New summer tires

**VejaD** · #1: 02-08-2013, 11:26 PM

So, my stock tires met an untimely death yesterday. Any suggestions on good summer rubber to put on?

I have a set of blizzaks, so all seasons are out of the question.

Should I spring for new rims too and go wider or bigger?

My main concern is a balance between ride comfort and performance. A good wear rating would be a plus.

**acumenhokie** · #2: 02-09-2013, 03:41 AM

I'd get rims and tires rather than having to swap the tires on the rim every winter and spring.

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119663

**DrD123** · #3: 02-09-2013, 07:42 AM

what did you do to your tires to kill them? drive the wrong way over a tire shredder or something?

**SurlyOldManMN** · #4: 02-09-2013, 08:23 AM

He's in New York in the middle of an epic snow storm and was on LGT stockers, which happen to be high performance summer tires. I can take a guess...

Seconding new rims. Wrong direction on size if you go with dedicated winters. You want smaller and thinner for maximum bite. It doesn't do much good to put more rubber down and stay on the surface with no traction. Better to have less rubber but cut down into something useful. There is a good reason rally car snow or gravel tires look like they came off a bike.

Summer wheels are a whole different story...

**Rutchard** · #5: 02-09-2013, 09:57 AM

VejaD, can you give more info on your wheels and tires before everybody here jumps to more conclusions?

Are these Blizzaks you speak of on different wheels other than your stock ones?

**VejaD** · #6: 02-09-2013, 10:40 AM

DrD123, I'm in new york and hit a massive pothole in the rain. My 2 passenger tires have significant blebs in the sidewalls. As for the snow storm, I noticed them when swapping my wheels out for the winters.

Rutchard, I have Blizzak WS70 225/50R17 tires mounted on 17x8 rims.

To answer SurlyOldManMN, that makes sense. These were the narrowest Blizzaks I could find in 17" when I was shopping for them 2 years ago. My question about width and size was specifically for summers.

**SubyDude81** · #7: 02-09-2013, 03:48 PM

Good wear rating and a summer tire don't go in the same sentence.
Its a sacrifice you will make.
Nitto NT555, Nitto NT05, Bridgestone RE760, Conti DW
All good tires, some are better in dry, some in wet but more info needed. I would get rims while your at it and let us know the size of the rim so you can narrow down tire choices by tire size.

**BigDave** · #8: 02-09-2013, 07:15 PM

I love my Michelin Pilot Super Sports. The stiffer sidewall means a little more tram lining and impact harshness vs stock, but they have phenomenal grip (knocked 3 - 4 seconds off my lap times on a 2.7 mile road course), they're good in the rain, and they have a reasonably high treadwear rating for a summer tire. The main con is that they ain't the cheapest tire on the market...

**Jace2010LGT** · #9: 02-09-2013, 07:45 PM

^ this. I researched max performance summer tires. Go to tire rack and put in your stock size and ask for best reviews and highest rated. The Michelin ss tires are #1 by far. Just go look.

**VejaD** · #**10:** 02-10-2013, 04:15 AM

Thanks guys. Hopefully I'll get some time at work today to do some research on your suggestions.

**VejaD** · #**11:** 02-10-2013, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SubyDude81

Good wear rating and a summer tire don't go in the same sentence.
Its a sacrifice you will make.
Nitto NT555, Nitto NT05, Bridgestone RE760, Conti DW
All good tires, some are better in dry, some in wet but more info needed. I would get rims while your at it and let us know the size of the rim so you can narrow down tire choices by tire size.

If I get rims they'll probably be 18". I'm not sure of the width, and 19" looks too cost-prohibitive.