Buying tires

mkw037 · Dec 3, 2009

I need some new tires on my 02 mustang gt.
Right now I got the z rated tires but being that I don't exceed 150mph ever I don't know if there is any reason for me to really get the z rated tires. I heard that they have softer walls which wear quicker also so without benefiting from the speed factor, why get them?
Any other things to know while shopping for the tires?

Kilgore Trout · Dec 3, 2009

The only kind of tires I buy anymore is BFG, they rock.

Is your car a daily driver? What kind of money are you looking to spend?

bhuff30 · Dec 3, 2009

This question is far too open ended. The best tire depends on what kind of driving you do, where you live and how much you are looking to spend.

When I was choosing tires, I looked at the tests on tire rack, paying special attention to braking distance in the wet and dry on their track. A 1-2 foot change in braking distance can decide whether or not you have an accident, and tires absolutely have a huge effect on braking distance. For example, the tire I choose stopped from 50 in 82.2 feet, while the worst of the 4 'high performance all-season' tires stopped in 94.2 feet... That's 12 feet worse and only from 50mph. Imagine the difference from 70. Besides, better stopping traction will correspond to better streight line acceleration traction, and maybe even higher skid pad numbers.

I daily drive mine, wanted something that would last well, but have excellent dry and wet traction (especially braking), with an occasional snow on an under 150$/tire budget, so went with the Yokohama Avid H4S. I just bought my second set in May and I really like them. Wet traction is great, dry traction is good, and I can get 2.0-2.1 60' times, treadwear is good, and I like the road feel. It is all season rated, but my only complaint would be snow traction. Luckily, we don't get that much snow here, and the streets are cleared pretty quickly when it does snow. But that's the trade off... it has better dry and wet traction than most of the other tires because of the large tread blocks, but that hurts snow traction.

Kilgore Trout · Dec 3, 2009

I really did not like the Yokohama AV ES100s that I had. They were too noisy and wore out way too quick.

I agree the question is not specific enough so I will just spout another random opinion until the OP clarifies: I have found that just 1-2 pounds low on pressure can make a substantial effect on tire performance. I use a highly accurate dial gauge to set my tire pressure at 32.5 pounds.

mkw037 · Dec 3, 2009

This is my daily driver car so I don't need super high performance tires or anything but I want something decent that looks good too. I was looking at some tires and there was just no way I'd throw them on a mustang.
I live in Arizona so it's dry and hot almost year round

Also I'm hearing that even at low speeds there is a huge difference in the handling of the car, has anyone ever driven a car with z rated tires then driven the car later without?

georgio440 · Dec 3, 2009

mkw037 said:
This is my daily driver car so I don't need super high performance tires or anything but I want something decent that looks good too. I was looking at some tires and there was just no way I'd throw them on a mustang.
I live in Arizona so it's dry and hot almost year round

Also I'm hearing that even at low speeds there is a huge difference in the handling of the car, has anyone ever driven a car with z rated tires then driven the car later without?

I've gone through several sets of tires on my car. I used to have Kumho Ecsta Sports all around when I had my stock wheels. Once I got the FR500s, I had Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercars. As of now, I have Goodyear Eagle GTs up front and NT555Rs out back, which is my favorite setup, though not the cheapest.

The Kumhos were a great bang for my buck, and I'd recommend them to anyone who's car only sees mild track use, at most. They stuck pretty well, even in the rain. However, they hooked like ass. I don't think that's a major concern of yours, though.

I've also had experience with BFG KDWs, which are some of my favorite tires around. They are awesome on both wet and dry pavement. Bottom line, if you don't want to spend so much, go with something like a nice Kumho street tire. If you want to pony up a bit more, go for the KDWs, hands down. Or there's the third option, be a badass like me and rock NT555Rs on the street in the winter, lol.

mr-mike · Dec 3, 2009

32 lbs you got to be kidding Mr Trout

I agree the question is not specific enough so I will just spout another random opinion until the OP clarifies: I have found that just 1-2 pounds low on pressure can make a substantial effect on tire performance. I use a highly accurate dial gauge to set my tire pressure at 32.5 pounds..........................................................?????????? I have a set of KUMHO ECSTA the max pressure is 51 lbs I run them at 44 lbs great MPG take the road great , great price , no problems 32 lbs is for beach buggy's I also have used a dial guage anerican made no china junk , also worked in a tire shop for years ...... unless your living in Phoenix in the summer 32 lbs is like running a flat tire

32ValveRom · Dec 3, 2009

Did what???

I run my tires at either 32 or 34 lbs all of the time.

