Since there isn't a specific board for this, I guess suspension/chassis/brakes will have to do. Tires are part of the handling package anyways. ^_^

Well, I've been looking for new tires for almost 2 months now, reading just about every post on the topic here, and every review I can find. I finally settled on the G-force KDW's. Just wanna know your opinions on these tires.

I picked them up for $115/tire from Tirerack.com. About $490 shipped via Fedex 2day.

 

I went with the KDWS tires- 245 45 17s. The sound levels are decent and handling/grip is very good. Since I only have about 50 miles on them, I can't vouch for wet traction. I had also totally replaced all steering related components, sway bars, trailing arms and springs and the tires took it all in stride.

I was originally wanting the KD series that had the nice looking tread pattern, but balked at the dealers price of over $230 per tire. That pattern can be seen on the BFG website.

S-D

 

I love'em, awesome dry and wet traction.

 

I have the stock GTA 16x8 rims on the way, so I went with the stock tire size of 245/50/16. Everything I've read says they are the best in my price range for all season traction. Not that I want to drive my car in rain/snow, but I may not have a choice if my current car goes the way of the dodo. So I want to be prepared.

 

what is the price for them?

i paid 495 for my michelin pilots in that size and they lasted me 5 years and counting until i sold them. absolutely the best tire i've ever used. little expensive but well worth it.

they were great for the track, the street, wet, snow, anything i threw at it!!

i just wish i could afford them in the new sizes.

michelin will give you a sponsorship and take off a 1/4 of the price if your willing to have stickers on every side of your car that are as large as a high school math book.

 

looks like he said 115 per tire..

I picked them up for $115/tire from Tirerack.com. About $490 shipped via Fedex 2day.

 

those tires are AWSOME!! the wet traction of these tires are better then ANY other car with any tires i have ever driven. and thats alot to say with an f-body.. the sidewall is also very stiff and gives excellent response and feedback. these tires are amazing and i will never go with anything else as long as i can still get these tires.. roadnoise isn't that bad, but if u don't like a very stiff ride.....

 

same tires come on these

http://www.slponline.com/view_produc...TNUMBER=80035A

 

I just got KDWs on my Formula last week. A real improvement over the Sumitomo HTRZs I had. They look great and ride even better. I didn't choose the KDWS because I didn't like the tread design and I don't drive this car in the snow. That's what the Cherokee is for.

 

I did alot of research, and couldn't find hardly any drivers who didn't like the KDWS tires. Granted, I have 17x8's in front and 17x9.5's in rear, and I don't care what anyone says, these larger, wider wheels and tires will cause alot more 'quirks' regarding how the car drives. Road surface problems will be amplified, it will 'wander' more and follow the road surface alot more than a smaller wheel / tire will.

I ended up with the KDWS in 275/40/17 on the rear. I've yet to get a pair for the front, as I'm really hoping to get a set of GTA rims and sell or trade my 17's. The ride is just too stiff for me, taking in account the CRAPPY old roads I have to ride on EVERYDAY when I drive to work. Interstate, highway is smooth as glass, but these nasty side roads make me feel like my teeth are going to come out.

That being said, I had a nasty little vibration at 70mph...the old tires were balanced, and I was getting ready to check the driveshaft. I put the KDWS's on and the vibration disappeared...the IROC is really smooth now...all the way up to 120 or so...then the front end lift plays hell on the ride.


HTH

 

Cool, glad to see others have had a good experiences with this tire. I know that most of you have probably not used many other tires though.

My GTA rims came today. ^_^



*hmm....seems my web space is down. The pics will show when they do. They are both limited to 600 pixels wide and about 35kb each.

 

I must say first that I am an old die hard fan of BFG tires- I've purchased at least 20-30 sets in my life time so far. With that said, I went out on a limb and tried Firestone firehawk SZ50EP's a while back and am happy to say that I have purchased a second set- These things are like glue wet or dry cornering or barking- it doesn't matter- it works great everywhere. I have owned and raced many sets of BFG R1 autocross race tires as well and these are the closest street tire in a 16" in grip to the R1's.

It was hard for me to change because BFG's have such a nice looking performance tread design as well, but again the Firestones work better.

