Need Tire Advice

[Fourteener]

I have a 89 325IX with 15" basket weaves.

Looking for OEM replacement tires 205-55-15's
- Kumho ecsta - were trash.
Mechanic claims that Nitto and Yoko S are not much better.

What does the community recommend?
Do I need to make the leap and get replacement wheels and tires?
16's or 17's? I would prefer not to roll the fenders, it is slightly lowered so possibly limited on widths.

Would appreciate package recommendations. Thank you

[F34R]

Size is almost the same as stock, your best bet.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php?tires=205-55r15-225-50r15

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/searchTiresBySize.do?sortBy=prca&ar=50&fqs=true&rd=15&pgTires=1&cs=225

You're not left with many tires in a 15" my brother got some good life out of his Kumho tires, but the S.Drives are not a well rated tire.

[ajhostetter]

Direzza DZ102s aren't bad: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

The Cum Hos are trash.

[lcoleman]

The Yoko S.drives have fantastic grip for 300tw and pathetic tread life. I think mine lasted 8-10k miles, which is laughable for 300tw....but I beat the snot out of them in the mountains.

Nitto NT-450s have laughable grip in most all conditions, though they are decent in the rain at full tread depth. I have a set that I simply have not been able to cord. I would estimate they've been on the car for 25k miles and have only been flipped for camber wear once. They are well below the wear bars and pretty dicey in the rain, but still driveable and safe.

I also ran BFG G-Force Sports in the past, and they were a nice compromise between grip and longevity. It doesn't appear that they're offered in that size any more.

It really depends on where your priorities lie.