Best Cheap Tires for an '89 IROC-Z? I am on a limited budget for a few months and have bumpy tires. Two have bulges and two appear to be a little warped (egg-shaped). Maybe I didn't change the air early enough like Tom P said in a previous post. I only need these tires to last 20,000 to 30,000 miles. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Andy

How cheap is cheap?
SLP has Goodyear takeoffs for $399 + shipping.......
If thats too much,I would check the yellow pages for a used tire place,where I'm sure you could find tires to get by on...

Goodyear Gemini Center will install a new set of Goodyear GTII's for $396.00 installed and balanced. I was hoping that someone may have had an experience with maybe Costco or BJ's Wholesale, etc...

Ew, I wouldn't get GT-II's but that's my opinion. Alot of people like the Kumho Ecsta Supra 712's http://www.tirerack.com/tires/kumho/ku_712.jsp They're 348$ for a set of 4 in 245/50-16, plus shipping. You'll have to have them mounted and balanced someplace, but they are *WAY* better than the Eagle GT-II's. I was going to get the 712's, but my dad convinced me to get the SLP Eagle GS-C take off's(he's American products all the way).

Pep Boys has Futura GLS Super sport tires, 4 for $200. thats whats on my car.

I currently have Pep Boy Futura Ultra-Z's on my car. Not bad on price. However, I was crusing the Internet last Sunday evening and I saw that www.tirerack.com had Yokohama AVS Intermediates (P245/45-ZR16) for $77!!! I bought 'em. They are now sitting in my garage. Apparently, Yokohama discontinued this line in favor of a "newer" one. SO WHAT!!! There are serious, serious performance tires - for $77. The total price, including delivery was $348.

I am psyched.

there's an old quote, "have a $5.00 head, buy a $5.00 helmet."
I think this quote applies to tires as well. Just food for thought.

i concure. I bought some BFG Radial T/A's. They are great for the money, but I should like something better (~ $360 fer the srt, Discount Tire Co.)...

Hey, Eagle GT IIs aren't THAT bad I didn't buy them...my Formula came with a set of almost new ones, and they don't seem to be horrible. But to me, anything Goodyear sells is a ripoff anyways...

I'd go with SLP take offs for sure.

generals are cheap but the handling and performace suck. but for a short time they should work

Kumho Ecsta 712's are relatively sticky, better than the BFG G-force KDWS I had, wear really well (12,000 miles so far), and have the aqua tread type tread pattern which will prevent hydroplaining. If your going with a wide tire remember when their wide they'll tend to float in downpours. That's why Chevy used gatorback ZR50's way back when.

I'm with irocet305, Kumho's are awsome, and for the price, you probably cant find a better tire. They have great dry traction, and the wet traction is also outstanding, and plus, the tread pattern looks damn cool

yep..that is the replacement tires i plan on gettn ^^^^^^^

i like my kumhos

My Kumhos kick ****.

Hey Andy-
I got mine at Discount Tire Co. in Woodstock for like $90 a piece or somehthing like that, and they had them there in a day, but you will have to take them to G & S Muffler to get them aligned.

I also know that Butler Tire by the Big Chicken sells them as well, and it comes out to about the same as where I got them done.

Definately worth it, but I got my KYBs thrown on at the same time, so it's hard to tell what did the most, but she's definately more of a canyon carver now.....and superior wet traction

Thanks for the input. I currently have a worn out set of Regul Sport cheapos installed. So I am sure anything is better than that. I am deciding between the GT2's or the Kumhos. Do the Kumhos dampen the Highway vibration pretty good? Rt 75 and 400 don't feel as smooth in my IROC as they did in my T100. The vibrartion is knocking me senseless. I am sure the whipped tires arn't helping. I'll have to get something soon. So what do ya think for Highway travel and daily commute? Kumhos or GT2's?

Thanks,
Andy

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/goodyear/gy_egt2.jsp

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/kumho/ku_712.jsp

I think by comparing those 2 charts, your decision should be obvious. The Kumho's are a much better tire for almost 20 bucks less than the GT II's. Plus the TR's are only rated for 118mph, which isnt high enough for me (I've only gone 115 before ONCE, but 118 tire rating just sounds wayyyy low when yuo car is capable of reaching that speed, I'd feel much more comfortable with the Kumhos, which are rated at 168, which I will never see )

Kumhos are going to make more highway drone, not be as good in wet weather (in terms of acceleration...I'm not talking hydroplaning at speed) and ride harder. The GT2 is going to be less noisy and ride good...on my Formula they're great.

Honestly, in this price range my 1st choice would be a Firehawk SH30. Like I said, my GT2s came with my car. I will be putting GSCs on it when these die, no question. But for the two you're looking at, sure the Kumhos are $20 less and probably handle a bit better under extreme driving...but for what you describe (highway ride and noise), I'd go with the GT2s. I can take corners with my Formula on GT2s every bit as fast as with my Z28 with GSCs.

And don't be fooled by stupid speed ratings. I love people who use those to SERIOUSLY consider a tire purchase. In the grand scheme of things, they don't mean jack ****. If the 118 MPH rating is too low for you, you don't belong on a public highway...PERIOD. And if you need to, you CAN go over the speed rating. My Grand Am has S speed rated (108 MPH) tires...and for some reason even on the open road I have never needed to break that

Want proof you can go over a speed rating?? Does anyone here remember the '60s? Were there speed ratings on those bias-belted narrow donuts on 140 MPH Corvettes back then? Point made...

The difference in vibrations has more to do with the design of the car, and not the tires. I really can't compare the GT2's, but I did have a set of Goodyear GA's on before, an although somewhat more quiet, man did they suck big time for traction (absolutely horrible in the rain).
I would have to imagine that almost all of the high performance tires out there are going to be more harsh than say your run-of-the-mill BFG T/A's, but you will definately notice an improvement in your handling....but for the 2 miles I did drove on those tires before having the KYB's installed, it was as smooth as a babies ****.

Thanks guys. Looks like a trip to discount tire is in order. Did Discount Tire do a pretty good job of balancing your tires?

Eagle GTII go for about 90-100 bucks a tire. I've got 'em and I love them, don't expect to lay down a bunch of rubber with them though, they barely leave a mark.

They don't have the equipment to do it all. I believe they balance, but they can't align....you're going to have to go to G & S Muffler about 2 miles away to get them align, but they generally will cut you a deal. Just talk to Terry.

Also, you might want to call them up and make sure they have your size in stock....if not, it's no big deal, because their warehouse is in Atlanta. If you can't wait, just go to Butler Tire; I believe they had several sets in when I called.

There is a price difference between the two stores; Discount Tire Co. will charge like $90, but that's w/o an alignment job. And Butler will quote you like $112 (or something like that) over the phone, but that includes there 120 mph alignment.

...and by the way, there are only 3 places in all of metro Atl that sell Kumhos, so we really can't be all that picky about the price.