Edit:And if you don't want to just take my word for it, here's TireRack's comparison of the BFG KDW's and the Firehawk SZ50EP's


BFGoodrich
g-Force T/A KDW
Size:245/50YR16

Firestone
Firehawk SZ50 EP
Size:245/50ZR16

The First #'s are BFG's/second #'s are Firehawks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRICE: $143 /$143
PERFORMANCE CATEGORY: Ultra High Performance/ Ultra High Performance
SPEED RATING: YR/ ZR
(Scale of 1-10, 10 being best)
HANDLING RATING :9.00 / 9.00
DRY TRACTION: 9.1 / 9.3
WET TRACTION: 8.1 / 9.1
SNOW TRACTION: N/A /N/A
RIDE COMFORT: 6.9 / 8.4
NOISE COMFORT: 6.3 / 8.6
WEAR: 6.9 / 8.1


TREADWEAR RATING: 300 / 340
TRACTION RATING: AA / AA
TEMPERATURE RATING: A / A

 

I was gonna get them but I needed to save a bit of cash so I went with the Kuhmo 712s on my RS and I'm very happy with them so far. I will, however, go with the KDWs when I replace the Kelly tires on my Iroc.

Ed

 

I know when i was gonna get mine, and i went to Discount Tire, the guys up there said that just about a month before they had a chance to test drive all those tires at some tire test drive event, i forgot what it was called. and that they all thought the BFG's were the best or 2nd best, but i forgot what other tire they said they thought was better, it might of been the Firestone, but since everyone else i had talked to recomended the BFG's (including Ken C. one of the head moderators at f-body.com who used to work for the Govt doing tire testing). so i figured that was good enough for me. how much are those Firestone's?

EDIT: ok i just re read that post. they are the same price huh. those do seem like pretty nice tires. I wanna say that they didn't have those out when i got my BFG's. or i probably would of gotten those.

 

Just to add, I went to Merchant's Tire (Charlotte, NC) for my Kuhmos and they matched Tire Rack's price. I understand that Tire Kingdom and Discount Tire will price match also.

I paid just over $440 IIRC for a set of 245/50-16 Kuhmo 712s, mounted, balanced, and a road hazard warranty, which was 10% of tire cost. My price from Tire Rack for the same tires shipped to my door was (and still is) $374.56. Then add $50-70 for a mount and balance, and it's $425-450. No warranty here either.


HTH...

Ed

 

i miss the 16" prices. i remember when i paid 600 for my michelin pilot 16" 245/50's and was upset about it. now being into the 4 digits without even trying is upsetting.

no smokey burnouts for me....

 

Ahh, I see why your prices were higher than mine. I got the all seasons as I might end up driving my GTA this winter if the search for a beater doesn't go well. I gotta build up some cash before next winter. Right now I'm driving the 93' Escort I bought from my mom when I turned 16 in 1996. Ok grocery getter, but I'm selling to my sister so she can have a car when she gets her license.

Besides, I couldn't afford $143/tire right now, the $115/tire i spent on the KDWS was pretty much my limit. I was between the Dunlop SP5000's or the BFGoodrich KDWS' tires. I the reports said the KDWS was better and no-one here even ran SP5000's.

 

My local dealer (Ken's Tire Service,Monroe,NC) actually beat Tire Rack's price. 4 KDWs mounted and balanced $594.44. TR's price would have been $572 plus shipping and then I'd have to get the mount and balance so I actually came out ahead.

 

Its going to cost me $490 for KDWS shipped, and about $20/tire to mount and internally balance them.

 

IS that price $143 higher then it used to be?

 

Correct. TR's price was $115 per tire about 2 weeks before I ordered mine and then the price shot up to $143.

 

I'm running the KDWS's as well and love them. They are excellent all season performance tires. If you're only concerned about dry traction get the KD's, but they'll cost a bit more.

 

For those who don't know, there is a difference between KDW's and KDWS's. KDWS's are more of an all-season touring/performance tire. Still a decent tire though.

 

Nice car Mongoose. '88 Formula. Just put on a set of KDW stock size. I love thiese tires. $601 out the door. It rained a couple of days ago. I aimed for every puddle i could find. Not a lot of hydro. Does anyone know where I can get a couple of rims widened in North Carolina?

 

To hell with B.F Goodrich...They are owned by michelin meaning the French..screw the frenchhhh!!!!! lol. All joking aside looking at the new goodyear tire..Eagle F1 GS-D3 from the rack. Later

 

Beat you to them, they are going on tomorrow.

 

Let me know how you like them Eagles 2.8...later