615s for $640 installed if I wanted to, only problem is a friend has had them on his rx8 and they lasted a total of 2600 miles, no I didn't miss a zero there, it's twenty six hundred miles.

 

I am very pleased with the 452's.

However, I bought the car earlier this year and it came with a set of 452's with only a couple hundred miles on them, so I really don't have a before and after impression of the 452's. So while I think my car handles great during fast cornering I don't know how much can be attributed to the car, or how much can be attributed to the tires.

Having said that..........very pleased.

The car is driven hard but mostly straightline, nothing too aggressive.

This is purely aesthetic, but they look like tires that should be on an RX8.
I like the tread and the design.
Some of the other tires look like they belong on my parents sedan, to be frank.

Like I said.......the tires are the only part that touch the road, purchase them based on need/performance and not price because the extra $140 (or whatever) is insignificant over the life of the tire.

 

I have the Kumho SPT's and I'm happy with them compared to the stockers. They aren't noisy IMO and provide great wet traction. As far as on a track, I don't know...haven't tracked my car yet. But for the price, they seem like a decent tire.