Tire advice please!
 

I have a 98 Mustang GT 5sp (obviously), and I just got a really good deal on 4 17" wheels from a friend. I currently have 16" wheels and tires, and am about to buy 17" tires to put on with my new rims. I'm wondering what tire everyone else out there likes (I'm looking for something relatively cheap, like no more than around $150 each). The Kuhmo Ecsta Supra 712s (size 25540) and the Michelin Pilots were both recommended to me. Does anyone else have any recommendations, or has anyone used these tires? Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks a lot.

What kind of driving are you planning on doing? Do you drag race or auto cross? As for Kuhmos, I personally think they suck. The tires you should buy all depend what the car is going to be used for.

I have also heard that those Kumhos don't make very good traction. I can only speak for the tires that I have had on my cars, but I really like Dunlop SP8000s and Pirelli P-zero Asymmetricos (Pirellis are very expensive). These are good for handling, but obviously don't hook up like a drag radial on a launch. I've also had BF Goodrich Comp T/A ZR's and was pretty happy with those. Have heard good things about Bridgestone S02s and S03s too.

I got some Z-rated Michelin Pilots cheap from Costco. They were a world better than my previous Toyo tires.

I only have 15" rims...so I don't know about your application....anyone else have any comments on the Pilots? (Mine were a little over 500 for all for with balancing and all that...they do that for free...)

Thanks,
DoranW

get 245's. you can get a better tire for the same price as paying for a crappy tire thats slightly bigger. Not a big difference but 245's will be cheaper and do just as fine.

Look into the Dayton Daytona ZR tires. I had them on my 96 and they were great tires. Also Pep Boys has a tire called the Futura Ultra Z or something like that. Made by Cooper they are the same thing as the Cooper Cobra Z rated tire (I think called the GTZ).

Dunlop SP5000's have served their purpose well for me...
They were $129.00 a piece, don't know what they are now. I drive my car hard every day whether it be cornering or smoking the rears. After 20,000 miles, they still look new. Ultimately your choice, just my experience with Dunlops.

The Dunlop SP5000's I had on my car weren't bad but I burned them up pretty quick. Also, stay away from Pep Boys and Japanese tires! There's a reason why they are cheap, they SUCK! If your into handling and autocross, go with BF Goodrich G- Force T/A KD's. These came on the '00 Cobra R and are pretty expensive but a little cheaper than the Pirelli's and are just as good if not better. If you drag race, get some BF Comp T/A Drag Radials in the back and some Comp T/A ZR's in the front. My friend had these on his Camaro and they hooked up very well.

I have yet to hear a good thing about Kumho tire. I'd stay away from them. I know an autocross guy (92 vett) who loves them because he has to buy a set every couple weeks. He said if he could afford ANYTHING else he would get it.

I had the Pilot XGT Z4'S, as my street tire, and I thought the were awful. Not a good tire for hard street driving. That tire gave me the worst traction proublems. I paid $160 , huge waste of money.

I had good luck with the Bridgestone Potenza RE 940's, a great street tire, for the wet too. They run about $120.

Think about tread life! If you need a street tire, I wouldn't get a drag radial, unless you like throwing money into tires every 20,000 miles. If the car is your daily driver you have to think about wet handling, as well.

It's a total give and take with tires.

well as much as everyone say's khumo's suck they beat the he-- out of the goodyears my car came with -3 blowout's in one year ,the last one has caused me to wait over 2 month's for my car to be repaired,i still dont have my stang,so whatever you decide ,dont get goodyear's:(

Amen to that! The stock Goodyear's that came on my GT are horrible. No traction and the way the tread was worn was terrible.

Bridgestone Potenza's rock. Sticky compound really keeps you on the road. For the best handling though I'd recommend suspension upgrades (ie. Steeda stage 3 or Roush or Max Motorsport).

Would have to agree. I just had a set put on my car and paid right at $600 for the works.

You might think about getting some take-off 99-01 Cobra wheels/tires. Get the polished ones (17x8) and they come with the Comp T/A tires (245-45-17) and fit perfectly. They are up on Ebay once in a while and you can get a used set usually with under a few thousand miles for about $700.

I bought a set of Bridgestone Potenza S-O2's. I love them. They are so much better than the stock goodyears. The compound is race proven and the traction in wet and dry is unbeleivable. I get better traction in the wet than I did on dry roads with the good years.

If you are getting bigger wheels/tires, I think you have to adjust your speedo gears too. Check with Steeda.

I never really do any auto-cross, just drag racing. Even for my street tires, I really want something that will hook up well off the line. Any suggestions on this? The potenzas still? Thanks,

-98gt5sp

I have Nitto 555ZR on my car, and I love them... I still have a huge groove in them where the tread is. I can't complain about them.. although you will have to spend some money for them at the size I have...

$272.00/tire @ 285/35/18

I have no problems with traction in wet/dry/sand/gravel. They hold very well to the pavement in all conditions. From a dead stop and the TCC loaded to full, I can go straight to WOT and not even spin the tires. I get full grip and launch right off the line, the only times I even get a small chirp from them is when I go from 1-2 and 2-3. Other than that, they hold their ground.

Make up your own mind. Go to www.tirerack.com they have a lot of tires and you can look at their pictures and see what others thought of them.

i have kuhmos in the front and plan on getting nitto's the next time around but i am not sure that these will wear out!!!!! 12,000 on them and they look brand new and as far as kuhmo's hooking good..forget it... excellent wet traction but if ya nail it wet or dry ..watch the back end lol.......i like my nitto dr in the back and will stick with them they hook very well on the street....btw i only paid 169.99 a tire for my dr's at a local tire shop

Kumho's are certainly not track tires...

But, if you need a cheap replacement to the stock GoodYears, 712's aren't the worst you could get. For the money and not going to the track, I would try the Kumhos.

As far as any "Japanese" tire being crap.... all I know is the Kumhos are better than the stock GoodYears.