What tires ar you using - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

ekam · 07-12-2010, 08:48 PM

Dunlop Z1 Star Spec. Warms up quick, very hard to break loose.

j.fro · 07-13-2010, 03:08 AM

I've got the Falken 912's in stock sizing on my "street" rims and Kumho ecsta XS in 275 35 18 rear, 235 40 18 front. I've been very impressed with both for their designated purposes. Despite having lots of camber, the Falkens last reasonably long, have low noise, and drive well in wet or dry conditions. The Kumhos stick unbelievably well and are quite predictable at the limit. The rears are wearing a bit faster than I expected.

Bradster · 07-13-2010, 04:12 AM

I just installed Kumho ASX's ultra high performance all season on my 97 base. Great so far. Quiet.

The Radium King · 07-13-2010, 05:41 AM

j.fro - those kumho's are wider than spec - do they fit without any rubbing? if not, what year is your box and what is the offset on your wheels (also, any mods - lowered, rolled, etc.)? thanks, trk.

Johnny Danger · 07-13-2010, 05:51 AM

I run Goodyear Eagle F1's. They perform well, however, the ride is stiff enough to knock your dental work out. Also, on two separate occasions, I had problems getting the rears to road force balance properly because they were out of "spec". Consequently, both had to be changed, and Goodyear would only warranty one of them.

ekam · 07-13-2010, 05:57 AM

^Mr. Danger, perhaps your ride is stiff partially because your car is dropped to the floor?

Johnny Danger · 07-13-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekam

^Mr. Danger, perhaps your ride is stiff partially because your car is dropped to the floor?

Actually, I was running the tires before any suspension changes or Viagra for that matter.

SoCalKen · 07-13-2010, 06:59 AM

Thanks everybody,
I think after reading all the posts I'm going to go with the Falken 912s or the Sumitomo HTRZIII. Hopefully I'll get more than 10K from the rears this time. Some one mentioned that the centers of their rears wear out. I had this problem with mine also when I started to notice this, I started playing with the air pressure. My rears are 265/35/18s. I thought center wear=to high pressure, outside wear=to little pressure. As it turns out, now i'm told thats wrong, the construction on these tires is such that too little pressure=center wear. makes no sense to me but porsche reccomends 36psi for that size on the rear for the Caymen.
Ken

Jaak · 07-13-2010, 07:10 AM

Kumho Ecsta SPT which came with the car. I found them to be great on dry pavement, great in emergency braking, in below 0 C temps and real steady in a heavy downpour/thunderstorm on the highway. I have never felt so stable during a heavy rain with NO hydroplaning. On 17" rims

Pat · 07-13-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalKen

Thanks everybody,
I think after reading all the posts I'm going to go with the Falken 912s or the Sumitomo HTRZIII. Hopefully I'll get more than 10K from the rears this time. Some one mentioned that the centers of their rears wear out. I had this problem with mine also when I started to notice this, I started playing with the air pressure. My rears are 265/35/18s. I thought center wear=to high pressure, outside wear=to little pressure. As it turns out, now i'm told thats wrong, the construction on these tires is such that too little pressure=center wear. makes no sense to me but porsche reccomends 36psi for that size on the rear for the Caymen.
Ken

Ken, if they're wearing fast in the middle they likely have too much air. Alignment may be an issue as well, but the primary factor in wearing out the middle of the tire faster than the shoulders is over-inflation.

tnoice · 07-13-2010, 09:12 AM

I have quite a few friends that autocross with the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11's, and I have completely and 100% determined that those will be the tires that I buy if they are still available in about 6 months.

Pat · 07-13-2010, 09:16 AM

Excellent performance tire, just not the best value out there. Cost no object these would be at/near the top of my list.

Allen K. Littlefield · 07-13-2010, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnoice

I have quite a few friends that autocross with the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11's, and I have completely and 100% determined that those will be the tires that I buy if they are still available in about 6 months.

I just bought Bridgestone Pole Position RE050A tires front and back. Love them and would buy them again. Check out their dry performance rating on Tire Rack.

AKL :dance:

ekam · 07-14-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnoice

I have quite a few friends that autocross with the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11's, and I have completely and 100% determined that those will be the tires that I buy if they are still available in about 6 months.

I think they just came out not that long ago. Newer than the Z1 Star Spec for sure.