Hey I just bought an '88 T/A with the 16" rim option and I took it into a shop that my dad and I know fairly well to have my car looked over today, and I told him I need some new tires and he offered me a set of Toyo Proxes 4 P245/50VR16 for $140 per tire, out the door with everything included. That makes $560 total.

I've been looking around at some other tires. I actually had my heart set on a nice set of Pirelli SuperSport 7000's because I saw an ad in a magazine for $100/tire for the P245/50ZR16, but online I can't find that size in that model Pirelli. Anyways, he told me to go with the Toyos over the Pirellis. Anyways, I also called Just Tires up and asked them if they carried the Toyos to give me a price but they didn't, so he mentioned some Dunlop SP Sport 5000's for like $730 total, but that's way outta my pricerange and I've heard people say that the Falken ZE 512's are better anyways, which was what I was also looking at. Just Tires told me that these would be about $485 out the door.

So...Toyo Proxes 4 for $560 or Falken Ziex ZE 512 for $485.

Obviously if you guys say they are about the same, I'll probably take the cheaper ones, but if the Toyos are a lot better then I'll be taking those instead.

Anyone use either of these tires, and what did you guys think of them?

 

Also, if it helps at all, I'm looking for tires that have a balanced combination of good grip in both dry and wet weather as well as allowing me to put a decent amount of power into my turns. I have WS6 suspension, and I'd like to use it. I'm not so worried about ride quality as I'm only 17 and consider this a sports car anyways

 

In that price range I would look into some Kumho Ecstas...if you had more $$ then you would be able to get some BF goodrich or Goodyear GS-DSs

 

do not buy falken or kumho tires. they are total junk. toyo's are not that bad, but i would still drift away. save your money and get tires worth spending money on. BF's are given way to much credit, not that they are bad, but given way to much credit. michelin's are excellent but expensive. i'm using a dunlop8000 right now which are ok. i'm not complaing because of the price i got them for... the higher priced goodyears are nice also. when it comes to tires, don't skimp. you'll need the wet and dry performance. afterall, that is what keeps your car on the ground around cornors and such.

 

BTW the falken and kumho tires have a 30k mile wearout line and tires always wear out before their milage claim. if it comes between the toyo and falken, get the toyo. if your aiming for the V rating get yokohama A550V. my work sells those for like 98 bucks a tire and for that price there is no beating them. you do realize the speed rating plays a big factor in price, right?

 

I don't know...I have Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-DSs...but I do know that many people on here are very happy with their kumhos...just do a search to find out.

 

I've read reviews on quite a few different tires and most everybody likes the Toyo and Falken tires. I figured I'd ask on here to see what you guys thought of them on our cars. As for Kumho's, I've seen as many people dislike them as like them. Dunlops are way too expensive, and I'm not a big fan of Goodyears lately either. My dad has a set Toyo touring tires on his highly-priced Camry (Lexus ES300), and he likes 'em a lot. They are pretty decent for being touring tires and only like a 215/60HR15 or something.

Also, I am aware of the speed rating making tires more expensive, and I know H-rated (130mph, right?) would be more than enough, but its hard to find "performance" tires that aren't V-rated in a P245/50R16 size.

Actually, the guy mentioned a Yokohama tire that he considered "bad ***" but he didn't give me a price or a model name. I'll ask him tomorrow when I go in to pick my car up.

 

for that price i'd look for michelin pilot 245/50/16 h which are excellent.

 

What model of the Pilot? The Sport and Sport A/S are both like $200 tires for that size and the XGT H4 is like $150.

 

i had the xgt h4...even though it was h rated it worked exceptional at the track and good through wet rain. it was one of if not the best tire i've had to date. if i could afford the 2500 for michelins on my 18's i'd buy them in a heart beat.

hands down all around great tire and for the price you can't beat it. here's when i had them....

 

I haven't tried Falken, but I've tried Toyo(not that model though, and a loooong time ago). As a performance tire, it was the worst set I've ever had on my car. They were VERY spongy feeling, which might explain why they'd work so well as a touring tire on a Camry. No way I trusted going hard into a turn with them. But like I said, that was a long time ago. But regardless, if it were my choice, I'd go with the Falkens.

Ironically, some of the best tires I've had on my car were the inexpensive "no name" brands from a couple of the major tire store chains.

I've had Goodyear V-rated(twice), Toyo V-rated, Continental Zs, BFG CompZs, "no name #1" V-rated, and currently "no name #2" V-rated. I'd rate them as: 1) Goodyear; 2) no name #1; 3) no name #2; 4) Continental; 5) BFG; and last 6) Toyo.

I'm surprised those are the only two tires you can find for around $500. Do you have time to keep looking, or is it an emergency situation?

 

Oh, they aren't the only ones I've found, they were the two I was recommended by a few people. It's not an emergency. I'm going to burn up the rest of the treads on the tires I have and buy new tires sometime next week after I get my front-end all fixed up (needs a new idler arm, centerlink, lower ball joints), and I'll get it aligned when I get the tires done.

 

well i got alot of hard miles out of those above and was able to pull a 1.9 60' more then once with them........can't say enough good things about them. however i haven't had them since 02'.

 

True, but that will probably be closer to $700 with install. Figure $150/tire plus stems and taxes and disposal fees..

