Tyres you use(d) and how u would rate them

[RedEmblem]

Quick question. Ill soon be replacing my front tyres. I currently have 235/40/17 on there (same tyres that were on the car when i bought it). I have heard that 235s make the steering too heavy. Would I be better off replacing them with 225s? :S Car is 33 GTST.

[Kinks]

there's quite a noticeable difference in 235s vs 225s, in my experience. Whether it's too heavy or not is up to personal opinion, go to the gym I say

With stock tyres all round, the balance of R33's is quite good off-throttle and a bit taily on-throttle. Putting narrower tyres on the front will reduce cornering grip slightly, but also keep it in line a bit better when you put your foot down.

That said, I like the stock balance so I'll continue to have the same size tyres all round.

[jmac]

The current issue of Motor magazine has done a tyre test on six different 245/45 ZR18 tyres. The test car is a VE SS but apparently results can usually be applied to other vehicles and tyre sizes. The VE has the Bridgestone 050 as the OEM tyre so as they say its chassis may be tuned to get the most from this tyre.

Here's a bit about what they say - I figure a fair few people will be interested because some of the tyres tested get mentioned on here a lot. I don't vouch for Motor's lack of bias or otherwise...

Dunlop Sportmax

"pretty sharp in the front end... really good directional stability... also change direction well... lack of feedback... good front-rear balance"

Dry lap: =3rd

Dry braking: 4th

Wet braking: 2nd

Wet lateral G: 4th

Overall driver rating: 4th

Driver grip rating /10: 7.5

Driver feel rating /10: 7

Approx RRP: $579

Federal Super Steel 595

"skittish... lacked grip... unpredictable... hard to keep on the limit (even though the limit was low)... least satisfying on change of direction"

Dry lap: 6th

Dry braking: 5th

Wet braking: 6th

Wet lateral G: 6th

Overall driver rating: 6th

Driver grip rating /10: 5

Driver feel rating /10: 6

Approx RRP: $320

Bridgestone Potenza RE050A

"balance really good... progressive... inspired confidence... second overall for sharpness... so much grip you can trust them... can lean on them hard... can choose either under or oversteer"

Dry lap: 1st

Dry braking: 1st

Wet braking: 1st

Wet lateral G: 2nd

Overall driver rating: 1st

Driver grip rating /10: 8.5

Driver feel rating /10: 9

Approx RRP: $450

Pirelli P Zero Rosso

"limits were high... once you've breached that limit you're on your own... most oversteery of the bunch... front end was ok... took longer to regain grip once you've overcooked it... pretty pacy... progressive up to the limit"

Dry lap: 5th

Dry braking: 6th

Wet braking: =4th

Wet lateral G: 5th

Overall driver rating: 5th

Driver grip rating /10: 7

Driver feel rating /10: 6

Approx RRP: $670

Falken FK452

"got tricker to keep on the limit as they got hotter... didn't lose grip, the limit was just as high it was just harder to find and easy to overstep the mark... good directional stability... neutral... very balanced... probably the worst under brakes... really squirmy"

Dry lap: =3rd

Dry braking: 3rd

Wet braking: =4th

Wet lateral G: 1st

Overall driver rating: 3rd

Driver grip rating /10: 8

Driver feel rating /10: 6

Approx RRP: $320

Yokohama Advan Sport V103

"really good... standout grip and braking feel... stable under brakes... slight oversteer during change of direction but very progressive... on an outright basis these would be near the top"

Dry lap: 2nd

Dry braking: 2nd

Wet braking: 3rd

Wet lateral G: 3rd

Overall driver rating: 2nd

Driver grip rating /10: 8.5

Driver feel rating /10: 8.5

Approx RRP: $440

[tjandriesen]

Here's some user rating from the TireRack - a tire and wheel website in the US

Catergories are theirs

extreme performance

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresult...lay.jsp?type=EP

max performance

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresult...lay.jsp?type=MP

ultra high performance

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresult...ay.jsp?type=UHP

[siddr20]

I purchased a set of Toyo T1rs for the fronts.. 235s/r17s at 258 each..

