Has anyone run the Kumho ECSTA SPT tire?

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Has anyone run this EXACT tire on the Marauder

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Ecsta+SPT&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=45WR8KU31&fromCompare1=yes&place=4

You can get a 245/50 rear and 235/45 front in these and have a matched set

I am more interested in running 245/50s on all 4 corners so I can finally rotate my friekin tires.

Interested on reviews on this exact model tire!

Thanks

Steve

[Jeremy]

I just got rid of mine, running nitto 420's and 555's now. My kuhmos only lasted me around 15k miles, and I wasn't even TRYING to burn the back tires off. They look good and handle pretty well, but didn't seem to last.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

was it the SPT or one of the other models? Thanks. Whatever I do I am running a set of same model tires on all 4 corners, whether or not I stagger the size.

Steve

[Jeremy]

They were the SPT's. They came with the car (brand new, the car lot I got my MM from installed them), 235/50's all around.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Good info, thanks. Did you rotate the tires and if not did the fronts still have wear left on them when you changed them? What size Nitto's are you running front/rear. Are the 555s a drag radial or a normal street tire? I definitely won't run two different model tires front/rear so I would need to be able to pick a size, if I used the Nitto's, that would be in a 245 or 255 width and would be appropriate height to run on all 4 corners (255/55 is not gonna happen on the front)

Steve

[Jeremy]

I didn't rotate them because my front's were f'd from my front end being wore out/out of alignment. I ended up replacing lower ball joints, springs, a wheel hub, stuts, uppers, etc.. but it was too late. The rears were wore down to slicks.

The 555's are a street tire. I found the combination from reading here. I'm running 235/50's up front (in the 555) and 255/55 in the back (the 420s). I had them installed with my trac-loc being rebuilt and axle TSB kit last thursday.. I love em so far.

I just checked nittos website. The 420S is available in 235/55, 255/55, and 255/50. The 555's are available in a large variety of sizes..

I can't beat the deal I got on tires from the dealer either. (I've got a very good working relationship with them).

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

the 420 doesn't have any appropriate sizes for the front so that is out...

the NT555 has a 255/45/18 that is also extra load rated, that might be okay for all 4 but that is getting really wide for a front...and they are summer tires


How are the 555s in the rain? The major problems I have with the KDWs are:

1. Front end vibration that is definitely a tire issue and not a mechanical or alignment/balance problem.

2. Terrible wet weather performance under any sort of power at all. A school bus can out accelerate me in the rain off the line, and I am also breaking the tires loose shifting while going down the road, which kicks the rear end, under even moderate accel. in the rain

just flat out really scary to drive on the stock tires so even my wife wants me to replace them

[Jeremy]

It has been raining here for.. well I can't remember the last sunny day.. several weeks I guess.. they are fine. ;)

[AConvertedChevy]

I just put the Kumhos in the back 255/55, sits real mean lol

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

After looking I am still considering the 245/50/18 size on all 4 corners. The Kumho SPT got a lot of bad reviews on several tire sites, from people saying that they flat spot very noticeably every time you park the car and it takes several miles of flumping before they run true. I had a set of tires do this once before (BFG Traction TA's on a 2003 Acura TL-S) and it was SOOOO ANNOYING to have to drive that first few miles, flump flump flump flump. I know the Marauder has a very soft suspension compared to that car but I still don't want to take the chance.

There are some other tires like Falkens in the 245/50/18 size that I will have to consider...

[imorb1994]

There are some other tires like Falkens in the 245/50/18 size that I will have to consider...

Becareful which falkens you run have been bad reviews and accidents with these tires


http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33192&highlight=lost+dtr


http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=44018&highlight=falkens
post #10

[sd8683]

How about the Nitto555 245/45's and they are extra load rated also......
They are seen here........
http://www.nittotire.com/#index%2Etire%2Ent555%2Esizes