Kumho Ecsta SPT question
 

My stock tires need to be replaced immediately. The dealer had only this tire in stock although at about 75$ more than online per tire. I was thinking of going to discount tires or something but I was wondering if anyone here has used it in NW weather and what their experience on these tires are? This seems to be one of the cheapest tires in cateogry but is the performance cheap too?? ANy help would be appreciated as I am not knowledgable when it comes to tires and stuff.. THanks


Link to Kumho in Tire Rack

Also do you guys happen to know of any discount tire location which can handle rx8's with those TPMS things properly ??

I know that FABRO runs SPT's and was going to leave them on this winter. You might PM him. Last October, Marquis and I got Ecsta ASX's - the ultra high performance all seasons. They are great in the rain and even light snow. I was gonna have mine installed at the Bellevue Discount Tire where a friend works, but ended up going to the same place as Marquis got his installed. The Discount guys said no problem on the TPMS. Don't know if all places have experience with them, so prolly a good idea to ask first.

Discount Tire in Tigard off Greenburg Rd had no issues working with the TPMS sensors on my wheels.

Discount tires Marches prices on-line, but you have to keep an eye on the person working on you tires. I had been going to the same discount tire store for the pass year, because there the cheaper but there service is cheap too, one time, they try too tell me that the tire i buond six month ago comes with a new trade and is not uni-diretional any more, but long story short, I deal with the manager, and I look and stand by the person doing the job from now on. I guest that's what happens went you have a dad that has work as a body/mechanic for the past 50 years!!!

Great replies so far..

Discount Tires in Tigard seems to be a great option as its closeby for me. I will ensure that I watch him do the tire change.

pdxhak -- Is there any particular person you dealt with there ?

05GTilady-- I sent a mail to FABRO hopefully after getting his opinion I should be able to get this done with Discount Tires and get them to match the online prices. Any more opinions on this question would be appreciated.

I have about 25K miles on my Kumho Ecsta SPT's. They have been great. I'm getting ready to buy another set. They don't handle as well as the stock tires, but they are much quieter, very good in the rain, and last longer.

I recommend this tire.

I'm running 245/40/18 Kumho Ecsta SPT's. Never new what stock was like as I bought my car used with these newly installed. I certainly kept up with the group on the one drive I went on. Wet traction is pretty good too. If you want to sacrifice a little dry traction for awesome wet traction and even decent snow traction get the same tire in Ecsta APT. (All-season Performance Tire). My friend runs them on his E36 M3. Same tread pattern, different compound.

Oh and Les Schwab is a Kumho dealer and they do good work. Usually (any franchise is susceptible to bad employees)

If they don't handle as well as the stock tires, you might as well be driving on sticks of butter. Oh wait, you probably got the Dunlops, didn't you? Those Bridgestones were terrible. I got the best traction out of them after I wore off all the tread (literally), and then only when the temps were perfect.

I still got the original bridgestone 225/45R18 (potenza RE040A) on my car and i keep up with you kristopher and i got 40.000 miles on them, and my rear passinge side tire in losing air tru the tread little, by little. I have to put air every three to four days. I got the money for the new tire 225/45RR18 "potenza RE050A" at $172. each, but I have not have the time go pay for them and pick them up yet! next month or in may I will take vacation to move and get new tires! At less that is my plane for now!

Check out the Tire Forum. There is a very long thread on the ECST SPTs. I just bought them and like them as a daily driver tire. Best to keep pressure 34-36PSI to stiffen up the softer sidewalls.

Avoid Les Schwab around here, (I live in Forest Grove) I have had very bad experience with them. Tire Factory has been OK to me. My 8 is too new to need new tires though.

PDX, I replied to your e-mail. My opinion on the SPT's they are great on dry pavement, good in rain but suck in the snow/icey roads. Yea I used them in the winter over here in WA, but if the roads looked real bad I just car pooled to work or used the WRX to commute. If you don't have other means of transportation in the winter then you might think of getting a seperate pair of winter tires to go with your SPT's. Also, I did take the SPT's out on a rainy day and drove them hard on the Feb. meet we had and I had no traction problems at all. Kris D, Proxi and I were tearing up the twisties that day!

I had the bridgestone stock ones. I have been reading in the tires forum about the KUmho discussion also. I have decided to go with the SPTs and will just dont take them out in snow. I do the same thing with the stock ones also.

Forgot to Thank everyone for all the replies :)