I've looked thru the archives but it seems not many folks keep there 15 inch rims on the car and so no one really talks about the best performing tires for those rims.

I'm keeping the 15's on my teg which Ive only had for a month (had an Si VTEC before). There isnt much available for 15's but does anyone know which are good performing tires and which are not **** in the RAIN (I live in the UK).

Cheers.

 

If you're staying w/the OE 15". You will definatley want to stay w/the 195/55/15 size. I picked up some 205/50/15's(they are not azenis) and I'm not really satisified w/the turn-in and response on them.

I also picked up some Yokahama AVS-ES 100's for my 97 Lude. They are a great tire so far.. Unfortunatley I've only had limited time on them in the wet, they did great for my liking, but I've never really driven on a "great" rain tire..

The Yok's come in our OE size and are quite affordable.

http://discounttiredirect.com/...ar=55

 

205.50.15 Kumho Ecsta MX
195.55.15 Bridgestone Potenza S03
Toyo T1S, I think they are 195 size...

 

Potenza S03's arent made for 15inch rims? Or am I wrong ?
http://www.bridgestone.com.au/...3.asp

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fink2iCe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it seems not many folks keep there 15 inch rims on the car</TD></TR></TABLE>

A lot of us do. In fact, judging by our recent meets, more do than don't.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fink2iCe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no one really talks about the best performing tires for those rims.</TD></TR></TABLE>

There have been many previous discussions on this topic.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fink2iCe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does anyone know which are good performing tires and which are not **** in the RAIN (I live in the UK).</TD></TR></TABLE>

It all depends on your priorities. Any tire is a trade-off of factors like dry traction, handling, wet traction, treadlife, cost, etc. Sounds like your highest priorities are the first three of these.

Here are some of the most commonly used tires on the ITR and how they stack up among these various factors:

Bridgestone Potenza RE010, 195/55-15. These are the stock tires that were originally designed for the ITR. They offer razor-sharp handling and great dry traction and very good wet traction. Treadlife is okay (typically 15-20K miles). Tend to be expensive, ~USD130/tire.



Falken Azenis RT-215, 205/50-15. Excellent dry traction and handling. Inexpensive purchase price, ~USD75/tire. Wet traction worst of the tires listed here. Treadlife is worst of the tires listed here (typically 10-12K miles). Heavy. Not available in stock size. This size fits better on wider rims than on the stock 15x6, since this tire is wider than most other 205 series tires.



Yokohama AVS ES100, 195/55-15. Inexpensive purchase price, ~USD60/tire. Excellent wet traction. Excellent treadlife (typically 25-30K miles). Okay dry traction and handling, not as good as the others listed here.



Bridgestone Potenza S-03, 195/50-15 or 205/50-15. Excellent dry traction and handling. Excellent wet traction. Very good treadlife (typically 20-25K miles). Expensive purchase price for the 205, ~USD130/tire, but the 195 often goes on sale for ~75/tire. Not available in stock size.



Based on your priorities - performance (presumably dry traction and handling) and wet traction, I would recommend the stock RE010 tire. If price is a major consideration to the extent that you're willing to trade off some performance for it, I would consider the ES100.

 

the #1 tire for a stock rim ITR = Bridgestone Potenza RE010

In my opinion Yokohama A022A the worst tire for stock rim ITR.

Many people say that the Yokohama AVS ES100 is very good.

I have Kumho ECSTA MXs and think they are the best tire I have used in a long long time. In the rain they are sure footed if you drive with in reason.
I use them on 6.5 inch wide wheels, but because they are not like Azenis (over wide) they should fit fine on a 6.o inch rim.
5.5-7.5" Rim Width Range...

 

Some tires in the US are not sold here. But you can get the S-02 in stock size (they can't get it in the USA). I use it now, and I am very happy with it. It's comparable to the RE-010 on the dry. And it's better on wet. Price is also the same.

 

I got Toyo T1-S 215/45/15 to fit nicely. Great wet and dry traction and very responsive.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bbasso &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have Kumho ECSTA MXs and think they are the best tire I have used in a long long time. In the rain they are sure footed if you drive with in reason.
I use them on 6.5 inch wide wheels, but because they are not like Azenis (over wide) they should fit fine on a 6.o inch rim.
5.5-7.5" Rim Width Range...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I use the MXs on the stock wheels in 205/50 15 and have nothing but great things to say about them. Great tire with incredible dry traction and moderately good wet grip too. Haven't had them long enough to comment on wear really, but they seem to be wearing about as well as most other tires I've used. (Kuhmo Ecsta Supra 712s and Yoko ES100s)

My father has the Toyo T1S on his car and they seem to really perform well also, but that car is kind of a different ballgame.

 

Cheers guys. I've just got my new tires fitted. I got the S02's in stock size. They didn't have the S03's that nsxtasy mentioned. S03's (not listed by Bridgestone) seem to have the best reviews left by buyers at tiretrack.com ..

 

Good Info Here!

 

I'm riding on 195/50-15 Toyo T1-S, and I wouldn't reccommend that size or tire to anyone with a car in the ITR's weight range.

The T1-S is a very loud tire, like Azenis-loud, although it does deliver good wet/dry grip and good wear.

I think a 195/50 is just too small for a 2600lb car. I'm going to try a 195/55 or 205/50 Yokohama ES100 next.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rgbpmp &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Good Info Here! </TD></TR></TABLE>

The "Good Info" was already here. Someone just had to search a bit more.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rainforest &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm riding on 195/50-15 Toyo T1-S, and I wouldn't reccommend that size or tire to anyone with a car in the ITR's weight range.

