Help me decide on a tire

[wuzzzer]

Way past due to replace the tires on my summer wheels. I'm looking for a pretty inexpensive tire this time around.

Here's the 3 I've narrowed the selection down to:

Kumho Ecsta 711 ($71/tire)
Fuzion HRi ($73/tire)
Sumitomo HTR+ ($79/tire)

The Fuzion's seem to have highest ratings across the board according to Tire Rack. I like the look of the directional tread on the Kumho and Fuzion. I'm a little apprehensive on going with an H rated tire, which is the speed rating of the Kumho and Fuzion. The Sumitomo is W speed rated.

Give me some advice!

 

[GoofSHO]

I vote the Fusion..I have 'em. I like 'em....so far

B

 

[Mr Anonymous]

I have driven several V8 SHO's on the 711's, and I find them to be a **** of a tire for the price. They wear well, don't make the kind of noise a lot of other sub-$100 tires do, and handle quite well.

Remember that speed ratings are "sustained" speeds. People get too caught up in speed ratings when their car will probably only exceed an H rating a handful of times, and usually only for mere moments.

The only drawback is they don't come in 225/55/16, only 225/50/16. It may seem like a minor difference, but it does reduce ride quality a tad.

 

[wuzzzer]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm putting them on my 17s actually. I have Blizzaks on the factory wheels.

 

[Mr. SHO]

I've only heard good reviews on the Fuzions from people who don't have many miles on them yet. A guy I work with says his Fuzions are wearing out twice as fast as any other tire he's owned. So you may want to read into some of those reviews and make sure they are written by people who have substantial mileage on them.

H-rating is plenty, especially on a low profile tire where sidewall flex and cushioning are limited due to the geometry. A higher speed rating often (not always) means that the sidewalls will be stiffer, so in the real world, the speed rating is often indicative of handling characteristics.

 

[GoofSHO]

GO.....DO......Fuzions.... ( You are getting Very sleepy )....LOL They're a GOOD tire for "all around" use...." I swear "....lol


B

 

[nik97]

I have Fuzion ZRIs and I think their great. Great grip, and look good too. I recently bought a set of wheels that had them already mounted. 2 are brand new and the other 2 are about half life(they're up front) so I can't really tell you wiether or not thier wearing fast. Excellent tire for the $ IMO.

 

[stephen newberg]

For whatever it might be worth, tires remain one of the places where you really do often get what you pay for. If you pay more, you very likely will get more.

pax, smn

 

[bartonkeyes]

BFGoodrich G Force KDWS is a great tire for the money on the SHO.

Barton

98 SF
Magnaflows
(stolen in 02)

 

[Mr Anonymous]

BFGoodrich G Force KDWS is a great tire for the money on the SHO.

Barton

98 SF
Magnaflows
(stolen in 02)

Except when the treads separate which has happened to a number of SHO owners, myself included.

 

[DDakRT]

I have the Fuzion ZRis, I like them a lot and they're wearing well for me after 2 years.

Don't have any experience with the HRis though.

 

[godspunk32]

Kumho Ecsta ASX FTW! I got these about 2K ago, and they're a great tire, but a little more expensive than what you've got listed above. I had a place price-match Tirerack at $88/tire, installed and balanced. Very good wet and dry traction. Haven't driven them in snow yet. They're a much stiffer tire than my old Cooper 205/65/15s. I'm on 225/55/16s on Gen IV rims now, and the upgrade in tires made a big difference in the way my Sable handles, and in how it reacts to all my suspension mods.

JR

 

[Funmart6]

BFG Traction T/A. I run the V-rated on my SHO, have had them on there for 2 years with no problems.

 

[bartonkeyes]

BFG Traction is a great tire and I have it on my 99 Infiniti I30T. The BFG KDWS tire did very well on my 98SF for about 22000 miles. I did not know some of you guys had a problem with the KDWS.

Barton

 

[ManySHOs]

I bought the HTR+'s for winter (they are all seaons). They are heavy as **** and aren't that great of a dry tire. I dearly miss my Sumitomo HTRZII's. I highly recommend them (the HTRZII's) as an alternative to the Kumhos. I went through 2 sets on my summer rims (17x7.5-235/45/17)

Ian

 

[wood_e]

If there's a discount tire near you I suggest the Nitto NT450 in a 225/55/17 size @ $90/tire. I have them and like them a lot. Plus discount tire mounts them and balances them (for life) for free!

 

[SHOclub1]

Yokohama ES100's are the way to go. Very near as cheap as the other tires mentioned, but super high quality and very good stick. They seem to be wearing pretty good on my '96 ES, in their third summer now. Look great too.

 

[stephen newberg]

What size did you get, Don? I am looking for 235x17x45, or even 10 wider, but I have been finding that combination rare, and could end up back in Bridgestones again, though that would not be any sort of problem, the 950s have been great, I am just in the mood to try something new.

pax, smn

 

[SHOclub1]

I just got the stock size 225-55-16.

You really don't want to go much wider on the stock rims. With aftermarket, match the rims to the tire, the Tire Rack has guides to help on-line and their people on the phone are really good.

 

[stephen newberg]

I just got the stock size 225-55-16.

You really don't want to go much wider on the stock rims. With aftermarket, match the rims to the tire, the Tire Rack has guides to help on-line and their people on the phone are really good.

Thanks, I was interested in for a set of 17 inch rims. As per the OEM rims, generally I agree that going a lot wider than 225 on a 6 inch rim is not going to work with most tires, but the thing to do is to look into the suggested rim width size range from the manufacturer, since it will vary a good deal by both make and model. I have seen time models of up to 245s with reputable makers advising 6 inch rim width within their useable range, though always at the low end.

pax, smn