Good summer/race tires

I actually called my local discount tire, usually some pretty friendly/helpful guys there. The guy was going to match whatever was lower, discounttiredirect + mount balance costs or him ordering them from the store, adding tax from purchasing locally, install & mount and balance for everything. Still get the mail in rebates too, which is a pretty sweet deal.

Think it came to $1188 for everything mount and balanced and the 4 tires installed on my ru (not like that is a problem for me to do). This way I get free tire rotation and I think rebalancing services, which is going to be great for both sets (not really the tire rotation as I'd rather just do that in my garage). I have to calculate what it would be online, but I think it would be slightly cheaper still haha.

Michilin pilot sport ps2s, they are the most grippy street tire I've experienced

Well instead of starting a new thread might as jump on this one.

The Hankook Ventus V12 Evo K110's have failed me. I had a decent amount of luck with them in the past when running 17"+ wheel but 225/50/16s blow. The sidewall is way to soft and causes the car to bounce. The wheels are 16x9 and I really like them with 225/50 tires but with the additional sidewall the coilovers hate them. Does anyone know of a good stiff sidewall tire good for street use?

Probably looking like I am going to have to sack up for some Azenis 615k because I know those will fit the bill, but seem a bit extreme for some general street use. I just expect my tires to last a summer, 5k miles with about 1000 of them being hard miles.

Any recommendations? (Brian I read your link, good info but a lot of it is dated).

Falken 452s?
BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2?

Check what i linked to you on jdm

I have only heard good things about star specs z2 from multiple people who run very fast cars at autocross…their times show too. the z1's are sitll amazing too.

Yup, but I also heard the Z1s were better and the hankook RS-3s are even better.

My issue is I want to run a 225/50/16 and need something with very stiff sidewall in order to make the suspension function. Im having the inner debates on stepping up to 17" wheel and could eliminate a lot of the problems..... but I would rather overcome this challenge. I have also looked at some 225/45/16s as well, but those seem a bit small and very limited in options. 245/45/16 will be too wide are require fender work I really dont want to mess with yet at my offsets.

I figure miata people do this all day, so there has to be something out there.

If you do track days or if it's hot where you are, Hankook RS3's and Kumho XS are good at taking heat and still giving grip (and cheap as hell in 16" sizes). Probably comparable if not better than Falken 615K and much cheaper. Falken has really been behind on the tire game since the days of the Azenis 215. There was a store on ebay selling 225/50/16 Kumho XS for $100/tire shipped not too long ago.

Direzza ZII's are good. Higher grip peak than Z1's, but not as broad as a grip peak. BFG Rivals are getting a lot of attention as Direzza killers this season.

Not too much data on the ZII's wear yet, but I heard the Z1's last a very long time for how grippy they are.

EDIT: Not sure about sidewall stiffnesses of all these tires in the 225/50/16 size. Forgot that was the main point (as opposed to tire grip).

This may see 1 or 2 track days in a season. What it does see is a lot of back road aggressive driving. I do a lot driving during the summer going to different places, seeing peoples and events. I normally back roads and highways compared to interstate and like to beat on the car. Grip is important but more so is the tire feel and response.

After this weekends 450mi road trip, I felt like a civic bouncing around on cheap ebay coilovers. I couldnt really do anything with the car other than drive straight, which was a challenge on grooved interstate.

I like what I read on BFG Rivals and g-force sport comp 2's.

some of you may remember 1sikz31, he parted out his z and now has a 700rwhp turbo ls1 miata. He runs a 225 wide nitto nt-05 and his car dead hooks. It is the best street/autocross tire. The dunlop star spec and the falken rt615k aren't far behind however.

NT-05's only in 17 and up. Also, NT-05 are good tires, but definitely not the best autox compound…

Agreed.

Also I notice with the hankooks that I get some front tire vibration through the steering wheel. Now I thought maybe I may need the wheels rebalanced but its not all the time, and at highway speeds. I think they may be going out of round/not holding true at some speeds (depending on temp, who knows). Just another annoying fact.

I really like what I am reading about these BFG Rivals, and the only size they come in a 225/50 in 16". Just by build they look like they have a better sidewall (and by literature with g-control). This is what I am leaning towards.

Ordered 225/50/16 BFG Rivals. Fucks not given, need to get things sorted out and having some solid tires will be a good start.

Longer shorter term will probably need a spring rate change.

Let me know how you like them! I have heard so much about them this season and am so curious… They will blow the Hankook V12's out of the water for sure.

Yeah.... The Hankooks are not ideal. /my bad