I'm looking for new oem size tires for my car. I do spirited driving (no track) with some wet weather (so cal). I currently have michelin pilot sports and i'm happy with those, but they're the most expensive. I've heard the pirelli's and conti's wear quickly, so i've ruled those out. I've heard some good things about the sumitomos in previous threads and they're super cheap. I don't know much about the bridgestones, so i'm considering those as well.
What are your thoughts between the michelin's, bridgestones, and sumi's? I was initially leaning towards the sumi's until someone in the porsche racing/tuning industry warned me about getting those (he said they're less predictable and they're more prone to loose traction without warning). I don't want to save a buck at the expensive of safety and performance. On the other hand, i don't want to just throw money away either.
thanks for your input.

 

MPS2 is a great all around tire. Tires isn't something you should really skimp on. Are you running 18's or 19's?

How about toyo tires?

 

I've had good luck with Bridgestones and their new RE760 looks promising. My friend swears by Toyo Proxes T1S - T1R (?) with over 1000hp in is IROC. They are cheaper than Michelins, Bridgestones and seem to be holding up well.

 

I don't have experience with the Sumi but if all the data you had showed they were great until someone in the racing industry told you they break away hard at the limit, is that how you drive on the street? For me, a street tire, is well, a street tire. If you are not pushing it, you should be fine.

I'd also look into General UHPs although I am not sure if they come in our fitment sizes. I use them on my M3 and they are great.

 

I've been running Yokohama Advan Sport's for a little over a year and I like them. The wear so far has been fantastic, the breakaway at the limit is predictable and the price was pretty good compared to other tires in this category.

I run 19" wheels, so my selection is more limited that yours, but I would recommend you at least give them some consideration while looking at your options.

 

+1 Yokos...in 18's which is what you said you run you can get the Neovas, which are a spectacular tire...

 

On track the sumi's have been fine. I am in a low run group....but to be honest, if you go past 95% of what these can do, you really should not be "on" the street....call Damian at the tire rack and discuss with them...they did a review/test and were shocked.

I have 5k on the car...1 DE day. NO issues. No chunking. Others have seen chunking....I keep pressure pretty close. In fact, I plan to get an aftermarket temp/pressure gadget...should be pretty cool for DE!

Jeff


(993 section of rennlist had a huge thread on the HRT Z III...make sure it is the "III" and not the "II" you are looking at...)

 

look at the sumitomo htr s III, have not read a bad review. have them on my turbo s. nothing bad to say.

 

I just replaced my PS2s with Toyo T1Rs (both sets in 235/315 sizing - 19" wheels) and am really happy at half the price. The PS2s are bad ***, but so is the price. The T1Rs so far have great wet traction (I am RWD and around 500hp) but I don't like the tire noise and slightly rougher ride at speeds above 150.

 

I just "cheaped out" and put a set of the Sumi's on my slightly modded 964T and the initial impression for me is that I am having a hard time getting them to break loose,, as compared to the somewhat old Pirelli's that were on the car. I am not convinced I would run these on the 996tt just yet, but for the way I drive the 964T, so far I am happy with them, and at half the price of the PS2's,, I just had to give them a try. I did a fairly spirited drive tues of about 100 plus miles of backroads,, and I really could not find anything to fault with these tires.

 

I changed to PS2's and I'm not a fan, they are poor in the wet and they hate cold roads. I'll be looking for something else next time.

 

what about the Nitto's or toyo R888s?

 

thanks for the responses. anyone have any thoughts on the bridgestone pole positions?

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...irePageLocQty=

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=101

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=107

For some interesting data.

Save r-compound tires like Tom mentions...which I think on the track once you are good are the way to go, the max/ultra street tires are all getting very good. For me, cost to be honest played a major role in the decision tree. If the PS2 was only 15% more than the sumi, I probably would just get the PS2 because of name brand issues/history/reputation for not blowing out, etc. But at 100% more...nope.

My hope is that the PS2 comes DOWN in price some day soon.

 

I have had the Sumi's on for three track weekends. They certainly don't offer the grip of the mpsc's, but at half of the price, they are acceptable. Sure, you have to slow down a little, but I find that I can run at 95% on the track with out any fear of a sudden break away. Regardless of the tires I run at the track, I am not in a position to overdrive and wreck. Until Bernie Ecclestone calls and wants to offer me a try out, I willl stick with the less expensive rubber and concentrate on developing my driving skills.

They tend to chunk on me. I think that this is a function of the brakes being better than the tires. After repeated heat cycles, they have yet to get greasy the way mpsc's have. I have 9 track days, and probably 4000 miles on my sumis. I run in the fast group.

Until the price of competitors tires reduce, I will continue to run these tires on track and street. The bonus--I don't have to switch between my track and street wheel sets anymore.