Tires for my 348

I had the Fuzions on for a couple months and now have the Kumho Ecsta SPTs on the car.

I took the Fuzions on the track and was quite impressed - the handling was quite secure and predictable (at 7/10s speed). I liked the Fuzions. To try something different, I put in a set of Kumhos Ecstas on the car when the Fuzions wore out. No track experience yet but the car is quite stable on the road. No issues to report.

To me both are good buys - the Pirellis might be slightly better but I dont think they are twice as good (refering to the price differential). I am running about 5000 miles a year on my car and expect to get about max 2-2.5 years out of the tires (the rears will wear out first). Since I plan to change out all 4 tires at the same time, it doesnt make any sense to spend lots of cash on the Pirellis every 2 years.

I am running the stock size BTW.

 

Give the Falken FK 452 a try, IMO they are alot better then the Kumhos and the Fuzions. I have had all 3

 

$90 each for the front Falken FK's: http://www.edgeracing.com/tires/2154517/
$116 each for the rear Falken's: http://www.edgeracing.com/tires/2554517/

 

I'm on Avons right now. I've put about 750 miles on them in the last 2 months, and (on the street) they're quite nice. If they last until September, I'll have them on the track.

 

I'm on Fuzions right now - much better rubber than the P-zero's, the Fuzions stick in the cold and the wet and hold a line very well. But lost a little bit of on-centre feel (the twitchiness the P-zero's had, I guess).

Can't really say the P-zero's are worth the same money, let alone twice the money.

When these tires are worn out I may upsize in the front to go with some Michelins.

 

Does anyone have any other thoughts on this subject? I need to replace the tires on my newly acquired 94 spider and want to get a sense of what tires the group feels works best.

 

My procedure:

A) go to tire rack dot com
B) click on tires: tire surveys
C) click on Extreme performance
D) look at the top three tires to see if they have sizes to fit
E) go back one level and click on max performance tires
F) look at the top four tires to see if they have sizes to fit
G) choose tires that fit from either group
H) Order, and be happy

 

Great tire; great price

 

This is a great tire; inexpensive pricing, ride smooth and they wear well. Don't put junk tires on the 348.

Check out tirerack.com review. You won't go wrong with this tire.

 

I have done this already and still having a hard time making a decesion. For every positive review, there is a negative one. There are completely opposite responses for the same tire. I wanted to get a sense of what people with 348's are running.

 

They don't come up for the 348 sizes. The only Bridgestone that comes up is a G019 which is an all season tire and has mixed reviews. I am semi-tempted by the Kumho's but those seem to have mixed reviews as well. I hate to waste $1k on Pirelli's if I don't have to.

 

I've had the Kumhos on my Spider and my daily driver for about a year now with no complaints. Plenty of dry and wet grip for the street (no track time). No reason to spend big bucks on the P-Zeros.

If you do go to the track, you're better off getting another set of wheels and shaved, soft compound tires.

 

I don't have an f-car, but fwiw I'm running Falken FK452s on my SL55 and have been very happy with them.

 

I put the OEM spec Bridgestone S-01 (per passenger door panel plate) on my 94ts Speciale, and I have been very pleased (street only, no track). They're on sale here:

Front:

http://www.onlinetires.com/products/vehicle/tires/bridgestone/215%252F50-17+bridgestone+expedia++s-01+z.html

Rear:

http://www.onlinetires.com/products/vehicle/tires/bridgestone/255%252F45-17+bridgestone+expedia++s-01+z.html

 

And what do you guys think of the original Pirelli PZero?
Does Pirelli still make then for the 348? Are they so much more expensive than those mentioned above?

Thanks!

 

I have 360 wheels opn my 348 and I tried Hankook and really like them very much.
price was great as well
...just my .02
I am runnning 225/40ZR18 Front
265/40ZR18 Rear

 

If they are available in your size go with the Hankook Ventus V12 Evo K110 (long enough name?). Best tire for the money. Not for winter / extreme cold driving, but they have comparable dry grip to the Falken Azenis RT615 and much better wet traction. Also, they are priced right. Best prices are generally at www.roadwaywholesaletire.com
For all out track tires you can still drive on, try Hankook RS-3, they are the most popular winning tires at the local Auto-X.

BT

 

I have Toyo T-1R's and hate them. The only thing worse was the original Pirelli P Zero's. Had some Vredesteins and loved them but they were the old design (Ultrac). I have not experienced the newer design (Sessanta). Wanted the Bridgestones when I got the Toyo's but they only had 1 rear in my size in the country and I would have to wait the entire driving season for a new cast. Everyone recommended Michelins but I can't get past that price.

FYI...I'm spinning 19" wheels and 30 series rubber so my opinion may be tainted.

 

Bridgestones have a high rolling resistance and you can feel it when you drive back to back on something else, like Pirellis. I am never going back to those tires. I did switch out to 355 18's on my SS, on my Spider, I had Yokohamas too. The stock size was on the rears and the front had a slightly lower profile due to availability. Yokes are noisy, however. The Korean tires seem to be a pretty good deal, but go Falken if you are Asia-phobic.

 

I run bridgestones S1, hard to find, cost 200€ each, confortable ride, but once 1 tire goes you need to change the 4 tires. I placed new suspension in my car and thought i would only put in 2 new tires with 2 older (30% worn) tires and I spent ages with the geometry of the car until i found out what I really needed was to change the 4 tires.

 

Yes they still make them however they are $1300.00 installed. I would buy them if I thought they were worth the money, but I really don't think they are.

Bill
Thanks for this info. I was contemplating these tires on several recommendations from friends, however was feeling somewaht ashamed of putting a $100.00 tire on my car. However if they are truly good, then why not. I am having a hard time finding the model you recommended in the sizing for the 348.

I really gave these some consideration, however, my main concern with Bridgestones is the noise factor. I have had some bad experiences with Bridgestone and BMW's. Granted they were run flats, but in general every time I read something about Bridgestone, people always complain about the same thing-how they howl after a few thousand miles. At 900.00 installed they are no bargain, especially if they start to howl early on.

 

So I bit the bullet and went for the Pirelli's. They drive great, however when I got home I noticed the date stamp code put the tire made in the middle of 2007. Now I am wondering if I should go back and say something or just accept it. I have been reading on the net about the date stamp code but there is no mention of what a tire seller is obligated to sell in the way of dates on tires. Thoughts?

 

You'll be fine. Go enjoy the car.

 

This makes them three years old already! This is the problem I have now with my cars, the tires are old before they wear out and starting off with a three year old tire doesn't sound like a good deal!