Im not that impressed at all around corners at a little higher speeds..

I mean it does grip but screaches a fair bit..

Unlike the advan ad07s i had on the fronts with 30% tread remaining..

But for the money i would say the toyos does the job well..

[Duncan]

extreme performance

...

max performance

...

ultra high performance

you know, I can't for the life of me work out which is meant to be the best of these 3?

[sloazr33]

I got quoted $308 each for Toyo T1R's in 245/40/R17

the guy was really pushing the Yokohama Advan Sport V103's, $400 each in 245/40/R17

currently got Dunlop Direzza DZ101's, I liked them but they don't make them anymore

anyone used the Yokohama Advan Sport V103's?

[kasanoff]

I got quoted $308 each for Toyo T1R's in 245/40/R17

the guy was really pushing the Yokohama Advan Sport V103's, $400 each in 245/40/R17

currently got Dunlop Direzza DZ101's, I liked them but they don't make them anymore

anyone used the Yokohama Advan Sport V103's?

Yup, I'm using them right now...here's my quick review shortly after I had them fitted:

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...p;#entry2164633

After about 8 months use:

Still very happy with the tyres. They're wearing well. The side walls were are a little softer than what I was used to but I feel I'm used to it now...

[Kinks]

you know, I can't for the life of me work out which is meant to be the best of these 3?

extreme ultra max, of course!

stupid titles really.

[a20089]

Federal SS 595's here and yes they lack grip in the dry, are useless in the wet and have no feel to them.

But for the price.. not too bad.

[dangerous_daveo]

I've not tried the sport maxx.....but you will not be disappointed witht he sp9000 - they are the best road tyres I have used (and I get through a heap of them)

Apparently Duncan the sport maxx is the replacement. I have the sp9000s on the front, and the sport maxx on the rear. But yeah, both awesome tyres. I've had them on for a while now and got used to them, pretty happy, even seem to wear ok given the type of tyre.

[dangerous_daveo]

Going through this thread trying to find which semi slick to go. And Im getting confused, seems you need to be in the know to recognise the tyre codes

So bang for buck, as in best grip for the best dollars, Im not overly intrested atm in breaking any land speed records. Size is whatever size fits the standard R32 rims (205/50/16 I think???). Which semi should I be looking at? Also Im in brisbane.

[J_Red33]

A couple of sets of tyres to rate tyres sized 225/40/18 (front) 265/35/18 (rear):

Yokahama S302

Dry: 7/10

Wet: 7/10

Wear: 8/10

Value: ~ 7/10 (they were on the wheels that I bought)

Comments: Reasonable all round tyre good grip in the wet, could only break traction in 1st gear in the wet (though a bit easier once the exhaust was fitted making 177RWKW, this was also towards the end of the tyres life however). A little unpredictable though, don't have as much faith in the front end on them especially if they haven't warmend up & tail slides were equally sometimes quite sudden, not very progressive traction loss on the limit.

Hankook K104 (rear only):

Dry: 6/10

Wet: 5/10

Wear: 6/10? (not 100% sure yet, will update if there's any change in what I think)

Value: 8/10

Comments: Nice & predicable tyre on the limit, I have a lot of faith in the rear of the car & knowing what it will do. Traction levels generally not as good as the Yokahama's however, breaking traction in second gear around corners or 3rd in the wet, is something that was previously impossible to do. Initial tread depth is also not as deep as the Yokahamas were so there's actually less tyre to wear out.

I think I may be looking at dunlops to put on the front next, which will be happening within the next few weeks.

[jmac]

Going through this thread trying to find which semi slick to go. And Im getting confused, seems you need to be in the know to recognise the tyre codes

So bang for buck, as in best grip for the best dollars, Im not overly intrested atm in breaking any land speed records. Size is whatever size fits the standard R32 rims (205/50/16 I think???). Which semi should I be looking at? Also Im in brisbane.

