I know this doesn't sound like it would go hand in hand, but I gotta try to get the best bang for my buck.

I ran the Ziex 912's 205-45-16 on my ej1 for 20k now, still got about a little less than 30% tread left I would say, but the performance is giving on me. I use to be able to take corners and turns at a decent speed, but it's just not there anymore.

I'm weighing out my options right now to see what I can get for my money. I'm looking at spending no more than 80 bucks per tire and my options are as follows:

1. another set of 912's
2. BFG G-Sports
3. Dunlop DZ101
4. Kumho ASX

I drive in California where it can get up to 95 degrees in the summer and pouring rain in the offseason. I want something that will last me about 25k miles (like I have now) but with a bit of performance to boot. I might be asking for a little too much, but trying to see what else is out there at this price range

 

First of all, the proper tire sizes for your '92-95 Civic EX Coupe are 205/40-16 or 195/45-16. They are a closer match to your stock size of 185/60-14. The size you are using, 205/45-16, is too big; that's the size for a '97-00 Civic, not a '92-95.

Since you won't be using these tires in snow or frigid cold, you'll get better performance from summer tires than from all-season tires. Summer tires are designed to be used in moderate to warm temperatures. All-season tires are designed for the additional flexibility for use on snow and in frigid cold (as well as warm weather), and in exchange for that added flexibility, they don't grip as well as summer tires in moderate to warm temperatures (in rain as well as on dry pavement). So stick to summer tires (there is a better one than the DZ101 and g-Force Sport - see below) rather than all-seasons (the ASX and the ZE-912).

The best summer tire available for your car at a reasonable price is the Yokohama S.drive in 195/45-16. It's significantly better than the DZ101 and g-Force Sport you mentioned, and it's only a few bucks more. Otherwise, if you want to save a few bucks and you don't mind a little less grip, you could get the DZ101 or g-Force Sport in 205/40-16, which will still be better than the all-seasons you mentioned. Your choice.

 

thanks a lot for the info, but the wheel i am currently using is a 16x7, would the 195 be too small for it? and i know i might be digging into some theory that has probably been dicussed already, but wont running a 205 tire provide more grip than the 195?

i'll look into the sdrive's thanks a lot

 

No. 195/45-16 will fit just fine on a 16x7; that size is approved for mounting on rims 6.0-7.5 inches wide.

Not necessarily. What's really important to performance is how sticky the tire is (the make and model of the tire, and its corresponding compound, tread pattern, and construction) - NOT the treadwidth. A stickier, slightly narrower tire will ALWAYS give you better traction than a less sticky, slightly wider tire. Someone in the road racing forum stated this principle very succinctly as follows:

Compound > Treadwidth

The S.drive is a bit stickier than the DZ101 or g-Force Sport, which is why it provides better grip, even in the slightly narrower size.

 

thanks a lot man, ima look into those sdrives now