i am looking for some ultra summer tires with a lot of grip. i want it to last at least 15k with hard driving or at least 2 years (24k) with normal driving and occasional spirited. i am looking for a budget tire. i have narrowed down to:

yokohama avs es100 195/50/15 W. 59/ea + 34 shipping
kuhmo MX 205/50/15 W. 72/ea + 34 shipping
Falcon Azenis RT-615 205/50/15 W. 87/ea + FREE shipping
Toyo T1R or T1S. can't find them for a good price.
Hankook Ventus Sport K104 205/50R15 Y. 74/ea + 40 shipping.

what are your suggestions?

i am currently rolling on toyo T1Rs 195/50/15 that i got for 60/ea. for comparison sake, i love the grip, but they only lasted me 11 months of 60% soft, 40% hard driving.


Modified by tekstyle at 8:21 PM 8/22/2006

 

What kind of car is this for (year, model, version)?

Are you planning to use these for the track/autocross, or only on the street?

Does rain performance matter?

And one final question - compared with the Toyos, are you primarily looking for more grip, or longer treadlife? Because two of the other tires you mention offer more grip but less treadlife, and the third (the ES100) offers slightly less grip but longer treadlife.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tekstyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Toyo T1R or T1S. can't find them for a good price.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can find good prices on Toyos at onlinetires.com.



Modified by nsxtasy at 2:39 PM 8/22/2006

 

this is for an 1999 integra gsr.

i plan on mostly daily drive, moderate spirited driving, and occasional autocrossing.

rain performance does matter to me.

i would like a tire that is the same grip as the toyo T1R with more thread life. this would be my ultimatum.

on another note, i read just now that the kuhmo MX gets better grip as it wears due to heat cycling. i wonder if this is true and if this is a good thing. but also i heard they suck in the rain, but perform similar to the azenis, but with less threadlife.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tekstyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">this is for an 1999 integra gsr.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Then you want 195/55-15 or 205/50-15. 195/55-15 is the stock size for your car and will exactly maintain the accuracy of the speedometer and odometer. 205/50-15 is slightly smaller (1.6 percent) in diameter and will throw them off by that percentage. Either size will work fine.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tekstyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i plan on mostly daily drive, moderate spirited driving, and occasional autocrossing.

rain performance does matter to me.

i would like a tire that is the same grip as the toyo T1R with more thread life. this would be my ultimatum.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Okay, that helps.

I would suggest trying the Kumho Ecsta SPT. It's similar to the T1-R on dry pavement, absolutely awesome in the rain, and should last a long time (30-40K miles). Compared with the ES100, the SPT is similar in dry performance, better in the rain, lasts longer, and costs less. It's a real bargain, too; you can get them in both 195/55-15 and 205/50-15 for around $60 plus shipping per tire (Tire Rack), and then you can get $40 back from Kumho.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tekstyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">on another note, i read just now that the kuhmo MX gets better grip as it wears due to heat cycling. i wonder if this is true and if this is a good thing. but also i heard they suck in the rain, but perform similar to the azenis, but with less threadlife. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The MX will stick better than the T1-R or SPT (but not as well as the Azenis) on dry pavement, but not as well in rain. And they won't last as long as either one; expect 15-20K miles from the MX.

The Azenis is even more so - even better dry performance, even worse in rain, and even shorter treadlife (10-12K miles).

I'm not dissing the MX or the Azenis; they're both excellent tires if you're looking solely for dry performance. But not for wet performance and especially not for treadlife.

HTH

 

thank you for your wonderful recommendations. your reponses have greatly impacted my decision in a positive manner. before, i was deeply looking into the kuhmo MX thinking it might give me more grip for the same threadlife, but i was so wrong. after you have generously provided the link to 60 dollar t1r, i in full consideration of them again as well as the SPT you have suggested that are 10 dollars cheaper than the T1R. I will be getting the kuhmo SPT soon. the shipping cost is the about 3 dollars less than the T1R and therefore, is a worth it deal for me to experiment with. I will also be getting the T1R for $240 + 38 shipping, just because this is a steal. I'll use these for back up in the future.

one question, the kuhmo SPT on tirerack.com is H rated. how would this compare to the W rated T1R I am driving on?

