Best performance tires for the money?

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 3:46 pm

I'm going to be needing new summer tires soon and I want to get some goods ones, and the best bang for my buck. I'm looking for excellent dry traction with very good wet traction as well. I don't care about snow/ice/slush at all (I run winter tires on diffrent wheels). Any suggestions?

I also would like to know what sizes I can go with. I have the MY02-MY04 OEM 16" WRX wheels. 16X6.5. I want to get the widest tire I can while still staying with the OEM diameter. OEM is 205/55R16 TIA.

shemoves · Post by **shemoves** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:16 pm

tirerack has good reviews/ratings

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:29 pm

Toyo Proxes 4's. I love em. They are also really cheap. Well under $100 each. Forester has them. Legacy will get them soon. Roman's SHO has them too. By far, the best budget performance all-season. I'd say get an all-season just because of the durability over summer tires.

they have them in 205/55/16. Diameter wise, 225/50/16 is the same, but strut clearance, I'm not sure if it'll work.

I'd say you should try it, but if it rubs, your in a pickle.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:27 pm

I second the Proxeses. I had them on my first Sport Sedan back in the day and loved them enough to put them on by Benz back in the day.

rallysam · Post by **rallysam** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:58 pm

I'm happy with my Goodyear F1 GS-D3s. They're a little more expensive, but also have a better wear rating than most in this category. So, if you believe that, then they might be cheaper per mile. I've had my for 25k miles and they're not that worn.

For autocross, everyone seems to talk about Azenis.

Don't really have any first-hand experience comparing any of these, so take it for a grain of salt.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 7:01 pm

Sam - Ask Ed for a ride in his Miata when he has his summer Azenis on. That thing is sick. Those tires are +++. But I think they wouldn't last long under the weight of a Legacy.

Post by **Legacy777** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 7:49 pm

I've been really happy with the GS-D3's.

They're pretty much down to the wear bars and have gotten harder.

I'll probably be getting another set unless I can find something better in a similar price range.

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:05 am

Cool, so either Toyo Proxes 4's or GY GS-D3's huh? Hmmm.

I can't really take chances with fitment. I need to know for sure what the widest tire I can run on the wrx 16's is.

Phil- You list a 225. Is there a 215?

I need to get on this pretty damn soon. My RE92's are so shot that I'm breaking loose at wastegate boost. That's just wrong.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:11 pm

There isn't a direct fit 215 that matches the WRX OEM 205/55/16.

The Proxes 4 are available in that size though.

I run a 225/45/17 on the big wheels, and they don't rub the strut, but they do rub the fender slightly. With the WRX wheels being different width and offset, you might or might not make it.

I'd stick with a 205/55/16 for a 100% sure fit.

Subaru_Nation555 · Post by **Subaru_Nation555** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:52 pm

+2 for the Toyo Proxes 4. I've had them for almost a year and they're great in all conditions.

0perose · Post by **0perose** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:11 pm

your thoughts about said tires in gravel/dirt/mud?

Subtle · Post by **Subtle** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:23 am

Ditto the Proxes 4

got 205/55/16 on first gen Forester alloy wheels

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:02 am

OK, the Proxes 4's sound like they might be the ticket. Thanks guys.

Phil- In terms of fitment. I could handle going to a slightly smaller sidewall with the 215 (wouldn't hurt performance any), I just don't want to go bigger.

tonflo · Post by **tonflo** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 4:48 am

My NSX came with the Falken Azenis. Good tire for autocross & dry roads, but I wouldn't want to be on them in the rain. I have a set of Dunlop Direzzas that were $100 each in NSX size on the front now, should be a lot cheaper for Subie sizes. Check Tire Rack, Discount tire, Vulcan Tire, Edge Racing, and Roadway wholesale tire. You might find some good deals.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 4:18 pm

I believe Vikash is running something like a 215/50 or something like that. That might be a good size to try, and I can't see any clearance issues. At the very worst, you might need to run a cheap pep-boys spacer.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 5:24 pm

No, I was running 205/45/16 tires.

SP-Boxer · Post by **SP-Boxer** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 5:35 pm

I always prefer Bridgestone and Michelin. Expensive, but durable and good grip under all conditions

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 5:36 pm

A 215/50/16 is pretty close to stock diameter and only a little wider.

I bet those would clear just fine.

But a 215/50/16 is not available in the Proxes 4. A 205/55/16 IS, as is a 225/50/16.

I don't know that the latter would work without rubbing. It MIGHT, but I am unsure and I know your not in a position to "just try" it.

The 205/55/16's are $85 a pop + shipping from www.TireSwap.com

Good guys to deal with too.

0perose · Post by **0perose** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:22 pm

still no word on the gravel?

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 5:52 pm

I've been pleased with them in ALL conditions, including gravel.

I might get a set of 225/50/16 for the Outback wheels so I can use the Legacy in the winter if necessary. I'd be curious how the 4's would handle the power, but I imagine it'd be fine.

At the Baltimore Int'l Auto Show, most of the modded aftermarket cars were using Proxes 4's for the show.

If they can make a 3500lb Ford Taurus be a monster in the snow, they can do woners for something 600 pounds lighter.

Bheinen74 · Post by **Bheinen74** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 5:18 pm

I lke my yokohama yk420's . It is pretty hard to make them slip in any conditions, they are Siped too,

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:53 pm

OK, so I started looking into tires and I've narrowed it down a little. I'm broke, so I'm looking to go cheap.

Anyone know anything about the General Exclaim UHP? They are one of the highest rated tires on tirerack in the size I was looking for. They happen to be just about the cheapest too!

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... s&place=18

That or I was thinking about going with the Kumho Ecsta SPT. They are also cheap and rated pretty well.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... s&place=19

Any thoughts?

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:25 pm

I saw a set of the new General tires and they looked pretty good!

It looked like treadwear would suffer though. Seems like they sacrificed durability for high grip (using very soft compound). From that, I'd guess that the tires would feel kind of "floaty", espically based on grabbing the sidewall and trying to flex it.

Seemed like they were worth the money, and that you could run them at a higher-than-average PSI and that you'd be OK.

greg donovan · Post by **greg donovan** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:20 am

i have been pretty happy w/my kumho ecsta supra 712s but i think they are being phased out. they are a prettyold design. good summer only tire for the money. not great. just good. and untill you get into the 17 and up sizes they are around 60-80 dollars.

thefultonhow · Post by **thefultonhow** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:49 am

What do people think of the Kumho Ecsta ASX? It's ranked 5th on TireRack and is cheap (only $73 per tire). I might eventually get them to replace the RE92s on the WRX wheels I'm getting, but I'd like to see if anyone has any feedback first.

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Best performance tires for the money?

Best performance tires for the money?