Tire buying time... Need some advice/experience help :)

rccardude04 · Post by **rccardude04** » January 14th, 2007, 7:55 pm

I did a search and found some basic info, but I want to ask it like this and see what kind of answers I get.

I have a 1993 MX-3 GS. I live in Kansas, where the summers tend to be quite hot, and the winters are usually pretty ugly. Today, I got stuck a couple times in the parking lot because my right front is a slick, and the lack of a limited slip makes it just diff out to that side and I don't go anywhere.
Right now, I have a firestone 'indy 500' on the left front because that's what they had and it was fairly cheap at the time when I was desperate, lol (had a giftcard :p).
Anyway, I'm looking for a new set of 4 because I want them all to match and have the same mileage. I was looking at some Potenza G009's but the local Firestone dealer place wanted almost 600 bucks for a full set (mounted, but WOW!).
I want to try and keep it under 400 bucks for a full set (100 per tire mounted) if possible. I also would like something that's going to go for 40,000 miles or better. At that point, I'll either be ready for something different or have a newer car at that point anyway.
I need ALL SEASON tires, something that will work well in snow/rain as well as being nice and sticky on dry pavement. I like to pretend I'm a racecar driver so sticky is nice. I know wear and traction don't really go together but I'm up for suggestions.

Also, what does the tire size designate? As far as I can tell, the stock 205/55-15 means 205mm width, 55mm sidewall, and 15" rim? Or something like that anyway... Doesn't make much sense to mix metric and standard but if that's how it works, yay.
Thanks in advance for replies. If I need to specify more I can.
-Eric

1992blazeredgs · Post by **1992blazeredgs** » January 15th, 2007, 11:42 am

The 205/55/15, means your tire is 205 wide, 55 is a percentage of your tire width, and than take that percentage and that is your side wall height, and 15 is the size rim.

Chino921 · Post by **Chino921** » January 15th, 2007, 11:56 am

Go with some Yokohama AVS ES100's.
And yes you were right on the size designation.

rccardude04 · Post by **rccardude04** » January 15th, 2007, 2:30 pm

http://www.yokohamatire.com/TireIntro.asp?TireID=9 those?
They look nice, but how are they on snow? I'm getting stuck right now, lol. What about tread life?
Thanks for the help on the size thing too. Makes perfect sense.
I've been told that the slightly taller sidewall can help with cornering compared to going to like a 50% sidewall. True or false?
-Eric

jbaysinger · Post by **jbaysinger** » January 15th, 2007, 3:37 pm

rccardude04 wrote:I've been told that the slightly taller sidewall can help with cornering compared to going to like a 50% sidewall. True or false?

Generally false, but there are a lot of other factors there too. Sidewall stiffness counts much more toward responsiveness and overall handling - the stiffer the sidewall, generally the better. It's possible to go too stiff, but I've never seen a street tire that went that far.

Those Yokos are probably going to be pretty poopy in the snow. Probably not something that would work for you if you're going to be doing a lot of snow and ice driving.

I don't believe in all-season tires, but YMMV, and I know that budget counts for a lot in your decision. IMO, there's no better way to go than with a dedicated set of snow tires and a dedicated set of warm weather tires. Mount the snow tires on the stock rims, or get a cheapo set of steelies for the snows, then you can save your pennies for a set of good warm weather tires for the stock rims or for shiny new rims when it's time to take the snows off. That way you're set for any weather condition.

If you need something that will get you around well in the snow for the next few months, I'd highly recommend the Hankook W404 winter tires. They're some of the best winter tires I've ever driven on, and they're cheap. I've also found the Dunlop Graspic DS1 to be pretty good, as are any of the Blizzaks. I've heard great things about Nokian snowies, but I don't even know if you can get those anymore.

Due to our somewhat oddball tire size, you may have to go a bit bigger or smaller and live with the speedometer inaccuracy (shouldn't be much). I'm pretty sure the Hankooks are available in a 205/50/15, and if you drop the width (which is good for snow tires anyway) and go to a 195/60/15, your options open up quite a bit.

Lots of good information in the articles on Tire Rack.

Hope this helps...

rccardude04 · Post by **rccardude04** » January 15th, 2007, 3:45 pm

Thanks for the input, but we usually only have 3 or 4 days of snow here. I've never been stuck before besides yesterday, and it's probably because of my one tire that's pretty much a slick at the time. I do not want to buy a second set of tires that I'll have to mount/unmount 3 or 4 times a year and only use maybe a total of 20 days for the total remainder of the time I own the car. lol.
I do like the looks of the yokohamas, and if I was going to mount a set on some aftermarket wheels for autoxing or track days, I'd be all for it. But I'm looking for something to do both.
http://productcat.bridgestonetire.com/e ... 625346.pdf How are those?
-Eric
Edit: What does YMMV stand for? lol

rccardude04 · Post by **rccardude04** » January 16th, 2007, 8:23 pm

How about some Toyo Proxes 4's? Under 500 for a full set mount/balanced out the door sound decent?
-Eric

rccardude04 · Post by **rccardude04** » January 18th, 2007, 6:17 pm

Found a set for $450 mounted/balanced out the door. Plus they're my favorite shop so they're going to check out my possible wheel bearing problem/huge vibration. I'll keep ya posted on how it works. Their warehouse doesn't stock the tires so it's going to be a couple weeks but I'll be sure to repost and tell y'all what I think.

-Eric

rippledabs · Post by **rippledabs** » January 19th, 2007, 10:25 am

I remember seeing Toyo Proxes4 for like $50 a tire for 15in rims. Check the internet. Usually, those local shops will match the price for the tire and then add like 15 bucks for mounting and balance per tire. Usually, you'll end up saving 30-40 bucks.

Just print out the page or tell them the name of the site, I know discount tire has internet, and they just go to the site to confirm it.

The proxes4 are pretty good. My buddy uses them on his miata, and he usually gets one of the better times at the autocrosses. I drove his miata and spun out twice, but that's because I suck. Too used to driving FF cars.

If you want a good balance for everything, try the tripletred tire. It not a very good summer tire. Squeals like a pig on the autocross, but it can take 5 inch puddles without hydroplaning. 700 treadwear. There's a snow compound in the middle, so it can handle the snow relatively good. Looks good too.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... TripleTred

rippledabs · Post by **rippledabs** » January 19th, 2007, 10:28 am

I guess it wasn't $50 a tire. It was $62 a tire.

http://www.edgeracing.com/1993/Mazda/MX3/tires/15/

Proxes 4 is still a summer tire, so you're going to have much problems in the snow and ice. My buddy broke his Racing Harts C5 after a surprise snow shower, even though he was extra careful on the way home. He was crawling around a turn at 5mph, and it still slipped out.

rccardude04 · Post by **rccardude04** » January 19th, 2007, 10:47 am

i already ordered them, and based on the reviews i saw, they should be at least decent in snow. they HAVE to be better than the slick i have right now. Besides, it only snows a couple times a year here... it's just cold a lot.
-Eric