Hi All,


This is a first for me. I always replace my tires with OEM tires. I replaced the rear wheels with the OEM Potenza's when I only needed 2 but now that I need all 4, I went ahead and purchased the Kuhmo ECSTA SPT. I see a lot of good reviews on them and you cant beat the price. I had S02s on my S2000 and always replaced them with the same tires because I didn't want to change handling.

My logic is that I no longer AutoX and never have in my RX-8. I do believe in spirited driving so my only concern is the handling on corners with the ECSTA SPT. I will let you guys know when I get the tires put on Monday.

Dean

 

Let us know because I'm tire shopping and was looking at the same ones...

 

I will give an honest apprasial and I am an experienced performance driver. Keep in mind that most people like new tires as soon as they get them because they are running on old tires that are loud and uneven. Let me get about 1000 miles on them and then I will start a new post with my evaluation. Believe me, once I get the tires worn in a little, I am going to go to hir the curves at slow speeds and then increase and find out the threshold.

 

By the way, you are shopping for all 4 right? Never mix tires on a sports car! I know you probably know this but consider this my legal disclaimer

 

I got the SPTs and they have more than enough grip.

 

How about the handling at aggressive speeds. I have complaints about the Ponteza line of tires but they have always handled around curves beautifully and the outside of my tires wear in a hurry

 

dry, the potenzas are good. get them wet or put something ( water, sand etc.. ) on the road and with a little bit of wear.. look out.

lets not even talk about treadwear.

 

I was supposed to go out of town today for a 230 mile trip each way and I put it off because it is pouring down rain and on worn Potenzas, I didn't need the hassle. The good part is that since it was raining, it motivated me to all Tirerack and order the replacement tires.

 

I really like the Ecsta SPTs, have had them on for about 6000 miles, showing very little wear. Great traction in the wet, no hydroplaning. More than enough grip for a street tire in the dry. Much less noisy than the Potenzas. Only caveat is that the SPTs have a little softer sidewall, smoother for most driving but when you really want to push them you should run tire pressures on the high side.

 

Yep definately all four. I've rotated once and all four are pretty much evenly worn and in need of desperate replacement.

 

I can agree with that. My car, with worn out potenzas, is super squirley on the greasy streets of waco.

 

There are plenty of tires out there better than the stock S02's for the S. Neovas, RT615 etc. Just make sure you run 225/245 as those are about the same widths as 205/225 S02's.

The SPT's are decent I heard, I'm probably going with the RT615's once my potenzas die.

 

i had the Kumho ECSTA SPT's put on a little over a month ago, and i think theyre great. better than my bald Potenza's, but anything would be. no complaints, and i love to take the turns fast.

 

Pirelli

 

Well...for example, on turns and ramps that recommend speed limits of 20 mph or so, I can take them at 50~ mph, that feels like the limit of the tires before spinning out (I only do this sometimes if nobody else is around). Maybe slightly more grip than the Potenzas, but I bought the car used with a few thousand miles, so I haven't experienced the best of the Potenzas either. I also replaced them when they were bald.

The SPTs do have a 'soft' feeling to them, they're very comfortable for daily driving.

 

Another vote for the SPTs here. Put them on in April (6,000 miles ago) and they've been great. For the price, I don't think you can beat them. I had the Dunlops as OEMs. They were stiffer so they had a better turn-in, but I didn't even get 15,000 out of them before the right rear started coming apart.

I'll get a good look at the SPTs when I take them off for the winter, but from what I can see, they're holding up well. For $500 for a set of 4 out the door, I'm not complaining.

 

Car & Driver did a test on different makes of tires that makes interesting reading: http://www.caranddriver.com/features...the-tread.html

First place went to the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, who don't make it in our size (at least for the 18" wheels).

I'm coming up on a new tire decision and it looks like I'll go with Michelin Pilot Sports from Costco. For 245.99 you get everything - shipping, installation, road hazard warranty, punctures, etc.: http://tinyurl.com/znhve

 

How long do the stock Potenzas last, around how many thousand miles?? And as far as snow tires go, do i need to buy snow tires or can i just be careful with the stock potenzas?

 

Stock Potenzas last to about 22k max. You can keep driving without tread, mine were bald at 26k.

You need snow tires if it snows in the winter. N00bs come on during the winter telling how they had a crash and blame the car.

 

I enjoy my Toyo's plenty.

 

I'm on 16k (in town driving) with mine and they are about done with.

 

I just ordered the SPT's today. I figured it was time to get rid of the stock Potenza's after 35,000 miles .

The first car I ever owned in high school I drove until the Steel Belts were showing . Not going to wait that long this time.