Tire suggestions for $130?

[PieEyedPiper]

I'm in need of some new rubber and I'm having a hard time deciding what to get.
I currently have been using BFG Gforce Sports for the last 4 years. They were only 205/50/17 for whatever reason, but the grip was awesome, the noise was tolerable and the wear was brilliant. These tires served me so well I'm tempted to just grab another set.

But this is where it gets tricky, the cost is ~$130/tire at Enter Zip Code - Discount Tire and you get a $70 discount for buying 4. BUT the GForce T/A KDW NT is the same price. They will wear faster and are reported to have horrible road noise, but they grip really well in all conditions and, well, they look pretty cool, don't they?

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tires/bf_goodrich/product/submitProductSize.do?r=CEBINT|pc|95425&pc=38252

Anyways, I'm open to any and all tire suggestions.
I'm mostly interested in performance and long life, so a tire with a 260 wear rating is probably not a good idea, no matter how awesome that tire might be.

I'll be using the stock GSX wheels, 17x6.5, and I want a 225/45/17 size, unless another size would be more suitable?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Killa_dsm]

I am going to be in the same boat here pretty soon. As you know I also have the BFG Sports, as well and love them! I was also considering the KDW's but I prefer longer lasting tires then a tad bit sticker tire since I commute a lot. And its not like the Sports weren't sticky, but I feel its not worth paying that extra bit of money to get the KDW's if I'm not going to use the full potential of the tires while the sports can do the same thing and last longer.

Your lucky yours lasted 4 years! I had the tires before my awd swap so I've only had it for about 1.5 to 2 years and they are almost gone. But I think I am going to stick with the BFG Sport since they have been great tires for what I use them for.

 

[pboglio]

I run 225/40/18 Falken Azenis RT-615's on my 97 GSX. They are a great tire and I paid $100 each from Discount tire using an online price match about 1 year back. They were pissed but they did match it. I like direct steering response and these provide that with +40 psi tire pressures. They are a 220 rated tire so they will wear, but they provide awesome lateral grip, very good rain grip and are quiet and cheap as dirt.

 

[rampridersrider]

Riken Raptor's. Used to run Kumho Ecsta Supra 712's but they were to damn loud so I bought a set of Raptors. Much much quieter, great wear, very aggressive looking. I think I paid a little over $80 a tire at a local shop. It was $440 total to have them all mounted and balanced and was 80 for the mounting and balacing. The shop also tacked on extra for the actual cost of the tire so they make more money on them

I love them and swear by them.

Plus I also run them on my stock 2GB GSX wheels. 225/45/17


http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/attachments/f55/8439d1162913799-riken-raptor-vr-nexen3000.jpg

 

[MarcVIII]

You can read TireRack's reviews and make a cost to benefit analysis there. They categorize them and rate them. I like that a lot. Usually the 3rd or 4th place tire is still very good in all aspects and pretty fair priced.

I've had Kuhmo Ecsta's, Wanalis, and Pirelli P-Zero Supersports. The Pirelli's were sick, buy $140 per tire before install a few years back.

 

[soccerplayaz16]

Im running the new goodyear eagle GTs and i love them.....they are nice and quite and grip really well

 

[Ajax]

I have the BFG T/A KDW but the old pattern, love them and they arent that loud not different than my blizzaks. And like you say they are really sticky and look nice. The wear I am unsure off since I havent put that many miles on mine

 

[Killa_dsm]

Im running the new goodyear eagle GTs and i love them.....they are nice and quite and grip really well

I have also been looking into the Goodyear Eagle GT's, and they seem to have good wear numbers. I guess I will be doing some research on them.

 

[andy4g63]

Hankook's R 212's
Kumho exsta MX
Dunlop direzza's 101

These are some of the good and cheaper options, that come to mind...

 

[PieEyedPiper]

The hankooks are seemingly limited in supply,
the ecsta mx's have a really low wear rating,
the dunlops are low price, moderate wear and pretty decent performance..

It looks, to me, that the GForce Sports are still the best for the money.
Quite gripy, decent in rain, wear rating of 340, and not over $130.

If anyone thinks they have them beat, I'm still all ears.

 

[DSMSpyder99]

I had the G-Force Sport they are a great all-around tire (pun not intended). They gripped fairly well, comfortable, and didn't hydroplane. The only complaint i had about them was they were loud for a "ultra high performance tire." The only tire that I would recommend would the the Kumho SPTs they were just as good as the G-Force Sport. I can't compare than directly because i had them on different wheels and sizes. For the record I have had a huge amount of tires, Yoko AVS ES100, Kumho SPT, BGF G-Force Sport, BFG G-Force KD, Michelin Pilot Sport, Michelin Pilot Sport PS2, Michelin Pilot Primacy, Yoko Advan (stock evo tires), and Hankook HR2s.

Also, stock GSX wheels are 17x6.5 NOT 7

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I had the G-Force Sport they are a great all-around tire (pun not intended). They gripped fairly well, comfortable, and didn't hydroplane. The only complaint i had about them was they were loud for a "ultra high performance tire." The only tire that I would recommend would the the Kumho SPTs they were just as good as the G-Force Sport. I can't compare than directly because i had them on different wheels and sizes. For the record I have had a huge amount of tires, Yoko AVS ES100, Kumho SPT, BGF G-Force Sport, BFG G-Force KD, Michelin Pilot Sport, Michelin Pilot Sport PS2, Michelin Pilot Primacy, Yoko Advan (stock evo tires), and Hankook HR2s.

Also, stock GSX wheels are 17x6.5 NOT 7

I'll have to look into the SPT's. And thanks for the 6.5" correction.