 

Thats just the speed rating. W is 168mph, H is for 130mph. Thats just the speed the tire can safely handle.
You won't notice much difference if any at all.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pavlo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thats just the speed rating. W is 168mph, H is for 130mph. Thats just the speed the tire can safely handle.
You won't notice much difference if any at all. </TD></TR></TABLE>

While I agree with what Pavlo says about the speed ratings, the only H-rated size is 195/50-15. That size is too small for an Integra (3.3 percent smaller diameter than stock). You should really stick with 195/55-15 or 205/50-15.

Using tires that are too small may be part of the reason that your Toyos wore out so quickly...

 

I'm going to usurp this thread for a tire related question if you don't mind.

My car is a 97 Civic CX hatch, with stock suspension
I'm looking at getting a set of kosei RT Sport in 15 x 6.5

I'm considering these tires
Kumho ASX in 195/55 for $60 each
Kumho ASX in 195/60 for $45 each
Kumho AST in 195/50 for $41 each

So the questions are, any thoughts on the AST vs. the ASX? and is 195/60 a bad move ? I want the ASXs but the price difference is significant.

Thanks much

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pushlatency &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My car is a 97 Civic CX hatch, with stock suspension
I'm looking at getting a set of kosei RT Sport in 15 x 6.5

I'm considering these tires
Kumho ASX in 195/55 for $60 each
Kumho ASX in 195/60 for $45 each
Kumho AST in 195/50 for $41 each</TD></TR></TABLE>

I do not recommend a 195/60-15 tire for your car. It's 3.3 percent larger in diameter, and that's a big difference. Same thing with 195/50-15, which is 3.3 percent smaller; it's too small. Stick with 195/55-15 (which is the best matching size for your car) or 205/50-15 (which is 1.6 percent larger).

I assume you are looking for all-season tires, and you're aware that, outside of winter, they won't perform as well as summer tires. But if you absolutely have to use the same tires in winter snow and cold as the rest of the year, then you should get all-seasons.

I'm sure you've compared the ASX and AST on the Kumho website and Tire Rack website. The ASX is a better tire than the AST. It's also more expensive. Your choice.

Kumho Ecsta ASX 195/55-15 $60
Kumho Ecsta AST 195/55-15 N/A
Kumho Ecsta ASX 205/50-15 $57
Kumho Ecsta AST 205/50-15 $47

These prices are from the Tire Rack and do not include shipping. It's also worth checking prices at Discount Tire, which are usually higher but they have free shipping so it may be a better deal.

If you get either the ASX or AST, don't forget to mail in for your $40 rebate from Kumho; both tires are eligible. You have to mail your request within 30 days of the date on your receipt.

 

I used to have the Toyo T1-R's and now have the Kumho SPT. The dry performance was about the same, maybe the Toyo's were a little better, but the SPT's win in the rain. They were less likely to want to hydroplane than the Toyo's were.

 

i have the avs's...grips alot better than my falken ziexs haha...had them for 1 week now and love them...i haven't put them through rainy conditions but dry conditions are great...i wouldn't recommend the azenis for a DD especially if you want 15k out of them...and also i wouldn't recommend hankook...i've read too many bad reviews on them...too many people said the side walls are way too weak...

 

wrong that is not just the speed rating.... it also has to do with the make up of the tire insides......with the extra belt edge caps as with the overlay of the steel belts and the overlay of the nylon in the tire.......there is a lot that goes into the tire..
most h rated tires have an overlap of nylon and som come with extra nylon for belt edges.....every z rated tire comes with a full steel belt that covers the tread as well as a full wrap or two of nylon and a couple of belt edge caps for better handling when taking corners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

i just ordered a set of kuhmo SPT 205/50/15. i can't wait to get them. 232 + 34 shipping - $40 rebate. that's 226 for the set shipped. not a bad price. it will be a few months before i put them on the car tho. thanks for everyone's inputs.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tekstyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i just ordered a set of kuhmo SPT 205/50/15.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm sure you'll like them.

Don't forget to mail in for your $40 rebate. Remember that thirty day deadline. See link and info above.