Imidazole

Hey guys, I've got a 2004 6-speed RX-8, and after 17k miles, my tires look pretty damn bald!

I autocrossed on the stock tires for a while back, I'm sure it killed their 'lifespan'.

I dont do any racing nowadays, and I just want a decent tire that will keep grip when I need it. Decent 'summer' use, and something that will work exceptionally in the rain - because I dont slow down for a 'little' storm for any reason.

So, any recommendations on a 'cheap' tire, and a good spot to get a deal?

swoope

iTrader: (5)

search tire recomendations. maybe also kumho in the search. you will find stuff to keep you busy for a while.


beers

RX4life

General tire from tire rack... very cheap and z rated... with a a high wear rating..but hasnt compromised grip, in my case...its like 100 for a tire

whiterex

Kumho spt's - cheap and grippy. www.tirerack.com

iridearocket

I can't get myself to buy Korean junk on a Japanese car, although I've heard Kumho makes decent tires. Check out the Yokohama ES100's or Dunlop Direzza's if you want some good Japanese stuff... Tread wear on these tires is about the best you can get for summer tires and the performance is above par for street use.

Fanman

Toyo T1R's over at www.edgeracing.com

BigOLundh

iTrader: (1)

get used tires... if you look around you can usually find a good set for super cheap.

-hS

swoope

iTrader: (5)

wow,
korean junk. maybe you should look at some of the testing with said korean junk.

beers

MadDashRX8

BFG g-Force sports for $130. Several dealers. I like 'em.

blksf8

Falken Azenis RT615s. great for autoX too.

http://www.vulcantire.com/azenis_rt615_t.htm

Ike

Plus a very short lifespan... Check out Toyo Proxes 4s or the Avon 550 all seasons from Tirerack.

Imidazole

Honestly now. Where do you expect to find used tires, of the OEM 18" size that'll fit on my 8, that arent used to hell, that I'd actually want?

JeRKy 8 Owner

Earlier this month, in the used parts forum, someone bought 4 Potenzas (the OEM tire) with a mere 500 miles on them for only $520 shipped. I know a lot of people on here hate the RE040s, but I think that was a pretty good deal considering 1 tire goes for around $220 brand new.

If you liked the RE040s, look around that forum every now and then. I think there's always someone selling some every month or so with very little wear on them.

nt5k

kumho spt.. worlds better than the 'junk' japanese tires that the car came with.

iridearocket

If you're happy with the Korean tires, keep using them. I won't ever buy a Korean car, and I likely will never use Korean tires. They are not on my list of technological leaders and you usually get what you pay for. Japan is the only country in Asia that develops any of their own technology... does it mean they are better... not necessarily.

To save a few bucks on the single most important aspect of your vehicle is crazy. There is a reason those tires cost $94 bucks... and I'm not going to be the one to find out what that reason is.

Kurt V

30 years ago you could have just substituted the country"Japan" for "Korea." Today you will find the Koreans are making decent cars and some exceptional tires, especially the Kumho brand. But feel free to keep wallowing in your ignorance.

Now back on topic. The Kumho Ecsta Sport is a good dry weather tire. On my '04 I went with the Ecsta ASX all weather tire. Good dry and wet weather grip, even does ok in snow.

Tirminyl

Ditto Kurt! Lots of people are using the Korean tires because they are good. I have heard nothing but excellent reports on them in Auto-x such as the Hankook series.

Transam kid 01

iTrader: (1)

Im getting cooper Zeons 2XS for 150 installed

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

Dunlop is owned by Goodyear

XeRo

yah...um..last I heard not many Japanese families were naming their children John Boyd Dunlop...they're headquartered out of Buffalo...i think..

you might be getting confused with the new found liking of Japanese drifters using the Direzza series tires...but that doesn't make Dunlop a Japanese manufacturer..

NoCones

Did you not look at the test results I linked to in that other thread?
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/new-kumhos-85125/

The SPT is plenty good in the wet.

Mikelikes2drive

uhmm last i heard samsung is the leading business in the world...
and look at ur cell phone? who makes most of ur cell phones? i believe that is LG and Samsung. look at most plasma tvs. just because hyundai doesnt make super nice luxurious cars or super fast sports cars doesnt make their cars bad, just economical

U ignorant *****.

socalightning

Replaced my worn stock Potenzas with 235/40/18 Kumho ECSTA SPTs. Drove on them for the last 2 weeks. What I noticed was steering felt much less sharp and less road feel but quiet riding - I could hear the engine more. Also, I think they felt lighter and had better throttle response but the diameter was also slightly smaller than stock. The really unimpressive characteristics was poor directional stability on the truck/rain grooves of cali freeways and possible tread squirm. Rain grip was really great though with the Kumho SPTs. To sum it up they made my 8 feel disconnected if not a little unstable at highway speed compared to stock tires. I switched to BFG G-force Sports now and they seem to give my car more rood feel and steering precision but less wet grip than the Kumho. Also, small bumps seem to throw them off a bit at the rear (lose traction) - harder rubber?. BFG's look better though with meatier agressive tread pattern and groves - maybe noisier too. We'll see how they work out and if saving $100 per tire (from stock) was worth it or not.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

and your air pressure was what?????

bet you dont know or changed it to change the way the tires feel.

beers

RX8_GT

Ecsta ASX in 245-40 18 is the way I went after the stock tires gave up the ghost at 15000 miles. Just 4K so far - but I'm happy. $ was good - along with good rating at TireRack.

Got mine at Discount Tire - which does business on Internet as Tires.com.

My 2 cents.