Glyphon

all that means is there aren't enough online survey's completed for that tire to be included.

there are 30 reviews for it, and it is had the highest overall score in its test results page.

and if you look at the ultra high perfomance survey ratings, you can see that the kumho supra 712 is #14, and the Yokohama AVS ES100 is #15. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...y.jsp?type=UHP

The ecsta spt is the replacement for the 712 (and supposed to be a better tire), and it beat the avs es100 in the comparison test against it.

and in the test that compares the avs100 and the Sumitomo HTR Z II, those two tires scored pretty evenly.

so based off of those results, the spt would likely fall somewhere between ~#7 and ~#15 on the ultra high performance tire survey result.

L8APEX

I would be wary of the reviews on Tirerack. I read on there that the KDW was a nice quiet tire, and that could not be further from the truth. One even advised to replace the wheel bearings to get rid of the noise... . WRONG. Replace the tires. Now more reviews report that they are not so quiet, but the fact remains, some of the folks reviewing tires probably couldn't find their *** with both hands.

your best bet for review of a tire for an 8, is to ask another 8 owner. And there is a great resource of them right here. And opinions abound.

Glyphon

yeah, you do have to take review with a grain of salt, and same thing with the "ratings" as those are based off the surveys.

that said, the SPT is remarkably quieter.

one example as an illustaration...

with the stock potenzas it was a strain to hear the redline buzzer, if i could hear it at all, and that was with the radio off and actively listening for the buzzer. with the SPTs, the buzzer is very noticable, even over the radio.

garynjr

This is good stuff. I thing they look like decent shoes. For $100 less each then the others it may be at least worth lookin at... How are they in the rain?? The Kuhmo's

My stock tires aren't what I would call obnoxiously loud. However It's winter here so I rarely have the window open. It was niceer today around 49* so I did have the window down for a little and I could hear them but nothing I would be worried about. Now on the other hand it's pretty easy to step out coming from a stop and turning a corner. But it's also not hard to keep it from sliding too.

Thanks for all the advise. So this is the deal:

Less expensive very good perfomance (better and quieter then stock) : Kumho Ecsta SPTs $115 - 135

Expensive but better all around: Pirelli PZeroNero M+S tires $200+ (didn't realy like the tread pattern on these...)

Most expensive: and best performance all around: Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 $245

Thanks...

swoope

iTrader: (5)

great in the rain... drove through a hurricane earlier this year...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...e1=yes&place=0

beers

RX4life

[QUOTE=ftwmcmillan]I recently bought the general tire exclaim and these tires are great. They are so much quiter than the oem.[/QUO
Agree.. best bang for the buck.. i dont even mind burning out frequently..

Madhops

I just got a set of Pirelli P-Zero Nero's M+S 245/40/18's on stock rims, all I can say is that they are amazing. I live in Vancouver so we get lots of rain and the occational snowfall. So far I've got no complaints, they perform better and are even quieter than stock rubber. I would buy these again.

XeRo

I've been running the Falken Azenis ST115..if you need some for snow...FK451's are good so i've heard. they're also lighter than the ST115...wierd...

i've been impressed with the stickyness of teh St115...great on track and in the rain...

got 'em from EdgeRacing.com..they;ll blow out TireRack on prices...

Glyphon

they are very good in the rain, much better than the stock potenzas. also did well on a patch of black ice last month (going around a turn no less).

and unless those are canadian prices, the SPTs are <$100 at tirerack now ($98 to be exact).

and in my opinion, if you want the very best tire, prices be damned, i'd go with the potenza s-03. a friend has those on his FD and absolutely loves them. great at autocross, on the track, and daily driving (although a bit noisy).

