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Recommendations on Tires?

4.3K views 39 replies 20 participants last post by  Anubis  
#1 ·
Hey all, so I've only got 1500 miles on my Evo and I can tell the stock tires aren't going to last me much longer - I've been having a lot of fun after the break in period needless to say.

I'm looking for solid tires that are not track tires, but are a decent balance of performance and tread life. I care about performance at like 70% and tread life at like 30%. Any recommendations? The tires do not have to be all season tires as we very rarely get snow here.

Also, if the ride is about the same as stock I'm happy, better I'm happy, worse I'm not too happy - the ride is loud enough as is on the stock car, not looking for something much/any louder.

THanks,
-Jordan
 
#9 ·
NT01
 
#6 ·
Not being argumentative but of all the people I've ever known (personally) to run them, I've never heard anyone say they were loud. www.tirerack.com seems to support this also. The NT05.. not sure about that. I have a friend with a set on his Evo X, and he thinks they handle and ride better than stock---- *but* he also went much wider than stock. Read reviews is all I can suggest.
 
#7 ·
NT05's are like butter and I think wear quicker than the Advans. If you want tread life neither is for you, but the performance is certainly awesome. I have Hankook V12 Evos right now, and they're OK, but they're not sticky like the stockers. The tread will certainly last a hell of a lot longer, but my next tires will be NT05's again. Luckily I have 265's, so these still have a bunch of grip.
 
#13 ·
From the reviews I have seen the Nt05 has been rated poorly for ride noise / comfort. Do you all feel like they ride about the same as the stockers? I can handle that, but if worse I think I might look at the re11 or something else. I don't plan to track the car like crazy in these tires (They wouldn't last that long anyways), just occasional auto x or a track day eventually.
 
#14 ·
Edit: Jesus I just noticed how expensive the RE11's are. I think I'll pass and keep looking :(
 
#16 ·
Based on his request of 70% performance, I would look at something a little less extreme. The NT05s and Star Specs won't last much longer then the stockers. You could look at something along the line of Falken FK457s. They had good handling, quieter ride and decent price. It's a step down from stock in terms of absolute performance, but will last much longer then the Advans. I had them on my STI as my DD tires and they were very good to me. I even tried autocrossing on them once... while no comparison to a softer tire I was still impressed by the traction they were able to provide.
 
#17 ·
Clipse is running the Hankook V12 Evos, and seems to like them. They're priced right too; still waffling on what to get for my cars, for this summer, but one of them (WRX @ 225/45/17 or Evo @ 265/35/18) will be getting the Hankooks. Not really a fair comparison, but I want to run them on SOMETHING, and they both need tires.
 
#20 ·
I been running the Evo12's for about 700 miles now... they are great for a DD. Very quiet!!!

Pretty sticky for a street tire, turn is predictable, when they lose grip its predictable, and very consitant through the turn. The sidewalls a are stiff, but you can feel a bit of give as well, especially on bumps in the road and road joints. I did autoX in these tires, it was raining cats and dogs as well about 35-40F outside. They do a good job in the rain, hold well. I wish it would have dried up for the second session but, it was still slick and wet. They are very predictable, I was drifting the car through few corners, and the tires did a good job sticking and controlling the car.

For the money it is a very good tire, is it the best, probably not, but a very good tire that is right up there with the Dunlop Star Specs.
 
#22 ·
Ehh, I got them for $155 a tire for 275/35/18's...

For the money, they are fucking great!

In all honesty, if you put around the street most of the time they are great, if you want the best performance and autoX/track. You are better off getting dedicated R compounds and calling it a day.
 
#31 ·
My wife has been running the Direzza Star Specs since October and we have done at least 1/2 dozen AutoXs, a trip to North Carolina/Tennessee/South Carolina as well as daily driving 100 miles a day and they are still good. In the Best bang for the buck category the Star Specs hold their own very well. I have to check my mileage logs but I do believe we have put over 10,000. Miles on those tires and they are still good for at least another 5,000.