Tax refund time is coming up, and finally looking to replace my old 205/45-16 tires on wheels that have been sitting on the shelf since Nov. 2009.

I used to be all about the performance tires, but really that's not my main concern anymore. This if for my 94 Integra that gets about 30+ miles per day on it.

I have tried unsuccessfully for years now to find a quiet 205/45-16 tire. It's like they just don't exist. I've tried Sumitomo HTR-Z II's, Yokohama AVS ES100, and Kumho Ecsta SPT (also currently have the SPT's in 195/55-15 on stock wheels, they're loud as hell on there, too). Does the tire size and shape of 205/45-16 tires just preclude them from being quiet?

Anyway, I will likely order from Discount Tire Direct. I've done much business with them in the past, great company, and by far the best prices around when you figure in that they have free shipping on tires. I checked out the Falken Ziex 912's, and there are some good reviews and some bad reviews. Some people said the 912's give up some dry performance for quietness and ride quality, which is fine with me.

I know many people around here hate on the 912's, but really, superior performance is not that important to me anymore being that this is just a daily driver, with occasional highway trips, and that's about it. Would like suggestions. Don't really want to go over $80/tire if possible.

 

I still have my set of 215/50/16 Dunlop Direzza DZ101's. I noticed on Tire Rack that they've got them in your requested 205/45/16 format. I thoroughly enjoy these tires, as they've definitely been used both on/off track and still have very little wear. They're extremely quiet for the size I have, and perform quite well in wet or dry scenarios.

 

Even you think the Ecsta SPTs are loud, the ASX (the all season variant) were one of the quietest tires I've had on my wife's A4.

I don't think it's the size / shape causing noise. My current set of RE-11s in 205/45-16 are actually rather quiet for performance summer tires, and are downright silent compared to the RT-615 Azenis they replaced. Actually, for lower to moderate speeds, they're quieter than the Toyo Proxes 4s I had as well, but with slightly more "hum" at freeway speeds.

 

lol oh dang I just realized our '96 Corolla has had 912's on it in 185/65-14 for almost 3 years. I knew they were Falkens but forgot they were 912's. They've been pretty quiet and comfortable so far.

hmm so the 912's would be $316
the Kumho Ecsta AST would be $336
DZ101 for $352 or
Ecsta ASX for $364

Out of those the 912's have the highest rating, and the ASX has the 2nd highest.

hmmm what to do what to do...

 

Buy the DZ101's, because I'm right. Nah, just do what feels right. The nice thing is, if they don't pan out... you're never too far away from purchasing a new set.

 

well, for me I am. Seems like I can never afford tires except when I get a tax refund or bonus or something. My old Ecsta SPT 205/45-16 tires wore out and I put them on the shelf in November 2009, and threw my stock wheels back on hoping to get new tires soon thereafter. Well here we are 14-15 months later and I'm still on the stock wheels, just now able to get these new 16" tires.

Plus with as little as I drive nowadays, a set should last me around 3 years or so. That's a long@$$ time to go if these new tires end up being loud as fawk or something.

 

i have ziex 912 205/50 but they're 15s
as far as noise goes they are pretty quiet. dont know if rim size would matter too much tho...?

 

I went to discount tire about 3 months ago and got a set of YOKOHOMA S DRIVES in a 205/45/16 on my 89 civic si. I looked at all the less expensive stuff and just could not get'm, not near as sexy. The S drives looked way better side by side. Mount, balance, and aligment was $603. Love the tires, only thing is if you go thru something dusty or gritty at slow speed, you can hear the debris fling against the inner fender. The tires are sticky, wear well and quiet.

 

Eh I bet you those tires get loud after a bit though.

And $603 DAMN!!! I can order them for $416 and get them mounted and balanced for another $60. Is that $603 in US dollars?

But you're right, they do look pretty awesome. But I'm past the looks, I really just need something quiet with decent tread life.

 

My friend was on the 912's and he said he loved them. I had the 512's, and I was quite happy with that tire. Way quitier than my dunlop's

Also, my friend has the dz01's and he loves them. The are really a pretty quite tire. And they hold pretty dang well too...

<------ Will be buying a set soon.

