Sumitomo HTR Z III

Kirk Hawes · Kirk Hawes's Garage

Need new tires. Currently have Potenza S-03 Pole Position's (205/50 17's & 255/40 17's). Anybody tried Sumitomo HTR Z III? Or should I just get the RE050A Pole Position?

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Sumitomo are good and cheap (although they don't wear great) also check out the Hankooks

KOH · 07-31-2008, 09:21 AM

I had Sumitomo HTR Z IIs on my BMW 330Ci. I was very pleased with them. They stuck well in the dry and the wet. I wish I put them on my 87 Carrera instead of the AVON Tech M500s.

jh225 · 07-31-2008, 09:34 AM

Do yourself a favor and for a few more bucks, step up to the Dunlop Z1. I am very happy with mine. There is a reason Sumitomo's are dirt cheap.

jwernquist · 07-31-2008, 09:58 AM

I have those Sumitomo's on my SC, and I do not really like them. As others said they do not wear well, and mine are somewhat noisy and hard.

JW

andyu911 · andyu911's Garage

I have had them on my daily driver, a Golf TDI, and I got my every penny worth of them.
Check out a bit history of Sumitomo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumitomo_Rubber_Industries%2C_Ltd.

Cheers,

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

+1 on Hankooks, I'm on my third set on as many porsches and I love them. Depending on what sizes you need check out the Ventus RS-2.

Max Von · Max Von's Garage

I have them on my Mecedes E55. Not as responsive with turn in as the Michelin's I replaced. Slightly noisy (humming) at 70mph. I'd say a 3/4 performance tire for my car. 10K on them and still at 8-9/32. They were a good value for sure. Tirerack loves 'em.

The Curator · 07-31-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk Hawes

Need new tires. Currently have Potenza S-03 Pole Position's (205/50 17's & 255/40 17's). Anybody tried Sumitomo HTR Z III? Or should I just get the RE050A Pole Position?

So far about 1000 miles on Sumitomo and I hate them. I wonder why Tirerack likes them... there is a reason why they are cheap!

jh225 · 07-31-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Curator

So far about 1000 miles on Sumitomo and I hate them. I wonder why Tirerack likes them... there is a reason why they are cheap!

Tire Rack loves them because they sell them for $85 and buy them for $40. Tell your salesmen to push them as being great tires at a great price and sell thousands of them for a $40 profit equals tons of money. *Note that I do not know how much they pay for them, but whoesale on most any product is half retail.*

I USED to like Tire Rack. Now if I am looking for tires, I will find a couple, call them up with a couple of different choices get one opinion, call again, get another salesman who will tell you something else, call again, another guy will tell you something else. They really are getting pretty lame. I had one tell me that the HTRZ is hands down a better tire than the Dunlop Z1. What a maroon.

What I have really started to find out that my local store will match any online price. You pay shipping at Tire Rack, then you have to get them mounted. You pay tax at the local store, mounting included in price, so it washes out. Last couple of sets I actually got cheaper when all expenses are tallied.

rnln · 07-31-2008, 03:03 PM

I have the normal HTR Z (not II or III). I have not have much miles on them yet so I am not sure how they are after a while but for now, I like them. I have no noise at all, except on certain freeway surface (those with deep lines). Low price, no noise. I know they are soft but I am not racing them.

Oh Haha · 07-31-2008, 03:16 PM

I have the HTRz's on the 911 and , so far, love them. Not only because they don't cost a lot but they are a good tire. I know a guy who has a hard driven Shelby Cobra replicar and he loves them. Yes, he beats the heck out of them just about daily. He is running 315/275 on his car.

I think they are quieter than my Fuzion's, TBH.

i know other 911 owners who have them and like them as well.

EDIT: They are not a track tire but for normal driving they should be just fine.

BTW-Do some of you actually call TireRack and ask for an opinion? I thought they were just there to sell tires.

No offense but I pretty much know what I am purchasing when I place an order.

EarlySport · 07-31-2008, 03:32 PM

I'm running HTRZII's on my 968CS which I daily drive, and I like them. They're quiet, have a reasonable ride, and are quite predictable when they break away for occasional sideways antics.

Outright grip doesn't concern me that much on the street, and I have a set of semi slicks for the track, so I can't really comment on what their ultimate traction is like. They feel OK though wet and dry.

Max Von · Max Von's Garage

This test sparked my interest because I was looking for a less expensive alternative to Michelin for now.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=93&GCID=C13674x032&code=yes

Same discussion going on with the BMW M5 forums etc.....

They aren't a Michelin but for 1/2 the price and me being out of work....they work for me.

Buckterrier · 07-31-2008, 05:25 PM

Tires are like women, everyone has different taste. I have the II's on my Carrera and so far I like them, quiet and stick pretty well.

911longhorn · 07-31-2008, 08:14 PM

I like my Hankook RS-2s. Got them from Tire Rack... good service.

James Brown · James Brown's Garage

Buy the Goodyear F-1's, you all will love them from first mile to the all to soon last.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Interesting test data here too:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=107

Looks like they like the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec too and they are not to expensive -

That said - I have purchased more tires from www.tire-easy.com these days -

jh225 · 08-01-2008, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyD

Interesting test data here too:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=107

Looks like they like the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec too and they are not to expensive -

-

As I said earlier in the thread, I went with the Z1 and am very pleased. Much better than Sumitomo, Fuzion, Hankook, etc. People also don't realize that Dunlop is now owned by Goodyear.

Why go with a cheap low end tire on a high end car when a real performance tire is available for a few dollars more?

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Well - The hankooks are available in 225 and 245 / 16 widths.

The Dunlops have limited sizing in the 16's.

That said, - I've been happy with my hankooks - they get a little greasy when they heat cycle at the track - so 1/2 a lap of interesting handling - then they are very predictable - AND sticky. For the price, they are tough to beat.