if you ride motorcyles you know all about it...

it is what allows the tires to come out of the mold... the tires are very very slick the first couple hundred miles....

beers

 

True. The reviews are from the people that bought them. From what I gather... the people that review them have many different driving styles, so they rate them according to their own style. Not a problem as long as you can tell if their style matches your own.

I was also basing my decision to buy the Avons off the reviews and comparisons to other tires that TireRack writes. Those are the ones that really made them look good in comparisons. Maybe they do perform well... if you're not looking for performance tires. I later found out that Tirerack is the exclusive seller of Avons. Hmmm... a connection(?)

I'm learning as I go and thought I'd share my mistakes so others don't make them too.

The last set I bought was because of recommendations on this site. With all the autocrossers on here... there is a lot more performance minded people.

 

Sounds like you had the Ultra High Perf All Season Avons. They seem to get good reviews on Tirerack.com, but the reviews said they had relatively soft sidewalls.

The Kumhos just need to be inflated a bit more than the OEM Bridgestones to stiffen the sidewalls. They trade a bit of ultimate dry grip to be a better in all other categories.

However, they are a steal at $95, but they don't quite match up to the higher rated tires that start around $170+ per tire.

 

here you go..

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...e.jsp?techid=5

beers

 

Well I'm past the 500 mark and on my way to 600.

 

Bridgestone RE960 AS Pole Position are what I'm using right now. The traction is superb compared to the RX8 stock tires.

These tires are tuned to wet and icy conditions. The overall dry traction is a little better then the stock tires. However, the wet traction is simple phenomenal. The tires are like glue in the rain, as if somehow it is possible for tires to have more traction in the rain, then in dry conditions. Granted it took a good 1000km to work them in, but the traction seems to improve more, as I drive.

Dry traction - stock tires - 120km around 50k turn bottom of a mountain
Severe Rain - Pole Positions - 132km around same 50k turn on the bottom of the mountain.

They are a quiet, long lasting excellent tire.... and (Freaky) they are All-Season tires. I have no problems recommending these tires (for areas with lots of rain) to any member in this forum. Please confirm with Tire Rack. The comparisons and praises are for good reason.

 

Gyro Bot - I picked up my car with my new RE960as tires installed yesterday. First thing I noticed was how quiet they are. Second was how much softer they seem to ride. The dealer inflated them to 30psi...What pressure do you run?

 

Well someone just posted that they got their 8 up on a guard rail with the OEM Bridgestones in rainy/sleety weather. Crap one-season tires.

 

I got the same tires a few weeks ago. 35psi and they feel good. With the stock tires, I had no traction below 60 f. Now, I have more traction than I expected. I am quite pleased.

 

Unfortunately, even all season tires don't do well in sleet or ice.
I got 32K out of the OEM Bridgestones. I just ordered my second set of Michelin Pilots today at 62K, so the Michelins got about the same mileage, but I think they ride better than the Bridgestones.