Opinions on this S13 tire/wheel combo?

[dareo]

Thinking of getting ContiExtremeContact All seasons in 215/45/17 on Kazera KZ-V 17x7s This package will set me back $972 shipped from Tirerack. The tire size isnt the 'recommended' size for the Kazera 17x7s, but i think it should fit allright, then again i dont know a lot about tires and wheels yet. My calculations indicate this setup will give me about +.40" overall diameter versus the stock 195/60/15s. I live in Utah, and snow driving will take place, so im kinda set on the ContiExtremeContacts. Does anyone have any personal experience with these tires or wheels? How will this setup fit, on the car and on the rims? Thanks for any information you can help me learn with.

[Grant@tirerack]

That tire size should work fine on most of those cars. It doesn't look like you have lowered the car so that should fit fine. We always put the smallest tire size on the web so folks don't get carried away. The Conti Extreme Contact is a very good value for an all season. They are getting rave reviews on our website from customers but they are still a very new tire (just look at the miles logged so far). Most of the customers reviewing them so far have not even had the tires on for more than a month or two at the most. I found them to be fairly good for ride comfort and noise (typical of Continental) but they are not as sticky as I would like. The tread design in the center is very open which should do well in Winter but it tends to make the tire squirm in transition. It is a bit soft when it comes to hard cornering or fast lane changes. You can actually feel the center blocks squirm a little before the shoulder blocks grab in a corner. It is a very nice entry-level Ultra-High-Performance Tire at a very good price. Think the Sumitomo HTR+ is a slightly better buy especally when it comes to handling. That would be my top pick. I found them to be much more stable and much better in steering response. They are also non-directional so you can cross rotate with them for better wear patterns. The Kazara is a very nice wheel. Low pressure cast, shot peened and heat treated, they are a very good O.E. quality wheel. The 17X7 is only 17.5lbs and comes in at under $130.00 ! You will be hearing a lot about this line of wheels. If you order online, please be sure to go through our link on this fourm or contact me directly at 1-877-522-8473 ext# 313 so the fourm gets credit for the refrence! Thanks!

[dareo]

The Sumitomo's look interesting, but will they give me decent wet and snow traction? Im also looking at Pirelli P Zero Nero's, but they come in a 225/45/17. Would this tire fit good on the 7" rim and on my stock height S13? Thanks Grant!

[Grant@tirerack]

Very good wet traction (I actually ran better laps in the wet with those). The Pirelli is also a great tire but the 225 is going to be too big for the rims. They would not handle as well on that narrow of a wheel. No one has had the chance to run the Conti Extreme contact in snow yet (they just hit the US market this Spring) so I can't speak from first hand experience on them. The Sumitomo is going to do fairly well in areas where they keep the roads clear. No all season tire is going to do well in deep snow but these will get you where you need to go within reason. I'm not a big fan of all-season tires for Winter use.