SUBYDOO Needs New Shoes

LarryIII · #1 07-10-2008, 05:18 AM

In the fall (Oct.-Nov.) I will be buying new tires (4) for SUBYDOO. I usually buy tires in the Tire Rack category called 'Ultra High Performance All-Season' I have been on the Tire Rack web site and looked at all the tires in this category. I reviewed everything, did a technical/cost evaluation and originally decided that I was going to get the Yokohama Advan S4 tires. They finished a close second in the evaluation to the Bridgestone Potenza RE-960AS Pole Position tires. Tire Rack lists the Bridgestones at $143/ea. and the Yokos at $131/ea. Add another $20 per tire for mounting, balancing, etc. That means the Bridgestones will be ~$652 installed and the Yokos will be ~$604 installed. In April I had SVXY outfitted with 4 TOYO Proxes-4 tires for $444. So far, my impressions of the TOYOs are good, but I think that the sidewalls are just a bit too soft.

Since SUBYDOO is almost a garage queen ( garage princess?)I did not want to spend $600 for tires. I want to spent around ~$400-$450, plus I do not want another set of TOYOS. I also do not want the Continental Conti Extreme Contact tires because of manufacturing quality control issues that they still seem to have. Furthermore, I eliminated the Pirelli P-Zero Nero M&S because they are now manufactured in the Phillipines and they are not as good anymore. One of the guys at work said he loves the Kumho Ecsta ASX that he put on his old BMW 735i. He used to have Michelin Pilot Sport tires on his car and that the Kuhmos are almost as good and a lot less expensive. I reran my evaluation with the Kuhmos and they came in at the #5 spot. They are ~$98/ea installed, have a good warranty. With the savings I can buy the road hazard warranty.

If anyone here has these particular Kuhmo tires on an SVX, please post your evaluation of them, both good and bad. Please only respond if you have these tires.

Thanks everyone. I appoogize for the long-winded post.

Landshark · #2 07-10-2008, 07:30 AM

i just got some Kumho Ecsta's recently. i can't really comment on them too much, because i had been riding on snow tires until last month, so anything would have been an improvement.

i also got a screaming good deal on a wheel/tire package.

no problems or issues to report, though - they seem like good tires to me. i will test them in the "school zone drags" soon.

SilverSpear · #3 07-10-2008, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landshark

i just got some Kumho Ecsta's recently. i can't really comment on them too much, because i had been riding on snow tires until last month, so anything would have been an improvement.

i also got a screaming good deal on a wheel/tire package.

no problems or issues to report, though - they seem like good tires to me. i will test them in the "school zone drags" soon.

looooooool I was reading Larry's post and thinking about the Kumho Ecsta's since I went this weekend to Dubai and installed them on my Z.
245/45/18's in the back (alone) costed me 1000Dhs installed (about $270)

But if your SVX is always garage kept, why would you want to install high end tyres? Just get the cheapest there is then...

LarryIII · #4 07-10-2008, 10:14 AM

Silver Spear,

I always try to put the best tires that I can afford on all our cars.
There is approximately on 16 -40 square inches of rubber connecting you to the ground. First, I want the car (and me) to stay on the ground and I want the car (and me) to go where I am steering toward in dry, wet, and light snow conditions.

Tim · #5 07-10-2008, 11:57 AM

Speaking from my own experience I have nothing but good things to say about my ContiExtreme Contacts. They are about 2-3 years old with approximately 25,000 miles on them with no issues.

Hocrest · #6 07-10-2008, 12:26 PM

Larry, I have the ASX's on my SVX. I bought them because they were cheap, but I will definately buy them again. I probably only have 5,000 miles, but they have seen heavy rain and light to medium snow. If I was going to rely on my SVX as my winter car, I'd get dedicated snows for it, but for occasional winter use you should be happy with them.

I'd love to comment on road noise, but with my rear wheel bearing, I can't give an accurate review on that.

Landshark · #7 07-10-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim

Speaking from my own experience I have nothing but good things to say about my ContiExtreme Contacts. They are about 2-3 years old with approximately 25,000 miles on them with no issues.

we had them on our WRX, and was pleased with them. i thought they were pretty good tires, especially compared to the stock RE-92's!

Knightwulf · #8 07-11-2008, 06:07 PM

I've used the Kumho Ecsta ASX's on both of my SVXii and I'm quite fond of them for an all-season... They stood up very well during a mad, multi-state 11:00pm - 6:00am dash to grab copies of a certain collector's edition video game, during a snowstorm. Never had an issue with them. I would be considered a 'spirited' driver, but I'm not hardcore... So, I couldn't really speak from a performance connoisseur's position.

All in all, I've been very satisfied with them for wet/snow/dry performance, the road noise is decent and they're a comfortable ride.

They certainly have my recommendation.