What To Replace SO-3's With?

[jyl]

Crap - pulled off the wheels to do the brakes and find all kinds of metalware embedded in the left rear SO-3. A big bolt (head diam 1/2"!) and a smaller nail in the tread, and a long screw at the shoulder.

The tire is not leaking (I have a tire pressure monitoring system), but I see a new tire in the relatively near future. Also, all four tires are approaching the wear bars (1/8" away) so I guess new tires all around are going to be needed this summer.

So, have there been any new and interesting "max performance" tires that are great in dry, good in rain, and fun in AX? When I bought the SO-3's about 2 years / 15K miles ago, they seemed like the best choice (and I'd been very happy). Perhaps there's something better now?

Open to suggestions!

[Scooter]

"What To Replace SO-3's With? "

SO3's.

[no substitute]

Originally posted by jyl
When I bought the SO-3's about 2 years / 15K miles ago, they seemed like the best choice (and I'd been very happy). Perhaps there's something better now?

That's just about as good as it gets for all around (non snow) use.

[Moses]

Originally posted by Scooter92
"What To Replace SO-3's With? "

SO3's.

Yup.

[jbrinkley]

same boat here, tirerack has a $100 mail in rebate with purchase of four S03's
don't know if thats a good deal or not
255/40/17 @224$
215/45/17 @169$
I haven't done any checking around yet

[TWork]

I'm new to the Porsche game, but I've tried a number of performance minded tires on my Miata that I tracked. I think the S-03s are very good tires, but can be pricey and they wear quite fast under hard use. IMHO, you may want to consider Toyo T-1S'. They're fairly quiet, good in the rain and provide excellent dry grip. They have quite a following among the Miata folks. Another good tire that I've had good results with is the Khumo MX. Excellent grip at a great price and reasonably quiet.

BTW, a good source for the T-1S is www.onlinetires.com.

T.

[nostatic]

RA-1s.

what's rain?

[Drago]

Originally posted by nostatic
RA-1s.

what's rain?

My, what a short memory we have...

[no substitute]

Originally posted by nostatic
RA-1s.

what's rain?

Refresher courses are available. No registration necessary. Just drive north on I-5. Wait a minute. First you go down to the viaduct. Okay. Now drive north on I-5.

[nostatic]

viaduct?

Ok, I give up...why a duck?

[cantdrv55]

Wow, Toyos are cheap! Anyone here have them on a 911?

[kenikh]

If cash isn't an issue, buy the SO3s. If you can afford filet, why eat sirloin? If it is an issue, I like my Sumitomo HTR-Zs...can you tell I'm a sirloin guy?

[jyl]

Well, the advice is leaning toward SO-3s if the budget allows.

I scanned Tire Rack and don't see anything new and interesting. The Kumhos are interesting, but don't get a good rain rating. I don't see the Toyos or RA-1s on Tire Rack, at least not in stock 911 sizes.

If I bump the tire widths up 20mms and go 5 points lower on the aspect ratio (so F 225/50-16 and R 245/45-16) some other choices pop up (Michelin Pilot Sport, Sumitomo, AVS Sport, etc). However, I noticed I'm rubbing the upper inside of the rear wheelwells, so I am likely constrained in going any wider in the rear, absent a little spacer. Need to investigate this further.

[cantdrv55]

I just checked out the link above for Onlinetires.com for the Toyos T1S. Front tires, 205/55/16 = $107 each and rear tires, 225/50/16 = $109 each. These are what I'm running on 6s and 7s. John for your rear tires, 245/45/16 = $117 each. Great deal if they really are that grippy.

[cbeers]

John,

225s on 16s can be problematic fit wise. Some guys get it done, I was not able to. I went back to 205s on 7s up front and 245s on 8s for the rear.

How are your shocks? You really shouldn't be rubbing in the rear with 225s on 7s ( I am assuming sizes here)....

-Chris

[TWork]

Unfortunately, TireRack doesn't carry Toyo tires. However, I'm fairly confident that if you check out any place locally or on the internet that sells Toyo, you'll be hard pressed to come anywhere near that price.

[Wil Ferch]

I run SO-2's ...and I agree with the SO-3 gang...

I would at least look at the stated Toyo models ( T1-S and RA-1).

Look also at BFG KD ( not KDW) if high performance wet weather driving is not a big concern....

Wil

[randywebb]

Since you already had S0-3s I would be inclined to try the top tier tires from other quality manfs. Michelin, Pirelli, and was it Goodyear that came out with a new tire just recently?

A good rough rule is that the tire that has been most recently designed will often be bst -- the technology and competition is moving fast.

[jyl]

I have appx -1.5 deg camber in the rear. Still, I'm surprised at the rubbing. Will investigate further.

[real550A]

I just went through the same ordeal....noticed the head of a sheetrock screw protruding from my left front while the car was on the lift.
Being the sirloin kind of guy I am, I opted for the Yoko AVS E100's from Tirerack. 2-205's and 2-245's for $400 bucks, and they arrived in 4 days!
Now, just to find a mounter that will respect my rims, and I'm all set!