Best tire 245/40/17 for M3 under 120 a piece?

[Garrett M]

Hey im looking for some 245/40/17 sized tires for my 1995 M3...I dont have ot much to spend. I am an auto crosser and a highway driver. Any suggestions?

What about these

Kumho ECSTA SPT (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+SPT&partnum=44YR7KU31&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&place=31&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y)

Yokohama AVS ES100 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=AVS+ES100&partnum=44WR7ES100&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&place=37&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y)

Kumho ECSTA ASX (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+ASX&partnum=44WR7EASX&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&place=38&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y)

[Young Version]

None of those are really suitable for autocross, unless you're not looking for maximum grip.

Can't you get Falken RT615s in 235/40/17 for around that much?

[Rud]

I've got the Ecsta SPT on my 328 in that size on 17x8 wheels--good tire for the money, IMO. Surprisingly good turn-in and stick. Not comparable to a "real" autocross tire, but acceptable for a dual-purpose tire, IMO.

The ASX is the same tire, but in all-weather (four season) form, as far as I can tell.

No experience with the Yokes.

[Garrett M]

None of those are really suitable for autocross, unless you're not looking for maximum grip.

Can't you get Falken RT615s in 235/40/17 for around that much?
How are the falkens performance?

[Sammyzuko]

Kumho Mx is supposed to be a very good tire...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+MX


None of those are really suitable for autocross, unless you're not looking for maximum grip.

Can't you get Falken RT615s in 235/40/17 for around that much?
Yep.
http://www.ec-securehost.com/OnlineTires.com/Falken_Azenis_RT-615.html#FalkenAzenisRT-615

[jmejiaa]

I need tires myself and I was thinking about getting some used ones on ebay :help

[Young Version]

How are the falkens performance?

On an auto-x course, they're in the top 5 street(non R-comp) tires. They're not good in the rain, though, and they don't have a super long tread life.

Depends on what you're looking for. Unless you're pinched for cash and need them to last a super long time, they're a good choice.

[bmick530i]

Nitto NT555 extremes have the widest contact patch for max grip found in any high performance tire, mine will be here tomorrow on my new wheels I got 235/40-18's for $118 a piece www.wheelsdirectonline.com

[rgol]

I like Toyo Proxes 4's....Edgeracing has very good prices on the tires that they carry.


http://www.edgeracing.com//images/tire/toyo_proxes_4_front_zoom.jpg

http://www.edgeracing.com

[sirius600]

What happened to you search?

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=665354

I don't recall anyone saying you would NOT need spacers to get 245s to work. Also, whether how a 245 will fit on a 7.5 width rim. (Please someone correct me, i'm looking towards 245/40s as well)

Anyway, just by looking through this forum you will find that you should run away from ES100s. They are great tires until you go through 1/4 of the tread, then performance goes down dramatically.

[joenationwide]

What happened to you search?

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=665354

I don't recall anyone saying you would NOT need spacers to get 245s to work. Also, whether how a 245 will fit on a 7.5 width rim. (Please someone correct me, i'm looking towards 245/40s as well)

Anyway, just by looking through this forum you will find that you should run away from ES100s. They are great tires until you go through 1/4 of the tread, then performance goes down dramatically.

245s on a 7.5" rim is a bad idea. The car will feel horrible, lazy, squirmy, numb.

225/45/17 or 235/40/17 is ideal. Steering response will be much better.

Falken Azenis are the best value out there, as they are #2 or #3 in max grip for a street tire. (Advan Neova AD07 is #1, Bridgestone RE01R #2 maybe, but both very expensive). Look for the above sizes in the Azenis RT615, and you will not be dissapointed.

[Quailane]

I used to run Yokoma ES100's on my WRX (though in 225 45 17) and I was much happier replacing them with dunlop sport maxx. The dunlops are a lot quieter and feel better. I think they were less than $120 a piece, but it may be more in your size.

[gerry_miranda]

Hankook Rs-2

[sirius600]

245s on a 7.5" rim is a bad idea. The car will feel horrible, lazy, squirmy, numb.

225/45/17 or 235/40/17 is ideal. Steering response will be much better.

Falken Azenis are the best value out there, as they are #2 or #3 in max grip for a street tire. (Advan Neova AD07 is #1, Bridgestone RE01R #2 maybe, but both very expensive). Look for the above sizes in the Azenis RT615, and you will not be dissapointed.

Thank you for the first straight answer on this thread. :worship:

I bet Garrett M only listed Kumho and Yoko's cause he's getting a hookup from Tire Rack. Truth is, I'm leaning towards the Kumho SPT's for that exact reason. Though isn't this an uneven comparison of tires? Everyone will tell you that ES100s are crap, and the Kumho ASX is an All Season tire among two Summer tires.

[nordique14]

Hankook Rs-2

+1 for the Hankook RS-2 Z212. Should be under $120 for 245/40/17.

[PJ325i]

For dual street and auto-x duties, the Kumho ECSTA SPT is great tire.

Rock solid in the rain and upper mid tier street tire for auto-x.

I won some auto-xs using them :buttrock

[bmick530i]

I put my Nitto's on tonight will let you guys know later in the week

[sirius600]

For dual street and auto-x duties, the Kumho ECSTA SPT is great tire.

Rock solid in the rain and upper mid tier street tire for auto-x.

I won some auto-xs using them :buttrock

That's the one i was looking at, since the Kumho MX doesn't come in 235/40/17. :( Would you say there's a large difference in dry street performance over something more aggressive like a Kumho MX or Falken RT615?