Moonrover333

i have Nitto 555 extreme zrs and i love em in the dry a lil slick in the rain but scary in snow i will probably put the same ones back on i love em but next year i may get a set of winter tires

Fanman

I got the Toyo T1S, very good tire. Light years better than the Stock RE 040's. Toyo has come out with the new versions the T1R's.

invaliduser

I too am running on a new set of Falken Azenis ST115s in the 245-40 form. I was nervous when they first came in once i saw the grooves in the tires. Those water dispersion grooves are freakin huge and really take away from the contact patch. Surprisingly, they stick better than the factory dunlops and are much quieter. My complaint is that I feel prob 3x's more sidewall squirm than i did with the stocks. I'm thinking some of that is because of the 245's additional width on the stock wheel. But none the less it is aggrevating me that I have less responsiveness to quick steering manuvers. I'll get use to it for $125 a tire.
And as far as the 245-40's size. I think its the perfect tire size for these wheels on this car.

garynjr

Thanks, That was agreat review!

L8APEX

falkens are known for having softer sidewalls. my 615's were a little squirmy at first, and are getting better. Once they are more thoroughly broken in, that will fade away. But for a 300 Treadwear tire(the 115), you cant expect them to feel like a 200 tire(the dunlop 8090). My car had the dunlops stock too, and i really liked them. i got a lot of mileage out of them, but i also drove the car much more conservative.

carbonRX8

iTrader: (1)

Interesting, I just had my first day on KDW2s, and I have to say they are definitely louder than stock. Think 4x4. I only have 40miles on them so I am going to hold off on a review and I am not complaining. If I could put up with that crappy first gen K$N for a year, I can handle a little road noise.

L8APEX

i can tell you, that after a year of driving on them, they will not get better. at some tread wear increments, they were worse. And I was not being overly sensitive, or a cry baby about UHP tires.

Glyphon

worse than the stock potenza? good lord, that's some horrible road noise. can you hear the stereo over that

L8APEX

I had the dunlops, very quiet. and no, with teh KDW's at 80 MPH, the stereo had to be on about 10 to hear it. From about 60 up, it just got louder and louder, until at 80 there was a high pitch whine, that was unbearable. Now with my Azenis, the diffference is huge.

gashalot

For the other buyers out there, I did some research and eventually selected a pair of Kumho Ecsta SPT's as replacements for my rear tires (Potenza RE040 225/45R18). The rear pair was worn down to treadbars (~22k miles), which made it quite noisy and a bit twicthy in damp conditions.

I'm several hundred miles in on these guys now and I have to say I'm extraordinarily pleased. The decrease in road noise is dramatic, the ride is more comfortable, and there is a bit more grip in damp/greasy conditions compared to RE040's.

You can get them for about $100/tire, and a good shop should install them for $15-20 per tire. It's an absolute steal as you can get a pair mounted for less than the cost of a single Potenza RE040, and for about 2/3 of the cost of a pair of Pirelli's, with a longer treadwear.

Some more reading can be found at Tire Rack: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...num=245YR8KU31

niadvance

i just had the kumho ecsta spts put on mine last week. had 18 k on my pos potenzas and couldnt stand the noise anymore. man the ride is great, can hear my engine and sweet exhaust note again and traction is what i remember it being when i first got my 8. very happy so far.

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

can anyone comment on road noise between the RE040's and KDW2's?

lazi

i have the kdw. road noise after 80+ is there. so if you get bugged by road noise easily. then this will not be your choice. although these tires are pretty good in general

MrWigggles

I have enjoyed my Yokohamas.

I got the AVS dB2's in 245/40-18 for the front and 275/35-18 rears. I drive pretty aggressively and I now have 40,000 miles on my front tires. I had to replace the rears at 30,000 miles. I will be replacing the fronts before too long.

I would have gotten even better mileage out of the tires if the car came with better allignment. Our RX-8's typically come with 1 degree or more of negative camber. That is brutal on tires.

My advice: check you allignment and get some the AVS dB2's. They should last you a good quiet 40,000 miles.

-Mr. Wigggles

salituro64

275/35-18 on the rears? Are these the stock rims? Do you have any pictures?

garynjr

Quick question....

Thedealership guy told me today that there are only 2 tires in the program of the computer in the car Bridgestone is the preffered... Has anyone heard that? And can you reprogram it for the Ecta's ? Thanks...