2023 Tire Options for 15" Wheels

[Crazy Larry]

I have some Falken 225/50r15 tires on my iX that are older and could be replaced. I like the wider 225 tire but I think I'm rubbing here and there so I am looking at both and will evaluate rub today. Either way the options seems slim.

Here's what google tells me is available from Tire Rack:

KUMHO ECSTA AST All Season $133

YOKOHAMA ADVAN A052 Summer $253

BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE-71RS Summer $215

PIRELLI P ZERO SYSTEM (COLLEZIONE) Summer $512!

If I step down to 205/55r15 here's the options:

YOKOHAMA ADVAN FLEVA V701 Summer $129

KUMHO ECSTA PS31 Summer $131

VREDESTEIN SPRINT + Summer $193

Obviously, the Pirellis are my favorite because they look badass, but I'm leaning toward the Yoko Fleva Flevs because $$$. Are there other options I'm missing?

[82eye]

the yoko's and kumhos in the 205 are pretty much the go to's here.

[packratbimmer]

Obviously, there are many variables when picking tires so I hesitate to mention that 195/60R15 and 195/65r15 are working fine for me. I have also tried 205/60R15. My cars have become non-performance daily drivers so I am looking for a good ride, and the availability skyrockets. Watch the speed ratings closely if going this route as one can find H rated tires pretty easily.

[varg]

Of that list I think the RE-71RS is the answer. The RE-71 family is consistently a highly rated performance tire, if they were available to me in 225/45/16 last time I got tires for my E30 I would have chosen them over my R1Rs. Some of those tires are in different worlds from each other, the RE-71RS would be huge increase in grip vs the best of those 205 tires. For you that means cornering and stopping distance, for me it means acceleration too so I may value that traction more than you would.

[4tDX]

This is something i posted about a year ago. I ran all the following tires year around and in all conditions.

Although this thread has been open for a while and you already bought your tires, I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents since I'm always looking for information on different tires and it's always hard to find info in once place. I ran all these tires on TRM C1Ms or Euroweaves.

Yokohama ADVAN Fleva V701 are my favorite in 205/55/R15. Depending on how low you are, they may rub a bit in tight turns. They also come in 205/50/R15 and for some reason these are way cheaper, at least in my area.

But my favorite tire has to be the Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Spec (superseded by ZIII), only in 205/50/R15, but the ADVAN Fleva V701 are a close 2nd. I have not tried the ZIII as they are way more than I was paying for the ZII's.

These two tires both have decent traction in the wet and in a wide temperature range. Although, I still feel the Dunlops have a bit more traction in all conditions but perhaps a slightly more noisy ride. I've also noticed the Yokohama squeal a lot more when you are pushing them whereas the Dunlops never made a peep.

I've tried a bunch of other brands in these two sizes (Kumho, Continental, Bridgestone, Pirelli) and was disappointed in all of them. I don't know this for a fact, but they all felt like they had decent traction for the first quarter of their tread then go to a different compound after that and they all turned into utter garbage. The two tires I mentioned above felt like similar performance all the way down to their cores.

And from my personal experience wear rating was no indication of how long the tire would last. They all lasted roughly the same for me based on how I drove.

YOKOHAMA ADVAN FLEVA V701 Summer $129

Discount Tire has had these in 205/50/R15 ranging from $85-95 the last couple of years.

P.S. When I get a chance I'll go through my receipts and try to find the exact models for the brands I mentioned.

[Sunnyledge]

Continental Extremecontact Sport 205/50-15.

[Digitalwave]

What is the intended usage for the tire? What matters to you? Price, performance, longevity?

[Crazy Larry]

What is the intended usage for the tire? What matters to you? Price, performance, longevity?

Good questions. However, I think the answers don't change my first post. I want a grippy tire that lasts for a few years on a semi-daily driver. It won't see the track and my roads in philly area are rough on cars. I would say in order of importance: longevity/toughness, performance, price. So I guess the question remaining would be is the yoko 205 summer noticeably better on the road than the 225 Kuhmo all season?

[4tDX]

I believe the Kumho's I had were the Ecsta PA31's that I bought mainly for a road trip. It was one of the tires where the grip was okay for the first half of the tire life, but after that it they were absolute dog.
And I've found that tire life is more a function of how you drive rather than any of their ratings - I want to say I only got ~ 20k on mine and that's me running them till the first cord starts showing.
In summary, my experience with them put me off trying any of their other tires.

[Crazy Larry]

I ordered the Yokos (Amazon sale right now). Thanks for all the comments here.

[Digitalwave]

Longevity and performance are at odds with each other. Better at one is going to be worse at the other. Good luck with the new purchase. Guessing you went with the Fleva? The A052 is pure performance with terrible longevity.

[Das Delfin]

Continental ecs sport 205-50-15. Done

[Lars30]

Continental ecs sport 205-50-15. Done

Yep. Just threw those Contis on my 15" Weaves. Couldnt be happier with the grip and road manners. Not to mention, they look bad ass. Great tire!!

[Sim$$23]

Interesting

[khiobrien2]

Continental ecs sport 205-50-15. Done

Another vouch for these, best tires I have had on. Ever. Great grip even while wet/cold.