I currently have es100's that i got used with my rims. From what i read and know of yoko's, they should be good tires but from what ive experienced driving on these, i dont like them. Perhaps its cus they were used and a new set might feel awesome but as of the time i got them til now, i havent been satisfied. My factory Michelins offer great traction and grip turnin hard turns. The es100's feel like theyre gonna slide and if i turn harder, the fronts will let out.

Im considering Falkens since i can get a good price on them but i wanna know what you guys think are comparable to factory Michelin XGT's with good rain traction. Doesnt yet seem like its gonna rain as much as it did last year in california but with the strange weather we have im anticipating that it may rain harder when it does. Opinions from experience are preferred. Thanks for the help!

Im running on 16's so i'll need a tire available in the appropriate size.

 

Here are two questions that you will need to answer in order to find which tire is best for your needs:

- What kind of car do you have? (Model, version, year.)

- To what extent are you willing to pay more for better performance? Are you looking for a really, really grippy tire and you're willing to pay more for it (say, $100-125 per tire)? Or are you looking for a lower price ($70-90 per tire) with pretty good performance?

Answer those two questions and I'll be happy to provide some suggestions.

Incidentally, it's worth repeating the overview that I've posted before. Think of tires across a spectrum from the stickiest, fastest-wearing tires to the less sticky, longer-lasting tires, and you come out with a list that looks like this, starting with the stickiest and working down from there:

1. Drag Radials: BFGoodrich g-Force T/A Drag Radial (won't last very long)

2. Other R Compound Tires: Hoosier R3S04 and A3S05, Toyo RA-1, etc (typical treadlife 2-4K miles)

3. Specialty Super-Sticky Street Tires: Falken Azenis RT-615 (typical treadlife 10K miles)

4. Best Top-of-the-Line Street Tires: Goodyear F1 GS-D3, Bridgestone S-03, Dunlop SP Sport Maxx, etc (typical treadlife 15-25K miles)

5. "Value" Top-of-the-Line Street Tires: Toyo T-1R, Kumho Ecsta MX (typical treadlife 15-25K miles)

6. Budget Performance, "Bang for the Buck" Tires: Yokohama AVS ES100, Kumho Ecsta SPT, Dunlop Direzza DZ101, etc (typical treadlife 25-40K miles)

7. All-season tires: Kumho Ecsta ASX, Pirelli PZero Nero M+S, etc (typical treadlife 25-50K miles)

Incidentally, in my opinion, the ES100 performs much, much, MUCH better than the Michelin XGT stock tire, on dry pavement as well as in rain. I've had both on my '94 GS-R, and I thought the Michelin was not very good at all. And I'm really happy with the ES100. (There are better tires around than either one, but you'll have to spend more money for them.)

 

I have a 99 GSR. Im glad to hear the es100's are supposed to perform well in both wet and dry conditions. Its just that in the condition that i got them in, they didnt offer me much in terms of traction. Most of the time i drive normal with the exception of the occassionaly redline through 2nd or 3rd. I hit some turns with a bit of speed once in a while and thats when i have second thoughts about the traction. I noticed when i first dropped the car with my XGT's that the tires gripped well through out the turn. With the es100's the car feels like its going to slide or does at some points depending on how hard i take the turn.

Unfortunately i dont have the option of more expensive tires so i need something more affordable offering me good traction. I mentioned the XGT's because i just want something that matches the dry traction from that, with the wet traction and tread patterns of the sportier tires. I may be able to push my costs on Falkens cuz i should be able to get a good deal for a better tire. If youre saying the es100's perform better then my XGT's then ill probably give them another chance with a new set in the future.

 

I would stick with the 205/45/15 series. That way the tire does not mess with your speedometer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NemesisCBR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Unfortunately i dont have the option of more expensive tires so i need something more affordable offering me good traction.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sure, no problem.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NemesisCBR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I may be able to push my costs on Falkens cuz i should be able to get a good deal for a better tire.</TD></TR></TABLE>

When you say Falkens, if you're referring to the Falken Azenis RT-615 tire, I wouldn't recommend it if you are pinched on funds. They don't last very long, so you'll be buying another set in about 10K miles. They're also not particularly inexpensive.

The tires I mentioned above are (intentionally) the best you can get in their respective price/performance categories.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NemesisCBR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If youre saying the es100's perform better then my XGT's then ill probably give them another chance with a new set in the future.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I am indeed saying that. However, if you'd like to consider another option, I would suggest trying the Kumho Ecsta SPT. It's a new tire on the market and is similar to the ES100 in performance and price. (The SPT is $76/tire in 205/45-16, the best size for 16" wheels on your GS-R, and the ES100 is $82/tire.) You can see a side-by-side comparison test of both tires on the Tire Rack website here.

 

DA9GUY- 205/45/15's wouldnt fit on my 16's. Thanks but im looking for help with which tire not which series.

