Napster134

Hi all,

I just ordered a new set of YearOne aluminum snowflake wheels in 17" X 9" and am now looking for a good set of tires for them.

I went with the silver wheels and they should be arriving sometime next week... In the meantime I've been doing research on tires and wanted to some more suggestions and feedback on what tires to go with.

Here is some information to get an idea on how I plan to use the car:

• I live in San Jose California so I'm going with an all Summer performance tire as it doesn't rain here much and this won't be my DD.
• I've gotten use to the handling of smaller cars and having fun on twisty roads near Santa Cruz and Highway 1 so I really want some more handling out of my firebird.
• I won't be drag racing much but would want the tires to hold up on a few straight passes. Yet in the end, I care more about handling.
• This will be for my 91 Firebird w/ 80k on it making ~450-500 hp/tq from a TBI 355 with a Vortech Supercharger. I have KYB shocks, Eibach springs, and a few other suspension components. Still no SFC's.

Let me know if any more info is needed

With that being said, here are the wheels I ordered:
https://www.yearone.com/Product/wheels/sfw179slvv2s

Here are the tires I'm looking at right now...

SIZE: 275/40 17

Firestone FIREHAWK INDY 500
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...tnum=74WR7FHI5

Bfgoodrich G-FORCE SPORT COMP-2
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...um=74WR7GFSPC2

Continental EXTREMECONTACT SPORT
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...rtnum=74WR7ECS

Falken AZENIS RT615K+
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...m=74WR7RT615KP

Lastly, I don't want to spend Pilot Super Sport type of money!

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

I'm running G Force Sports (comp 1), and they're great. The Comp 2's are supposed to be even better. I'll be needing tires soon, and that's what I'm going to run.

My understanding was that the GForce Comp 1 introduced the tread pattern and was hugely successful but the compound had wet traction issues, BUT....the tire overall performed well and was very popular. The higher end KD/KDW performed better in wet and had a superior compound. BFG essentially merged the 2, cancelled the KD line, and now the G Force Comp 2 sport is their UHP tire. I love the 1, so I'm looking forward to trying the 2!

paul_huryk

Take a look at the falken 615Ks - they are one of the best street tires in 275-40-17 you can get. Have a set on my GTA - love them.

Jaysz28

iTrader: (30)

I've been debating grabbing a set of Nitto NT05's in a 275/40/17 as my next tire purchase.

They are onsale on ebay through Oct 30th for $100 off a set of four.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

I've good things about the NT05's as well, but didn't mention them because I have no first hand experience. GOOOOOOD LOOOOKING TIRE!!!!!!!!!!!

vinny R

I love my Cooper Zeon's!

tealman92

Comp 2's

Jbuchanan

Can you post pics when installed? I was thinking of these wheels in gold for my GTA.

Napster134

Sorry for the late reply...

Good info. I didn't know this. I saw a lot of mentions of KD/KDW's on older forums and was wondering what they were.

I like the idea of the Comp 2's but I'm also curious why others recommend other tires and their reasoning as I want to make sure I get something that's going to do best in curvy roads and also and still okay in a straight line. I also seen a video on TireRack where the Firestones seemed to have outperformed the Comp 2's

Take a look here:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests...y.jsp?ttid=217

Napster134

Thanks for the recommendation!

Could you give me some reasons why they are the best? My boss also recommended Falkens to me as he's used them before with great results but as I search online for tires based on reviews and ratings I'm finding that Falken isn't mentioned a whole lot in the top rated/reviewed tires. The tires at the top of my list are the top rated/reviewed but if you can convince me or provide me some info that will convince me then I'll be happy to change my purchase

Napster134

I looked these up just now. They look super cool actually! But... I see that they're labeled as "Drag Radials"... I'm looking for something that will do best around corners and not just straight lines. Do these also perform well around corners?

Napster134

I'm curious about how these do for cornering. I want to eventually be able to drive my car in canyon roads and have something that will perform the best there vs. simply a straight away. I know our cars aren't the best for this type of driving but I want to setup my car to do it as best as the car could.

Napster134

Just looked them up. They are quite nice! Have you had any experience with the other tires I mentioned? If not, what makes you love these? What type of driving do you typically do and what do you notice that stands out with the performance of the Cooper Zeon tires?

Napster134

Thanks!

Napster134

Of course! I'll post a ton of pictures and maybe even an unboxing video!

I got the silver ones but almost went with the gold. I didn't go with gold as I have no gold accents and thought they may look out of place without any matching gold anywhere else to match.