Depends on if you mean "real" semi-slicks (i.e. very low wear rating, soft compound, need heat in them to grip properly, really for track-day use only) or the more aggressive street tyres (i.e. for high-performance road driving every day but will last a lot less than "normal" street tyres).

For "real" semi-slicks / comp-R tyres, the consensus seems to be Bridgestone RE55's, Yokohama A048's and Dunlop DZ02's are the three best ones. There is some argument about which is better but at the track days I've been to people with Skylines and Evo's seem to favour the Bridgestones. There are various compounds available (soft/medium/hard etc) in these tyres too. Other tyres in this category that I've heard are Michelin Sport Cup, Toyo Proxes R888 and Proxes RA1, Kumho (??? Ecsta V70A and CO3), and probably others that I can't remember right now...

For the more aggressive street tyres - which go well on the track but won't give you the ultimate performance of the RE55 or A048 etc. - then you're looking at stuff like the Federal RS595, Falken ST115 or RT615, Bridgestone RE070 (the WRX STi OEM tyre) and so on.

If you search back through this thread there are some comments from people about some of these. I've only ever tried the Bridgestone RE55 so I'm far from an expert. I've been told that the Kumho's are very good value for a track-day tyre, and other people will SWEAR by the Yokohamas and Dunlops.

So, decide on what you want and your budget then ring around heaps of places and get prices and go for it!

I think there's also somewhere in Bris that does second-hand semi-slicks? It's mentioned in the Qld section somewhere.

Cheers!

[dangerous_daveo]

Thanks for that Jmac. They would be used 99% purely for the track. As in put on the car the nite before, and driven out to willowbank, then taken off the car that nite (I live 30-40mins from willowbank all highway). So I'll try find some more info on those ones.

[jmac]

Thanks for that Jmac. They would be used 99% purely for the track. As in put on the car the nite before, and driven out to willowbank, then taken off the car that nite (I live 30-40mins from willowbank all highway). So I'll try find some more info on those ones.

Cool yeah that's what I do - have a second set of wheels and just bolt 'em on the night before. I'm really happy with the Bridgestones in the medium compound (SR2?) - got 3 full track days and 4 hillclimbs out of them so far - they still have some tread left but aren't road-legal any more. Probably if you factor in not ruining your set of road tyres it almost saves you money....

[West]

Federal SS 595's here and yes they lack grip in the dry, are useless in the wet and have no feel to them.

But for the price.. not too bad.

Sound pretty bad but how come Theo in Perth hit a 1.5 60ft time and clock a 9sec in his GTR on Federal SS 595? Just out of curiousity.

[West]

lol I do, and stand by the recommendation

I just put federal 595 on the front of the 350z after all the good reviews. I would say:

Dry : 7/10

Wet : ?/10

Value for $ : 9/10

Performance wise these are very good road tyres, not as good as the dunlop sp9000 but still in the top few I have used. Not sure about wet yet but am not too hopeful.

But they are harsh and noisy for normal drivnig, kind of like a semi slick (but not as bad thank god).

Still at the price I think they are a good choice if you don't mind the noise.

I paid 220ea in 245/45/18 from Payless Chatswood.

How does the connering feel Duncan? How does this SS 595 compare to the K104? They are around the same price.

Thanks

[West]

I've got four choices for now.

Federal SS595

Ventus K104

Maxxis MA-Z1

Nangkan NSIIs

[Do-Luck]

Just wondering if anyone has tried the Hankook Ventus RS-2 Z212's.

The tyre supplier who I usually get my tyres from was explaining today that they are a semi slick, but further investigation to me looks that they are more an aggressive street tyre, rather than a semi-slick.

I'm about to start entering my car into track days, I hardly drive it on the street, so I'm wondering if these would be a good tyre for me to buy, or should I buy what I seem to think is a proper semi slick?