Hey Guys,
Its time to change my front tires, whats on her at the moment are Bridgestone potenza 215/45/16 but here in Ireland they're mad expensive about €170 a pop and they only bring em in for toyota MR2's. I'm looking for something that is good in the rain too, these weren't great. Any thing I should avoid?
Would there be much difference dropping back to a 205/45/16. All shes used for is daily driving and I guess some spirited excursions at the weekend, no racing but I intend taking it to the track at some stage.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by corylahey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its time to change my front tires, whats on her at the moment are Bridgestone potenza 215/45/16 but here in Ireland they're mad expensive about €170 a pop and they only bring em in for toyota MR2's. I'm looking for something that is good in the rain too, these weren't great. Any thing I should avoid?
Would there be much difference dropping back to a 205/45/16. All shes used for is daily driving and I guess some spirited excursions at the weekend, no racing but I intend taking it to the track at some stage.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can use 205/45-16 without any problems at all. There are a lot more tires available in 205/45-16 than in 215/45-16.

My top recommendation in that size is the Goodyear F1 GS-D3, which is one of the very best summer tires available. Excellent dry traction, outstanding in rain, and last a reasonably long time. This is the tire that won the recent comparison test in Car and Driver. It's not inexpensive, but it's less expensive than some other top-of-the-line tires.

If this is too much money for you, then I recommend the Kumho SPT, which is less expensive but still very good. Very good dry traction, excellent in rain, and last a reasonably long time.

I'm not sure which tires are available in Ireland, but I'm pretty sure you can get the F1 GS-D3. Other tires similar to the Kumho SPT and also worth considering are the Yokohama ES100 and Avon Tech M500. It's possible that the Avon may be less expensive in Ireland, too, since Avon is a British company and I assume it's made there.

 

^^^^the tire guru, very knowledgeable guy

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by attentionwhore &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">^^^^the tire guru, very knowledgeable guy</TD></TR></TABLE>

i don't know how he has the time to respond to every tire question with an essay... i mean, doesn't he have to work? nsxtasy's info is so useful that i've started cutting and pasting it to a document on tires!


Modified by jomama at 2:29 PM 4/26/2007

 

I second the Goodyear Eagle's, I had a set and loved them. I'd say very comparable to the Potenza S-03's also.

 

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

My top recommendation in that size is the Goodyear F1 GS-D3, which is one of the very best summer tires available. Excellent dry traction, outstanding in rain, and last a reasonably long time. This is the tire that won the recent comparison test in Car and Driver. It's not inexpensive, but it's less expensive than some other top-of-the-line tires.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Beat me to it! I've had two sets of the GSD3s in the past and they're my only choice when it comes to both dry and wet traction. They've got a nice stiff, rounded sidewall which progresses nicely into and out of corners in dry and wet conditions. The V tread pattern channels water exceptionally, but there's still large beefy blocks for traction. Add long tread life to the equasion, and the tire is a winner. Nothing out there comes close, except for the BF KDW NT, but those were a little more show than go.

Highly reccomended

 

Thanks for the info nsxtasy and co. I freakin' love these forums :D

 

Any news on how the Yokohama S-drives compare? Didn't see them on tirerack's site, are they even available yet? If think they're suppose to replace the ES100.

 

The word, "tire" draws out nsxtasy like blood to a shark.

 

440 shipped aint too shabby for 16" either

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nholmes &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The word, "tire" draws out nsxtasy like blood to a shark. </TD></TR></TABLE>
LOL. No kiddin !

Are you still selling those Potenza's Nsxtasy ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NBPdEeCeE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Are you still selling those Potenza's Nsxtasy ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kneegr0jack &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wut about toyo t1r compared to eagle f1 gs-d3? arent they sorta similar?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No. The F1 GS-D3 is much, much better in every way except price.

That's not just my own opinion, but also that of the results of the Car and Driver test, in which the Goodyear placed fourth out of eleven tires in dry performance and the Toyo placed dead last, and they were first and ninth, respectively, in wet performance.

 

*update*
I picked up a pair of GS-D3s the other day, €125 a piece fitted and balanced. They seem great so far but not pushed them much yet.
ALso the clowns who put them on put 25psi in one and 35 in the other so i have them at abotu 30 each at the moment.
Whats the recomended cold pressure?


Modified by corylahey at 1:43 PM 5/4/2007

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by corylahey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">*update*
I picked up a pair of GS-D3s the other day, €125 a piece fitted and balanced. They seem great so far but not pushed them much yet.
ALso the clowns who put them on put 25psi in one and 35 in the other so i have them at abotu 30 each at the moment.
Whats the recomended cold pressure?</TD></TR></TABLE>

For an R, I'd say the reccomended pressure would be around 32 psi all around.

 

I would start with the pressure recommended for our car, which is 35 psi front, 33 psi rear, and then adjust from there based on handling, personal preference, etc. I've found that 35F/33R works just fine though.