17" tire opinions

[jthod]

I'm looking at buying a set of 17" M-11's, and I'm looking at tires.

From what I've found 235/45-17 which should be a good choice, or 245/45-17's. The only racing this will see is a once a year 55 miles road race (www.sorcrace.com), so, I don't need anything too crazy. Their requirement is H rated, which would be my minimum anyway. I plan on Eibachs and Monroes this spring/summer, and I'll probably have to roll/cut the fenders.

I've looked at a few different options, and I'm kinda shooting for a decent tire for a decent price. I don't need $300 Perelli's, but I want something that will last and grip decently.

#1
Fuzion HRi Hi-perf All-Season

Review wise, and ratings wise, they seem to be a decent deal for the price. Noise doesn't bother mee too much, the radio's usually blasted anyway.

#2
Kumho Ecsta AST (High Performance All-Season)

About the same as far as reviews, but lower ratings especially in winter driving. (I know, get winter tires.)

#3
General Altimax HP (Grand Touring All-Season)

A little bit more expensive tires, but much better ratings and reviews.


Any opnions guys and gals? Other options?

This is for the White Bastars, which is my DD all year, but hopefully by next winter I can find a 2nd vehicle. I won't have the wheels on the car until spring of '09, but if I get them, it will be soon. (please god let me get rid of the basketweaves)

Thanks!

 

[BlackonBlack89]

I say a 245/45/17 would work too. wider looks better and grips better

These tires are holding up great on the 89. They grip pretty good at the 1/4 mile track.
Good reveiws and they are quiet too. Plus it is a good looking tire.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=PZero+Nero+M%26S

These are on my 91 with slicers. CHEAP (when I got them) and for the money I like them. The grip is damn good and wet traction is great. Made the ride alittle better too. The wear is good too as I have 13k almost and the fronts look almost like the backs. Time to rotate though! If tight on money I say these b/c there is a perfect blend is noise, ride, and performance in this tire. (atleast that what the different reviews say basically) and I agree
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Exclaim+UHP

Also the contential conticontact xtreme is a good tire. but not as good as the pirelli's. Better wet and snow rating IIRC

 

[Racer X]

Kumho Ecsta ASX

 

[SeanMc]

I'm running Nitto NT555s 235/45/17s on my 17x7 MSR190s. Holy crap do they grip!

 

[rubydist]

I would avoid the General's at all cost.

 

[jthod]

I would avoid the General's at all cost.

why's that? Almost all the reviews are great as well as the ratings.

 

[GeneSHO]

How wide are the Mille Miglia M-11?
If you are on a budget, stick with the 235/45 size plus you will not have to worry about trimming the body cladding or fender lip.

I personally run Kumho Ecsta MX on the street. So if you were to choose an all season tire, I will be biased to select the AST for you :laugh_ti:

 

[jthod]

They're 7" wide, and I'm kinda liking the Generals, but more input would be appreciated.

 

[St Louis SHO]

I run the 225/50/17 size, I had the Kuhmo ASX's and they were nice. 225/50 allows minimal rubbing with rolled quarters. I feel anything wider would make me have to cut the entire lip out of the quarter panel.

 

[jthod]

Isn't that kinda narrow for a 7" rim though?

 

[Phoenix]

About khumos Ecstas:

the AST are OK , the SPT are great , and the MX are awesome.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Isn't that kinda narrow for a 7" rim though?

Nope, the tires actually overhang the bead a little. They look proper on a 7" wheel (at least the Kuhmo's do). 235/45 looks proper on an 8" wheel.

James

 

[38SHO]

I've had almost all of the tires mentioned in this thread

they all suck

Fuzion HRI wears fast, poor grip...... the ZRi is an amazing tire, but wears fast

General sucks... just not a fan of their tire construction

The Kumho ASX offer little grip, as do the AST's..... they last long but won't grip good

It is also important to keep in mind going with too wide of a tire can be contradictory to better handling.... you would think wider tire = more grip? not always the case when you have g loads on the tire during a corner.......

If your a 7" or 7.5" I'd say stick with 225's....... the reduction of the contact patch of 10mm can be more then made up for by choosing the correct grippy tire..... A sticky 225 will offer way more grip then a lousy 245


you can't have your cake and eat it too....... if you want a good gripping tire your gonna have to bite the bullet and pay or/and get a faster wearing tire.....

I say the Fuzion ZRi or the Kumho MX seems to be a good tire, although I've never used that Kumho before....... The BFG KDW2 is a nice tire, looks badass and has great wet/dry traction... but its pricier then the ZRi's

if I had to name some other tire brands to stay away from based on my personal experiences with them:

Cooper... I like some of their truck tires and touring tires, but their cheap stuff and their performance tires are lacking
Goodyear
General
Continental



if you just need a nice long lasting road tire...... get some Michelins, expect to pay

there is a reason why quality tires cost the most........

 

[fast Ed]

Never mind, I searched!! thanks

 

[K-Dawg]

Isn't that kinda narrow for a 7" rim though?

No. 225/50/17 is the best size for a 7" wheel on a SHO.

 

[38SHO]

personally I'd run a 225 45 17 but 50 series don't look too bad either, I just like shorter/stiffer sidewalls.... makes a big difference

 

[SHOtime2511]

ya'll are crazy running 225's on a 7" rim,what a waist.
ive got some kinda 235/45/17 Nitto tires on my PR wheels and it looks perfect,flat with the front of the wheel.
jthod:
will you have a set of winter tires or are these for year round use?

 

[38SHO]

nitto tires run small on their width.... I've got a few tires all the same size stacked next to each other and the Nitto's are amazingly smaller..........

for isntance lets take some numbers here from a Bridgestone 235-45-17

they recromend 7.5"-9" wide wheel

on an 8" wheel that tire has a tread patch of 8.6"... if your running a 7" wide wheel, you have about .8 inch hanging past the wheel on each side..... Even on an 8" wheel that sized tire is still sticking out past the wheel...... what your essentialy doing is making the tire sort of balloon up like an inner tube used at a pool...... your sides have to tuck in, so it pushes the top of the tread upwards....

you won't see that a lot with your eye, and Brian as I mentioned Nittos seem narrow to me..... but you have to realize whats going on with that tires construction/sidewall and its tread patch as you put a lateral load on it...... your sidewall is actually rolling and your loosing contact patch..... no longer is the tread perfectly flat along the road.......

ever notice maybe on some of your guys tires who do hard cornering on oversized tires that you see things that appear like dust marks or such on your sidewalls(best I can really describe it) right before the tread...... thats your tire rolling over and touching the ground during hard cornering.....


my 225-50-16 Nitto's are crazy wide on slicers...... I like my old 205-50-16 Fuzion ZRi setup I had for a couple sets...... 10x more responsive...

 

[DDakRT]

No. 225/50/17 is the best size for a 7" wheel on a SHO.

Ditto. I would go with a 235/45/17 tire, but 225 is definitely the best size for a 7" wheel. do NOT go with a 245, that is far too wide.

Looks like you're looking at all-seasons as well, dunno why so many people are recommending 3 seasons tires to you...

 

[St Louis SHO]

Remember also folks, this is for a Gen 1 which has less clearance! I took my 17" off of my wifes Gen 2 (225/50/17) and it rubbed like all **** on the Gen 1. Didnt rub at all on the Gen 2.