Hmm, does anyone think it would be worth making a petition to Kumho to cast the Kumho MX in 235/40? Waste of time?

[APCe36solo2]

Everyone will tell you that ES100s are crap, and the Kumho ASX is an All Season tire among two Summer tires.

I've run on ES100s before and they were decent. I say decent because first and foremost, I LOST my sidewall after 2 auto-x events (total of 12 runs) and maybe 4K daily driving. The sidewall isn't very stiff and grip/feel is not near what the MX's, Z212s, or GS-D3s are capable of. So, there are better tires for the same price as ES100s.


That's the one i was looking at, since the Kumho MX doesn't come in 235/40/17. :( Would you say there's a large difference in dry street performance over something more aggressive like a Kumho MX or Falken RT615?

Falkens should have more grip than either, but I have not driven on a set before. One of my friends, who races and drives extremely aggressively on the street, mentioned he liked the SPTs over the MXs, FWIW.


Hmm, does anyone think it would be worth making a petition to Kumho to cast the Kumho MX in 235/40? Waste of time?

I know of a few people that run 235s up front... are there any cars that run that size OE? If not, I don't think it would be cost-effective for Kumho to make a size that will only be bought by a small percentage of individuals. On the other hand, you are a customer and Kumho should know that there is interest in other sizes.

[sirius600]

Falkens should have more grip than either, but I have not driven on a set before. One of my friends, who races and drives extremely aggressively on the street, mentioned he liked the SPTs over the MXs, FWIW.



I know of a few people that run 235s up front... are there any cars that run that size OE? If not, I don't think it would be cost-effective for Kumho to make a size that will only be bought by a small percentage of individuals. On the other hand, you are a customer and Kumho should know that there is interest in other sizes.

Thanks for your responses. Why i would go with SPT's over the MX or RT615 is that though all are summer tires, the SPT has the tread for the occasional rain storm where the latter two are made more for DRY only applications.

I just read another post on the performance of the Falken RT615. While excellent on a hot day, they quickly lose their edge in the rain. Any those in SoCal know how all the oil on the freeways always causes good fun during our infrequent storms.

On your last response, ALL 95 M3s have 235/40 stock and i think the latter M3s had 235/40 on the front wheels as well. Anyone know where we would even send a petition?

[(V)3]

245s on a 7.5" rim is a bad idea. The car will feel horrible, lazy, squirmy, numb.

225/45/17 or 235/40/17 is ideal. Steering response will be much better.

Falken Azenis are the best value out there, as they are #2 or #3 in max grip for a street tire. (Advan Neova AD07 is #1, Bridgestone RE01R #2 maybe, but both very expensive). Look for the above sizes in the Azenis RT615, and you will not be dissapointed.

+1

i've tried both MX and rt615 and prefer the rt615s. i'm on my 3rd set of rt615. imo, they are grippier and much more responsive... and they have the size i want (235/40-17). the mx's run in 235/45-17 and 245/40-17. you can't beat the grip for the $. they do get greasy when driven really hard, but that can be managed. you do have to keep it under 60 in the rain b/c they hydroplane easily. my 2 previous sets lasted about 15-20k - several auto-x's and a couple DE's each year. that's more than most people get out of these tires but i'm also not on stock alignment (no toe up front and hardly any in the rear) and drive pretty mildly daily.

rt615
235/40-17s @ $114 each
http://www.vulcantire.com/azenis_rt615_t.htm

heard great things about the hankook rs-2 but never driven on them... maybe i'll try those next season.

[katman]

Another no vote for ES-100's. Noisiest, tramliningest tire I ever owned.

[4ceFed4]

On your budget, the Falken RT-615s are the way to go. I have now had a set of azenis rt-215s, rt-615s, and hankook z212 rs-2s. Ranking would definitely go rt-615 > rt-215 > rs-2. The RS-2s were decently grippy, but not compared to the Azenis Sports. The hankooks also got very noisy with 4/32nd left, where the azenis weren't as bad. I'm going to go up a price tier for my next set and go with the Bridgeston RE-01rs. I have been reading great things about them, and their availability in 245-40-17 should make them perfect for my STX bid in Solo next year. :devillook:D

[M3Alpine99]

I would hardly say that the ranking would "definitely" go with RS-2s last. They are equal tires at the very least...

Maybe for Auto-x they work really well but on track they do get greasy if you are really pushing them. The RS-2 can usually be had for cheaper anyways.

http://www.edgeracing.com/tires/2454017

116 a tire for Hankook... Better than the RT 615 and DEFINITELY better in the rain... which the RT615 sucks major balls at.

[bobbylax]

The Nov. 07 issue for Consumer Reports rated had the following ratings for UHP tires:

4-Season UHP -
1.) Falken Ziex ZE 912
2.) Nitto Neo Gen ZR
4.) Falken Ziex ZE-512
All three were real cheap. I have no experience with these. Third and expensive was the Yokohama Advan S4.

Summer UHP -
(Cheapest ones of the top ten - all others were double the price)
9.) Kumho Ectsa SPT
10.) Fuzion Zri

Again, I have no experience with these either. Mine are the Pirelli PZero Nero M&S - mid-priced and very good imho.

[Voyd]

Hankook RS-2 Z212. I am on my second set and love them. I got them for 107.00 each. The tire wear rating is not the greatest though. I got 12k out of the rears and the fronts have 50% left.

[DBurke]

Fuzion ZRi are awesome for the price. I've driven across the country with them NH-CA and back. Smooth, quiet, comfortable and they do very well in the wet.

[347convert]

Hankook Rs-2


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