White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

Hey guys. I haven't bought tires in a long time. The tires I'm currently running are cracking pretty bad where the sidewall meets the tread area. I bought them back in April 2008.

I'm currently running the following:
BFG KDW2
255/40ZR18 95Y fronts on a 18x8.5 wheel
295/35ZR18 99Y rears on a 18x9.5 wheel

I don't know what tires are good now a days. I'd like something that has good grip for the rears, but not a drag radial that I cannot drive the car in the rain. As far as the fronts are considered, I guess anything would do? Also, I wouldn't want to spend more than $300/tire if possible.

Let me know what your recommendations are. I was looking on Summit, TireRack, DiscountTireDirect and saw a few options. Thoughts???

rudytirerack

The KDW are still available and still a popular option.

DemonicZ

I haven't had any experience with them but all my Turbo E30 friends run the Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport and absolutely love them. I have Goodyear GS-D3 but I'm on a 17x9.5/17x11

White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

I was looking to try something different. Not that the KDW2's were a bad option, I just want to try something different if possible.

Thanks. I'll look into them.

RedDeadG8

iTrader: (3)

i ran those Bridgestones on my G8. lasted about 30k miles. it's a soft rubber, i noticed from time to time little chunks taken out of the tread. The Nitto 555 is a tried and true tire, i would go with that. And DTD sells them cheap. I also ran the NT-05's, they lasted about 20k miles. My next tire will be the Michelin Pilot Super Sport.

z-maro

iTrader: (18)

Not to completely thread jack, but in your opinion which of those three you have had hooked the best? I am not concerned about any wet traction, I just want the best traction on the street that would still perform decent at the strip and autoX track if I make a trip there.

RedDeadG8

iTrader: (3)

the best tires i have ran on the Camaro were the original BFG KDW tires, before that new ugly tread. None of them hooked great from a stop. My G8 in stock form can blast the Bridgestones but they do well as a daily driver tire. The NT-05's did very well but I could still spin them when I punched it going 40mph. they hold pretty good on corners but once the tread wears they give you no warning that they wont hold the next corner (pulled a full 360 around a tight turn on a 2 lane road) The Michelin's I have not tried yet but they seem to have good reviews and the tread looks normal. There was also a review done by one of the car magazines and the Michelins were rated pretty well.

White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

Sounds like the NT05's and Bridgestone's are not what what I want.

There is a local tire shop and the guy who works there is a gearhead with a modded GTO. I will take the car there tomorrow and ask for his opinion on what they can offer and get a quote. I think they also price match online retailers too.

I really like the new tire Mickey Thompson offers, the Street Comp





But they only offer a 275/35-18 and a 255/45-18. So my rears would get a little narrower, and my fronts would get a little taller. By the way, I run a 18x8.5 front wheel and 18x9.5 rear wheel. ETA: I see they offer a 245/40-18 too, which would be better than the 255/45-18 IMO. And there's also a 275/40-18 if wanting to keep the profile the same.

Rear
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mt...1606/overview/

Front
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mt...1609/overview/

White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

And here is what my current tires look like

RedDeadG8

iTrader: (3)

if you are considering the MT's, then look at the NT05R. But are you wanting more grip than longevity from a tire? the Nitto 555 is a great all around tire, and priced cheap. You seem to run tires for a long time, so using something with a low treadware rating means you will wear them out much quicker. The Nitto 555, Hankook V12 and Continental Extreme Contact DW are good tires too.

White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

I guess I just want a good tire since I drive the car year round (except in snow obviously). I think a drag radial would be bad if I got caught in the rain?!?! I've never ran a drag radial before. My car doesn't make incredible power, probably 420rwhp/400rwtq 'ish, but I find 1st and 2nd gears are useless on the street.

I'm not trying to 'have my cake and eat it too'....I just want to get a decent tire that grips and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I've bought the el-cheapo tires before and they don't grip worth a damm.

DemonicZ

Look into BFGoodrich GForce Rivals....best tire for grip on the market under $300

I'm upgrading to those when I get my 18s in. 245/40/18 front and 295/35/18 rear. 18x8.5 and 18x9.5

White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

The guy at the local tire store recommended the Continental Extreme Contact DWS's at $980 installed. I don't care for that tread pattern, and will never drive the car in the snow, so I think the DW line would suffice.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....8ECDW&i1_Qty=2

There is another local tire store I want to stop in and see what they recommend. I'll stop there later on today.

The Alchemist

iTrader: (19)

Picking tires based on tread pattern aesthetics is like picking a cam based on how it sounds.

Pick a tire based on how it performs, not how it looks.

5mall5nail5

Amen!

phantoms

iTrader: (1)

yo man, i saw this thread and you seem like your in the exact place i was at a few months ago. i also have the kdws in the rear same size bought around the same time and i also live in philly. my kdws are cracked way more than that in the same area i still have them on the car until spring comes then i put my new tires on that i have in my closet. they are like driving in the rain 24/7 arent they? suck when the temp drops. ive needed tires for around a year now and read online for hours and hours over the span of 6 months and basically what i could come up with were nt05s kdws2 (again) or 555rs (aparently last and grip) i ended up going with the nt05s and read about them for a few weeks more on tons of car forums. honestly i thought my old wide ovals were way better than the kdws though in the rain when newer the kdws gripped extremely well. but when cold like i said its like the rain all the time. also with the wide ovals i could get a 1.9 60ft with the kdws i had no luck and best of a 2.2 and stopped going to the track because i hated them. do lots of reading. what part of philly are you in?

White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

Bump....

How does the saying go......."out with the old, in with the new" ????




I went with Bridgestone RE760 Sport's- 255/40-18 front and 275/40-18 rear. The rears are a little taller than the 295/35-18's I used to run, and I like the new look. Also, the 295's were a little too wide for the 9.5" wheel. Not terrible, but not ideal. The 275's fit much more flush/square to the wheel. The tires are asymmetrical and look awesome. I'll grab better shots this weekend with the car out of the garage. These will do for now.....