Trying to pick tires (set)

[capt512]

Hello Everyone,

So I have spent the last few hours on the forum, as well as tire rack and discount tire trying to find some replacements for my current KDWS stockers.

I looked at the suggestions in the threads on here that people were using, and it seemed that about all the tires had half good and half bad reviews.

I looked at the General Grabber UHP, Hankook Ventas V4, Dunlop SP5000, Nitto 555, Nitto nt850, nitto 420, and general gmax as-03. I may have missed others that would work as well?

So I am looking for a summer tire (or all season) that will be used in the summer, then in the winter I will run 4 winter tires with steel wheels. I usually just use a all season, but I don't want to mess up the wheels with winter.

I have a early 03 without TC, so I don't have to worry about that, however I want my speedo as close to on as it can be still, and don't want ABS problems due to sizing etc.

I am on a pretty tight budget so am looking for a higher mileage tire. As with tire costs these days I can't afford to buy a new set of summer tires every single summer, I need something that will last atleast 2 summers hopefully. I drive around 5k miles a year, and don't race the car or do smokey burnouts. I do drive the car sporty at times, but only 2.5 miles to work and back city a few times a day and downtown to court 1-2 times a week.

On my 01 CVPI I recently sold to get the MM, I had Bridgestone Potenza 019 Grids (which was a 50-60K mile tire supposedly?) and it would have needed to be replaced at 15K or so miles...and that again was no burnouts, etc...so don't know if its just the tires or what....

Don't plan to be doing any high speed runs where I need a z-rated tire, but it appears thats almost required on our cars for sidewall stiffness?? The roads in my area are almost worse than gravel in some areas, so even with my stock KDWS the ride is rough...so I'm not looking for a much rougher ride.

So Recap:
1. Decent mileage tire, the higher real life mileage the better.
2. Decent priced tire (I can do a $200ea tire but its really gonna be pushing it and it needs to last a good while, as I can't afford that every season).
3. Similar look to stock, rake wise and sidewall height wise. I like the tread patterns of the Nittos.
4. Similar ride quality to KDWS.
5. Still decent wet traction, as this car is not a weekend warrior that never goes out in the rain. It is a daily driver.
6. Fits the stock wheels, don't plan to widen them anytime in the near future.

[Mr. Man]

I like Michelins myself and when the tires on my '03 finally crap out I'm going to see about Pilot's. These are probably out of your budget range but I have always had good luck with the brand. You might look into one of their touring tires.

Have you done the Carfixer's alignment yet? That will help the fronts last longer.

Sounds like you want a good H-rated tire if you think you will never go fast. I'd caution you though as you never know living out there in the prairie you might want to go with at least an V-rating.;)

Let us know what you end up with.:)

[DOOM]

Think I'm going with the nitto 555 on my next go around.
Which will be very soon! :D

[capt512]

Mr. Man - Yeah the pilots do look a little out of my price range, at 250-300 a tire, the would have to never be replaced for me to be able to spend that dough. Don't mind the hydroedge but they don't make the correct combo for our wheels unfortunetly.

Haven't done the carfixer alignment specs yet, my fronts currently have about 35% tread left on them, just loose air about every 3 days (supposedly the originals, I would guess they are the 2nd or 3rd set, but have definete dry rot on all 4). However my rears are bald in the centers.

Don't really see myself every going over 149mph....in the car...atleast not for a long while...I'm thinkin 120 would be my max ever, and that would be rare. An H or V rating would be fine for me speed wise...though I thought others said the car was unsafe at highway speed with H or V for some reason.

Doom - I really like the Nitto 555, they make sizes for a rear and front set right (as I don't want to mix and match unless I have to)...I though one or two said they were bad in the rain though...sure look good..

[slickster]

Do not use the 255 55 420s if you want to live.

[capt512]

slickster - ok 420s out...don't feel like dying this soon after purchasing the MM.

[jstevens]

whats wrong with the 420S nittos? I'm running them now. Superior dry weather traction. I know the 555 can get squirrely with rain.

[Mac-MerC]

Do not use the 255 55 420s if you want to live.

why not?.........


the best tires i have seen are the Continental extreme contact dws... they might still be on back order tho.... whenever they come off back order im gonna take off my set up and get a set of those.

[Bluerauder]

Don't really see myself every going over 149mph....in the car...atleast not for a long while...I'm thinkin 120 would be my max ever, and that would be rare. An H or V rating would be fine for me speed wise...though I thought others said the car was unsafe at highway speed with H or V for some reason...

Don't get too hung up on the speed rating. My MM doesn't see triple digits very often either. However, I do like to throw it around quite a bit and enjoy "spirited" driving. For me, handling is very important and sidewall stiffness is a major part of that. You'll pay for a performance tire.

Generally, those who have opted for a cheaper tire don't like the way the car feels and handles. Some say that the car get squirrelly and downright dangerous feeling. Understand that you are on a budget .... get the best tire that you can afford that does the job. Sounds like you need the handling ..... not necessarily the speed rating. Generally,performance tires link those two attributes and you'll have to pay for both to get at least one.