Napster134

Sorry for the late reply everyone! Also, keep in mind, this is the first time I've ever been serious about tires so I have no in depth tires knowledge besides knowing the difference between a big name brand and a no name brand. I also know what the measurements mean and which ones look cool lol ... Only reason I care this time around is because I have a purpose behind the tire and have started to care about comfort, cornering, and fun canyon driving that I can do well in my ford focus but seem to do at all with any confidence in my firebird. I suspect this is largely due to my big bubbly existing 15" tires. Going around any bit of corner (even really large freeway sweepers) at 80 mph feels terrible and the feeling I get from the tire is that the rim is moving side to side and tire is falling over on itself. Not sure if that makes sense but in general, it does not feel safe! : /

dbrochard

iTrader: (3)

I have the firestone firehawk indy 500's on my car, great tire. Handles great, I never have lost traction with them once without trying to

Jaysz28

iTrader: (30)

The Drag Radials are NT-05R's

I am currently running a set of NT-05's on my autocross miata. Before that, they were my 'wet' tire on my spec miata. Really good grip for a 200 tw tire and I managed to keep up with folks on Hoosiers around the daytona infield track.

NT-05

https://www.discounttiredirect.com/b...o-nt05/p/40517

NT-05R

https://www.discounttiredirect.com/b...-nt05r/p/40585

I will probably buy a set before the end of the month for my firebird. I live in SW Florida, so rain performance is very important to me..... lol but I prefer to go around corners rather than a straight line.

vinny R

My son got the comp 2's for his Maxima. He had Goodyear on before. I do drive his car once a week or so. I did not notice a huge difference in the cars handling when going from one to the other. Of course it was better. Seemed a tad bit noisier than the old tires. Not a fan of the tread pattern, looks like it should be on a truck.
When I went to the coopers on my car it made a huge difference. My car had some Goodyear made for someone else tires. The car does not lose grip when doing 60 through the round about. I have to really work to even get some tire squeal. I don't spin the tires any more when taking off from a light on wet roads(under normal acceleration). I like the tread pattern. Less road noise than the previous tires. My tire guy recommended these. He likes them also. I have no idea if these got good reviews or not but I do trust my tire guy as he has been in bus. for 30+yrs. I have used Cooper Tires in the past and have always had good results not matter what model tire. American Company also.

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

The BFG will probably get the most recommendations here because it's just about the last tire in stock 245/50/16 size for us. The BFG are a good summer tire. Work surprisingly well in the rain too. They tend to look bigger than other tires of the same size. Fairly aggressive look to them. I would classify them as good value/performance. The only downside is that they tend to be a bit noisier than other tires.

The Firestone tires are more of a value tire. Narrow look to them. I'd skip them. Not the performance of the BFG.

I have no experience with the Falken tires. Paul knows his stuff though.

The Continental ExtremeContact Sport are the newer version of their popular DW tires. The DW tires were good in the dry, good in the rain, very quiet. The only downside to the DW were that the tread walls were soft. The ExtremeContact Sport is basically a DW with stiffer sidewalls and more performance.

You mentioned the Michelin Pilot SuperSport. There is an odd thing with them in 17" sizes. They make the SuperSport in 245/45/17 but they don't make them in 275/40/17..... They only make the older PS2 in 275/40/17 and the price is about twice as much for the PS2 compared to the newer and better in every way SuperSport (albeit in 245 size)

If your heart is set on 275/40/17, I would go for the Continental ExtremeContact Sport. High performance, quiet, good looks. It's the main competition against Michelin's Pilot SuperSport tires these days.

Beater79TA

If this is a weekend only car that you want to play on the twisties with, take a look at the BFG Rival in a 255/40/17. It's the largest 17 they make but fits those wheels nicely and will stick. We run them as the backup tire for autocross and road racing (for when the 315/30/18s aren't available) and they will stick in the corners for you. The other recommendation for playing in the twisties would be the Falken 615k+. It does come in a 275/40/17 and will actually last longer than the Rival in this application.

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

A 275 tire is a little big for a 9 inch rim. The Nitto's run a little on the small side so it can work, but a 255 would deliver sharper handling. I have a 255 Nitto NT05 on the front of my car with a 17 x 9 rim. The tire is stretched a bit but that's not a bad thing for cornering.

Napster134

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the late update/reply. In the end I ended up with the BFGoodrich Comp2's as many suggested. I know there were other very good suggestions as well but my tire guy was able to get these this weekend on the same day I took the car in and I figured I'd go with them based on the fact that they were immediately available and quite a few recommended them.

