What Tires?

I'm looking for opinions on tires for my CRX. Here's the main requirments:

• exceptional dry and wet traction
• quiet
• comfortable ride
• affordable
• look good

I drive this car every day on pot holed roads. My twin 16 year old boys also drive it a lot, which is why I need really good traction, especially in the wet. I'm not looking for a race tire or even a really extreme street tire, but something that is an all around good tire. So far I'm considering the Yoko S-drive, Kumho Ecsta ASX, Sumitomo HTR 200 and Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. Any opinions?

How does a tire look good? I can't say that I've ever noted a difference...

That's a..... weird range of tires you've got there.

I'd say the ASX out of those choices for the original question.

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

Why?

I don't normally put ASX and Star Specs in the same breath.

We used the Kumho Ecsta ASX on our Lincoln crapcan racer. They've been very durable, predicatable, and controllable. We haven't used them in the wet on the Lincoln yet, but Scott Lear had them on a Volvo wagon and had rave reviews.

Yokohama S-drives are another solid choice. We used them on Tim's E30 M3 and they get high marks for an all-around street tire.

I might also suggest the Fuzion ZRi for a budget option. I was using them on my Miata and then on the wife's Honda Fit; they were way better than a $65 tire deserves to be.

YMMV, good luck with your pick!

Falken 912's won the last GRM comparo of tires like that, and are genrally well-liked.

The Star Spec will have poor wet performance and wear out too quickly for you. Try the DZ101 version instead.

The Fuzion ZRi would do well here as well.

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

Your answers aren't really telling me anything.

bravenrace wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: Your answers aren't really telling me anything.

Sorry.... lemme 'splain.

The ASX is an All-Season.

The Star Spec is a bad-boy autox tire.

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

Okay thanks. Thing is, in comparing them on Tire Rack's website, they both meet my requirements for a tire, at least on paper. I was looking for specific characteristics, not a certain class of tire.

Tom Heath wrote: I might also suggest the Fuzion ZRi for a budget option. I was using them on my Miata and then on the wife's Honda Fit; they were way better than a $65 tire deserves to be.

Maybe, but that $65 tire is now $86, at least in the size I'm looking at.

bravenrace wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: Okay thanks. Thing is, in comparing them on Tire Rack's website, they both meet my requirements for a tire, at least on paper. I was looking for specific characteristics, not a certain class of tire.

Well, performance aside, the ASX is a lot more affordable than the Star Spec, as it'll last twice as long with ease.

The Star Spec is on sale and has an $80 rebate. It's still higher priced than the ASX, but the difference isn't nearly what it would be normally. The Star Specs end up $88/tire and the ASX is $73/tire. For reference, the S-Drive is $87/tire. These are tire rack prices, but the others I checked were within a couple bucks either way.

bravenrace wrote: The Star Spec is on sale and has an $80 rebate. It's still higher priced than the ASX, but the difference isn't nearly what it would be normally.

How much more expensive is two sets of Star Specs compared to one set of ASXs?

The ASXs will also perform well enough in an Ohio winter.

I have snow tires.

Don't forget shipping, TR will kill you with it. Try Discount Tire Direct for brands that TR doesn't carry (and free shipping).

That's a good point, but I've been buying from TR for 25 years with not one problem, so I'm a little loyal. Shipping to my house isn't bad at all either. I just bought tires for my CRV and the shipping was less than $10/tire. Discount tire charges me tax because their warehouse is in my state. They may still end up a little cheaper, but like I said, I'm a little loyal to TR.

So the consensus seems to be in favor of the ASX, albeit with not a lot of feedback. Anyone else have an opinion, for or against the ASX?

I'd rather have Star Specs than ASXs if you're buying.

Javelin wrote: Don't forget shipping, TR will kill you with it. Try Discount Tire Direct for brands that TR doesn't carry (and free shipping).

Huh? You do realize that DTD adds the shipping costs into the tire price, right? I just priced out several sets of 4 tires from both places, and the total, shipped costs from TR were within $5 (less than 1%) of DTD in every case.

In answer to the original question: I don't know about your size and price requirements, but I love the Continental DWSs I put on my wife's car - excellent 4 season ride and traction even in significant snow. I just ordered the 3 season DW version for my car. The DW is supposed to have amazing wet grip.

I don't think the ASX is going to have the grip of the S.Drive or the ZRi, let alone the Star Spec. Not that you need the Star Specs. It's all up to the compromise you want to make.

From your criteria, the S.Drives would work really well. They're kinda in-between the all-seasons and top autox tires in grip and lifespan (300tw, for what it's worth). I'm on my second set and personally I think the sidewalls are a tad on the soft side, which is where they're also more comfortable. The compound is pretty sticky though, so it makes up for it imho. They probably wouldn't be competitive against the Star Specs/XS/RE-11 at an autocross, but they're a little longer lived and perhaps more livable for a daily driver.

Duke wrote:

Javelin wrote: Don't forget shipping, TR will kill you with it. Try Discount Tire Direct for brands that TR doesn't carry (and free shipping).

Huh? You *do* realize that DTD adds the shipping costs into the tire price, right? I just priced out several sets of 4 tires from both places, and the total, shipped costs from TR were within $5 (less than 1%) of DTD in every case. In answer to the original question: I don't know about your size and price requirements, but I love the Continental DWSs I put on my wife's car - excellent 4 season ride and traction even in significant snow. I just ordered the 3 season DW version for my car. The DW is supposed to have amazing wet grip.

To be fair, every tire I've ordered that TR actually bothers to carry (which hasn't been many) has been cheaper at DTD by at least $10 per tire after shipping.

Well, maybe that's an artifact of where we each live in relation to various warehouses. But for me the price difference is negligible and I order from whichever one has what I want in stock, and which one is offering a better Ebates discount at the time.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'd rather have Star Specs than ASXs if you're buying.

Wait, wah? I thought you were in favor of the ASX's? Don't confuse me like that. I don't like it.

bravenrace wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'd rather have Star Specs than ASXs if you're buying.

Wait, wah? I thought you were in favor of the ASX's? Don't confuse me like that. I don't like it.

I already have Nexens, i don't need another All-Season. For DD and lifespan, ASXs are a better choice. (THe S-Drives aren't bad either)

But performance wise? Screw the ASXs, screw the S-Drives, Star Specs all the way.

I just personally wouldn't pay for the Star Specs on my DD. But if someone else is buying and offered me either ASXs or Star Specs....