Personally, I prefer the OEM BFG KDWS and so far have had no trouble getting them. (I know that I am probably in the minority on this issue.) I get 36K on the fronts and 21K on the rears. At 5K per year ..... that's good enough for 4 summers before replacement. JMHO. I have tried the Goodyear Eagle F1 DS-G3s and they were OK but about 6K less in mileage overall. Understand that you can't even get them now.

I'll defer to others on the tire wear and handling of Nittos, Hankooks, Generals, etc.

[slickster]

Try switching lanes at 65mph plus. All the bouncing and swaying will give you a hart attack

[Mac-MerC]

Try switching lanes at 65mph plus. All the bouncing and swaying will give you a hart attack


hell i do that everyday when i drive... at 85mph
maybe the roads in SC are just bumpy and wavy like that?... just messing with u

[slickster]

Could it be that my front are still oem size

[Mac-MerC]

hell i run the stock bfg's on the front with nittos on the back.......... but each car is different, yours might not like the set up.

[slickster]

There's a guy on ebay selling the oem bfg cheap. Can't wait for the 420s grim reaper tires to where out so I can get the 555. They look realy nice ex dry trac but not to good wet

[breeze]

I know the 555 can get squirrely with rain.

not mine, pushed these bad boys to the limit in rain. did 80mph on highway pooring rain NO problems. i the like bfgs KDWS ALL Season for your DD.

[capt512]

I saw the post about the 420 bounce/sway etc which definetly worries me. I also saw the thing about the 550 being a slip n slide in the rain...which worries me as well... Everyone always says to get a summer only and winter only to get the best tires, that all seasons are only average at everything...but a bunch of these summer tires seem to be only good at dry it appears...

Looked at the continentals as well but the tire rack reviews sure don't give them much treadlife, people on there getting 10K miles out of a set...eek.

I had looked at the OEM blems a few times as they are a decent price, but was thinkin for similar to a little more I might be able to get a tire that did better in summer and rain than the all season OEMs that most seem to hate. (though they are still in my consideration).

[SC Cheesehead]

I'm prolly going to go with Nitto 420S all the way around the next time I need tires.

Currently running General Grabber UHPs on the rear, have just over 40K on them, they have worn real well up until the last four months... ;)

[capt512]

What were your thoughts on the Generals? Any reason you aren't going with them again?

[SC Cheesehead]

What were your thoughts on the Generals? Any reason you aren't going with them again?

I heard the Nittos were a superior tire, haven't heard anyone having sway, bounce issues with them. Also, Nitto 420S are non-directional, so they can rotate from side to side, the Grabber UHPs are directional, which isn't too big a deal, especially with the tread life I've gotten from them.

I'd have no problem staying with Generals, have given me excellent performance, just thinking I'd try Nittos for a change.

[bigmerc'03]

try toyo proxes st2 im looking at these from this web site
tirecrawler.com they have some pretty good prices

[capt512]

Anyone have any sets of the same tire? I wouldn't mind a little different size on the front and rear, as long as it was similar and the rake was pretty much the same. I don't really want different types of tires on front and rear though, not crazy about the look myself. I looked at the Falken Ziex STZ01 which many had used and the rears in the size used (255/55) isn't even available anymore. Looked at the General Grabber UHPs, but only see a rear size for them that would work. Can't find a find a front size for the 420s or 555 either.

Looking like as much as I'd rather not, I may have to go the BFG route? Thats gonna cost..

[steve fox]

I have stock wheels and OEM KDWS tires on my S/C 04 SB. Discount tire sells these at less than $200 each and really will honor the 40k mileage warranty BFG states for the tires. The rears live around 20k and the frt around 30k as I drive. They stick dry very well. I have not driven in snow and seldom in rain where I usually take it easy anyway so I have opinion on wet traction.

[capt512]

Well I took a look at the KDWS, it appears Discount Tire Direct only carries the Fronts... They also don't have a mileage warranty listed on them...

Looks like I could get the rears off ebay shipped for $217.40 pr, and the fronts from discount tire for $356.00 pr... $573.40 total. Tire rack has both but at almost $200 a piece front and rear.

I saw Discount Tire has the Nitto 420s 235/55/18 and 255/55/18 (would that combo work right?) for $680 total.

$100 difference total isn't that big of a difference to me really, but didn't know if they would be any better than the stockers or not? And don't see any mileage warranty on them either.

[SC Cheesehead]

Do not use the 255 55 420s if you want to live.


Try switching lanes at 65mph plus. All the bouncing and swaying will give you a hart attack

Interesting.

03mmmonroe has them on his car and autocrosses it, haven't heard any negative comments from him on the tires; actually had him recommend them for my next set.

Lotsa guys running them here, anybody else want to chime in on performance (or lack thereof) running Nitto 420S tires on their Marauder? Would like some additional feedback before I pull the trigger on my next set of tires.