Good DD Summer Tire (for my needs)

[Captain Insano]

Just bought some Weds TC105N 17x9 +35. Now I need tires.

Some background...
This is primarily a DD. I hope to get a couple autocross in this summer and maybe an HPDE or two, but that is being wishful with crazy schedule and being busy alot with family/kiks. So this tire will be used almost entirely for DD in the summer months (I have winter wheel/tire solution I switch to in cold months). I'm dropped 1" on Eibach pro-kit springs with alignment of -1 camber in front and -1.8 camber in rear.

OK, just did a look see for 245/40/17 tires on Tirerack. Looked at Extreme and Max Summer Performance. When I buy tires for DD/fun cars I heavily consider price, weight, performance combo. Knowing any of the tires in the running will perform better than OEM in dry... Alot of the highest performance tires in this category I took off my list either due to price (well over $200 per gets pricey) or weight (it is hard for me to "upgrade" to a 26 lb tire if I can be running a 21-22 lb tire with 90% of the performance - this car is all about lightness to me (some may disagree)). So far, I'm thinking in order of preference top to bottom:
--Continental ExtremeContact DW - max performance $144 per and weigh just 22lbs, liking that for DD aspect of my car for price/weight, do get negative rep if you track them as they will wear pretty fast on track and not as good as an Extreme Perf.
--Michelin Pilot Super Sport - max performance $205 per and weigh 23 lbs, great reviews, can't find a bad one on TireRack. Pricey, but sounds like a great tire.
--Toyo Proxes R1R - extreme performance $162 per and weigh just 23lbs, like the all around price/perf/weight combo of this tire. But they do get bad rep for wear (comes with the territory for high performance IMHO)
--Pirelli PZero Rosso - max performance $195 per and weigh a scant 21 lbs!! Loving the weight here. But really negative reviews on wear - sounds like even moreso than typical extreme perf tires.
--Continental Contisport Contact3 - max performance $200 per. Good weight at 22 lbs, but starting to get in the pricey range of very good extreme perf tire.


Feedback on this decision and options outlined? I am undecided but leaning toward Extreme Contact DWs or Proxes R1R. Extreme Contact DWs give me a wheel/tire weight of ~38lbs and the Proxes R1R ~39lbs. OEM is 40-41lbs.

[Squishy]

Since this is a DD - not much wrong with that list. Stats just don't tell much about the tires though - you should check their wet traction.

A heavier tire is not always bad if it is in the sidewall as it will have better feel and response on turn in.

Even so you might consider the Michelin Pilot Super Sports ($70 prepaid mastercard for tires bought ends today) which is 23lbs and has a 300 treadwear but is good dual purpose for an occasional autox/HPDE but primarily DD.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....num=44YR7PSSXL

[Draco-REX]

I haven't tried the PSS tires, but I have had a set of the Continental ECDW tires. They were excellent tires. Very quiet for their class, superb wet traction, and plenty of grip in the dry too. My only complaint is the soft sidewalls, but you're going to find that in most tires of this category and below.

[Calidrifter]

Tire rack has the best overall selection but America's tire has better prices. You can probably expand your selections a little if you can get tire rack to match pricing.

Example: couple months ago sears was having a sale on Falken RT615k for about 150 per. Tire rack shows the same size @ ~ 220

[Vracer111]

If it weren't for the 25lb weight I'd suggest looking into the 245/40-17 Kumho Ecsta LE Sports. They are a better DD than the Ecsta XS with a little less dry grip but have wet weather capability found in few other tires... definitely better than BFG KDW's, Hankook RS-2's, or any other performance tire I've used. If you went with 8" wide wheels it would have been easy to get 20-21 lb Ecsta LE Sports... and for less than $90 each you have a tire that performs nearly right up there with the $150 tires in the dry, but is better in the wet.

[ayau]

Keeping wheel/tire weight low is always good. However, you shouldn't really be concerned about tire weight. Generally, a heavier tire means there's more reinforcement and less flexing. This means better performance.

Another option would be the Dunlop Star Specs II. It blows the ones already listed out of the water and arguably offers the best wet traction in the extreme summer performance tires category.

[Captain Insano]

Thanks for the advice so far. Keep it coming, I still haven't decided.

[JoeBoxer]

I really like my DW's, the ride and noise are about the same as my Nitto Motivo all seasons i had which are really nice also and there is plenty of grip for me and great wet traction. I wish i had got them from the start.

[powerj2]

pss is the best bang for buck! imo

[Captain Insano]

PSS get great reviews on tirerack. I've added them to list in slot #2...

[schtebie]

Originally Posted by Captain Insano

PSS get great reviews on tirerack. I've added them to list in slot #2...

My BRZ is my daily driver and I run Michelin PSS. I'm very happy with them - quiet and smooth. :happy0180:

[acro]

Originally Posted by JoeBoxer

I really like my DW's, the ride and noise are about the same as my Nitto Motivo all seasons i had which are really nice also and there is plenty of grip for me and great wet traction. I wish i had got them from the start.

i ordered those on your recommendation. hope to install them soon

[FR-S Matt]

The DW's have always been a high rated tire across many platforms. Their price point also is very attractive. I like the PSS as well too, but the price between that and the DW is killing me for how I drive it.

I'd recommend either of those tires though for sure. I always see them on top when it comes to performance/everyday driving.

[VoiD]

pss