Please help me pick tires for my needs

[Mastrcruse]

Hey Guys,
I am in the process of buying tires for my wheels and I would really like your opinions. I have been looking at the "current tire thread" but need to know some more details.

At first I was thinking about getting the Goodyear Eagle F1's but don't know if that would be the best for my needs.

Wheels are 17x7's and I will be running 215-40/17

Needs:
1) Have to be GREAT in the rain, hydroplaning resistance (most important)
2) Good performance
3) I will be going from Columbus to Toledo occasionally so must have good ride quality
4) Mileage isn't a big deal because they will only be used for summer
5) I would like the tread pattern not to look like a snow tire
6) The tire noise is not a huge deal but I do have a vert that makes a bunch of other noises.
7) These will be on the Convertible so there will be no racing, track use. I do like my twisty roads and push my car around the corner out in the country so this must be a good performance tire.

Tires I have been looking at:
1) Eagle F1's (136.00)
2) Falken Ziex ZE-512 (93.00)
3) Yokohama Parada Spec-2 (102.00)
4) BF Goodrich g-Force Sport (111.00)
5) BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW NT (138.00)
6)Pirelli P-Zero M+S (137.00)
7) I have also been looking at Kumhos but haven't ever heard of them (which might reflect the quality?).

If you have ANY suggestions or need anymore info. please share or ask.

Thanks for the help!

[Mastrcruse]

Any Suggestions?

[asubimmer]

I loved the zeix when I had em, I have azenis for now

[E-rich]

g-force sport should be on the top of your list. ive had mine for a few months now and they do awesome in dry. respectable in rain and not so hot in snow. but overall i highly recomend and so will others!

[Mastrcruse]

The list that I put together isn't the tires I am looking at in any order. I just wanted to hear peoples reccomendation. They must be GREAT in the rain and no need for snow.

Thanks guys. ASU: I also like the Ziexs on my audi, they were nice but was considering other options too.

Keep'em coming please

[auto da fe]

Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 is probably the best choice.

[Mastrcruse]

I know this is stupid to put into the mix. Lets say I can't get the Eagle F1's, Now what would you suggest?

I am putting this in because I go to Discount Tire Center and Eagle F1's aren't on their website. I have been treated very very well by them and would like to still give them my business. I am going to contact them tomorrow and see if there is a possibility that they can get Eagle F1's though.

[AndrewBird]

These seem t be rated high:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....odel=ADVAN+S.4.

However, they only come in 215/45's.

[Mastrcruse]

Does anyone run the BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW NT? I was told that they aren't good in wet weather.

I think I am going with either the Falken 512 or they also have the 711 or 430, can't remember which one it was but it was one of those numbers.

But I like the BF goodrich and it has a 40000 mile warranty on it too. So does the tread pattern make it bad in wet weather?

[Jean]

I've had eagle f1s before for about 20k miles, they are very good in dry and wet but the drawback is a soft sidewall and they are a little expensive. Bro switched from the f1s to toyo t1's and not complaining either. I currently have dunlop sport maxx and they have also impressed me so far in wet and dry (even autox'ed on them, but car is awd).

How about yokohama es100s or bridgestone potenzas ? Another tire to consider is kumho mx or asx, I say consider because I don't remember how they are in rain.

[Mystikal]

Given your requirements, the GS-D3's are the absolute best tires.

If for some reason you can't get them, take a good hard look at Kumho SPT's. They have fairly similar characteristics to the GS-D3's (incredible in the wet, huge rain channels, excellent in the dry, excellent ride, slightly soft turn-in) yet cost a fraction and last longer.

-Jay

[Mastrcruse]

Awesome thanks for the input. The guy at Discount Tire had some Kumho's that he was recommending but I seriously, although he thought it was funny, never heard of Kumhos...I think I might be sheltered.

He thought that the Avid H45's (never heard of either) would be a great fit. But they look like all season/snow tires and I have already spent enough on those for the bottlecaps.

And I have learned never go to NTB because they want more than $200.00 per tire for the Eagle F1's and the are WAY higher on price than discount tire.

[Mastrcruse]

Given your requirements, the GS-D3's are the absolute best tires.

If for some reason you can't get them, take a good hard look at Kumho SPT's. They have fairly similar characteristics to the GS-D3's (incredible in the wet, huge rain channels, excellent in the dry, excellent ride, slightly soft turn-in) yet cost a fraction and last longer.

-Jay

Now that I am looking at the discount tire website these are the ones he recommended.

1)http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...40&ct=&rf=true

2)http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...40&ct=&rf=true

3)http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...&ar=40&ct=null

4)http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...40&ct=&rf=true

If I knew which tire (out all that have been discussed) was the absolute BEST in the rain I would be getting tires on monday.

Could someone explain to me how the hydroplaning, wet weather performance is judged/works?

When I look at the Eagle F1's I can imagine me going 60mph on an on ramp and spinning out because they don't look like they would shed water well. I don't really understand how tires, unless all seasons or something that has similiar tread patterns, are good in the wet.

Thanks, I am just trying to avoid a spin out in the vert. I drive careful especailly in the rain but don't want any unexpected slip ups in the tires to cause any thing.

[e30_325es]

check these links for test results:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/TireTestServlet?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+F1+GS-D3&partnum=14YR7F1GSD3&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=4

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/TireTestServlet?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+Sport&partnum=14ZR7GFSP&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=7

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/TireTestServlet?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+SPT&partnum=14WR7KU31&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=16

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/TireTestServlet?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+ASX&partnum=14WR7EASX&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=22

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/TireTestServlet?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=AVID+H4S&partnum=14HR7H4S&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=26

I think I covered all the tires you are looking at. That being said, I recommend the Goodyear. $153 from the tire rack is a hard price to beat, and it is on an entirely different level than those other tires you are looking at.

[Mastrcruse]

Thanks for the arcticles. I have been reading and they have a lot of good advice that I wasn't sure about.