Looking for a good tire

combatsteve · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 415

I need to replace my Yokahoma's soon on my tC. I am looking for a tire that has good handling, low road noise, and decent tread life. Price isn't that big a deal I would rather spend more money and get a good tire...but I don't need to most expensive tire just because. What tires should I look at?

tc1stgen · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 414 Location: Killeen, TX

I have Nitto Neo Gens and they are pretty nice plus they are fairly inexpensive

AcidDrop · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 3698

Nitto Neo-Gen and Flaken fk452.

tCtCtC · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 9899 Location: So Cal

ill be getting neo gen's soon

engifineer · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 8170 Location: Minneapolis, MN

All season or summer tires? I am guessing you want all seasons in St Louis. If so, Falken has the Ziex 912's which are nice, and about $90/ea on www.discounttiredirect.com when I got mine. However, before those I had Avon Tech M550's, which are all seasons and are absolutely great (I even autox'd on them for a while before I got a spare set of rims and they held their own well). They are even better in the wet. They are typically about $100/ea, so not expensive at all.

web · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 2273 Location: Central Maryland

If you have a secondary set of rims (summer/winter rims), I'd recommend the BF Goodrich G-force T/A KDWs :) . I have them for my summer ONLY rim setup and they are amazing for both dry and wet traction. Wet traction is great for high speed cornering and the high natural rubber mix in the compound keeps the tires extremely sticky, but still resistant to excessive wear (300 treadwear).

Great for track days as well, b/c they are basically a track radial with a lot of water channels. No sipes, so definitely would NOT run them in snow or cold conditions. The compound is very soft and would harden in the cold and reduce traction SIGNIFICANTLY.
Summer: 225/45/17

For winter tires, I would suggest Blizack LM25 tires. I have them mounted on my stock rims and use them int he winter (well, when it starts to get below 50 consistently). The tires are chocked full of sipes and disperse water and snow very efficiently. I used them all last winter here in MD, and we had about 4-5 good snow falls of about 6+ inches. The tires didn't slide on turns and you could feel the footprint embedding itself into the snow and down to the road.
Winter: 215/45/17

engifineer · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 8170 Location: Minneapolis, MN

Originally living in the central midwest (OK) I can kind of say that the winter/summer tire combo isnt the best in those areas. Simply because the weather fluctuates so much even in the winter and most of the snow is ice :) Here in MN it makes more sense because it stays below freezing most of the winter and we have a lot more snow and almost no ice. In his area a set of all seasons for the winter rims and them some summer tires on the other may be better for him

web · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 2273 Location: Central Maryland

Good point. I didn't pay attention to his location.

For a good all season tire, a lot of cars around here that are running an all season setup are using Toyo Proxy 4. Seems to be very popular.

Also, Goodyear Assurance Triple Treads are GREAT all season tires and VERY high tread life (740 treadwear).

BZinn1 · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 4246 Location: Washington

My Neo Gens are quiet and very good in the corners .....they only scream when I go to fast into a corner...........so far they do fine in summer rain in the NW but I imagine they get a bit slick once the cold hits and it rains.....if you have soem winter tires use them and use the Neo Gens for summer.

Spicy_McHaggiz · Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 369 Location: Peoria, Illinois

Bridgestone Potenza RE92as Pole Positions. Their "high performance all seasons". I had them on my WRX for the last year and LOVED them. Plenty of grip in wet, dry, and snow. Their pricey though at 140-170 a tire (depending on place) but well worth it. And better tread rating then Falkens.

hawgs74 · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 1472 Location: Conway, AR

Nitto Gens are goo all-season tires. I had them on my old wheels and had no complaints. Whether heer is similar to what you guys see in STL.

combatsteve · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 415

yeah engifineer i forgot to say all seasons.

Thanks for all the input so far. Sounds like the Nitto Gens and the Toyo Proxies or falkin 912's are the most common.

Any input on BFGoodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S?

BZinn1 · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 4246 Location: Washington

gforce are great tires but in the winter they got a bit hard and slippery for me......had them on a RWD Pontiac witha big block though......but they were awsome in the spring to fall even in the rain......jsut when it got under 40 it was like they got hard.

engifineer · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 8170 Location: Minneapolis, MN

I like my 912's, but my last set of Avons were a lot better. I will be going back to them next time I need tires for daily driving.

combatsteve · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 415

engifineer wrote: I like my 912's, but my last set of Avons were a lot better. I will be going back to them next time I need tires for daily driving.

Did you have any problems with noise with the Avons? I have been reading reviews on tire rack and seems to be a common issue

engifineer · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 8170 Location: Minneapolis, MN

I read those reviews about most tires :P But I never had any issues with it. They used to be the highest rated all season on Tire Rack by the customers. A few others have surpassed them now, but most are more expensive.

Leo_EdgeRacing · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 418 Location: Miami, FL

I would agree on the Falken 912's. They handle very nicely on my tC.

combatsteve · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 415

oh yeah and are people running 225's or 215's?

web · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 2273 Location: Central Maryland

225 summer

215 winter