I just recently bought an integra and all 4 tires are bald. So, I'm just checking to see if there's been any change who provides the best. I'm thinking about going with Michelin PE2's and here's why:


I've had Yoko es100's before and hated the loud ride and uneven tread wear. Also, i babied these tires and the tread wear was bad. Wet weather traction was marginal

I then bought the Michelin pe2's and LOVED them. Incredible dry AND wet traction. I couldn't get these tires to break if i WANTED to. I couldnt even get a squeal out of them. Tread wear was awesome, quiet tires. THey were expensive but worth every penny.

I sold the 17" i had and bought some P-Zero Neros with my next set of rims and I couldn't hate them more. They have horrible wet weather traction. They squeal often through fast turns and occasionally break loose. I can drift in these stupid things.

So, the michelin's are @ the tirerack for $120 a tire....more than i want to pay but I don't plan on getting different rims any time soon.

 

There's no tire that is "best" in every way. Some tires have better dry traction. Some have better traction in rain. Some have better traction on snow and in frigid cold. Some last longer. Some cost less. So it's up to you to decide which one or more of these things you care most about, and find the tire that matches your priorities best.

That's totally different from my experience with the ES100 on an Integra GS-R. (I'm now on my second set.) The ride is loud only when the tire starts getting worn. The treadwear has been totally even, except for a little while when there was a suspension problem (the bushings were shot). Tread wear was great; they lasted over 40K miles, which is longer than any of the other three kinds of tires I've used on that car, including the stock all-season Michelins. Wet weather traction has been excellent. (Not just my own opinion, but also that of plenty of other folks, as you can see here.)

I'm not saying there aren't some other tires that are better in some of those ways than the ES100; of course there are. But those "problems" just don't exist with the ES100, based on my personal experience.

As for the Michelin PE2, it's a good tire for your needs (summer tire with good dry and wet traction and treadlife). The real question, IMHO, is whether they're worth the high price.

Here are the best 205/50-15 summer tires for dry/wet traction and treadlife at the Tire Rack:

$99 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2
$100 Bridgestone Potenza RE750
$116-119 Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2
$86 Yokohama AVS ES100
$92 Yokohama S.drive

You can also get the Kumho SPT in that size for around $65 or so (sometimes the Tire Rack gets it in, sometimes they don't; it's $71 with free shipping at Discount Tire Direct).

Your car can also use 195/55-15; in that size, here are the best choices:

$66 Avon Tech M500
$65 Kumho Ecsta SPT
$109 Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2
$68 Yokohama AVS ES100
$77 Yokohama S.drive

You can see a side-by-side test of the RE750, PE2, and ES100 here, where the PE2 performed the best of those three.

IMHO the real question is not whether the PE2 is the best of this group; it is (I haven't yet driven the S.drive). The real question is whether the slight margin in performance (and it really isn't all that huge) is worth spending almost double the money, compared with say the Kumho SPT (which may not match the PE2 on dry pavement but still does well, and can match it in rain and in treadlife). Most people looking for a balance of dry traction, wet traction, and treadlife will be very happy with the Kumho SPT and would prefer the big savings over the slight performance benefits of the PE2. And those who are looking primarily for the very best dry traction only are happier with a supersticky tire like the Falken Azenis RT-615. But if you're happy with the PE2 and you don't mind spending the money, then go for it!

P.S. Pirelli makes several different tires with the PZero and PZero Nero name. The one that is actually called the Pirelli PZero Nero (their top-of-the-line summer tire, like the Pilot Sport and Pilot Sport PS2 are for Michelin) is much, MUCH better than the PE2, IMHO, although it isn't available in 15" sizes. But the Pirelli PZero Nero M+S, their all-season tire, isn't as good as the PE2 (although it is very good for an all-season); maybe that's the one you tried.

 

Wow. Thank you for the great followup!

Yes it was the 'other' p zero nero that I had. Those suck hard monkey *****. I can freely drift on any turn with these things.

I will definitely take what you say into consideration because I don't want to spend money right now on this car because I'm going to have to spend it in other areas and my cashflow is non-existant while I'm in my finals.

 

Have you bought 4 tires? How much are they? Recently I find that there is a coupon for tirerack (save $50).
http://dealstudio.com/searchde...61322
Have you used this one?

 

No, i haven't used it because it's for 4 dunlops. But thanks anyways. I'm just getting the Kumho's from America's tire co on mon or tues. Tirerack has them on sale for $63 and I'll just have them pricematch it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FuNkDrSpOt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No, i haven't used it because it's for 4 dunlops. But thanks anyways. I'm just getting the Kumho's from America's tire co on mon or tues. Tirerack has them on sale for $63 and I'll just have them pricematch it. </TD></TR></TABLE>