Black'02 · Dec 3, 2009

You worked at a tire shop and are recommending someone overinflates their tires by 10 psi? When you over/under inflate a tire significantly you change the contact pattern and alter a tires handling and wear characteristics. Your car has a recommended tire pressure for a reason...

mr-mike · Dec 3, 2009

copy & paste

I will wait till all the tire experts chime in before I post I dont have 4,500 or 6,000 posts mostly copy & paste experts , there is a reason only the lollys love to copy & paste everything & will do the same with my post but I dont care ...... find out what the nascar boys run there tire pressre at I know we are not at Indy but when the tire company tells you the max pressure is 51 lbs there is a reason the older Z rated tires had a max of 44 now with newer designs they are up to 51 & you will see higher in a few years new designs , street drag racing & dune buggy's can run low pressure & the door plate tire pressure is to protect the auto company ..... I will wait till rest of the lollys chime in you seem to like the shrug ..... going to watch the game signing off

007 · Dec 3, 2009

mr-mike said:
I have found that just 1-2 pounds low on pressure can make a substantial effect on tire performance. I use a highly accurate dial gauge to set my tire pressure at 32.5 pounds..........................................................?????????? I have a set of KUMHO ECSTA the max pressure is 51 lbs I run them at 44 lbs great MPG take the road great

Thats so retarded. 44 PSI on the rears equals F-All traction and you'll wear the inside of the tire. I run 30-32 on the rear and more like 36 on the front. And YES it does make a big difference. You should adjust based on wear and handling.

BTW you really shouldnt be feeling intellectually righteous because you put tires on cars for a living. You don't have to be Einstein to get that job.

SaleenGT2001 · Dec 3, 2009

mr-mike said:
I will wait till all the tire experts chime in before I post I dont have 4,500 or 6,000 posts mostly copy & paste experts , there is a reason only the lollys love to copy & paste everything & will do the same with my post but I dont care ...... find out what the nascar boys run there tire pressure at I know we are not at Indy but when the tire company tells you the max pressure is 51 lbs there is a reason the older Z rated tires had a max of 44 now with newer designs they are up to 51 & you will see higher in a few years new designs , street drag racing & dune buggy's can run low pressure & the door plate tire pressure is to protect the auto company ..... I will wait till rest of the lollys chime in you seem to like the shrug ..... going to watch the game signing off

i also worked at a tire shop for 6 years and the MAX pressure on the sidewall is NOT what you base the air pressure from. ALWAYS run the pressure on the tire placard. you can very a little + or - 3psi. this is for a NORMAL street tire. not DR's or slicks.

so when a chevy 1500 comes rolling in on some E-load tires, do you pump them to 80 psi???????

some shops have no clue what they are doing and there are MANY misinformed people handing out advice

lang williams · Dec 3, 2009

You used to be able to find good deals on name brand tires at the whole sale clubs, they give good prices on mounting an balancing too. I don't think they'll sell you a tire not rated at what the factory used so you don't go 150 mph on a non rated tire, wreck an sue them. I agree with researching tire rack. Read the reviews and buyer ratings. I order from them all the time an just pay the local shop to mount an balance them.

Kilgore Trout · Dec 3, 2009

mr-mike said:
I agree the question is not specific enough so I will just spout another random opinion until the OP clarifies: I have found that just 1-2 pounds low on pressure can make a substantial effect on tire performance. I use a highly accurate dial gauge to set my tire pressure at 32.5 pounds..........................................................?????????? I have a set of KUMHO ECSTA the max pressure is 51 lbs I run them at 44 lbs great MPG take the road great , great price , no problems 32 lbs is for beach buggy's I also have used a dial guage anerican made no china junk , also worked in a tire shop for years ...... unless your living in Phoenix in the summer 32 lbs is like running a flat tire

Pretty sure the door sticker and the owner's manual says 32

Anyways I would look it up but since you cannot even use the quote feature properly I am unable to make myself care about it enough to even do so...

darkside03gt · Dec 4, 2009

If you want some decent tires that wont drain your wallet get some hankooks or some falkens. Both make H-rated tires (good to 135 I think?) and will have good tread wear and handling.

Kilgore Trout · Dec 4, 2009

I had a set of Falkens and for the price they were a great tire. I think it is worth it to spend a little more money and get BFG if you can but Falkens are a great compromise if you are really tight on cash.

streethorse · Dec 4, 2009

I like 33lbs all the way around..... perfect even tire wear.
At 44lbs you could run over a penny and tell whether its heads or tails.
The last 3 sets of tires I have run are.........
*BFG g-force sports
*Yokahama S-drive
*Nitto 555's
All 3 are excellent tires that I highly recomend......

GDTrumbo · Dec 4, 2009

I'm running a set of Riken Raptors. Very good tire for a DD. 35 psi front / 30 psi rear has worked very well for me.

I've done some tire mounting myself over the years. It is certainly not rocket science.

GT

sneaky98gt · Dec 4, 2009

I have Nitto 555s, and I love them. Great traction for a street tire. Great in the rain. And so far great on the treadwear: almost 15,000 miles and 100+ passes at the track and you could never tell it.

So what is the recommended air pressure (specifically for a 98 GT)? I don't have an owner's manual and the door sticker is rubbed off. I've always run around 40-42. I guess that's a little high?

-Will

stangGT97 · Dec 4, 2009

sneaky98gt said:
I have Nitto 555s, and I love them. Great traction for a street tire. Great in the rain. And so far great on the treadwear: almost 15,000 miles and 100+ passes at the track and you could never tell it.

So what is the recommended air pressure (specifically for a 98 GT)? I don't have an owner's manual and the door sticker is rubbed off. I've always run around 40-42. I guess that's a little high?

-Will

I run my '98 at 34ish

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