So, with that being said, please check out my unboxing and installed video:

https://splice.gopro.com/v?id=73EPWM

Note: I will reply to everyone elses suggestions when I have more time. It's late here and I better be off to bed but thought I'd update quickly.

Thanks again everyone. Sorry, I couldn't go with all suggestions :/

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

Man those are sharp! Really like those snowflakes! Post up your thoughts of the Comp2 tires after you've got a few miles on em. -please.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I know you have already bought your tires. However this would have been my post.

Of the tires you listed, the 615's are bar none the best performing tire you can buy in a 275/40/17 size. They are the same class of tire as the NT05's are. Basically a near R compound Auto-X/HPDE street tire.

I have a set of Nitto NT05's in 275/40/17 trim, they grip great when new. At RA with a full bolt-on LT1 I was able to pretty much just floor the car out of every single corner. However, mine are several years old now and require heat to get any traction out of them as the rubber compound is drying out. They are also okay in the rain, but will hydroplane on puddles easily as there is nowhere for the water to go. Right now they are just plain sketchy when cold, even though plenty of tread is there, the compound is worn out.

As others have suggested I would actually consider dropping down to a 255 and going with a Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tire (The replacement for the Super Sport). Its THE top street summer tire. It can do track duty, but its happiest on the street.

My Focus RS comes with the MPSS and the tire is a beast on the street. Confidence inspiring, great grip when cold, and even Cold/Wet. Good in the rain. Excellent tread wear, with a 30,000 mile warranty.

That said, there are tires that will beat the MPSS's traction. But not many are as well rounded for a street car.

Napster134

I really like the way these looked. So far, I've lost traction on my new Comp2's and I wasn't trying to so that's not a good sign so far but one thing I noticed is it was very controllable.

Napster134

Those are really nice. I sort of wish I would have gone with something a bit more R compound looking like these or the Falkens because the ones I went with (Comp2's) have very large thread chunks. I could see why people mention they aren't the quietest.

Napster134

I actually had some coopers in the front before and they did work quite well. Quite grippy it always felt like. I ended up with the Comp2's so glad to hear these still performed at least slightly better than the other tires you mentioned.

Napster134

Very good info. Makes sense why these were so recommended and why the Falkens were not getting as many recommendations. I also noticed what you noticed about the Michelins and it was another reason I sort of put them off my list. Sort of wish I could have gone with the Falkens/Nittos though just cause of the responses in this thread on them and how they look so much nicer and almost R compound like.

Napster134

Seems quite a few have recommended the Falken 615's at this point. Unfortunately, I went with the Comp2's as my tire guy had them available on the day I went out to install the tires. I say unfortunately only because I don't like the tread pattern design so much compared to the Nittos and Falkens and those have about just as many recommendations than the Comp2's on this thread at this point...

I still haven't got a chance to really test them out though because of a water pump failure

Napster134

Once again... should have gone with the Nitto's or Falkens... good thing the word is that the Comp2's wear fast lol....

Napster134

Thank you! I will report back as soon as I get a chance to really test them out! My water pump went out so haven't got a chance to really test them out! ...

One thing I noticed immediately is how much smoother the car feels when driving. I also notice that the car seems to really stop much better

Napster134

Really wish ya would have chimed in a bit earlier lol
I do regret not getting the Falkens or Nittos. I would not have gone with the MPSS's due to the price but at this point, I'll make the best of the Comp2's and report back once I really get chance to try them out.

Napster134

Hi everyone!

Here is the latest update!

My driver side tire is rubbing against the inner fender when I turn to the left. My car is a salvage title so not sure if this is the reason it's only happening on one side or if I have some sort of misalignment. Any thoughts on this?

I also notice that since the car stops so much better and also feels much smoother/planted (I suspect due to these larger wheels and wider/quality tires), the nose of the car dives pretty deep under braking so my next upgrade is going to be some struts/shocks to help keep things a bit more stable. Any recommendations? I'll probably end up posting in the suspension section for this question but just curious of some quick recommendations.

Lastly, my water pump went (notice the water under the car in the photos below) out so I don't have any more info to report on regarding the actual new tire/wheel performance. I will fix the water pump this week hopefully and then report back soon once I really get to try them out!

Other than that, I noticed there was some issue with my video so I thought I'd just post some photos.

Here they are:









P.S. the tires aren't cleaned/shined just yet... so they look a bit dull.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

Man that looks sharp! Do you think you could do me a favor and take a closeup of the sidewall? I ask because from what I can tell, the newer comp2 sidewall looks a lot cleaner than my original comp1, but I can't ever confirm that on a tire I KNOW to be a comp2, and not the original. ....pretty sure....but still.