When i say Falken, i have no idea which im referring to cuz i havent taken a look at any of them. You can recommend a pricey one in the Falkens cuz i can always find out what price i can get on them and my main concern with budgeting is just my current financial status. Regularly it wouldnt be a issue. If i can get them at a good price then i dont mind the lower mileage span.

Im not particularly fond of any Kumho's but ill keep them in mind as a back up plan for that price. Since i should be able to get a deal with Falk's then i'll probably go that route first once i know which few to take a look at and get a price on.

How do you think the Kumho's will hold up compared to my XGT's?

Oh yes, how about tire noise with each manufacturer?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NemesisCBR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When i say Falken, i have no idea which im referring to cuz i havent taken a look at any of them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Falken makes two tires that a lot of folks buy. The Azenis RT-615 is a specialty tire that is in between a street tire and a track tire. It's very grippy, but it doesn't last very long. If you buy tires three times as often - and with the RT-615, you will - then even if you can get them at a good price, it will still be a very expensive tire to run. And it doesn't come in a suitable size for your Integra. (215/45-16 will be available next spring.) The ZE-512 is an all-season tire that is no different from other all-season tires, and you're not looking for all-seasons anyway. So there's no Falken tire that will meet your needs right now.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NemesisCBR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How do you think the Kumho's will hold up compared to my XGT's?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I haven't used them, so I have no idea about treadlife. However, they were designed to compete with the ES100, so I'm guessing it should last fairly long like the ES100. (Treadwear ratings are notoriously unreliable, and shouldn't be compared between brands; FWIW, the SPT rating is 340 and the ES100 is 280.) Our ES100 looks like it's going to last about 35-40K miles, which is a lot. The sloppy, squealing (LOUD!) Michelin XGT only lasted about 28K miles on the same car. Incidentally, the Michelin XGT is an all-season tire also, which explains why its performance sucks in moderate to warm weather compared with the stickier ES100.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NemesisCBR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how about tire noise with each manufacturer?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The ES100 hasn't been noisy at all, in our experience. But I think this depends partly on the condition of your car; if you have an alignment or suspension problem, it can create cupping and noise on any tire.

 

i have had ES100's on 2 of my cars now. For the money, I personally love em. I got 3 years out of the the first set, and 2 so far out of the second set with lots of tread left.\

I found that you have to run the tire pressures a lot higher in these then a typical other tire. I run usually 42-44 psi. The side walls are very thin and need the higher pressure to help out. They are an excellent wet tire, and I think fantastic in dry conditions.

I also have old style Azenis, Yokohama Advan AD 05's, and BFG drag radials.

-The BFG drag radial's, as mentioned above are pretty much the stickiest that you can run on the street, but wear out quickly if you are beating on them all the time. If you are just driving around casually, they are not too bad. At the track, hands down, AMAZING tires

-The Azenis I got are a 205 50 15. They are good for dry conditions, but when its wet watch out. They hydroplane very easily. They do wear out pretty quickly for a tire with a high treadwear rating. That kinda pissed me off a bit, but no matter, they are still good. Would I but them again? No... I need tires that are good in wet conditions, and these don't quite measure up. At the track, it takes a bit to warm em up, but once they are warm, they are pretty good. Sidewall is too stiff for Drag IMO. Good for Auto-X or a day of lapping at a track.

-Yokohama Advan AD05's -- it is extremely difficult to get these tires here. They are a Non-North american tire. They have a lower tread wear rating then the Azenis so they are a bit more sticky, they have an agressive tread pattern so they are excellent for handling and great in the wet. At the track they warm up fast and stick better then Azenis. Great all around tire, but extremely hard to get

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B16B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I found that you have to run the tire pressures a lot higher in these then a typical other tire. I run usually 42-44 psi.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I haven't found that to be the case. I'm running the pressures recommended for the GS-R (35 front, 33 rear) and they behave just fine, with even wear across the width of the tread, a sign that the pressure is correct.

 

if you look on the actual tire, you will see that the recommended tire pressure is 42+ psi

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B16B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you look on the actual tire, you will see that the recommended tire pressure is 42+ psi</TD></TR></TABLE>

The pressure shown on the tire sidewall is NOT a "recommended" tire pressure. It is a MAXIMUM tire pressure, the tire pressure that should not be exceeded. It should NOT be used as a recommendation for the proper inflation for your tires.

As noted on the Tire Rack website:

"It is important that owners consult their vehicle's tire information placard (usually found on the driver's door or doorjamb) or their owner's manual for the recommended tire pressures for their vehicle's driving conditions."

 

How will these tires handle in the rain? Actually i think an all season tire would probably be good for me. I just want a tire that will grip in the occassional turn, unlike my worn down es100's right now. Im willing to bet that any NEW set of tires i get with what you guys recommended will probably feel great. Having a tire that will hold through a turn, grip for braking and not hydroplane would be nice. I may be giving you guys the wrong idea for corners. I dont hit them hard. More likely i just take them with some mild speed but my current tires just dont stick.

I found these tires on one site.