The T1-S is a very loud tire, like Azenis-loud, although it does deliver good wet/dry grip and good wear.

I think a 195/50 is just too small for a 2600lb car. I'm going to try a 195/55 or 205/50 Yokohama ES100 next.</TD></TR></TABLE>

we're talking about the stock 6" wide rim here though. Especially when it comes to the Azenis and other "205" tires, everyone on here would agree in saying to use a 6.5" or 7" (better) rim width for better response.

 

I would take 205/50 S-03's any day of the week over 195/55 010's.

 

ya i like yokohama avs es100..but they want $430 something for 195/55/15 ..u guys think its good deal??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SoCal ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would take 205/50 S-03's any day of the week over 195/55 010's.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I wouldn't. The S-03 is a very good tire. But I like the RE010 even better.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bee8teenSee1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ya i like yokohama avs es100..but they want $430 something for 195/55/15 ..u guys think its good deal??</TD></TR></TABLE>

No. Right now the 195/55-15 ES100 is $61 per tire at the Tire Rack. You can buy them from the Tire Rack and have them shipped to one of their recommended installers in your area. Even if you add $25-40 for shipping and $40-80 for mounting/balancing, it shouldn't be anywhere near $430.

 

oh wow thanks man...iam glad i didnt buy it...phewwww
so ur saying if i buy it from there all i have to do is pay for 4 tires and shipping..then installing and balancing wil be free??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bee8teenSee1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so ur saying if i buy it from there all i have to do is pay for 4 tires and shipping..then installing and balancing wil be free?? </TD></TR></TABLE>

No. I'm saying if you buy it from there, all you have to do is pay them for four tires and shipping, and then pay your local installer to do the mounting and balancing. Typical charges for mounting and balancing are in the $40-80 range for four tires, although some can go slightly higher. When you use the link in my previous post to look up the recommended installers in your area, it also shows what they charge for mounting and balancing.

 

On my stock rims, I have the Vredestein Sportrac 2, which I find to have great wet and dry traction. I actually just put the stock rims with the vredesteins back on the R due to the weather.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

No. I'm saying if you buy it from there, all you have to do is pay them for four tires and shipping, and then pay your local installer to do the mounting and balancing. Typical charges for mounting and balancing are in the $40-80 range for four tires, although some can go slightly higher. When you use the link in my previous post to look up the recommended installers in your area, it also shows what they charge for mounting and balancing.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

oh ok ok ..again thanks for good info
BUT..last Q lol..if tirerack.com recommended installers. price will be same? if i order same tires in that recommended store

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bee8teenSee1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BUT..last Q lol..if tirerack.com recommended installers. price will be same? if i order same tires in that recommended store</TD></TR></TABLE>

Now, that is a good question.

There are two different ways you can do it (and I've done both of them at different times, for various reasons).

1. You can order the tires yourself from the Tire Rack, and have them shipped to the store. You'll pay for shipping charges, but in most states, you won't pay sales tax. (I'm not positive, but I think that the Tire Rack may charge sales tax if you live in a state where they have a warehouse where you can buy tires in person, such as Indiana and I think their western warehouse is in Nevada.) You then pay the installer only for the mounting and balancing.

2. You can order the tires from the installer, and pay the installer for the tires as well as the installation. Doing it this way, you will pay sales tax. You may or may not pay shipping charges. Depending on where you live, the sales tax may be more, or may be less, than the shipping charges. The installer may or may not give you the same price as you would pay at the Tire Rack (but they probably will if you tell them you found their number on the Tire Rack website).

(My local mechanic charges the Tire Rack price, does not charge for shipping, but charges for sales tax, and the two amounts are similar. But that isn't necessarily true of any other installer.)

The easiest way to find out for sure how to handle this is to pick one or two installers in your area, pick up the phone, tell them what you're planning to order, ask them what they charge for mounting/balancing and for the tires, and whether you're better off ordering the tires from the Tire Rack and having them shipped to them, or buying the tires directly from them. They'll tell you which is better for you.

Good luck.

 

has nobody ran bfg g-force kd's before? I have a set on now in 205-50-15 on my stock rims and I love them. I find them to be a hell of a lot more sticky than the re010 which I had a few of.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bushisafascistpig &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">has nobody ran bfg g-force kd's before?</TD></TR></TABLE>

These tires, which are made by Michelin, are okay - similar to the Kumho MX in the dry, substantially worse than the MX in the wet (see Tire Rack test results here), and a step down from the S-03 and RE010 in both wet and dry performance and handling. And they're expensive - around USD130 per tire, compared with USD80 for the Kumho MX. They're also not available in the stock size, only in 205/50-15.

Since the BFG cost as much as the S-03 and the RE010, you would be better off with either Bridgestone tire than you will with the BFG, since you'll get more performance for the same price. Since they cost so much more than the MX, you would be better off with the Kumho than you will with the BFG, since you'll get similar performance for a much lower price.



Modified by nsxtasy at 10:32 AM 11/27/2004

 

diregard all the hype. what u need to put on are some yokohama A032's .....but if these are a little too extreme for your taste, Nitto neo gen's are a very good choice for the $$$$ and they are offered in optional sizes for your 15" whlz.
note: visit www. tires.com