Federal SS595 - Best/Worst Tire Ever

"roflcopter" (roflroflroflcopter)
03/26/2015 at 14:22 • Filed to: None

I have two of these on my car in 245/40/R18 guise. Up until recently they were on the front of the car, with two Conti Extreme Contact DWS's in the back. Ever since I got the Federal's I knew they were going to be dodgy in the wet and had accepted that fact. While they were in the front the Conti's had a ton more grip in the wet and I figured the understeer was just that the Conti's were really good tires, not that the Federal's had zero traction once things got slippy. About a week ago I decided to switch them around for the autocross event this weekend and hopefully get the car to rotate a bit better. Well, today it happened to be raining a bit and HOLY SHIT THESE HAVE NO GRIP IN THE RAIN. I mean zero. When you put torque through them(haha like RX8's even have torque) they do nothing. Think about trying to maintain speed through a corner? Sideways. Think about accelerating from 35 in 3rd gear? Sideways. Try to actually have some fun in the rain? REALLY FREAKING SIDEWAYS.

By no means am I talking these tires down, they are great for the money, super sticky in the dry, and I've had almost zero issue with them. But if you are looking into them, just know that they add about 150hp in the wet. It was to the point that in 6th gear on the highway cruising at 65mph I could wag the rear end and it would just float around while the rpms tried to climb.

Best drive home from class ever.

DISCUSSION (6)

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > roflcopter
03/26/2015 at 14:31

I was forced to buy 4 of these tires for my Subaru after a blowout while on a roadtrip in middle of nowhere Oregon because that was the only tire they had in stock for my wheels.

They are HORRIBLE tires. As you said, zero grip in the wet and just in general loud and unpredictable I thought - there is no gradual fade of grip at all...it would grip until it decided to stop and just send you sliding.

I figured I'd just abuse the hell out of them and wear them out - but nope. Tread wear seems to be the only thing these were made for. if you want a tire that lasts forever and has decent at best grip but looks aggressive with its badass tread design - this is it. I found a good deal on some Direzzas and tossed them looking almost brand new, never looked back.

roflcopter > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
03/26/2015 at 14:38

I've been happy with them in the dry... I've used them through a couple autocrosses and all and they seem to do fine. I also have a few friends who run them the whole way around for autocross stuff and haven't had any issues. Are you in a colder climate typically?

Milky > roflcopter
03/26/2015 at 14:51

You can't even get them in 275/35R19 :( …. I've been looking for cheap summer tire too.

Baeromez > roflcopter
03/26/2015 at 15:21

I used to sell these. They are trash.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > roflcopter
03/26/2015 at 16:09

Not particularly...SF Bay Area - can get a bit chilly, but no snow. For an economy tire it has great tread wear and will last forever - for all round performance, I think looking out for a good deal on a more reputed tire is a safer bet.

Ramon > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/06/2018 at 01:34

Idk how but I have the EXACT opposite experience with these tires. I have 4 all the way around on my 97 BMW 328is. 225-40-18 up front and 245-40-18 in the rear and I can barely get them to break loose in the rain. They just love to grab the road for me. I can rev it up and dump the clutch and spin first but the car still launches and as soon as I hit second they just grab and go. BUT. I only get about 5,000-7,000 miles on them before I have to replace them. They have NO life expectancy but handle amazing. I have had multiple sets on this car. Two sets up front and about 6 on the rear now in the year and a half I’ve owned the car. By far the best cheap set of tires I have ever bought for traction. I am in Northern California btw, so not super sunny but no snow either. These tires treat me great year round. Kind of bummed they are being discontinued.