 

I'm surprised no one mentioned Nitto Neogen's.

I'm on my 3rd set, I think they are the best all season tires out there and they're a great price(discounttiredirect has them for $82 for 205/40/16's, they have 205/45/16's)

They're quiet, grip well in the rain, cold, no real complaints. They don't last very long though, I replace them once a year, probably get about 15k-17k out of them and this is a mix of conservative/aggressive driving.

And according to some actual tire tests, this tires seem to be the best all season or close to it you can find.

 

Bringing this up again, tax refund came in so about ready to pull the trigger on a set, just haven't decided yet. I'm thinking an asymmetric tire will be a no, since I like to flip my tires on my wheels to extend their life a bit if I start to get more wear on the inside edge. I'm not sure if most asymmetric tires have an "outside" and an "inside" side, but I know the Falken 912's do. So those are a no for me.

I have also noticed that some of the prices of the tires I mentioned in my post above have actually come down a bit since that post. It's crazy how much the dollars add up when you multiply by 4!

The AST's look good but Discount Tire says they would have to be special ordered at $336/set. The Direzzas also look like a good choice, and have come down a bit to $344/set. The ASX's also appear to be asymmetric so I don't know if those could be flipped on the rims or not.

 

Went ahead and ordered the Dunlop Direzzas today, with $40 mail-in rebate.

Sure hope they have decent life and don't get loud as fawk too quick.

 

I ran the 912's myself...good tires but 615's are just as tempting pricewise.

 

+1 for S.Drives

I've had them on my car for around 3 years. I had them while going to school (80 mile round trip, doesn't include work, etc) and I've had good wear. I think they are quiet, yet only slightly more quiet than ES100. They are getting worn now, but I plan on buying another set.

 

ES100's were loud as hell on my car, so "slightly more quiet" than those means not very quiet IMHO.

Hope these Direzzas work out okay.

 

I've had 2 sets of es100 and currently s drive. Both are very good tires, sticky and last pretty long time. But I have straight pipe so what do I know about quietness or even comfort ride.

 

I had 3 sets of ES100's (205/50-15, 205/45-16, and 195/50-15) and while they do have decent life, they were all loud as hell in my car, with OEM exhaust.

 

For what it's worth I took a leap and got the Nitto neogens a month ago. I've been extremely happy with them so far.

Now, I've never driven on a summer tire before and these nitto tires are hands down stickier than any other all season i've driven on. They were cheap too, like $360. from discount tire.

That said, I think I'm going to go with a summer tire for sure next time and just not drive when it snows here. We seldom get snow, and it's never for more than a few days.

Besides, my all season nittos were slippery as hell anyway. I only live a mile from my job so I can probably tough it on any tire for that day or so.

 

Yeah I saw the high reviews the Neogens got. I don't want to use asymmetric tires, though, as I usually flip the tires on the rims after 15K-20K miles or so to get some extra life out of them.

 

Cheap ***

Edit: Don't blame you one bit.

 

Well that was quick, huge to Discount Tire Direct. Always great service and great prices from those guys.

 

nitto's slippery? can almost promise you due to bad alignment and tire pressure. When I lowered my car without any camber kit I was scared.

Front and rear kit came in, got an alignment and I have never had a problem.
It's been cold and warm out here in NC lately, ranging from 20-high 60's over the last few weeks and the tires grip regardless, even in rain. I've tested a couple times taking off in all conditions, of course I spin in rain if I wanted, but I can get up to 60 faster than I could when my engine was stock, I'm running turbo now.

On dry I can spin 1st, but can take 2nd to 60 without the tires spinning. I just know this tire is very good, just doesn't last long because it is sticky.

 

EK was saying his all-season Nitto tires were slippery in the snow. And it's not due to alignment. It's likely due to tire width, tread compound, and/or tire pressure.

In snowy conditions, you want a narrower tire for maximum traction. Higher tire pressure also helps the tire cut through the snow.

Oh yeah, in most conditions, negative camber helps the car handle better around corners.

 

Looks like you got a nice set of tires ready to get put to the test. Please let us know how you like them. Just because I like them means nothing. I like reviews from multiple people, so it's not biased.