Tan327

iTrader: (15)

Okay so the good info part may be my biased opinion, but I think it's pretty valuable information and hasn't really been discussed on here.

As most of us know there are really only 2 main options talked about on here when it comes to skinnies, expensive M/T & M&H front runners, and VW tires which are super cheap yet nobody has a really good feeling about them ..though still really popular. I was one of the ones that went with the cheopo Nangkang skinnies, never thought I'd have an issue with them until I had a blowout on the street one night at 130 mph..





Turns out I'm not the only one..









Pretty scary stuff. So after my incident I started researching the expensive ones and honestly found mixed reviews. Most of them have the same load rating as these VW tires, one guy on here said he had 2 sets bubble up(can't remember which brand), studderin mention DS2's lasting 500 miles, etc.. I definitely did not find enough solid reviews to make me want to spend $180+ on a tire.

So I started researching your standard commercial sizes in 15", I really didn't find any info at all on here but after searching yellowbullet I found all I needed to know. Most of us run 15x3.5 - 15x5 in the front so the challenge was to find something that would fit, be tall enough(26-27", where most VW tires are actually 25.5"), have a speed rating of 130+, an improved load rating over the expensive skinnies, and not weigh a ton.

A lot of the guys on the bullet are running 205/70/15's, these are 26.3" tall and everyone said that they have absolutely no issues running this wide on as narrow as 3.5" wheels, in fact one guy mentioned he's been running these for the last 8 years without a single issue. I found some other sizes guys are using as well, but this size seemed best because it's more popular in the tire world and I found a lot more options, if you want 27" then 205/75(27.1") is a good alternate as well, just not as many choices.

So then I started searching for tires that have the specs that I'm looking for, here is what I have found so far(all of these are 205/70/15)..



Kumho Solus KH16:
Speed Rating: H, 130mph. Same as M/T Sportsman S/R's
Load Rating: 1,496 lbs, compared to S/R's 990lbs
Weight: 22lbs, 2lbs more than S/R's
Price: $72 a piece, S/R's are $188 from Summit. This is possibly as cheap or cheaper than what I paid for my POS 165/80 VW tires.
Traction/Temperature: AA/A



Pirelli Scorpion STR:
Speed Rating: H, 130mph
Load Rating: 1,565 lbs
Weight: 23lbs
Price: $123
Traction/Temperature: A/A



Maxxis MA-P1 Marauder
Speeding Rating: H
Load Rating: 1,565
Weight: Still looking, but most likely 22-23lbs
Price: $97
Traction/Temperature: A/A

I've found several more though I chose not to post them because they were brands that I have never heard of, I think cheap Chinese tires. I'm sure there are other tires out there, if I decide to research some more I will post them as well. If you're okay with T-rated(118 mph), you'll find a gazillion options in this size.

Now I have absolutely no experience with these tires(I will be ordering the Kumho's though), but the reviews I have read have been good ..to me this is a no brainer. Tires that are MUCH cheaper and if what is on paper is correct, much more suitable for the weight of our cars. I don't study tires and don't know much more about them than your average racer, so feel free to correct anything I've posted, all of this is just from research I've done. Hopefully this help people save a little money and convince everyone to ditch or stop buying the VW skinnies!

NW Iowa WS6

iTrader: (9)

Good info, I've looked at the 205's but thought they would be to wide for a 4" wide wheel

Tan327

iTrader: (15)

I think that's what most assume, including myself. Mine are 4" and the majority of people I found running these tires run 3.5" wheels.

Here is another tire I've found and become interested in, only difference is it's T-rated, 118 mph. From the searching I've done it seems the speed rating doesn't exactly matter for short blasts like a 1/4 mile pass or so ..it's based on someone that holds those speeds for a while. It's 20lbs and has a 1565lb load rating, temperature rating is A(which I feel is most important, in case you have to brake hard)

General Altimax RT, $69.



I really think all of these tires are a win-win, considering handling and braking will improve as well. Anyone who has hit the brakes hard while running 165/80's knows it's not a good feeling.

Demonicbird00

iTrader: (17)

i had 185s on my 3.5" wheels, it looked like the tires were always flat, i wouldnt go to 205 on a 3.5 but thats just my opinion.

on my fronts i now only run the MT sportsman S/R on my draglites and hoosier drags on my prostars

11SECSS

iTrader: (199)

I'll say that I have had the cheap skinny tires from pepboys and have had M/T tires on front ,I got more miles out of the Kumho tires and never had a problem and still have them on the car but only see about 1500 street miles a year.

Tan327

iTrader: (15)

Mine had maybe 600 miles on it when it blew.

