Did some searches... what's the tire of choice? thanks!!!

 

unless you're in an area with a lot of rain, i'd also go with the falken azenis sport.

Otherwise of the two you mentioned S03's are the better tire in my opinion. S03 excels in the rain, theyre pretty even in most other categories.

 

I've never heard anything bad about the S-03's, and I've used them myself.

I've never used the Dunlops, but on that same token, I've never heard anyone praise them. Check out the reviews on http://www.tirerack.com

That being said, I'm going back to Azenis on my next round of tires.

 

I used Dunlop Sp Sport 9000

Not a stiff sidewall and lieks to understeer a lot. Good grip on wet though.
Go with bridgestone

 

I know Ashai had the SP9000 and hated them.

S03's are probably the most praised tire here outside of Azenis. If you live in a climate where it rains lots, or you need more than 10k out of a set of street tires, Id avoid the Azenis for DD.

 

not even close between those 2: S03's.

did you also look at the new Eagle F1 G3's or Kumho MX's (best bang for the buck)?

 

I'm on 205/50/15 S03s. I am sure that Azenis got stiffer sidewalls than S03, don't know about the Sp9000s.
But anyhow, they are still summer tires and not recommened for all-season, I have a set of Dunlop Sp5000 for cold season duties.


Modified by nEoMuGen at 11:28 AM 8/12/2003

 

SO3's all the way.

best "cheap" tire: kumho MX

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Michael Delaney &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">not even close between those 2: S03's.

did you also look at the new Eagle F1 G3's or Kumho MX's (best bang for the buck)?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Best bang for buck? Still Azenis. I have the Eagle F1's on my car and they are quite impressive though. Good sidewall, great turn in, excellent wet grip and very good dry grip.

I don't really need a tire that performs well in the wet, so I'm pretty sure I'll be going back to Azenis on my next set.

 

I think there'd be a good debate among autocrossers as to whether MX's vs. Azenis' are the best bang 4 buck tire, especially when you consider unsprung weight and temperature cycling.

 

I have the S-03s and they're like devil's magic in the rain.

They don't seem to last very long for me, though. 12,000 miles and I need to replace them.

Never had the SP9000s, but I'm spoiled by the S-03s.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Michael Delaney &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think there'd be a good debate among autocrossers as to whether MX's vs. Azenis' are the best bang 4 buck tire, especially when you consider unsprung weight and temperature cycling.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've never driven on the MX's, how is their grip compared to Azenis?

 

Speaking of heat cycling, do the MXs hold up better to repeated track days? My Azenis are starting to harden up a bit, and I'm pretty sure it's because of that. I might be willing to trade a little bit of overall grip for a longer period of good grip if that's the case, assuming sidewall stiffness is similar.

 

Mx's get up to temperature faster and retain them longer.

I don't have a durometer and tire pyrometer and so I can't really tell you the relative rates of hardening as the tire wears for the 2 tires in comparsion.

The Mx's are definitely lighter than the Azenis.

 

The S-03 is much better for dry traction. The SP9000 is much better for wet traction and treadlife.

I think most people here care more about dry traction than wet traction or treadlife.

Which do you care more about? That will answer your question.

One other minor advantage of the SP9000 is that you can get it in the stock size.

 

The S-03's are awesome tires.
Personally I'm thinking either Azenis or Kumho VictoRacer V700's for my next set of summer tires.

 

You plan on using VictoRacer for street?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The S-03 is much better for dry traction. The SP9000 is much better for wet traction and treadlife.

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

Really?

I've never used the SP9000, although I find it difficult to imagine a tire that performs significantly better than the S-03 in the wet.

 

SHAMELESS PLUG:

I have two in OEM 195/55-15 size that I took off after 2500 miles when I couldn't get more b/c of backorder.

Make me an offer (+ $20 shipping) for some w/ 95% treadlife (9/32 +) should you want to go with these. I figure I could save you $100 bucks off of new.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nEoMuGen &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You plan on using VictoRacer for street? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm throwing around the idea. At least for one summer...
I run winter tires for 3-4 months a year, so as long as they last an entire summer it might be worth the extra money to be able to take corners at mach1.

 

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

Really?

I've never used the SP9000, although I find it difficult to imagine a tire that performs significantly better than the S-03 in the wet. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I wuld tend to agree, although the Eagle F1's are on par.... maybe slightly better.

 

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

I'm throwing around the idea. At least for one summer...
I run winter tires for 3-4 months a year, so as long as they last an entire summer it might be worth the extra money to be able to take corners at mach1.

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

Jond, I don't think that's a good idea.. Please be careful..

 

Thanks everyone... a buddy of mine is debating between the two tires. I personally love my S-O3's. ...and will be a repeat buyer.
Any comments on noise between the two?

 

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

I'm throwing around the idea. At least for one summer...
I run winter tires for 3-4 months a year, so as long as they last an entire summer it might be worth the extra money to be able to take corners at mach1.

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


Er... unless you plan on driving less than 3,000 miles in the summer, because that's how long the thread wear will last for you. Also, R-compound can puncture easily on rugged road conditions, just normal pot hole cover might ruin the tire.
Not to mention you'd be f#cked if rain catchs you by surprise.
R-Compounds does grip tremendously after properly heating up, but street curves and corners are not designed for you to take a tight turn like it's on a track. IMO, Azenis already has enough grip for any application on the street. If you are taking curves beyond the limit of Azenis, then that speed is not acceptable on public streets.

Leave competition components off the street! At over $120 per tire, this is the dumbest idea I've heard for a while.