Tires

[LuckyWinner]

What tires are you using? Did you use one and switch? Are you happy? What size you running front and back?

[Jeff Kleiner]

Started on Sumitomos. I was aware going in that they were not a high performing tire (and they aren't!) but you can't beat the price. Switched to Kumho XS at about 6,000 miles. I have ~5,000 on them now with tons of autocross runs and track time and couldn't be happier! I might get another 2-3,000 miles out of them. The more they wear the better they stick :)

Jeff

[Mustang Man]

Nitto NT555 and NT555R here. The fronts are 255/40R17 and out back are the "R" drag radials with 315/35R17. They're on 17x9 and 17x10.5 late-model Mustang aftermarket wheels (respectively)...

The 315 is about as wide as you can get in the Mk 3 without tweaking the wheel well lips, wheel offset, etc., though I know a scant few are running 335s. Not sure if the Mk 4 body allows anything wider. Hopefully a Mk 4 owner will chime in.

We're happy with the Nittos and though I only have 2,500 miles on the Roadster, they've held up well and look good on the car.

Looking forward to having you home soon and start seeing those build posts/questions pop up on the forum! Stay safe!

Mark

[seagull81]

I have Cooper Cobras on my car now, but I have to put new tires on soon. They are old and hard. I'll be watching this post for what I get next.

[LuckyWinner]

Anyone running the Nitto NT01's?

[Jeff Kleiner]

NT01 is a D.O.T. R compound tire; basically a "street legal" track tire. They'll stick like velcro but you will be hard pressed to make them last more than a couple thousand miles. In the Nitto line their NT05 is a direct competitor of and comparable to the Kumho XS for performance and longevity.

Jeff

[KC Wildcat]

A lot depends on what size (15" or 17") you are going using, that makes a huge difference. From the looks of the choices, you are talking 17".

I think only Mickey Thompson makes 15" tires of those listed.

[LuckyWinner]

Wow, I thought the Kuhmo's would be out front. What size fronts are the Nittos you are using? You have any pictures?

[Jeff Kleiner]

Interesting. I wonder ---if the same poll was posted on the other forum would we see different results due to the larger sample???

Jeff

[David]

What are your priorities? Ride, noise, cost, performance?

David

[LuckyWinner]

Im looking at ride and performance

[AC Bill]

I am currently running Yokohama Avids (15") on my roadster. I have been very happy with them. I don't drive like a maniac mind you, but they handle the occasional spirited drives I have done...cornering very well. You can break them loose on fast starts, but then what tire can't you, with these cars..lol...

The 15" make for a softer ride from what I have seen mentioned.

[10 10 Flyin]

Running Nitto NT05 275/45 17 on front and 315/35 17 on the rear.

Good grip not too much road noise. At the rear tire putting down 387 RWHP/403 Ft*lbs of torque. On full throttle acceleration they stick with no problems in 2nd gear and once warmed up they stick pretty good in 1st gear (2.95 ratio) unless you try to break them loose.

Don't have anything to compare them with and only have 200 miles on the car but so far I am satisfied with them.

[CraigS]

Unless you are REALLY stuck on the 15 inch look just run 17s. 275/40x17 on 9 inch for the front.315/35x17 on 10.5 wheels for the back. For me this is kind of the current standard. Wheels from here
http://www.americanmuscle.com/dedibuwh.html and http://www.americanmuscle.com/buwh1.html are very nice and very reasonably priced. I run Sumitomo's cause the price is right. Not a lot of traction but they work fine for me on the street and I run A6s for autocrosses.

[stroked 6t5]

running Kumho Ecsta XS 17s. 245/40/17 on 9" for the front & 315/35/17 on 10.5" for the back.

[R. Button]

I currently have a set of 245/40/17 Vredestein ZR tires on the front and 285/40/17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 on the rear.
I will switch out the Goodyear's once I have the tread down a little more. I need tires that will perform well in dry and wet!
I recently tried the Vredestein and have been impressed at the smooth, quiet ride of them compared to my old Goodyears!
They also preform extremely well in the rain!!!