LongIsland63SS409

iTrader: (22)

Any pictures of a 25/70 or 205/75 on a 4 inch rim?
Thanks for sharing the information.

Mike

Tally TransAm

iTrader: (17)

ive had two m/t sportsman 8plys come apart on me. ill stick with my extra load 165R15's. running a 205 on 3.5-4" wheel is a terrible idea

Tan327

iTrader: (15)

Only 2 decent ones I can find, may be able to find a closeup.





^Camaro has 205/75's

Good luck to ya, hopefully you don't have the same results as pictured. You say it's a terrible idea, but I've yet to read about an issue? I've only read positive things from people who have ran them for years. 165/80 VW tires is a bad idea as we all know, and the pictures in this thread prove there are issues.

Guitar

iTrader: (9)

One is lifted in the air, the other you can't see it..I want to see what they actually look like on a normal weighted car such as ours.

On the street or what? What tires do you run?

Tally TransAm

iTrader: (17)

extra load 165R15's are rated for between 1200-1280#'s at max pressure and these cars generally see approx 55-58% of their weight on the front end. that would mean raceweight would have to be in the +4200# range to max the capacity of an extra load 165 at max pressure of 44#'s of air not even taking into account a factor of safety (and you should always try to avoid hard braking with any skinny to prevent additional loading). speed rating generally doesnt come into context here since they are more concerning sustained speed and not burst.

there's a reason 205's are generally recommended by the manufacturer to be on 5.5-7.5 rim, bead contour. squeezing (and stretching for that matter) a tire on an incorrectly sized wheel distorts the bead contour and can cause it to become separated from the wheel in the event you actually have to turn the steering wheel and place a lateral load on the tire. car gets sideways and you have to turn to correct, dont be surprise when that tire comes off the wheel.

not saying a 165 is the best skinny, im saying its better than running a 205 on a 3.5-4" wheel. granted a few guys in internet land may do it without issue, but you see/learn a few things when you run wheel/tire shops for a over a decade. if you dont want to run a 165 XL, and dont want to pay for a M&H or M/T, at least get the right size wheel.

Tally TransAm

iTrader: (17)

the 8ply M/T's were both on the street approx a year apart with different DOT#'s from different batches. both had tread separations and had never be plugged/patched/repaired.

following that i ran 165's for a while on the street. now just at track, car is on 17/18's for street duty. track tires are 165XL's and 28/1050/15 et drags, street tires are 275/40/17 nitto nt555 front and 325/40/18 M&H drag radials rear

if i were running skinnies on the street i would be running 26x6x15 MT SR radials. i have also sold a few of the 185/75/15 M&H radials and the MT SR's seem to support the front end weight a little better due to the 185's being a hair to wide for a 3.5-4" wheel, but havent had any issues with the M&H's either. not a fan of the sportsmans at all. both of the SR's and M&H's if memory serves have weight ratings of approx 1k#'s

Guitar

iTrader: (9)

Thanks for the reply. If/when I get skinnies they'll be mostly for track duty but the car is driven to and from the strip. I've been trying to decide if I want to go with the bias fronts or not and that made my decision a little easier. My car raceweight is 3900+ though so heavier than your averagd car (with me in it of course) so I also have to take that into consideration.

Mystery Bird

iTrader: (7)

I've been running the 165's too for three years now. I only put them on, drive to the track (20 minutes), race, then drive back home though. I drive real easy too while on the street, avoiding pot holes, hard braking, and cornering.

94 s dime

iTrader: (10)

My only issue with those kinds of tires, is at the track. How much water do they drag out?

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Ha my car is one of the pics, and yes I did blow a generic 165 skinny tire while driving.

Last tires I ran were the MT Sportsman's, 4 and the 8 ply.

11SECSS

iTrader: (199)

Here's the tires I have on my car now ,picked them for $140 shipped about 1 yr ago. Here's a few pics of them on my car.
http://www.nankangusa.com/tires/tour...x668?tab=specs

Kingsize

iTrader: (13)

I don't see the benefit to using cheap tires in an attempt to save $100-$200 when my ***, and the money I have spent on my vehicle are on the line. Buy some good M&H radial front runners, or some Goodyear bias ply, and be done with it.

JMHO

Beeler422

iTrader: (3)

I just bought new skinnies but I don't remember what they are. I'll get some pics this week.

Photochop

iTrader: (74)

I like the idea of a wider skinny up front of equal weight to the more narrow stuff thats available, but you really need to run a wider wheel. These fit...

https://ls1tech.com/forums/wheels-ti...t-perfect.html

And your General Altimax RT's are on sale at tirerack for $66/ea.