Hi guys,
I decided to get another set of wheels specifically for DD duty. Now, I don't want ***** all-season tires. What I need is a set of summer tires that doesn't totally suck in sub-50F weather. We don't really have a "winter" around here, so I don't care about snow traction (that's what the jeep is for). I care about grip & mileage I can get out of them.

So, in a nutshell:
- 205/50/15
- must not totally suck at near-freezing temperatures (RS3s suck...)
- the more dry grip the better
- being decent in wet is a bonus. RS3s were pretty good, for comparison.
- will be just for highway and "spirited driving". for track and autocross I'll mount NT-01s on my 15x9s.

I've basically narrowed it down to:
Bridgestone RE-11
Dunlop Star Spec
Kumho Ecsta XS

So please tell me which one of those would be best. RE-11 are the most expensive. Star Specs have highest threadwear (200 vs 180). Also for comparison, out of my RS3s, I got about 15000 miles, a dozen of autocross (a lot of them were 12 runs) and an hour of track. They had 140 threadwear rating.

 

I am trying out AD08s for double duty. They are comparable to star specs in performance, but I have heard they have better wet/rain traction (not that that is a big deal, I am trying them out mostly for sidewall stiffness/response).

I should be getting them installed in the next week.

Otherwise, the star specs for sure. the Kuhmos aren't as good for wet weather.

 

Falken 615k have been pretty good all weather for me. I have 195/14 though

 

Scratch the Kumho off the list, worse than the Hankook in the cold. Between the RE-11 and the Star spec I would pick........Continental DW

 

Judging by the responses I'm leaning towards star specs...

Those are out since I'll be ordering wheels with tires from tirerack. They don't carry Falken.

These don't seem to come in 205/50/15 size

 

These look pretty good, but what turns me off are the reviews based on mileage. There are 5 reviews for Star Specs with 30k miles. The highest-mile review for AD08s is at 15k....

 

Aww hell, forgot about that. The one advantage of the crappy 16s my car came with.

 

Yokohoma S-drive

 

Aren't these like, a level below Star Specs/RE-11s?
Although 300 thread wear hmmmm...

 

I don't know. I just suggested them b/c I just got a set and I like them. The grip is good, even if it's wet out and they weren't too expensive, $370ish a set, shipping was like $50, and I got a discount on getting them mounted and balanced. Plus shipping was crazy fast, but I think thats because of where I live.

 

Rs3 is great in the cold. Just do a burnout in first and second and third.

Those first few turns can be pretty scary tho. Yowzas

 

I think you should sell your jerp and buy my forester lenny. AWD on all seasons and 260 or so hp is fun. Tire slip but awd to the rescue

 

I love my Kumho XS's for DD and some track use

 

that's one of the big parts of reviews that I ignore actually, as its really all dependent on driving habits. I am pretty sure there isn't really a standard for measuring treadwear either, so one manuf. 220 might be another's 240.


I have driven my star specs for 12k miles right now. It's all about how much aggressive driving you see. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't go with the star specs. Especially since this is your DD set, you should go with a solid known performer.

 

Of the list you provided, none are going to be much if any better than the RS-3's in the cold. You will have to go to an agressive all season and the S-drive's are a great choice. Just look around in that category and pick something around the 300 tradwear as they will last much longer and are more suited for the cold.

 

On a lightweight car like the Miata, DD tires can last a REALLY long time (not incuding the Fae's lead foot, that is).

My last set of DD tires were S-Drives in 195/50-15. They were good and held up forever. Recently switched to BFG G-Force Sports in 205/50/15. I like these even better than the S-Drives. They are really sticky, especially considering the treadwear.

My favorites tire is the Michelin Pilot SS that I'm running on my G8. Unfortunately, not made in our size. BFG is a Michelin brand name, so a lot of Michelin's technology filters down. My Dad is a BFG retiree.

 

I don't think any of the tires you listed are "daily driver" tires. I run Toyo Extensa M/S for the street and they last a very long time, about 2-years or 60,000 miles on my daily.

 

S-drives are a UHP summer tire brah.

Not really sure where this guy is coming from, but my star specs do fine as low as 36*F.

 

Another vote for the XS. Picked mine up back in the late summer and have been on them since. No snow yet, which I think would be a disaster, but otherwise good even down to the 30's. Definitely a loss of grip down at that temp but not dangerous by any means. I have the same size you are looking at, on stock 15x6 rims.

 

I'd honestly buy my Riken Raptors again.

I have 215/45 XSes for the summer that didnt get mounted once in 2011.