I Need Tires....Recommendations???

[BeauBlues]

Well, the time has come. My tires are almost to the unsafe point of driving. I currently have 205/55 16 fronts and 255/50 16 rears. They are Dunlop SP8000's. The time that I have used them, they seem to be a pretty good tire. So should I stick with the same ones or go with something else? Ive been looking at the Yokohama A032R H and those look like some pretty awesome tires.

Oh yeah just to let you know, these tires are going to be for me as an everyday driver. But I do drive crazy a lot.

[84porsche]

Beau,

Are you looking for the same size or bigger/smaller tires? What speed rating? You should have at least an H if not better. You have seen mine but I have 15s in the front and rear which are usually a less expensive tire. You can go with the same size if you are happy with them but it all depends on how you plan to use the tires. My case was a little more performance (sticky) and with a little less life.

The best place to get variety is www.tirerack.com and the best deal with installation in my opinion is Costco. I usually stay outside, make sure they jack up the car etc but they really know what they are doing.

Chris

[rfuerst911sc]

I like my Yokohama AVS ES100's,have had them for a few months now and they look good,seem to handle great in both wet and dry and are priced right.

[BeauBlues]

Well I do want to stick with Z rated tires or something Reall close to that. I still want the same size tires. Im checking out that tirerack.com and reading the reviews, but they are so bias. I want some input on what real Pcar drivers have to say about the tires theyve tried and recommend.

[450knotOffice]

I've got Bridgestone Potenza S-03's and I love them. They stick like glue to the road.

-Scott

[BeauBlues]

So has anyone even tried the Yokohama A032R's at all?, I would like some input on those too, if possible.

[cgarr]

I too have the Bridgestone Potenza S-03's Your going to get some stone chips around your rear flare extensions, they seem a bit gummier? than cheap tires.

Craig

[don911]

A032s are typically only used as track tires. I had them on my car as track tires. I've heard of people using them daily but they're very noisy and the tread depth is less than a "normal" street tire. If you can live with the noise, they'd be ok daily as long as you didn't have much heavy rain.

I'm also looking at street tires. I'm leaning towards the Yoko ES100s as a good street tire.

I currently have Toyo RA1s on. They are great tires but also considered primarily a track tire. Toyo has some nice street tires as well but they're a little more expensive than the ES100's.

If you do decide to go with a street legal track tire, consider the RA1 before you buy. In my opinion, they are a much better tire than the A032s.

[edward993]

If you're looking for a good sticky tire that will actually last a bit, you don't want something as soft as the A032s, IMHO.

The Yoko ES100 is a good tire, and feel pretty sticky and not noisy,... so far anyway. The AVS Sports are a stickier still and I liked them a bunch, but the penalty is wear! Though you may have better luck as 993s are notorious for going through rears. I'm now using Kumho MXs and think they're great. I've put maybe just under 10K on them and they wear great and offer more grip than the ES100s. As you can see, my tire choices are on the "budget-minded" side. You can pay more, of course, but I've had great experiences with these and need to consider wear since I commute daily with mine as well, yet still want a crisp-feeling tire with grip for those "spirited" on/offramps. Hope this helps

Edward

[Jack Olsen]

A032R's are lousy track tires, and lousy street tires. But in a pinch, they'll do for either. They are annoyingly loud, and that's coming from a guy with a not-very-quiet 911.

For the price, the EVS 100 is a pretty good tire.

[azasadny]

I like my Dunlop Sport 9000's and the Bridestone Potenza RE950's.

[Danskman]

Another vote here for the S03's. Love 'em.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

On my 84 Targa, daily driver set-up for DE, I've tried (in order of stickiness, feel, etc.):

Kumko Victoracers: once warm, these things are terribly fun.

Michelin Pilot SXs: expensive, but the best street performance tire I've ever driven on. Very predictable, very sticky, quiet. A great tire.

SO3s: used to think these were the end all, be all. Compared with the Pilots, these are squirmy at the limit and don't stick as well.

Yoko AVS100s: best tire for the money cause they are so darn cheap. Lots of warning near the limit.

[Rob Channell]

A032's are a little loud. They have sort of a "gumbo mudder" whine at certain speeds, even over the sound of headers and Supertrapps.

I liked them alright. They didn't stick as well as the BFG R1s I replaced, but they lasted a whole lot longer and worked better in the occasional rain drive.

After getting input from the board, doing some thinking, and seeing the price of the A032s go up I decided to get something different this time.
I bought some Toyo RA1s. I have yet to get them on the track, but I like them on the street so far. I have almost decided I like them better than the A032s and have not even been to the track yet.

Here's my thread from a while back.
Tires for 911, Azenis?, A032s?

Good luck.

[BeauBlues]

Looks like the Yoko EVS 100s are the best bang for your buck deal. One question is, how well do these tires compare to my Dunlop Sp 8000s...better or worse?

[MarkY]

Personally, I wouldn't think of putting Korean tires on a Porsche.

I just put on some Goodyear Eagle GS-D3s and really like them.

[Chris Lovell]

Bridgestone S03's as well. Very good.

[goat]

I too went with the Bridgestone S03's. Really like them.
The Goodyears got high marks from tirerack.
For the price and comments that I read the EVS 100 looks real good.

[edward993]

Originally posted by MarkY
Personally, I wouldn't think of putting Korean tires on a Porsche....

Yeah, I know the feeling. But hang around at the track and you'll see LOTS on Kumho R-Compounds. They have developed a real reputation for a high-quality bang-for-buck track tire (exception is the Ecsta which was recalled).

As for street, the 712 was an abysmal tire, but the new MX has gotten rave reviews. So much that I decided to roll the dice and get a set. Guess what, I like them: they stick well and feel substantial.

The moral of the story (for me anyway) is not to get hung up on the "brand" thing, especially for our precious Porsches. Remember, spending more money or going with a specific brand doesn't necessarily, or even consistently yield a better result.
...all IMHO, of course

Edward

[Steve87-911]

I am not a tire expert at all. That said, I really like the ones you already have: Dunlop SP8000 205/55 16 fronts and 255/50 16 rears. That's what I run and they have yet to break free, but I don't track my car (yet) anyway. And they look pretty cool too.