FK-451 Tire Type Ultra-High Performance - Summer
205/45ZR16 83 $87

ZE-512 ZIEX Tire Type Ultra-High Performance - All Season
205/45R16 87V $62


ZE-502 ZIEX (40,50) Tire Type Ultra-High Performance - All Season
205/45ZR16 $90


I still want to know about the other tires but more then likely get Falkens for now. When i put my new wheels on, they ran louder than my stocks. Probably mostly from the extra wear already on the tires, the XGT's were brand new and the tread pattern.

From Falkens website, it looks like the 502 is better performance in both wet and dry. Although i think my brother had the FK451's.

From Falkens site "AA traction rating is the highest available and represents the tire's superior ability to stop on wet pavement. "

I didnt find any info on RT 615's anywhere on their site.

Modified by NemesisCBR at 1:09 AM 11/23/2005


Modified by NemesisCBR at 1:20 AM 11/23/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NemesisCBR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How will these tires handle in the rain?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The Yokohama ES100 and the Kumho SPT are both excellent in rain, as you can see from this comparison test on the Tire Rack website. The SPT is slightly better than the ES100 on wet pavement; they're pretty even on dry pavement.

The Falken RT-615 is not as good as the Yoko or Kumho in the rain, although it is not as bad as its predecessor, the RT-215. I would not expect any of the other Falken tires to be as good as the ES100 or the SPT, in rain OR on dry pavement.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NemesisCBR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Actually i think an all season tire would probably be good for me.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why? Do you plan to be using them on snow and ice? If not, then all-season tires are not a good choice.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NemesisCBR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">From Falkens website, it looks like the 502 is better performance in both wet and dry. Although i think my brother had the FK451's.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The Yokohama ES100 and the Kumho Ecsta SPT will perform better than either of those tires, on dry pavement as well as in the rain. And they're both less expensive, as well. Better performance at a lower price should make it a no-brainer.

If you still want to get the Falkens, and spend more money for less performance, then go ahead... but then I don't know why you bothered asking in the first place, if you already decided what you want.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NemesisCBR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I didnt find any info on RT 615's anywhere on their site.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Then you didn't try going to their home page at http://www.falkentire.com and clicking on the picture that says "Introducing the new Azenis RT-615 Click here!".

However, the RT-615 is a very specialized tire and it doesn't sound like it's the tire for you. It sticks great on dry pavement (almost as well as a track tire), but it wears fast, it doesn't do all that well on dry pavement, and it's relatively expensive. And, as I previously mentioned, it doesn't come in a size for your car.

 

I am sorry about that. If it is brand you are looking into, I would say look into some Toyo's or Dunlops. I have had nothing but good experiences with them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DA9GUY-637 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If it is brand you are looking into, I would say look into some Toyo's or Dunlops. I have had nothing but good experiences with them. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Every tire manufacturer makes a variety of tires - everything from high-performance top-of-the-line street tires, to "budget performance" tires with decent performance at a bargain price, to all-season tires that are designed to do okay in snow as well as warm weather, to R compound track tires that will give great grip but short treadlife. I wouldn't select any tires solely by brand. The way to choose the best tires for your needs is first, to identify your personal needs and priorities (dry performance, wet performance, snow/cold performance, price, treadlife, etc), and then, to find the tire that best meets those needs.

I posted the above outline of various categories of tires because most people's needs tend to align with one or two of those categories. Within each category, I listed a couple of tires that IMHO offer the best performance/value among all tires in that category. As you can see, no single brand dominates all categories; different brands are best at different things. If you're looking for a track tire, then Toyo is a great choice, but they don't have the best performing street tire on the market. If you're looking for a top performing street tire without regard to cost, then you'll want to consider the Goodyear or the Falken (RT-615), but neither makes track tires. The same thing is true for budget performance tires, all-season tires, etc; most of the brands have offerings in each category, but some tires are better than others, and it's not always the same brand in every category. Decide what you're looking for in a tire, and then find the make and model of tire that best meets your needs; concentrate on meeting your needs, rather than buying by brand.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with, or financial interest in, any particular tire manufacturer or retailer.

 

Well said.

 

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

Then you didn't try going to their home page at http://www.falkentire.com and clicking on the picture that says "Introducing the new Azenis RT-615 Click here!".

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

Ah hah. Thanks, i clicked directly to the tires section when i went there. I assume they would it listed with the rest.

I asked for opinions because i want/need to know what others think about the various tires available. Im a fan of yokohamas so i like that you think the ES100's out perform the Falken tires. I'll definately try another set when i reach this junction again.

The decision to buy Falkens is mainly for the price i might be able to get. Given what we've discussed, if its less performance im getting from them but at a lower price (for me) then i'll go that route until i can get another set. I was going to ride out my tires til theyre toast but that wouldnt be safe through our rainy season.

Your help wasnt in vain and i appreciate you taking the time to give me your advice. I'll definately try es100's again and probably see if i can get a hook up on those to compare with my price on Falkens. Kumho seems to have come a long way in a short time. All season tires seem to be pointless in southern california huh? lol