Another tire thread (15" Performance Street)

I'm asking a lot of questions of GRM lately, hope it's ok...

I'm in the market for rubber for my Mazda2 soon and I'm looking for something good in 195/55/15 or 195/50/15. My stock size is 185/55, so I think going to 195/55 is the smarter bet for a daily driver where economy matters.

Anyway, I'd been looking at Star Specs, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it probably doesn't make sense to run them as my daily tire when I do 15k a year and will probably do no more then three or four autocrosses or trackdays in that time. I'd like an everyday tire that will wear a bit better, cost a bit less, and still be decent for casual AutoX/HPDEs or twisty roads.

It seems like maybe a tire somewhere in the 300 treadwear range would be the sweet spot. I've run the Dunlop DZ101s and wasn't impressed, but that was on a 3200lb WRX, not a 2200lb Mazda2. Are they any good at this size? How about the Yokohama S-Drives?

Or should I just go with the Star Specs and forget about the whole idea?

Max_Archer wrote: Or should I just go with the Star Specs and forget about the whole idea? ?

Done in 1

My first suggestion would be two sets of wheels and tires, one set for summer one for winter. (Unless you live where it's warm all the time then that messes up my entire opinion.) You are just investing in tires you will have to buy again at some point anyways. Used wheels are cheap and easy to come by if you aren't too picky.

If you don't want a second set of wheels and tires, I would go for some ultra high performance all-seasons what ever is cheapest on tirerack or where ever.

jere wrote: My first suggestion would be two sets of wheels and tires, one set for summer one for winter. (Unless you live where it's warm all the time then that messes up my entire opinion.) You are just investing in tires you will have to buy again at some point anyways. Used wheels are cheap and easy to come by if you aren't too picky. If you don't want a second set of wheels and tires, I would go for some ultra high performance all-seasons what ever is cheapest on tirerack or where ever.

I'm in one of those winter-less places, haha.

The issue for me is that I have no storage for a second set of wheels. Ground level one-bedroom apartment shared with my GF. No room for anything inside and they'll last about 30 minutes before getting stolen outside. I'm already kind of at a loss for what to do with my stock alloys when I get the new wheels, I think I'm gonna have to drive them the 400mi to my parents' place and leave them there.

Maybe I'll just get the $99 closeout Star Specs that TR has. I hope they still have them in a couple months when I go to get them... I'm just concerned I'm gonna wear them out in less than a year of daily driving, and I really don't want this to be a car I have to spend $500 a year on tires for.

I've got 25k+ on my specs and they're fine. I'd not hesitate to run them again.

That makes me feel a little bit better. I think I will just go with them after all.

On a car as light as the 2 I think you'll be fine with the Star Specs.