Welp, i'm buying new tires for the GLI! Tire buying Q inside...

"PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power" (petarvn)
10/11/2014 at 19:41 • Filed to: None

I took the car in to the dealership for a service on Thursday, and as I expected, the rear tread depth proved to be sub par. I know the car's had 2 tires replaced already, so there's an obvious inconsistency in tread depth between them. Also, it was found that my rear passenger side tire has a slow leak. I've decided to bite the bullet, and am going to get 4 brand new tires for Lil' Red.

My tire of choice as of now is the Pirelli PZero. This is because they are a better performing and cheaper alternative to the Dunlop SP Sports I have on my car right now. If you guys have any other tire suggestions for me, I'd appreciate it

For reference the Pirellis are $525 for a set of 4, whereas the Dunlops are $440 for 2.
The tire size for my car is 225/40/18.

Pic of Lil'Red for your time

DISCUSSION (16)

jkm7680 > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/11/2014 at 20:06

Can't go wrong with Pirellis!

Steve in Manhattan > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/11/2014 at 20:11

See what Yokohama has that fits - loved the couple of sets I had on CRX Si and SHO.

dogisbadob > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/11/2014 at 20:13

There are many tires that share the PZero and SP Sport names.

I have SP Sports on my car. The SP Sport Signature, 205/65-15.

Here are some good tires in your size that I like:
(I listed so many because I don't know exactly what kind of tire you're looking for)
Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum
Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Michelin Pilot Sport AS3
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric AS
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT
Falken Ziex ZE950

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Steve in Manhattan
10/11/2014 at 20:14

The Yokohama YK580 fits, and is $155 per tire...
That's less than the Pireli, but more than the Falken I was also looking at

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > dogisbadob
10/11/2014 at 20:17

I'm looking for a high-performance all season. Something that I can use in the summer for blasting down twisty roads confidently, but also something that won't leave me stranded in the winter.

I'm looking at the Falken Ziex ZE-612+ ($105 per corner) and Yokohama YK580 ($155 per corner) besides the Pirelli

dogisbadob > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/11/2014 at 20:28

Cool!

In that case, you should consider the ZE950 (the replacement for the ZE612/ZE912). The 612 is a Discount Tire exclusive version of the 912. As a rule, I like to avoid exclusive/proprietary tires. The 950 will be at least as good as the 612/912 but will last much longer.

Too bad the ZE950 had to come out just *after* I needed tires, otherwise they'd definitely be on my car now! (The ZE950 in my size 205/65-15 is W-rated and XL-load, the only W-rated tire available in my size, stock rating is V, as are the Dunlops on my car)

Of course there's also the Pilot AS3 if you can afford them.

And the Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum may also serve you well. Even though it's a grand touring tire, it is W-rated and probably enough performance (which should be very easy in a 40-series 18-inch) and much better winter capability than a high-performance AS.

Just about any A/S tire in your size will have good handling, except cheap Chinese tires you wouldn't (or at least shouldn't) even think about considering. The non-performance passenger AS tires (like the General Altimax RT43, Michelin Defender, Goodyear Assurance series, etc) aren't even offered in your size anyway.

Steve in Manhattan > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/11/2014 at 20:29

That's the thing about tires - you can't judge them until they're on the car, and then it's too late. Remember being pleased overall with Yokos on CRX and SHO, disappointed in Goodyear Eagle and happy with a set of GY that came with the car (SHO), disappointed in one set of Pirellis, but only because they wore out after 14K (despite not too much spirited driving), OK with one set of Continentals (on Mercedes 300D) and OK with another set of Continentals on an old Volvo. Oh, and Dunlops came standard on the CRX, and they were OK until I wore them out (20K?). Pirelli seems to be the softest compound (wears out quickly) followed by Contis, then Dunlop. But all this comes from tires bought in the 90s. Who knows now?

merkyg > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/11/2014 at 21:05

I gotta say I know shit about tyres. Need four new winter shoes for my '04 Forester but really don't know what to look for - I know the Chinese brands are mostly shit but are there any gems among them? Need to be on kind of a budget but not unsafe cheap... (sorry to jack the thread OP!)

AM3R > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/11/2014 at 21:15

continental pro-contact DWS if you need a high performance all season, DW if you don't get snow.

Cheap, lots of grip, last forever, and oh so quiet. Love em on my BMW.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > dogisbadob
10/11/2014 at 22:12

My Mom's car has the Kuhmo's and they transformed the car. In a good way.

Spasoje > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/16/2014 at 00:45

How about these?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.js…

They're a bit more $$ than the Pirellis but are rated much higher on Tire Rack's surveys.

Alternatively, there's these for basically the same money: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.js…

It must be said that the stock P Zero Neros you're contemplating aren't a bad choice, either.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Spasoje
10/16/2014 at 01:02

Too late! I've already found a tire I want, and am going to go buy it on Friday!

I'm getting Michelin Pilot Sport A\S 3's!

Spasoje > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/16/2014 at 01:03

Good, you picked my second option! :)

thebigbossyboss > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/20/2014 at 12:17

Whoah whoah. You're in T bay right? I wouldn't rock all seasons up there.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > thebigbossyboss
10/20/2014 at 17:29

T bay? Thunder bay? No, I'm in Seattle, WA! :P

thebigbossyboss > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/20/2014 at 19:48

Oh that must be peter sv I was thinking of. Yeah all seasons probably fine for seattle wa, I grew up just on the other side of the line.