 

Alright, actually I found the XGTs a little cheaper from somewhere else. However, I've read these get HORRIBLE treadwear. Now, I know I'm a hard driver and any tire I buy will not have that great of treadlife, but the longer the better.

Anyways...I've looked into a few more, what do you guys think?
-Toyo Proxes 4 (V-rated)
-Falken Ziex ZE-512 (V-rated)
-Michelin Pilot XGT H4 (H-rated)
-Pirelli PZero Nero M&S (W-rated)
-Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 (W-rated)
-Yokohama Avid V4S (or H4S I suppose) (V- or H-rated)

I've heard the Kumho's have a real nice stiff sidewall, and that's always good for making aggressive turns But what do you guys think if you've had any experience with any of these now taht I've added a few more tires to the list? Assume all are the P245/50R16 with the speed rating listed.

 

I run Toyo Prixis S/T on the back of a 4,200 pound car and pull a 1.99 sixty footer at the track.
That's if you're looking for info on how they bite. Just heat em' up and hang on.

 

I have some Falken Ziex ZE-512's on the rear of my car. They are an alright tire. The tread pattern is nice. I've had a best of 1.99 60' with them too. The sidewall looks great.

If I bought another set of tires (which will be happening soon) I will probabally buy Kuhmo 711's like I have on the front. I am cheap like that.

 

This isn't going to help very much, but I had a Falken tire with my 305 (I think it was the 512? It was only H-rated though) that wouldn't hook up at all. Especially when it was wet. And after the 350 swap... good night. Nothing but wheel spin.

 

I just finished wearing out a set of ZE-502's (the predecessor of the 512) and went to Kuhmo 712's, both sets were 245 50ZR16. The Kuhmo's stick MUCH better in both dry and wet weather. They'll also make a little noise before they let go in the corners, which is something the Falkens never did. I like the warning. In the future when I get the suspension a bit tighter I may go to a more expensive tire, but the Kuhmo's are more than enough tire for the mostly-stock F41 setup in my car.

FWIW we also put a set of the 712's on my fiance's '00 Z when she wore out the Dunlop SP5000's, and she was suprised to find that she likes the 712's better. At $84/tire from tirerack.com you can't really beat them.

 

Yeah, that's what I thought about the price too. The shop I'm going through says he'll beat the price on any tire at tire rack, so I should get away a bit cheaper. It'd be nice if I could get some nice "budget performance" summer tires for $350 Anyways, thanks for the input on comparing the Falkens to the Kumho's

I think I will go with the 712's if no one else has any comments. In the mean time, I'll be burning the hell out of the tires that are on the car now since there's next to no tread left. I don't remember what's on the car actually...Firehawks maybe.

 

i honestly don't understand why there is a debate. i wish i could bring you all to the roadcorse i went to to compair tires. when it comes to michelin and goodyear vs everything else... they are unbeatable. if you ever watch the circut racing or formula stuff, all they use is goodyear and michelin. they are expensive but you get what you pay for when it comes to tires. i guess if your on a budget, the kumho and falkens are alright...i'd still take yokies over all other low priced tires though.

 

have you looked at the Nitto NT 555's?

 

I hated my Yokohama's. The back of the car was constantly sliding around...I've had much better stability out of the Kuhmo's.

And as far as road course comparison.....I'll agree that the higher-end Goodyear tires are fabulous, but for those of us who don't need and can't afford that much tire, the Kuhmo's are the best bang for the buck.

If you ever watch the formula stuff, keep in mind they have hundreds of thousands of dollars in those cars. Most of us have less than $10k.

 

i don't know your not talking a $1,000 or more between the two. extra $100 is well worth the nicer tires...

 

$400 installed for the Kuhmo's...over $600 for the Dunlops. Thats a 50% increase in cost. For tires that don't handle as well. Eagle GSC's are double the cost of Kuhmo 712's ($172/tire at tirerack.com,) and for a street car with rubber bushings and stamped suspension pieces, they're more tire than the car can make use of anyway.

With a fully-built suspension or on a road course where every edge counts, I'd be all over the Goodyear Eagle GSC's or maybe F1-GSD3's, but for a near-stock daily driver on public roads I don't think they're worth the money.

 

well said. i would pay the extra 100 or 200 for the better tires. keep in mind the kumho rubber won't last you that long. only rated for 40k miles and they always wear out before the stated milage. especially in 3rdgens because you cannot rotate the tires. unless you pay the shop some extra loot to dismount, mount and balance them....

 

GS-D3's are not a road course tire, not even close. I can overheat them within three hard corners and they become greasy like any street tire. They are much better than any average performance street tire though- some are equal, but nothing is better. (G-force KD's 17" min size only, no 16's. Mich topend Pilots are supposed to be very good as well.)

Goodyear GS-D3's, Mich Pilot Sports, and Firestone SZ50EP's are the 3 best 245/50-16 tires on the market period- but all are STREET tires that will work with VERY MILD TRACK USE.

Buy the best tire you can afford- Good tires cost good money for a reason, they are better made and have mostly multiple tread compounds combined in different layers for wear and heat. Cheap tires only look the part.

remember the old addage- "Got a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet"

 

i agree with you to the fullest. i don't know much about track tires but i thought the discussion was about street tires anyways. if you got the money, michelin is the best IMO. i like the 17inch hawks also.