Legend Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Well my old Kumho Ecsta MX's need to be retired and I'll be pulling the blizzaks off the car in March so time to start thinking about new dedicated summer tires. My initial criteria: Size: 225/40/18 Category: "Max", but would consider "Extreme" or "Ultra High" Price: under $165 Weight: 23lb or less Anybody got and great recommendations or conversely anything to avoid? Thanks. My '05 LGT My '07 Supercharged Shelby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 Quickly am narrowing down. The Continental ExtremeContact DW Max Performance Summer is $156 and only 21lbs and has the #1 rating on Tirerack's site. My '05 LGT My '07 Supercharged Shelby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul_Good Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I'm not sure what type of Summer Tire you're looking for, but the ones I look at are a step down from R-comps which are usually tires used in RTA Street class events or AutoX street tire classes. Federal 595RSR Yoko ADVAN AD08 BStone RE11 Kumho XS Hankook RS3 Toyo R1R Falken 615K Dunlop Star Spec HOpe that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Donated thefultonhow Posted January 19, 2011 I Donated Share Posted January 19, 2011 A year and a half old, but still probably useful: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/09q2/tire_test_nine_affordable_summer_tires_take_on_the_michelin_ps2-comparison_tests Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krzyss Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 What do you want from your summer tires? Krzys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartan Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I will be watching this thread as I am looking for the exact same thing, down to the tire size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPjeep2002 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Hankook's Ventus V12 EVO. I run them. 225/40/18's. Amazing tire. Still able to get another summer out of them. 124.00 each on tire rack. Either that, or try the BDGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DriveFastTommy Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 There are so many types of tires I'm considering in the summer of 2011...time is ticking. I was thinking of doing simple tire rotation and balance to Toyo R1R's but it may be time for new tires...after all, it is summer - got to be fresh! OP - What's so good about the Hankook's Ventus V12 EVO? You've got me intrigued - any pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Donated thefultonhow Posted January 20, 2011 I Donated Share Posted January 20, 2011 OP - What's so good about the Hankook's Ventus V12 EVO? You've got me intrigued - any pics? If you read the C&D link I posted, the V12 Evo finished second, behind the Star Specs. The V12 Evo has a much higher treadwear rating, so it should last longer, and C&D loved its wet performance and had great things to say about dry performance too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 ...after all, it is summer - got to be fresh! I'm not replacing mine just to be fresh. I'll offer proof of that... here is what my Kumho's looked like when I took them off around halloween: http://beeez.com/lgt/deadtire1.jpg (Below are my winter tires (Nov-March) in the foreground.. kick ass Blizzak LM-60's in 225/45/17 just about to start their 2nd season) http://beeez.com/lgt/deadtire2.jpg And yes, I got a fresh alignment done when I took the summer's off... My '05 LGT My '07 Supercharged Shelby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 What do you want from your summer tires? I'll elaborate, as I should have inititially. I don't plan on doing any track days but I want to be in good shape if I change my mind. (I've got new rotors for the Stoptechs in the garage waiting to go on too. But.. I want something sticky and good for a potential track day. More importantly, I want a light-weight tire. I dragrace 3-4 times a year and running 18's already puts me at a rotating mass disadvantage against a lot of cars. The least I can do is get light 18's. I'm not looking for feather light or anything just if it comes down to 2 or 3 close choices and one is 2lbs less than the others, I'd probably go with the light one. I want it to last 25-30k miles. Of course more is better. I want it to have good wet traction. Doesn't have to be great but at least average. As for noise and brand, I don't care much about either. Sure, quieter is better but I don't use my car for roadtrips or anything and we have 2 other cars I use more often for the family. My '05 LGT My '07 Supercharged Shelby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPjeep2002 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Based on what you posted above, the Hankooks are exactly what your looking for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 The 245/35-18 Hankook is 1lb lighter than the 225/40 and is slightly shorter (839 rev/mile vs. 828). Might be a good way to go if you have an 8"+ wheel with good offset. Wider patch + better gearing for torque. The Crimson Dynamo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krzyss Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 hmm What about dry weather king Ecsta XS? Just do not use them in rain. Or Federal 595RS-R? They are supposedly very good. Krzys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoplightAssassin Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Star Specs are a great tire for all out performance, however they wear fast when pushed and they are LOUD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 The 245/35-18 Hankook is 1lb lighter than the 225/40 and is slightly shorter (839 rev/mile vs. 828). Might be a good way to go if you have an 8"+ wheel with good offset. Wider patch + better gearing for torque. I love that idea but I know 245's would be rubbing for me. My 225's are cutting it