I need to replace the tires on my rx 8
i have 2 options:

Kumho Ecsta ( $95 each)
or bridgestone potenza re050A( $132 each)

I assume the bridgestones are better, but is there a huge difference?
considering the kumhos are about $40 cheaper . is it more cost effective? thanks

 

Neither.... get Pirelli

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

 

too expensive : $213 a piece

 

I put the Kumho Ecsta on my mother in law's AMG CLK, and they're dead good tires. They corner well and roll as well as the Michelins that came standard on her car. IMHO they are actually a better tire than the Bridgestone for less money. The Pirelli's are rated higher, but not that much higher than the Kumhos and the price differential is huge. So again in my opinion I would buy the Kumhos over the Bridgestones.

 

You might want to take advantage of the closeout on the RE050A tires. You can't beat $132 on a normally $200 priced tire. They are stickier then the Kuhmos, and will perform better on dry pavement IMO, but also not last as long. I had those Ecstas on my 01 S2000 in the front, and they definitely are not as good as the Potenzas that are now on my 06 I can tell you that. The Kuhmos will be better for daily driving though, in rainy conditions, and also likely will feel smoother. You likely won't be disappointed in the Kuhmos, because they are a better bargain all around. The rubber is harder, so they don't have that feel to the road like Potenzas do though. I recently took off my RE050A ties off my Mazdaspeed 6 and replaced them with Pirelli Nero High Performance all seasons, and I lost some handling, but it doesn't matter because it's a leased car to take to work. If you lived local I'd say screw them both and buy my Potenzas with only 500 miles on them for less then Kuhmos.

It really depends on what you want. If you want car to feel the same as it did when you bought it, then go with the Potenzas, if you wanna save money, still have good performing tires that will last longer and likely be a bit better in rain, then go with the Kuhmos. You can't go wrong either way.

 

i wouldn't put the bridgestones back on my car if you gave me the tires.

the kumho's are good. the avons aren't bad either if you are pinching pennies.

 

the kuhmo have a $40 rebate on 4 tires

 

It's a no brainer then. Get the Kuhmos. Even at $132 for the Potezas, you're better off with the longer lasting, yet very good performing tire.

 

i dont have any experience with the potenzas as my rx8 has the dunlops (which are nice).. i hear bad reviews on the potenzas on ALL cars, so i would go with the kumhos as they are cheaper... kumhos has gotten great reviews for the price on Rx8, g35 and 350zs...

 

Which Kumho ECSTA tire are you looking at? MX, ASX, AST, Supra 712, SPT?

I'm guessing you're looking at a performance summer or 3-season tire (since you're comparing it the Potenza RE050A) so we can probably rule out the ASX and AST.

Based on the prices and the likelihood that you are going for OE size, you're probably looking at the SPT. That is a very popular tire. If you aren't doing 10/10ths driving every time you get behind the wheel, I'd say that the SPT is a good choice.

 

It's not the MX or 712's, they are a much better tire and cost more.

I would go Kumho over RE050's unless you track the car then get Kumho MX or the RE050's

 

i have kumho mx. and i love them

 

I say neither. I love my Yokohama AVS ES 100s. The whole deal cost me $700 balanced and mounted. They've been great tires and I plan to purchase them again next go around. I have about 22k on them and they're just now starting to wear. I do lots of spirited driving and hard accelerations and they've held up well. Good luck on your choice either way.

 

I have the MX also. Have put a few hundred track miles on them and they are holding up very well and even in 100+ temperature heat cycles they have maintained their grip.

 

Get the Hankook RS2's if they have the correct sizes

 

I'm on my second set of Khuko's now. Ecsta MX 245/40 ZR 18 Love 'em. They grip very well in dry or wet. They will wear fast though. I got 30K miles out of my last set and they were absolutely bald when I bought the new ones. Very smooth tire for the price.

 

i had a khuko once.....

 

I'm about 4 months, 5,000 miles and one track day into my Kuhmo Ecsta SPT's. At the time I got them there was a $50 rebate, so it was about $500 out the door.

They're doing very well in the dry & wet. Lasting much longer than the Dunlops! If I track it more, I would like to get dedicated tires for that. The Kuhmos did ok on the track, but a purpose built tire would do much better. I'm running out of room though, with 2 sets of Blizzaks (one for me and for the wife's Miata) in the garage all ready.

For the money, I dod't think the Kuhmos can be beat.

 

With 31k on my OEM Potenzas, I don't understand all the negativity about them. I love to carve the corners and the grip in the Potenzas is phenomenal. Is it really a savings if you don't get the same performance or same wear on a cheaper tire? Mind you, living in the desert I won't worry about rain or snowy conditions.

I'm not willing to give up performance or wear, and won't settle for less. Not even for $100/tire. Good luck in your search.

 

I highly recommend the Toyo T1-S. Great grip, great wet and dry, and they're quite.

 

Zaglo6204, Ha! :-) Got me. Guess I should double check my spelling more often. Anyway, I like Kumho tires over the Bridgestones any day. Better grip, less noise, higher mileage.

 

wow....I wish I could get over 12k miles on a set of tires .....Not a fan of the ES100's...I wanted to get Azenies 615's....but for a grand no frigging way!!....

 

BFGoodrich KDW-2's, best tire I ever bought.

 

Just recently put on my Kumho SPTs after my stock Potenzas were goners, they're great. Seem to have good grip and are very comfortable.

 

Well, mine are wore out and I don't think I even have 5,000 miles.

But I do have 500 track miles most in 80 degree plus.