One question: KDW 2, AD08, or Z1 Star Specs

[e30slidewayz]

AHHHH!!! Can't decide... all of these tires come in the sizes I need which are 215/45/17 and 235/40/17. They're going on my Style 5's 17x8 and 17x9. But, which should I go which!? The BFG KDW2 looks a bit bubbley for my taste, but the treadlife is good based on the UTQG of 300. The Star Specs look good in terms of ratings from tirerack. The AD08 are right there with the Star Specs but they seem to have less road noise based on the reviews and I'm iffy about that tread pattern. I'm ordering these tomorrow... so kinda need to make a decision. And, I'm leaving it up to you r3v...

[Massimo]

Well the KDW 2 are complete shit so I don't know why you have them there. They are in a different class to the AD08 and Z1. I have the Z1 and they are fantastic in the dry weather and also have very good wet weather handling for what they are which was a surprise for me.

At the end of the day the AD08 and Z1 are probably on par and both are going to have a lot of road noise, they are performance tires. If you want quiet tires you are looking in the wrong spot. I would chose the Z1 because they are cheaper then the AD08 and are on par for performance.

[e30slidewayz]

I've heard good things about the Z1's. They're a good looking tire as well. The tread life on the KDW2 was what drew me to them as well as their performance reviews, I'm leaning toward the Z1's and advans. We'll see what the poll holds in store for me tomorrow morning.

[e30slidewayz]

Star Specs it is then

[nando]

the KDW 2 were fantastic street tires (especially in the wet), but they came out like 4-5 years ago.. that's positively ancient by performance tire standards. I'd probably still have a set if they hadn't been discontinued in 15" sizes, but I'm sure there are better tires for the same price by now. you also have much better selection in 17" sizes.

I'm unlikely to ever buy another Yokohama tire again, so given the choice I'd go for the Z1's.

[e30slidewayz]

Ordered the tires an hour or so ago from a local shop in my hometown. I'll be going down for the weekend and have the installed on Saturday... can't wait for these style 5's to finally get out of my office and onto my ride. I've been staring at them for the last 7 months.

[M-technik-3]

the KDW 2 were fantastic street tires (especially in the wet), but they came out like 4-5 years ago.. that's positively ancient by performance tire standards. I'd probably still have a set if they hadn't been discontinued in 15" sizes, but I'm sure there are better tires for the same price by now. you also have much better selection in 17" sizes.

I'm unlikely to ever buy another Yokohama tire again, so given the choice I'd go for the Z1's.

Why not on the Yokohama, the ES100 stigma?

[nando]

no, I had other tires from Yoko I didn't care for. I think they are generally overpriced for what they are.

[e30slidewayz]

I almost considered the yoko sdrives... but meeehhh

[Earendil]

I know you've ordered them already, but for anyone else that finds this thread I've added my vote for Star Specs on ONE condition. If your car might see a wet road, go star spec. I was blown away by their heavy rain performance.

I did a track day at PIR this last spring, which they handles amazingly. The track was dry. On my way home through the Cascade mountains I hit a down pore on hwy 14 the likes I haven't seen in this area in years. Barely able to see how the windshield. The Star Specs wouldn't even start to hydroplane unless I was over 55mph. When I wasn't hydroplaning they appeared to have better grip than my last pair of cheap no-season tires. I was very impressed.

If you live in Arizona and don't intend on seeing anything wet, go with whatever tire has the best dry road performance. But if you want a performance tire that will handle a wet day without scaring the shit out of you, go with the Z1.

[e30slidewayz]

I'm in Charleston, SC and we get standing water a lot when it rains because we're pretty much at or below sea level. Glad I went with these.

[liquidgroove]

If you mostly care for dry track performance and cost, Federal 595-RSR would be nice choice.

Onlinetire has both size for under $100 each.

Dry performance is on par with other extreme performance tire. Wet traction is just average.
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Only really bad about the tire is very little heat tolerance. Could be a good thing for autox folks as the tire require no warm up.

[Danny]

Star specs because fuck everything else.

[Ryann]

I love my Star Specs. It's not just hype, they're great. I must say though that of all the tires I've purchased in the last five years they were the absolute WORST on the balancer. One of the tires actually has a heavy/hard spot in the middle of the tread that can be balanced out with a fistful of weights but still hops significantly at speeds over 65. The other three also required a lot of lead to balance.

[Earendil]

I love my Star Specs. It's not just hype, they're great. I must say though that of all the tires I've purchased in the last five years they were the absolute WORST on the balancer. One of the tires actually has a heavy/hard spot in the middle of the tread that can be balanced out with a fistful of weights but still hops significantly at speeds over 65. The other three also required a lot of lead to balance.

Really Ryan? I'm not sure if this makes me feel better or worse about my own Z1's being out of balance :(

I had Les Schwab (local-ish chain for the way out of towners) do the balance on mine. However, when I went in I told the guy there it was a track car, and that I respected the fact that they probably had new guys that needed practice, I told him my car was not one I wanted people practicing on. He smiled and said he had just the guy for me, the guy that does all the Miata track cars in the area. So when I returned to pick up the wheels I saw a bunch of weights on them. Part of this was due to the type of weights on it, but part of it he said was that the tires were just not naturally balanced well, and took a lot.

When I took it out on PIR not even 2 weeks later I started feeling a shake around 80mph. That vibration was rough enough at 95mph that I didn't push it over 100 on the track that day. I'm sure the wheels were fine, but it was my first time on that track and that wasn't a feeling I thought my instructor wanted to feel.

Anyway, short story made too friggin long, I had read once that some guy went through a couple pairs of star specs to get a good balanced pair, and thought I drew a bad lot when I got mine. Sorry to hear that Ryann also got a bad pair. I'd be interested to know how the OP's tires turn out.

All that said, my next pair of shoes for my track car will still probably be StarSpecs, especially if I'm not loaded with benjamins that need a place to go to.