[Todd Buttrick]

I am currently running Yokohama Avids (15") on my roadster. I have been very happy with them. I don't drive like a maniac mind you, but they handle the occasional spirited drives I have done...cornering very well. You can break them loose on fast starts, but then what tire can't you, with these cars..lol...

The 15" make for a softer ride from what I have seen mentioned.

X2 but they don't make them any longer, do they? I've run many 15" tires and these have been the best by far. Trying the Avons next.

[Someday I Suppose]

running Kumho Ecsta XS 17s. 245/40/17 on 9" for the front & 315/35/17 on 10.5" for the back.

Same as me, though I think my Team III front wheels are 8.5 inch not 9 inch. David, as far as the Kumho not being out in front by a larger margin, I think part of that is that they havent been available as long as some of the others, and then also some of the other brands may be the only option on a 15 inch wheel.

-Scott

[AC Bill]

X2 but they don't make them any longer, do they? I've run many 15" tires and these have been the best by far. Trying the Avons next.

It looks like the Avids are still available..may depend on the size you need though..Fantastic grip for sure..

http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires/detail/avid_envigor

http://www.discountedwheelwarehouse.com/Yokohama_AVID_H4s_V4s_Tires.cfm

[Todd Buttrick]

Yoko has pretty much done away with any 15" over 205. I'm running 295/50/15 and 235/60/15. Both are long gone.

[chrisarella]

I run Khumo Ecstas when I lived in NY and needed all season, and then switched to Toyota Proxes 4. Now I run Toyo T1R. Quite possible the nicest street tire available. Did I mention Toyo is the official tire of NASa & the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships? Gotta include them in your list of considerations. Unfortunately TireRack doesn't carry them but don't let that sway you.

[Cobradavid]

I have Kumho Ecsta XS. 245/45 R17 in front and 315/35 R17 in rear. Wheels are 9" wide in front and 11" in rear. I have about 4300 miles on them and love them. I haven't tracked my car, just street (sometimes "spirited") driving, and there's lots of tread left. Be aware that the awesome grip does decrease some with cold temperatures. If it's 34 degrees or colder outside, these tires act more like "normal" street tires on a wet surface - you just have to be more careful and remember that the super stickiness is not there. We don't get many cold days here in the Houston area, so that's not a big issue for me.

The only downside is the noise they make. My parking lot at work has lots of little stones/pebbles, and the stones being tossed up into the wheel wells by the sticky tires makes quite a racket! :)

David

[OCCPete]

The poll needed to allow voting for more than one ;)

I started out with Sumis because they were cheap and discovered the old saying "you get what you pay for" is still true. Now running Kumho Ecsta XS 245/45/17s on the front and Nitto NT05R 315/35/17 on the rear. BIG improvement over the Sumis.

Pete

[chrisarella]

I wanted to also mention the Khumo Ecsta SPTs are a nice compromise if you want to get more wear and tear out of them over the XS versions. They SPTs are also quieter.

[SirAustin]

I am going with the Khumo XS's and am running the Hallibrand 17 inch rims from factory five. What tire sizes should I run with? I will be driving my car mostly on the street. I do want the tires to look like the belond on the wheels someone mentiones the lip looks goofy if you use the suggested size by factory five?

[Joe]

I voted for Kumho Ecsta XS because I plan on switching to them in a month or two. I have had Sumi's for the past two years. 22,000 miles later I still haven't worn out my front tires. They are a great warm weather tire for street use. They really don't stick in auto-cross / track like I want, thus the switch. In cold weather it's really easy to get out of shape with the Sumi tires. They do good in rain.

[Joe]

I am going with the Khumo XS's and am running the Hallibrand 17 inch rims from factory five. What tire sizes should I run with? I will be driving my car mostly on the street. I do want the tires to look like the belond on the wheels someone mentiones the lip looks goofy if you use the suggested size by factory five?

I have Halibrand Cobra III wheels, 17 X 9's and 17 X 10.5's and I've been running 255/40/17's Sumi's on the front and 315/35/17's Sumi's on the rear and will be using the same size when I switch to the Kumho tires in a month or so..

