Daily Driver Tire?

[Neejay]

Im kinda debating on the kumho ecsta 712 or yoko es100.

But logically speaking I live in Atlanta, GA (not a whole lot of rain), I dont take it to the track, drag, or autox, and they would only be for daily driving. Any other tires out there that will suite my daily driving needs?

[Q45tech]

Compared to Hilo, HI at 130" , Quillayute, WA 105 ", or Tallahassee at 65.7" but Atlanta's 50" [49.8] is rainy.

Unfortunately ATL gets below 45F so Summer tires are not an option in January mornings.

[Exar-Kun]

any silica based tread compound will remain flexible at lower temps than the traditional carbon black(IIRC) compounds found on "summer" tires, the es-100 features some silica for that reason, and silica seems to be better in the rain.

problem is, silica doesnt tollerate high temps well...leads to a slick feeling during repeated hard laps, can't havfe your cake and eat it too, so to speak.

I'd vote for the es-100, or similar.-chet

[Nismo_Freak]

Compared to Hilo, HI at 130" , Quillayute, WA 105 ", or Tallahassee at 65.7" but Atlanta's 50" [49.8] is rainy.

Unfortunately ATL gets below 45F so Summer tires are not an option in January mornings.

I never had a problem with my Falken Azenis in the cool weather here in Texas... they would be slick for a while but they'd warm up?

[SmithSR]

^Same with RA1. It's all relative to what a given driver will butt-feel to be the limits of adhesion..and of course Q45tech would always want to have exacting oem spec power, response, and stopping for each and every condition ever.. so i'd steer clear of the higher temp tires if you're trying to get a tire to do all things

PS: my computer seems to be working normal for now. joy!

[Exar-Kun]

yeah, same with my Pzeros....the PS2 hasnt seen the colder weather yet, but I'm assuming it'd suffer the same effects...

-chet

[chmercer]

if i was buying tires for daily driver i would find the cheapest, quietest, highest tread rating thing i could. no concern to handling

[SmithSR]

[Grant@tirerack]

I've driven on both the Kumho and the Yokohama and below 40 degrees, you will notice a big drop even in dry traction as they harden up. The Yokohamas do feel a little better but not much. If you are looking for something for year round use, I'd look at an all season.

[nismostate]

if i was buying tires for daily driver i would find the cheapest, quietest, highest tread rating thing i could. no concern to handling

i've been told the hankook ventus tires are very nice and cheap. sorta like the es100 but without the price and good treadwear. im probably gonna try those next.

[240marcuSX]

i have yokohama avid t4 for daily driving, 420 tread rating iirc, thats why i bought them, much longer lasting than my fk-451's and especially longer than my azenis' sports. but handling goes in the reverse order obviously, coincidence? i think not.

[Neejay]

if i was buying tires for daily driver i would find the cheapest, quietest, highest tread rating thing i could. no concern to handling

Good point. I just dont want to get some el cheapo's and have to be replacing my tires in 4k miles. I was gonna just do with some Falken ziex 512's. What kinda daily driver tires would some of you recommend?

It also seems that the tire size I want 205/55/15 limits my selection of tires.

I found the Falken Ziex ZE-512's for $284 shipped from discounttiredirect.com.
Modified by Neejay at 1:04 AM 9/28/2004

[Q45tech]

" Most accidents happen within 5 miles of home" is the old saying but true, does 5 miles of driving warm up a marginal tire sufficiently when it has sat over night at 25F? Probably not has been my findings. Many even premium tires take 10 miles to soften up the nylon caps/bands.............but in a way the tread set bumping warns you.

[Neejay]

I've driven on both the Kumho and the Yokohama and below 40 degrees, you will notice a big drop even in dry traction as they harden up. The Yokohamas do feel a little better but not much. If you are looking for something for year round use, I'd look at an all season.

Whats your take on Falken Ziex ZE-512's? Just for daily driving, nothing else.

[skydragoness]

if i was buying tires for daily driver i would find the cheapest, quietest, highest tread rating thing i could. no concern to handling

My car is my daily-driver.

Going cheap on tires is never good. It can be dangerous when you are trying to perform an evasive maneuver or whenever it rains. I spent a good amount on my tires (Bridgestone Potenza RE950's all-seaon directionals--i think they're cheaper now than last year) and i couldn't have been happier with the treadwear (400 treadwear on directionals is awesome), and the grip in the rain is phenomonal. I used to have cheap-o Dunlop SP5ooo's (a/s) that had crappy grip in the rain, i had to drop the car in neutral to make it around simple turns otherwise i'd lose the back-end--which happened quite often, even in after-rain conditions in low speeds!

The Kumho 712's i heard good about, and they look they have really good water-channeling abilities. Don't know too much about the Yoko's you mentioned. I like to go on Tirerack and read the reviews of people who have rwd sedan/coupes.

I would also recommend either the re950's, yokohama avs db s2's or avid v4's

[Jookmasta]

id suggest the falken ziex's. my dad just got em for his integra. size is 205/50/15. handling is great and rain traction is great. by the way im in florida so we get as wet as the ocean. o ya, 360 treadwear and 30,000 warranty. it is an H rated tire but they are directional. o yes and the kicker for the post is the price. go to http://www.edgeracing.com

the tires were 46 a piece. cant beat that with a stick.

[Neejay]

id suggest the falken ziex's. my dad just got em for his integra. size is 205/50/15. handling is great and rain traction is great. by the way im in florida so we get as wet as the ocean. o ya, 360 treadwear and 30,000 warranty. it is an H rated tire but they are directional. o yes and the kicker for the post is the price. go to http://www.edgeracing.com

the tires were 46 a piece. cant beat that with a stick.

Well, if Im getting 205/55/15, they're gonna be $65 +shipping. I found the ziex's for $284 shipped, but this edger place is in florida, right under me (GA). So I can get them in 2 days for like $5 more. I'll go through this edger guy. Thanks man.

[Doomed2Walk]

Well I'm in Chicago where it can snow HARD. Anyone have any recommendations for tires not only work well in dry/wet/cold but snow?

[Chingon]

I have been debating the issue too, and i think the best for the buck is the ziex 512. It has decent grip, are very quiet, good tread wear, and excellent price. To tell you the truth, around the 40-50 bux range, I have yet to see something that beats them for daily driving. I'm thinking of going w/a 15/215/50 setup.. but we'll see.

BTW, if anyone knows of a tire w/similar characteristics and around same price, plz do tell, I'm going tire shopping soon, and am on a budget.

[Eddie]

I have had the 712's and currently have the es100s. I don't know how the es100's do in the cold. The es100's are a little louder, but they grip better in both dry and wet weather. Yestarday morning was down to 60 in Austin and I could tell the es100's werent as sticky. The 712's do lose traction in the cold like Grant said and I don't doubt the es100's will also.

I was also thinking about the falken ziex for my next tires.