I'm not sure if this belongs in this forum, so mods feel free to move if need be.

Ok, I'm shopping for street tires, but size is my only area for concern. I'm not interested in "the best" street tire for grip, longevity, grip, whatever. I just don't want to spend more than $100 a tire. Reasoning behind that is I race ONLY at the track and I'll have slicks there. Additionally, I'm hoping to lay down 300-350whp on the street, so even the grippiest tires will get boiled if the hammer is dropped. My choices are:

<U>225/50-15 (23.9"od)</U>
Kumho Ecsta 711
Yokohama AVS ES100

<U>205/50-15 (23.1"od)</U>
Kumho Ecsta 711
Kumho Ecsta 712
Sumitomo HTR Z
Yokohama AVS ES100
Falken Azenis Sport

Feel free to add any choices you might feel applicable. I'll be running these in conjuction with a stock geared GS-R trans. on 15" Rotas (C8s). A plus is the Yoko's come with a nifty free rc car

Oh, and to add, the stock OEM 195/55-15 has a 23.44"od.


[Modified by DSF, 8:31 AM 9/24/2002]

 

Azenis are the sweetest tire for the money.they grip , grip and grip great in the wet to...my only concern is that they wear a little too fast...but they are really soft so i guess thats a trade off.

 

Yeah, I've heard nothing but good things about the Azenis My only quarrel was that they don't make a 225/50-15 size, which is what I think I would like to go with. I guess my bigest debate is...

sticky tire/narrower tread block/shorter contact patch (ie. Azenis)
VS.
not as sticky tire/wider tread/longer contact patch

Which is more important, the amount of rubber on the ground or the properties of the rubber on the ground? At what power level does quantity outweigh quality?

 

Anyone else with some input?

 

My friend has some 225/50 15 S-03s on his JR charged gsr and really wishes he had stuck with a shorter tire. I have 205/50 15 azenis and he and I both perfer them. Though the azenis scared the living **** out of me in the rain.

 

I think the 205-50-15 azenis REALLY IS a 225 tire...

 

Hmmm, S-03's? I hear they're pretty sticky too How much power do you thing your friend is putting down? Also, what were his complaints? (More straight line traction or cornering/handling reated?)

 

so3s are great in the rain.

 

The Azenis is not a very safe all weather tire. So you if drive in the rain and snow, you may want to avoid it. You can't really go wrong with the Kuhmos. Cheap, grippy, and did I mention cheap?

 

DSF, my friend is probably putting close to 250 to the wheels; @ 8psi he put down 218 and he's running 13 psi now. He bought the 225s hoping to make his gearing a little longer to help traction but didn't help any. The tires just fry when he gives it gas. When I drive his car, cornering, the tires seem to roll a little bit, since they have more sidewall. When he drives my car he really likes the feel of the azenis and really regrets spending twice as much on tires as I did. It doesn't help that his car is a 4 door gsr and mine is a del sol, my wheelbase is so short, it just makes cornering that much easier.

 

Hmmm, sidewall rollover was what I was afraid of with 225's Guess I'll stick with the 205's on my 15" rims. If he's cookin' 225's with that power, I can't imagine what it'll be like if I can manage @350whp

 

you can always try falken 512s or 502s... they are a compromise of both wet and dry traction.