Need new street tires for the Box

[dmairspotter]

I know this gets flogged to death here, but...

I need a need set of street tires for the 2003 S

No track, no auto-x, relatively sedate street driving only.

I'd like decent dry AND wet traction, longer life than my current Michelins, and decent ride/quietness.

Any suggestions? Help greatly appreciated.

[Joe B]

I really like my Michelin A/S 3s. Really good wet traction, comfortable ride and good handling, and they work well enough in occasional snow (I bet you get snow too).

[JayG]

check out tirerack.com
I have Brigestone pole position S-02 and they perform great, but don't have great treadlife (140 AA A), maybe 10k on the rears. Im looking at the Hancooks (280 AA A)right now and tirerack has a set of 4 18" for around $450'

Bear in mind I am in San Diego, so a summer tire is fine year round and we get very little rain as well.

You being in Maine, you will need winter tires soon as the summer tires are not for outside temp's below 40

[mgfranz]

Originally Posted by JayG

check out tirerack.com
I have Brigestone pole position S-02 and they perform great, but don't have great treadlife (140 AA A), maybe 10k on the rears. Im looking at the Hancooks (280 AA A)right now and tirerack has a set of 4 18" for around $450'

Bear in mind I am in San Diego, so a summer tire is fine year round and we get very little rain as well.

You being in Maine, you will need winter tires soon as the summer tires are not for outside temp's below 40

Hey Jay, I'm just north of you by a few miles, would those be the Hankook Ventus V12 you are talking about? Another budget tire that I would be interested in hearing reviews on are the Sumitomo HTR Z II.
I run the Michelin Pilot Super Sport now and they have been great, except they break loose in corners really easy, or it could be my driving, but they wear really poorly.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by mgfranz

Hey Jay, I'm just north of you by a few miles, would those be the Hankook Ventus V12 you are talking about? Another budget tire that I would be interested in hearing reviews on are the Sumitomo HTR Z II.
I run the Michelin Pilot Super Sport now and they have been great, except they break loose in corners really easy, or it could be my driving, but they wear really poorly.

Yes, the Hancook V12. I was also talking to my neighbor that has them on his M5 and really likes them. He did tell me that Discount Tire will match Tirerack pricing and that way you save the shipping cost.

I have heard a lot of good things about the V12's from others too.

Where in So Cal are you? I live in Rancho Bernardo, just off the 15.
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[Coaster]

Originally Posted by mgfranz

I run the Michelin Pilot Super Sport now and they have been great, except they break loose in corners really easy, or it could be my driving, but they wear really poorly.

I agree mine break loose in the corners and wore pretty fast for a mild driver like me.

I bought my car with (almost) new Michelin Pilot Super Sports on it. Backs are worn down after 13k, fronts still look good. They car was was too loose in the rain (especially on the worn down tire). I'm going to replace the rears with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3. As a daily driver and no AX or DE I think these are a good choice. 500 AA A rating. Tire Rack had a good price; however, the installation is going to cost a little more since I wanted to get them road force balanced. Discount doesn't do that. In a few months, going to switch to them on the front too.

[kk2002s]

+1 Sumitomo HTR Z III
Came with the car. I bought at 52k miles. I now have 72k miles, 20 months of driving. I do have to replace the rears but the fronts are still good
I drive them through the winter (Oh No), some snow and I have never had any traction issues. Well in the snow it not very good.
I was going to replace with Mich Pilots but since the Sumitomo's have been so good to me and are price friendly, I'm replacing the rears in a couple months, then next spring the fronts with Sumitomos.
I do now have an extra car so I can pick and choose my winter driving

[dmairspotter]

Thanks for all the input. I only take it out in winter on dry road days once a month or so. Just to roll the running gear and get the oil up to temp.

95% of my driving is summer, and only wet if I'm on a trip and it rains.

Some good alternatives here - I will check with Tirerack

[Bruce Wayne]

I run OEM Pirelli P Zero Rosso N4 they wear well and stick to the road

[BIGJake111]

Pirelli P Zero Nero for me, they handle great wet and dry. Wear is kinda rough though.

[jb92563]

Hankook Ventus V12 are great wet and dry and last a long time, however for more track days I would go with the Hankook R-S3 next time.

[Ebell914]

My Continental AWS's are pretty darn good...and they even have a 50k (well, 25k since you can't rotate them) warranty.

[mnc-i]

mgfranz,

I've been using Sumitomo HTR Z IIs & IIIs since I purchased my 1999 Boxster in 2009.
HTR Z IIIs are 300 AA A for tread wear, traction & temp.
Right now I have HTR Z IIs. They are 360 A A.

It doesn't rain much here in Central Texas so a 360 rating for tread wear seems pretty good to me.

My car has well over 216800 miles, and I put the last 112000 miles on since Sep 2009.

I tend to get about 16000 miles out of the rear tires and around twice that with the front tires.

I purchase thru TireRack and I cannot beat the price.

I am no expert and I do not track my car, but I have been very pleased with HTR Zs.

MNC-I

[Alfieg23]

I agree with jb92563. My Hankook Ventus V12's are excellent, wet or dry. Did I mention that they are also VERY reasonably priced?

[jsceash]

Originally Posted by Alfieg23

I agree with jb92563. My Hankook Ventus V12's are excellent, wet or dry. Did I mention that they are also VERY reasonably priced?

I have to agree with them, I just got a set in June about very please so far

[Teddyonine]

Originally Posted by mnc-i

mgfranz,

I've been using Sumitomo HTR Z IIs & IIIs since I purchased my 1999 Boxster in 2009.
HTR Z IIIs are 300 AA A for tread wear, traction & temp.
Right now I have HTR Z IIs. They are 360 A A.

It doesn't rain much here in Central Texas so a 360 rating for tread wear seems pretty good to me.

My car has well over 216800 miles, and I put the last 112000 miles on since Sep 2009.

I tend to get about 16000 miles out of the rear tires and around twice that with the front tires.

I purchase thru TireRack and I cannot beat the price.




I am no expert and I do not track my car, but I have been very pleased with HTR Zs.

MNC-I

I agree on the Sumitomos. Replaced my Pilots withe HTR Z II and have no complaints at all. try Tire Rack- can't beat the price.

[schnellman]

I agree Tire Rack has some great prices and some great tires with very, very fast delivery. However, I do question some of their "expert" advice. Yesterday I was chatting with one of their tire "experts." I want to go from a 255/40 17 to a 275/40 17 on the back of my Box. He said it would scrub because the 275 would be -- get this -- SEVEN inches taller than the 255. Think he needs a little more training before turning him loose on customers.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Ebell914

My Continental AWS's are pretty darn good...and they even have a 50k (well, 25k since you can't rotate them) warranty.

I have the same tires and like them, however they seem to flat spot from sitting for just a few days. Do you experience the same thing ? It only takes about a mile of driving and they are fine, first tires I've had that do this.

[MitchSF]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I have the same tires and like them, however they seem to flat spot from sitting for just a few days. Do you experience the same thing ? It only takes about a mile of driving and they are fine, first tires I've had that do this.

I have them on my A5 and on the Boxster. I noticed the same thing on both cars.

[flaps10]

have them on the front of my e46 and also notice the out of round condition for a mile or so. My car sits for weeks at a time though, since I typically ride a motorcycle to work.

As mentioned, they run true in a mile or so. I'm actually quite happy with the all weather grip (as we seem to get ALL weather around here) and they are quiet.