What to Buy When Ready for new 17" Tires?

[C4Fan]

Good morning everyone. I am ready to buy new tires for my '91 (for stock wheels) and was wondering what the recommendation is from the current selection available from TireRack?

I don't track or race my ZR-1 and only get to drive the Corvette about once a week, for short distances. From a design standpoint, I like the way the original Goodyear tread pattern looks when the hood is up. Anything available close to that?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Ray
'91 VIN #1464

[mike100]

The Goodyear GS-D3's are a known quantity and work well in the wet if you have to drive it in the rain. They get a little louder on the last half of the tread, but I was able to get about 12k miles out of the rears on my last corvette (not a ZR-1 but the 315 size.). I think the fronts could last 20k miles easy. My car went from spinning the rears when the powerband hits at 4000 rpm to never spinning on straight line roll type of accel. They have held their balance nicely also.

The sumitomos are cheap, but narrow despite the 315 size rating. I have heard a couple of negative comments directly from real people and not just the internet reviews.

There are the Nitto's and people say they hook like glue, but wear out fast and suck in the wet. The price is attractive though.

[secondchance]

Originally Posted by mike100

The Goodyear GS-D3's are a known quantity and work well in the wet if you have to drive it in the rain. They get a little louder on the last half of the tread, but I was able to get about 12k miles out of the rears on my last corvette (not a ZR-1 but the 315 size.). I think the fronts could last 20k miles easy. My car went from spinning the rears when the powerband hits at 4000 rpm to never spinning on straight line roll type of accel. They have held their balance nicely also.

The sumitomos are cheap, but narrow despite the 315 size rating. I have heard a couple of negative comments directly from real people and not just the internet reviews.

There are the Nitto's and people say they hook like glue, but wear out fast and suck in the wet. The price is attractive though.

Only 12,000 miles for rear tires? 20,000 miles for the fronts? I got my first GS D3s and haven't had them long enough but my experience with B F Goodrich and old Eagle GSCs, I was getting around 50,000 out of tires.
As for Sumitomos, they looked funny - sorta like a doughnut w/ rounded shoulders.

[ScottZ95ZR1]

I have heard and read very good reviews of the Khumo Ecsta XS and I like that they offer a 335.

[mike100]

Originally Posted by secondchance

Only 12,000 miles for rear tires? 20,000 miles for the fronts? I got my first GS D3s and haven't had them long enough but my experience with B F Goodrich and old Eagle GSCs, I was getting around 50,000 out of tires.
...

I got 40k miles once on some LT 235/75's on my V6 stick shift C1500 pick-up, but any type of performance car is never more than 20-25k miles. My C6 was used up at 13k miles on the rear (had the softer supercar runflats).

I scare my passengers and when I'm alone, I drive even faster. I think if you get 20k miles on your fronts, that is fairly representative of the average performance car. The point I was making is that the GY tires will last a little longer than the really soft ones like the Nittos.

[ZZZZZR1]

Originally Posted by ScottZ95ZR1

I have heard and read very good reviews of the Khumo Ecsta XS and I like that they offer a 335.

I have a set on my car now and very nice!

Much prefer Michelin PS2's and they are available in 335 too.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...997&vid=001234


These are my next tires!



David

[Kevin]

i have 315 gsd3's and love them. the ones i have are a few years old now and don't hook quite as hard as they used, they would dead hook the 1-2 snap shift, now they spin. but i still love them. but i may go to michelin next

[Ccmano]

Originally Posted by ScottZ95ZR1

I have heard and read very good reviews of the Khumo Ecsta XS and I like that they offer a 335.

If you drive that little, you might as well have tires that stick. No sense spending the money on Michelin PS2's with your yearly milage, they'll get hard before they wear out.

These Kumho XS's are the way to go, a buddy has them on his C5 and they stick like glue and wear reasonably well. If I were in the market it's what I would buy. On the other hand if Michelin made the Super Sports in our size they would be number one. It's the tire to beat right now. But they don't.
H

[SharkPilot]

I have Nitto NT555's on my car and they work pretty well. My only concern is the noise they make. While they are not loud the noise almost sounds like a bad bearing on most road surfaces. There are some freeways around here that have different pavement and they are quieter when driving through there.
They stick pretty well and on acceleration they dig in and hang on well. I only have a couple thousand miles on them so I can't judge the wear yet.
SharkPilot

[Daniel_Mc]

I have had good luck with Kumho?s but I?ve only run the V700's and V 710's the 710's got greasy on me once you started pushing it but these are all track tires. You guys are saying that 335's are available but I can't seem to locate any. The sites say they have them but once ordered it is not the case. The wheels on the ZR-1 are running 285 front 335 rears and are stretched badly. I really need a 315 front and 345 rear but chances of finding that are slim to none...

Also I just changed to BF Goodridge KDW's on the GS and those have been great.

Daniel