Upgrade Stock Tires to Yokohama S Drives? ~ Non-Track Driver

[Mr.Impreza]

Hey guys, just a quick question. Currently I'm on the Primacy HP.

I don't track or autocross. Also for spirited driving...I guess I can say I like to go fast at on-ramps and maybe the odd corner.
Generally most driving is in the city on straight roads in traffic haha.

Is there any benefit for me to upgrade to more sporty tires like Yokohama S Drives?
If anyone made that jump, was there any difference in comfort, noise & grip?

I just have an opportunity currently to buy our stock tires for a really good price but wondering if maybe I'm missing out from not having better tires.

Thanks!

[Yoshoobaroo]

i wouldn't go with Sdrives personally. I've had them on 2 cars and in both cases they were very harsh and wore unevenly (they were feathering). They are cheap but that's about it. The Continental Extremecontact DW or Bridgestone S04 are much better.

[Mr.Impreza]

Yeah I actually have a list made for future car part purchases and the S-04 are on that list since when I was looking a lot they seemed like a very good tire.

[CBR600RR]

I have been on the S-Drives for a full season (20,000km) and love them so far. Here is my quick review:


-They have a decent amount more grip that the HPs
-Road noise is about the same
-They squeal way less than the HPs when losing traction
-They are predictable and forgiving when losing traction
-They feel firmer in the corners - like the sidewalls are sturdier
-Mine are showing no signs of uneven wear (no signs of wear in general actually) I think they will last about as long as the HPs
-They look way better than the HPs

[Mr.Impreza]

Originally Posted by CBR600RR

I have been on the S-Drives for a full season (20,000km) and love them so far. Here is my quick review:


-They have a decent amount more grip that the HPs
-Road noise is about the same
-They squeal way less than the HPs when losing traction
-They are predictable and forgiving when losing traction
-They feel firmer in the corners - like the sidewalls are sturdier
-Mine are showing no signs of uneven wear (no signs of wear in general actually) I think they will last about as long as the HPs
-They look way better than the HPs

Oh wow, thank you so much. You answered more than I even asked for!

I actually owned the S-Drives on my Subaru before but only had them for less than 5000Km since I sold the car so I never got a good feel for them other than I noticed they were way better than the discontinued Falken FK 425's.

I have my eye on the S Drives because the price is great and I know they cost less than the S-04.
Also I always liked Yokohama tires and the way they look.
AD08R is also nice, but too much for what I need.

Thanks buddy! We can lock this thread up now haha.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by CBR600RR

I have been on the S-Drives for a full season (20,000km)

They will get crappier quickly I'm afraid. Mine went from being decent to very harsh and loud in about 2500 miles, right around 12K miles. maybe the alignment on our cars will prevent bad wear, but i've had them on both fwd and rwd cars and didn't like them.

[CBR600RR]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

They will get crappier quickly I'm afraid. Mine went from being decent to very harsh and loud in about 2500 miles, right around 12K miles. maybe the alignment on our cars will prevent bad wear, but i've had them on both fwd and rwd cars and didn't like them.

Sounds like a belt might have shifted in your set of tires. defects can happen to any tire, regardless of brand quality.


No tire should turn from being good to harsh and loud in 2500 miles, that is unless they are defective and a belt shifts. Which I have had happen before, but on a different brand. (Toyo to be more specific)


Edit: my friend recently had a set of Hankook tires on his 370z where a belt shifted really badly and one of his rear right tire actually herniated.

[ryoma]

if you're worried about tire wear, then get your alignment checked by a professional alignment shop and not the dealership/tire shop. the OEM alignment specs have a wide range of acceptable numbers. I have taken all my family's cars and mine to the same alignment shop for almost 10 years so find a place you like.

as for the S Drives, they are cheap and will give you what you're looking for (a little more sporty feel). I had them on my MR2 and they gripped decently well for their price point (they were like $70 for 205/50/R15 lol). they wore evenly on my MR2 too however there was a bit of road noise, but in any modified car road noise is probably the last thing you care about. my exhaust took care of that problem and I like to cruise with my windows down on nice days so I'm used to a loud environment. of course, everyone is different though. I eventually moved on to AD08's since I was putting down 280whp and the S Drives weren't holding well with that power

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by CBR600RR

Sounds like a belt might have shifted in your set of tires. defects can happen to any tire, regardless of brand quality.


No tire should turn from being good to harsh and loud in 2500 miles, that is unless they are defective and a belt shifts. Which I have had happen before, but on a different brand. (Toyo to be more specific)


Edit: my friend recently had a set of Hankook tires on his 370z where a belt shifted really badly and one of his rear right tire actually herniated.

I'd agree with you if it didn't happen to me on 2 sets, on 2 different cars, with proper alignments. The tires were made 2 years apart too. :/

-Josh

[ModBargains.com]

I have owned S-Drives with about 2k miles so far, just a little loud for my taste. Not too terrible but I have heard they wear out and make pretty quick transformations relatively speaking