For my road wheelset (I have a separate track wheelset), I need tires in 205/55/15. I'm inclined to go with the Ecsta Supra SPTs, while they're still available. It has almost the exact same tread pattern as the Hankook R-S2s that I used for the track, and I was very impressed with their performance and versatility. The Ecsta SPT seems like a long-lasting, full-profile version of that.

However, I also stumbled upon the Falken 512 Ziex, which is also an okay-fun tire for a very good price. Which is better? I'm looking for something that won't frustrate me for dry grip (I'm not expecting track performance out of these), and is quiet. QUIET is a priority, since I'm a car audio guy too. Treadlife isn't too much of a concern for me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudemanDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">However, I also stumbled upon the Falken 512 Ziex, which is also an okay-fun tire for a very good price. Which is better?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Unless you're driving in snow, the Kumho SPT is much much MUCH better than the Falken Ziex ZE-512. The Kumho SPT is a pretty good summer tire. The ZE-512 is a cheap, crappy all-season tire. All-season tires are designed to grip in snow and frigid cold as well as moderate to warm temperatures. In exchange for that flexibility of conditions, their performance is not optimized, so they don't grip as well in snow as winter tires, and they don't grip as well in moderate to warm temperatures as summer tires. It's even worse when you get an all-season tire that's not very good, even for an all-season tire, like the ZE-512.

Just get the SPT. It's not quite as grippy as the Hankook you're using or the even grippier Falken Azenis, but it costs less and it will last 2-3 times as many miles as those. For daily driving, it still gives you good enough grip on dry pavement, and it's outstanding in the rain.

 

Thanks for ruling that out for me.

Now I'm debating between the bfg g-force sport and the ecsta spt. The g-force sport is available for $75 and I know it's a fine tire. The problem with the Ecsta is, tirerack is out of it. I'm attracted to the ecsta because it's supposed to be a little quieter than the bfg. I believe it, because it has the same tread pattern as my old Hankook R-S2s, which were surprisingly quiet.

Do I pay extra for Ecsta SPTs from someplace else, or do I just go for the g-force sports? Are they quiet?

Thanks again.

 

I am running the kumo spt now and I was very impressed with its all around performance. It grips just as good as the other tires I have used and is a lot quieter.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudemanDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now I'm debating between the bfg g-force sport and the ecsta spt. The g-force sport is available for $75 and I know it's a fine tire.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, it isn't. The BFG g-Force Sport is not very good. Nowhere near as good as the SPT.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudemanDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The problem with the Ecsta is, tirerack is out of it. =</TD></TR></TABLE>

Their website says "Low Stock", not "Out of Stock". Try ordering them.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudemanDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do I pay extra for Ecsta SPTs from someplace else, or do I just go for the g-force sports?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Again, try ordering them from the Tire Rack. You could also try ordering from Discount Tire; Discount's prices are higher but they offer free shipping, so the bottom line is usually similar to the Tire Rack.

If I had to get 205/55-15 tires and the SPT turned out to be unavailable, my second choice would be the Dunlop Direzza DZ101. They are $57.50 after their current rebate offer. Not quite as good as the SPT, but similar and still pretty good, and less expensive. If you wanted something slightly better than the SPT and were willing to pay more, you could get the Bridgestone Potenza RE750 for $89.

 

I tried ordering them anyway, the tirerack guy said they didn't have 4 tires between all their warehouses.

Then I tried ebay, and found the SPTs for almost the same price (although nobody ships as cheap as tirerack). So I got them for $308 shipped. I'm glad you think the SPTs are the best, because that's what I bought!

BTW, I'm coming from a worn set of Bridgestone RE730s. How do you think they'll compare? One thing I'm sure of is, the SPTs will be quieter.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudemanDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BTW, I'm coming from a worn set of Bridgestone RE730s. How do you think they'll compare?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not sure. I think the RE730 was the predecessor of the RE750...

on finding the SPT.

 

You will be happy with them... I for one think they are truely amazing, certainly in the rain. I did 2 auto-x on them and they did pretty good. Of course my new RT-615 will do much better! But I love my SPT!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudemanDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I tried ordering them anyway, the tirerack guy said they didn't have 4 tires between all their warehouses.

Then I tried ebay, and found the SPTs for almost the same price (although nobody ships as cheap as tirerack). So I got them for $308 shipped. I'm glad you think the SPTs are the best, because that's what I bought!

BTW, I'm coming from a worn set of Bridgestone RE730s. How do you think they'll compare? One thing I'm sure of is, the SPTs will be quieter. </TD></TR></TABLE>

SPT are definitely going to be better. I would probably rate the RE730s comparable to the Falken ZE512's.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DaveSi677 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You will be happy with them... I for one think they are truely amazing, certainly in the rain. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah, that's one of the reasons I hunted them down. I noticed the SPT has an almost identical tread patter to my old Hankook R-S2 tires that I used for the track. They were totally confident in the rain. I remember driving at 80mph for a couple hours through a tremendous rainstorm, standing water and everything, and they never flinched. I figure that tread pattern is a winner.

