Any one with "Sumitomo HTR Z III" Please comment - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

kabel · 07-31-2009, 08:54 AM

Couple threads on here that might help:

Sumitomo HTR Z III

Replacement Tires

mptoledo · 07-31-2009, 09:24 AM

Thanks, I missed the first site on my search. I have been heavily leaning towards them, but most reviews on tire rack have been from people that have less than 500 miles. How the hell can you review something that hasn't even had the nipples worn off yet?

blinkwatt · 07-31-2009, 09:47 AM

I put over 1k miles on mine while only being on my car for 72 hours....I've said it about 5 times already....amazing tires in dry weather....suck ass in wet conditions,loose as heck.

MikenOH · 07-31-2009, 10:51 AM

if you're looking for similar cars--RWD,small cars (BMW,S2000)--the consensus was these are good tires for the $. A little more tire noise, not quite as good in the wet, but a decent tire.

I have no experience with these tires, but do with the GY Asym F1--a tire very close to the PS2 performance at a much lower price.

If you're looking at the Exclaim, you might also consider the Kumho SPT--priced about the same. Similar performance--quiet, smooth ride decent traction, but a rather soft sidewall.

mptoledo · 07-31-2009, 11:45 AM

Thanks for all the input folks,

I just got back from my local tire guy, he said the fronts were in pretty good shape(pilot sport), but it would cost almost as much to put 2 new Mich sports on the rear as it would be to get 4 new Sumitomo HTR Z III. He also said with 4 new the ride would be better than 2new/2 45% fronts. He originally recommended General UHPs

. I felt for $100 more the sumitomo's were much better.

So I ordered the Sumitomo HTR Z III 18's. I will post a review after a few thousand miles and let you all know. If they are as good as everybody says then they are definately a great/cheaper alternative to the high dollar tires.

Mikeoh, I was looking at the f1 asyms, but they were about $300 more.

Topless · 07-31-2009, 01:34 PM

I have a fairly fresh set of Sumi HTRZ (180 treadwear not HTRZ III) that came with a set of 17" takeoff wheels. I had planned to mount R-Comp tires on the wheels and ditch the Sumis. I have changed my mind. These are really nice street/daily driver tires. Very predictable, quiet, good road manners, good traction wet or dry. I now have several spirited canyon carving days and 1 track day on them. I highly recommend.

They don't have the crisp turn in or absolute grip of my last set of PS2s but they are a joy to drive around town or "going deep" in twisty mountain roads. The one downside is track days. In continuous fast laps on a warm day grip fades pretty quickly. Where PS2s would really hang in there the Sumis start to get greasy by lap 3 or 4. I will run out these tires as my new daily driver tire. The R-comps are going on the other set of rims for the track.

yimmy149 · 07-31-2009, 01:40 PM

Yeah, I'd def avoid mixing tires front/rear. I did that on another car and it was difficult to drive on the freeway due to each tread pattern following the ruts in the road differently. Felt like the car had casters in the back.

mptoledo · 07-31-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yimmy149

Yeah, I'd def avoid mixing tires front/rear. I did that on another car and it was difficult to drive on the freeway due to each tread pattern following the ruts in the road differently. Felt like the car had casters in the back.

Yeah, I wasn't going to mix, I had just thought about replacing the rears with identical Michelins, but the cost would be within $100 of getting 4 sumits. Seems like a no brainer. I do like the Michelins for the short period I had them, so i will compare them to the Sumits when I have put some miles on them.