[SirAustin]

There are so many different tire setups people are using, 255/40/17 front 315/35/17 rear.. The last time I researched I came up with 245/45/17 for the front. Hmph! So confusing!

[SirAustin]

the 45's are 12 dollars cheaper i think that means i should go with them?

[OCCPete]

the 45's are 12 dollars cheaper i think that means i should go with them?

Depends on what you want, your rim width, etc.

245/45/17 are narrower and higher profile than 255/40/17. 245/45/17 nominal wheel width is 8", 255/40/17 is 9" (min 8.5"): http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Ecsta+XS&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=445WR7EXS&tab=Specs

1st number = section width (245mm for 245/45/17, 255mm for 255/40/17)
2nd number = aspect ratio (sidewall height is 245mm X 45% = 110.25mm; 255mm X 40% = 102mm)

Pete

[SirAustin]

So which of the two would you run with Pete? And thanks for the help!

[Gloveman]

I am trying to buy set of Khumos, but my dealer is having a hard time locating the fronts.

Has anyone else had difficulty sourcing the Khumos?

[Big Blocker]

Geeeeeze, I must be the only one running BFG G-Force tires . . . 275x40xZR17 Fronts - 315x35xZR17 Rears. 15K+ on them but need to be replaced real soon (probably good for another 2K). Mounted on 17" Chrome Cobra-R's, 9.5 and 10.5. Gotta say, they are rock hard after 9 years and a bit squirrely on cold (36°) mornings. Gotta be careful for the first 5 miles or so. Next time baby gets new shoes, it'll be Khumo's or Nitto's, same sizes.

Doc

[Joe]

I am trying to buy set of Khumos, but my dealer is having a hard time locating the fronts.

Has anyone else had difficulty sourcing the Khumos?

Yes... Discount Tire, Tire Rack both show to have the tire back ordered.. Hope they get them in stock soon..

[OCCPete]

So which of the two would you run with Pete? And thanks for the help!

What is the width of your front wheels? Mine are 8", so 255s weren't an option.

Pete

[SirAustin]

I am running the factory five halibrands so 9" upfront and 10.5" in the rear.

[SirAustin]

Ahh I still cant decide.. 275/40/R17 or 255/40/R17 or 240/45/R17?! Hmph!

[OCCPete]

I am running the factory five halibrands so 9" upfront and 10.5" in the rear.

I'd go with 255s on a 9" wheel.

Pete

[SirAustin]

Woot, Thats what I will do. Thanks Pete!!

[SirAustin]

My tire's came in today! Drove on down to have them mounted and the fronts were Kumho Ectsa ASX's : (. The rears are mounted but the fronts are out of stock everywhere. So I am waiting a month for the fronts : (. How bad would it be to run 245/45/R17's on the front instead of the 255/40/R17's?

[Jeff Kleiner]

How bad would it be to run 245/45/R17's on the front instead of the 255/40/R17's?

Lots of guys run 245/45 on 8" wide wheels, some even on a 9". The main thing to me is that I feel that the 245 is almost overextended on a 9" wheel. You'll often notice that the lip of the wheel is actually protruding beyond the sidewall bulge when a 245/45 is mounted on a 9" wheel. The 255/40 is just a touch (~.7") shorter and a little wider (~.6"). Obviously you'll get a little more rubber down with a 255 (which is a good thing when it comes to understeer) but it isn't a big difference.

Jeff

[LuckyWinner]

Just orders some 17" Bullit Rims, Black in color and a set of NT05's. 255/45/17s up front and 315/35/17s in the rear!!! Should have them by next weekend. Stuff is happening......more to come!!!!

[ClemsonS197]

How bad would it be to run 245/45/R17's on the front instead of the 255/40/R17's?

Here are 245 Nitto's on the FFR halibrand style wheels:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/FinlayZJ/Factory%20Five%20Roadster/photobucket-19396-1337453972655.jpg

I don't think they are too thin at all.

[trublue]

17 inch BF Goodrich G-Force Sport. I have had these tires for four years and they have great ride , quietness and performance. Wear has been minimal.