Thanks for the input everyone!

 

can't wait to try my new SPT!

 

I cannot say about the SPT, but as for the ze-512, I'm rolling on these tires and they are pretty good, more than what I thought they would (daily driver mind you), grips dry pretty good, and great in the rain, not too sure about snow however.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ukrainamese &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I cannot say about the SPT, but as for the ze-512, I'm rolling on these tires and they are pretty good, more than what I thought they would (daily driver mind you), grips dry pretty good, and great in the rain, not too sure about snow however.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you had a set of SPT's you wouldn't be saying the ziex 512 are great because they suck... They are not even the best all season tire. Also you are comparing a High Performance summer tire vs an all season tire. In the dry the SPT is better, in the rain the SPT is better, just in the cold the ziex is better but that is why you have winter tires! Just to give you an idea the Kumho ASX is a much better all season tire then the ziex 512.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slystone &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">can't wait to try my new SPT!

</TD></TR></TABLE>
Beautimous.

 

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

 

FAHCK! I was expecting my tires to ship a week ago. Today I get an e-mail that the tires I bought on my ebay auction (there were several sets available) are not actually in stock. They refunded my money and they'll give me a discount on something else, but I want SPTs, damnit!

 

I find the Ziex on my civic amazing in one respect- THEY WILL NOT DIE. i want them to die, I try to kill them, and I am sorry I bought them. They are pretty good on snow is all I can say for them. Other than that they are cheap floppy low grip poo poo. With 38-42 lbs of air to lower the floppy factor thay are slippery in a instructive sort of way I guess, lift oversteer is at your command at 20mph.

 

TireRack doesn't carry the SPT in my size anymore 205/55/15. They said it's in low stock across all their warehouses

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by funz0rzies &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">TireRack doesn't carry the SPT in my size anymore 205/55/15. They said it's in low stock across all their warehouses </TD></TR></TABLE>
Yep, in all their warehouses they can't put together a set of 4.

 

Stupid retarded eBay stores! I've found several stores with Kumho SPTs in 205/55/15 on auction, all of which turn out not to have them in stock when I ask about them, and subsequently end the auction.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you wanted something slightly better than the SPT and were willing to pay more, you could get the Bridgestone Potenza RE750 for $89.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Where did you find RE750s for $89?

Edit: Oops, never mind, that's the price on tirerack. Fork it, I'm buying them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudemanDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Where did you find RE750s for $89?

Edit: Oops, never mind, that's the price on tirerack. Fork it, I'm buying them. </TD></TR></TABLE>

You may want to also check prices on Discount Tire, which lately has had better prices on many tires than the Tire Rack, after adjusting for shipping. (Discount Tire has free shipping, whereas Tire Rack charges extra for shipping, typically ~$10/tire.)

EDIT: I just checked, and here are prices in 205/55-15 for several tires:

Bridgestone Potenza RE750 $89 plus shipping at the Tire Rack
Dunlop Direzza DZ101 $57.50 after rebate plus shipping at the Tire Rack
Yokohama ES100 $74 plus shipping at the Tire Rack
Kumho Ecsta SPT $71 including free shipping at Discount Tire
Yokohama ES100 $80 including free shipping at Discount Tire

(The RE750 and DZ101 aren't shown on Discount Tire's website, and the SPT isn't shown on the Tire Rack's.)

For my money, I would get the SPT. (The RE750 is slightly better IMHO, but the difference in price is over a hundred bucks.)

 

I called discount tire and asked about the SPTs, and they don't have them in stock. Believe me, I've scoured the Internet for these tires, and I've come to accept the fact that I'm too late, everyone is out of stock in this discontinued size.

I've heard too many crappy things about the AVS ES100 to buy them. There's an entire ES100 bash thread right now on bayareaprelude.com.

 

Whoa... just ordered tirerack's LAST set of RE750s from the Nevada warehouse.

It's not a good time to be buying street tires for 4th gen ludes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudemanDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've heard too many crappy things about the AVS ES100 to buy them. There's an entire ES100 bash thread right now on bayareaprelude.com.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, now that we're partway through our second set of them on the '94 GS-R, I don't think bashing is appropriate. Our first set lasted 40K miles and they still weren't quite down to the treadwear bars (although they were getting close). They are excellent in rain, and pretty decent in dry. They can be noisy if you have a suspension problem and your tires wear unevenly, but that's the only real downside (which can occur with any tire). Now, of course, you can get a few better tires for the same money (notably the Kumho SPT, and also the Avon Tech M500). But the ES100 is still good. And the ES100 was a big breakthrough when it was first introduced, because it offered a level of performance for the money that no other tire was approaching. If you like the SPT or the Tech M500 or the Fuzion ZRi or the Direzza DZ101, you have the Yokohama ES100 to thank for the performance and price of those tires, because if the ES100 hadn't come along, their manufacturers wouldn't have needed to develop those tires to compete.

on the RE750 though.