awfully close, actually. Federal 595RS-R ($112 at onlinetires.com) is 24.6 lbs and the Ecsta XS ($144 at tirerack) is 25 lbs. Both look to kick ass at the track but might be too heavy for me and wear too fast. The Hankook Ventus V12 EVO is the frontrunner right now. 23lbs, decent treadlife, $135 at tirerack. The close second is the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW2 also coming in at 23 lbs, slightly better treadlift than the Hankook, and $143 at tirerack. If I ultimately place a premium on weight and price, it looks like the General Exclaim UHP might be tough to beat. Just 21lbs and $109 and the best treadwear of all of them. Might be a sucky track tire... Quality is really important too so I don't want lightweight crap, but this one deserves a looking into... The only tire I've found to be that light is the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2.. also 21lbs but $265. I know it kicks butt but that is more than I want to spend. My '05 LGT My '07 Supercharged Shelby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Th3Franz Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Hankook V12 or Dunlop Star Specs I love my Star Specs.. awesome in the rain.. amazing dry grip.. stiff sidewalls.. Last a long time. Don't put too much into lightweight tires. Some are heavier for a reason.. mainly stiffness against sidewall rollover -Franz The end of a Legacy http://www.youtube.com/th3franz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DriveFastTommy Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 OP - woops, just checked out the link - thanks man! @legend - sweet pics, I'd still consider those 'fresh' (lol) after one season of usage. Taking in all considerations for better performance summer tires compared to using all season tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartan Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I have heard a lot of complaints about the soft sidewall on the General UHP, that has really turned me off those tires. I think my front-runner right now is the Hankook Ventus V12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPjeep2002 Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I love that idea but I know 245's would be rubbing for me. My 225's are cutting it awfully close, actually. Federal 595RS-R ($112 at onlinetires.com) is 24.6 lbs and the Ecsta XS ($144 at tirerack) is 25 lbs. Both look to kick ass at the track but might be too heavy for me and wear too fast. The Hankook Ventus V12 EVO is the frontrunner right now. 23lbs, decent treadlife, $135 at tirerack. The close second is the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW2 also coming in at 23 lbs, slightly better treadlift than the Hankook, and $143 at tirerack. If I ultimately place a premium on weight and price, it looks like the General Exclaim UHP might be tough to beat. Just 21lbs and $109 and the best treadwear of all of them. Might be a sucky track tire... Quality is really important too so I don't want lightweight crap, but this one deserves a looking into... The only tire I've found to be that light is the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2.. also 21lbs but $265. I know it kicks butt but that is more than I want to spend. The KDW2 are also a great tire, with good treadwear and aggressive looking. Either choice I think you will be happy with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 I don't think I could bring myself to accept the General Exclaim UHP tire. It's cheap and light but it looks like that is due to a cheap build and weak sidewalls. Here are the tirerack.com stats on the Hankook: Results based on 312 submissions of our online tire survey. http://www.tirerack.com/images/reviews/SurveyTabs.gif Surveyed Averages893%7.98.18.38.48.88.3N/AN/AN/A8.78.47.91,366,440 Would You Buy This Tire Again? Most said: "Probably" (Average of 7.9 out of 10) Here are the tirerack.com stats on the BFGoodrich: Results based on 1348 submissions of our online tire survey. http://www.tirerack.com/images/reviews/SurveyTabs.gif Surveyed Averages890%7.88.38.48.99.18.9N/AN/AN/A7.66.47.812,395,587 Would You Buy This Tire Again? Most said: "Probably" (Average of 7.8 out of 10) It's interesting that owners of both tires don't seem too enthusiastic based on the "would you buy this tire again" responses of 7.8 and 7.9 My '05 LGT My '07 Supercharged Shelby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 Quickly am narrowing down. The Continental ExtremeContact DW Max Performance Summer is $156 and only 21lbs and has the #1 rating on Tirerack's site. I'm not sure why I strayed from this initial leader in my search - the Continental. Looks a lot better for me than the Hankook and the BFGoodrich. Way better ratings than those two, 2lbs lighter than either, and better treadlife. A few more $ but still within my budget. This guy gave a positive review. My '05 LGT My '07 Supercharged Shelby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 From the reviews I read it sounds like the Conti DW has a very soft sidewall. People who used the car for street driving seemed able to fix it by adjusting pressures but people who autox or track the cars seemed very unhappy with the way the tire rolled. The Crimson Dynamo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 kumho ecsta XS is the best tire for the money at $144 per tire if all you care about is performance. next would be the dunlop z1 star specs at $173 theses are 2 of the stickiest street tires on the market and 2 of the top choices for autox in the street tire class. optimally, the tire id have is the yokohama ad08 but they are $$$$$$. I have the XS on my car now and they are very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krzyss Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Supposedly XS hates water. Do they hate winter too? Krzys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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