Best Summer Tires Wet/Dry

[frost12850]

Alright guys,

Ive searched and Im only really finding old threads... so whats the word for this upcoming season? What are some good brands of tires for wet/ dry or both? What are some options that will give good grip on a summer day and still keep you safe in the rain? Lets also throw in the option of cost as well.

My driving style:

I DD the M3 with some spirited driving here and there, no auto-x, and no aggressive driving in wet conditions.

What Ive came across thus far:

Kumho Escta ASX
Dunlop Direzza?

Thanks.... Discuss!!! :buttrock

[LuxoM3]

Best bang for buck... Sumitomo HTR-Z III. Take a look at the TireRack tests. Then look at the price. I'm on my second set!

I drive like a maniac, 70-80 mile commute in city/freeway everyday - maybe a school or two in a year.

:)

Rain was crazy today. Don't drive nuts in the rain. I did however log 100 miles at a BMW CCA performance school with these tires in the rain... no spinouts or sideways action. School was at Laguna Seca.

Tire Rack Info:
REVIEW - http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Sumitomo&tireModel=HTR+Z+III
TESTS versus Bridge, Continental, Yoko - http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/TireTestServlet?tireMake=Sumitomo&tireModel=HTR+Z+III&tirePageLocQty=
(Cliffs, Sumi was #1)
PRICE: $101 a pop for 245/40-17

[frost12850]

Best bang for buck... Sumitomo HTR-Z III. Take a look at the TireRack tests. Then look at the price. I'm on my second set!

I drive like a maniac, 70-80 mile commute in city/freeway everyday - maybe a school or two in a year.

:)

Rain was crazy today. Don't drive nuts in the rain. I did however log 100 miles at a BMW CCA performance school with these tires in the rain... no spinouts or sideways action. School was at Laguna Seca.

Thanks for the input. Appreciate it :)

[GTRSv]

Thanks again for linking me here
Anyone have a review on the Falken Azensis RT-615?

[hc1001]

i have always liked my goodyear GS-D3. great performance in the rain.

[BDGolfM3]

I'll second the recommendation for the Sumitomo HTR's...they are great in terms of bang for the buck. Got them through Jim at Tirerack, and his customer service is top notch!

[Chromisdesigns]

Unless it is a matter of cost, hard to know why anyone would choose not to run Michelin PS2 summer tires for an M3 on the street. Not the cheapest alternative, but probably the best overall performer.

[Geeforce]

I've been researching this topic as well and was really feeling the direzza Star Specs. I drive my car on weekends (spirited) and do an HPDE event and a couple of AutoX events each year so my mileage is low.
But then you guys reminded me about the HTRZ III tires. When I did the BMW Advanced Driving School last summer I remember that the lead instructor drove an M5 with those tires and that thing never broke loose. They seem a lot less expensive than the Star Specs too.
Thanks guys!

[LuxoM3]

Unless it is a matter of cost, hard to know why anyone would choose not to run Michelin PS2 summer tires for an M3 on the street. Not the cheapest alternative, but probably the best overall performer.

Well if you drive your M3 like I do... Spending $800 to $1000 for tires every 8 months gets pretty pricey.

Let's look at it from a 5 year standpoint. Most M3 tires last about a year.
(Laughing)

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 - $227 each / $908 (set 4) - 5 years $4540
Sumitomo HTR Z III - $101 each / $404 (set 4) - 5 years $2020

That's assuming you get 1 year from the Pilots. :)

- - -

But let's look at this from a performance standpoint...

This guy, Gary - shows up at an auto-x in a bone stock 1994 Miata. He bought it two weeks ago from the dealer. He races in his class and posts the #2 best time of the day. #1 was a modified Corvette.

Gary was a 26-yo manager with AT&T and took a Skip Barber school for fun at Laguna Seca. He did so well, Skip Barber offered him a sponsorship. Today Gary is a freelance driver for Mazda, BMW, etc.

My point is, you can throw money at a car - tires, parts, etc. Get super smart about it's tech... it's pretty pointless if one can't drive.

I'm not saying you can't drive... but that $2k you save with an "80% capability" performance tire can be used in BMW CCA performance schools... so afterward, whatever car you drive, stock or modified will perform to it's fullest because YOU are determining it, and not the parts on it.

Man am I really turning 40 or what?! :)
Sheesh I sound like my dad!

[Chromisdesigns]

Like I said, it's a matter of cost...;)

Seriously, I drove my E36 M3 pretty hard, every day, and I averaged 18-20K on the rears and 25-28K on the fronts, running 17" Michelin PS2's. To me, it was worth it to pretty much never have to worry about tire adhesion, wet or dry.

YMMMV, of course!

I think if I was autocrossing, or doing track days, I'd have a separate set of tires and rims just for that, and those probably would NOT have been the PS2's, because you could burn up a set in a weekend if you really worked at it. Track tires can be cheaper unless you are a Grand National champion running against your peers, in which case, of course, you don't worry about tire cost!

Regards,

Bob

[TallTravel]

Luxo:

Thanks for your experience with the Sumitomo's. I drive an 01 E46 manual, and I drive mainly on the freeways. I am in need of replacement tires for my current PS/2's, which were not cheap. :)

How many miles did you get on your first set? How many miles on this set? The TireRack site, when I tried to order them, gave me a stern LOAD WARNING when I tried to order them for my 01 330ci (Sport Package 245/40/17Z on back, 225/45/17Z on front).

So did you get the same warning each time you ordered them from TireRack? You ignored it? I drive this car with a relatively light load, typically just me and one other person, max.

Thanks.