Tire Upgrades
 

How about some tire recommendations ?

Some people like the soft feel of the OEM treads, but i like the tires to
be grippier, which helps the car jump off the line faster and keep those
turns tight. As opposed to rims, grippier tires are an instant performance
upgrade.

Here goes:

General G-Max AS-03: ultra-high performance all season, UTQG 480, 21 lbs.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....S&autoModClar=


[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/kmtN3.jpg[/IMG]

When it comes to maximum grip from a streetable tire, it really comes down to three tires:

Dunlop Direzza Z1 *-spec.
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...spec_ci2_l.jpg
Pretty much the go-to tire for AutoX. Well developed, very grippy and priced very well.

Yokohama Advan AD08
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...ad08_ci2_l.jpg
Very similar to the Z1* in grip. Reportedly better turn-in and more wear-tolerant. But a bit more expensive.

Hankook Ventus R-S3
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...srs3_ci2_l.jpg
The best ultimate grip for a 140+ treadwear (SCCA "Street") tire, lightest weight, and the least expensive at this level of performance. But, the light weight and low cost mean the sidewalls are thin. This tire doesn't have anywhere near the turn-in response of the above two.

Draco pretty much summed it up. For max performance street tires, can't go wrong with the three above.

I'm curious to see how the fr-s/brz handles w a simple tire swap of the same OEM size to some Star Specs or RS3s.

I don't know about Auto-X, but those three tires are over-weight and their UTQG rating is atrocious. For improving DD, you can do better.

Missed the Kumho Ecsta XS for one of the ultimate street tires though... lighter than Hankook RS-3 with about the same handling properties (not quite as heat resistant though), and usually less expensive as well. If you choose your wheel width correctly for the tire (i.e. you go with maximum recommended width for the tire size [8" width for a 215/45-17 tire]) turn in and response is better than stock. Tire choice should be priority and what your wheel choice is based off of...

Kumho Ecsta XS:
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...ku36_ci2_l.jpg

Personally I don't like the "ultimate grip" level tires for the street... my fuel economy has suffered and to get the car to rotate in a fun manner require full throttle turning. They are much better suited for track duty. Once the Michelin Primacy HP's wear out on my stock set I plan to switch to Kumho Ecsta Sport LE's... will still be a huge upgrade from the stock Primacy HP while hopefully not 'too' sticky either... I have the Ecsta Sport LE's on my Tacoma and they are an awesome daily driver tire on that...glued to the road when wet and running through standing water at 60+mph and dry handling is excellent with really quick steering response. Should be even more awesome on the FR-S and for less than $100 each...

If you don't see track use, and only really see daily driver duty for your FR-S/BRZ, 'ultimate grip' tires are more of a waste IMO. Good 'Max Performance' summer tires would be more suitable for daily driver use. I'm more annoyed with the Kumho XS excessive grip on the street (which changes how the car handles too much - awesome on track, feels neutered/something missing on the street) than the Primacy HP lack of grip....Something like the Kumho Ecsta Sport LE should be just about right for anything not involving track use.

Kumho Ecsta Sport LE:
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires..._spt_ci2_l.jpg

Sometimes too much grip is a actually a downgrade (for daily driver use)...and it is for the FR-S/BRZ IMO.


P.S. miodculae, those General G-MAX AS-03 would be considered a downgrade from the stock Michelin's for everything but tire mileage ability... General tires are right in line with Goodyear allseason tires - mediocre/'meh' handling tires that you really don't want on a sports car. Treadwear rating alone should be a big indicator of their intended purpose. Goodyear and General all-season tires have never left me wanting to get another set...Dunlop on the other hand had a pretty good all season tire. But all-season tires is not where it's at or what the FR-S/BRZ should have installed on it.

Well you can't have everything. If you want one thing, you better be willing to compromise. You asked for more grip. Draco-REX and Vracer111 gave you the better options.

What about Michelin Pilot Super Sport
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...t_ss_ci2_l.jpg

I've had the Michelin PS2s in the past and they were a wonderful tire both on track and on the street. Very quiet, very comfortable, but also loads of grip. The Super Sports are supposed to be a huge improvement on the PS2s...

Are Bridgestone RE11's in this category?

I vote for these tires as well.

The Michelin Pilot tires are Max Performance tires. They won't likely have the ultimate grip of the Extreme Performance class tires. The three I posted are the most common you'll see on cars demanding high grip.

The Ecsta XS doesn't have the best reputation with the drivers I've spoken with. From what I can gather, they are hard to maintain a consistent grip level until they are down to the wear bars. That's not a great aspect for a street tire.

All-seasons are crap. They're for economy cars and people who don't care about driving. They suck compared to summer tires in the summer and they suck compared to winter tires in the winter. Owning a set of Summers and Winters gets you the best performance in the summer and the best safety in the winter, and (no surprise here) it doubles the life of each set. And as far as how these tires wear, my Extreme Performance Bridgestone RE-01Rs have 15,000 miles on them and have easily half their tread left.

Weight wise, the R-S3 and AD08 are only 1 lb heavier than the stock Michelins at the stock size. The Dunlop is 2 lbs. I don't see an excessive weight gain. I will also point out that the General G-MAX AS-03 at the top is the same weight as the R-S3 and AD08 at 22lbs in a 215/45-17.

If someone wants a great summer DD tire with excellent grip, good wear, low noise, superb wet traction, low weight and a good price, the only choice is the:

Continental ExtremeContact DW
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...ntct_ci2_l.jpg
These are quiet with exceptional wet traction and low noise. I had a set of these on my Legacy spec.B and was VERY happy with them. For a summer DD tire, I don't think these can be beat.

Yes, but are on the upper end as cost goes for no real advantage in performance.

Since you picked an All-Season rather than a summer tire, I'm guessing you have an interest in that area. If so, someone mentioned these Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Positions in an earlier thread and I was considering them.

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...s_pp_ci2_l.jpg

I have no history with General Tires. I did use Bridgestones on my GEN3 Camaro Z28 and was always pleased with them, even in snow in DC/VA and often to go skiing in the NE.

I used Pirelli tires on my MK1 MR2 that I owned at the same time, and drove in the same conditions. They also have a set that fits the 86:

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...o_II_ci2_l.jpg

Auto Bild's annual Tyre-Test for 2012:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...-Tyre-Test.htm


Details on the winner, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Go...ymmetric-2.htm

Draco-REX, the stock Michelin HP weigh 20lbs according to Tire Rack...that's the main reason why I went with the 215/45-17 Kumho XS's as they were only 1lb heavier than stock compared to the Hankook RS-3 which were 2 lbs heavier. They were also $14 a tire less expensive and I had been wanting to try them out for a while now - finally had an exuse... :D

Kumho XS work great on track for the FR-S, once you find the right tire pressures (38psi hot, bleed down to 35psi before session works well) they are just as consistent as the Nitto NT-01 and Hankook RS-3 for traction and handling I've used on other cars. Just as good on the streets as well so far - actually a little better in the wet with standing water. I don't think anybody would really be dissapointed with the XS for track use. I still don't like the 'top tier' grip level street tires for daily driver use on the FR-S though...it just takes the fun edge off the car and tames it too much for the street...