What tire, 195/60/14?

I'm looking for new tires in 195/60/14 for DD/possible AutoX use. My old tires are Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position. I love those and would like to get another set, but the price has gone up to $81 each, from $68(?) 2 years ago Also, wet performance is a big factor, the 'stones where amazing in the wet.

Current tires I'm looking at include Sumitos, Falken ZE-912, Fuzion HRi, and Eldorado Doral SDL. Also open to other sugestions.

Help me!

Star Spec.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Direzza+Sport+Z1+Star+Spec&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=96HR4Z1SS&tab=Specs

/thread.

The Falken Azenis RT-615K also comes in that size. Toyo offers some interesting tires in 14" sizes. 205/55R14 and 225/50R14 of their R888 and RA1. And they have a 225/40R14 size in the T1R. There is also a 205/55R14 Hoosier Radial Wet which is probably faster than the Toyos but only has a 40 treadwear rating.

A MR2 Spyder set FTD and top PAX at our last autocross in the rain on a set of R888s. They are definitely faster than the Dunlops (dry and wet).

In reply to HStockSolo:

Apparently you missed the "Daily Driver" part? And I was prepared to hear him complain about the $111 ea. cost of *Specs... (since he's pained over $81/ea for the 'stones) so I doubt he'd like the $150/ea cost for R888's (which are a 100TW race tire). I haven't heard enough good things about the 615K (even with the improved compound) to make me choose it over the Dunlop.

Ian F wrote: I haven't heard enough good things about the 615K (even with the improved compound) to make me choose it over the Dunlop.

Its significantly cheaper than the Dunlops in that size.

is it just my imagination, or were RT-215's a better tire?

In reply to neon4891:

Tires prices seem to be going up. I just got a replacement 225/50R17 DWS and it was $25 more than it was just a few months ago.

I ran 205/50R15 615s as daily driver/autocross tire and they were just fine. It does sounds like the Dunlop is better in the wet though.

I made a mistake last summer and bought a cheap set of Falken Zeix ZE-512s. I don't think I will autocross an all-season again, but the RE960AS was probably a pretty decent choice. If you don't want an all-season, the best cheapest option is probably the Sumitomo HTR 200.

There's a little blurb in a recent GRM mag about a new Maxxis that will be made in a 185-50-14, but it didn't mention price or availability or dealers etc. Would be sweet for a VW Mk2 on the old teardrops or snowflakes...

Cheap tires? There's an article for that.

Most of these tires are still contenders. I liked the Fuzion HRi a lot, and it held up really well. No $60 tire is likely to give you FTD, but they'd be fine for an occasional autocross event.

I will NEVER buy another Fuzion. Jeebus the road noise is unbearable and keeping them round is the impossible feat from hell. Snow traction was mediocre when new, horrible after year two. Wet traction was good new, but after that first winter they were not good. Dry rot on the sidewalls after 2.5 years and 45k miles. Tons of tread though. 6/32 left of tread after 45k miles. No sir. Not again. These 195/60/14 Fuzions are getting replaced with the Kumho Platinum LX. ~$9 a tire more expensive but oodles and gobs better when they are worn out than the Fuzions were new.

I am not harping on the OP.. but I love it when people complain about prices on the most important part of any car.. the tyres.

I personally do not find $81 a tyre expensive.. that was less than half what what it cost me to put tyres on my BMW... and even cheaper than what I put on my saab.

Tom Heath wrote: Cheap tires? There's an article for that. Most of these tires are still contenders. I liked the Fuzion HRi a lot, and it held up really well. No $60 tire is likely to give you FTD, but they'd be fine for an occasional autocross event.

Hey Tom, not to bust your balls, but you tested the ZRi. (Which i also hate, but recognize that it's a way better tire than the HRi). The HRi sucks, bad.

Otherwise.... +1 to Bobbo over there.

My bad...you're right.

I change my enthusiastic endorsement to the ZRi. It was a great 60 dollar tire.

mad_machine said: I am not harping on the OP.. but I love it when people complain about prices on the most important part of any car.. the tyres.

I understand. My budget is tight right now and I need new tires for my NYS Inspection in June. I may still end up with another set of Potenzas, but I'm just curious about what else I can find.

What should I know about Grand/Performance Touring class tires? I have overlooked them in the past but some of the Kumho offerings look nice.

been there, done that, Neon. Have you considered hitting up the junkyard (or CL) for neon rims with decent tyres?

I had the Platinum LX on the other Hyundai for 44k miles. They are a really grippy, quite and smooth riding tire. They were decent (for an all season tire) in deep-ish snow (~8-10 inches). I have never owned a round Bridgestone, so I can't, in good faith, ever recomend their tires for a DD. For an auto-x'er they are some of the stickiest tires out there for sure.

In reply to neon4891:

I wore through a set of Kumho Ecsta HP4 716s on my Saturn SL1 and they were very nice for $40 tires. Even won an autocross trophy with them once--probably when they were nearly bald.

I just replaced the tires on the Datsun Roadster with exactly the same size and went with the OP's Bridgestone Pole Positions. They are great and worth the extra $$. I was going to buy the BFG's (had old euroTA's) but the reviews (tire rack) of the RE960AS were better by quite a bit. I didn't go with the more economical tires b/c I have seen them on our Roadsters and didn't care for tread, sidewall, etc...

I have a little less than 1k on the tires and love them!

Eric G

I've dd Azenis. Don't last long when you throw in autocrossing, I was replacing them on avereage about every 9-10 months but they are relatively cheap. Just don't drive on grass/gravel and be careful in the rain. Don't have to do that anymore now that I have a couple sets of rims.

+1 For Star Specs. My Ecsta SPTs are nearly 5 years old, still have about 1/4 tread but they're old and crusty. I'm either getting Bridgestone RE11s or Dunlop Z1 Star Specs next, Tire Rack compared both in a review and they're almost identical.

I just went with another set of the 'Stones. I need them to pass inspection this month. Too bad it looks like they are being discontinued.

neon4891 wrote: I just went with another set of the 'Stones. I need them to pass inspection this month. Too bad it looks like they are being discontinued.

Say what!?!?!?! I love those tires.

93EXCivic wrote:

neon4891 wrote: I just went with another set of the 'Stones. I need them to pass inspection this month. Too bad it looks like they are being discontinued.

Say what!?!?!?! I love those tires.

TireRack has them listed as closeout...

BTW, I listed GRM as my reference with my order.