My Z06 is a 2001. I live in Wisconsin, so tires for all types of weather would be preferred. I tend to not drive her real hard, so performance per se' wouldn't be at the top of my list. I also know skimping on tires only for cost isn't the greatest idea, but the factory tires are a little pricey if there are alternatives. I appreciate all you input..thanks guys!
for more well rounded weather/cheaper tires id go kumho. they make great tires, and many members on this board have nothing but good things to say about them.
__________________
2001 #17 Z06 currently racing in NASA ST2
2003 TR Z06 -- sold *tear....
If you do not plan to track your Z or drive aggressively, the Firestone Wideovals are the way to go. They are the best rain tire available for the Z and provide good traction in dry conditions...just not a stiff sidewall race tire. You can buy all 4 in the $700 + range.
If you do not plan to track your Z or drive aggressively, the Firestone Wideovals are the way to go. They are the best rain tire available for the Z and provide good traction in dry conditions...just not a stiff sidewall race tire. You can buy all 4 in the $700 + range.
Bob
I have the Wide Ovals and agree with the above. They are good tires for everything but competitive track driving. They're fun in an autocross and at the track but just aren't as competitive timewise. I have both WOs and SC tires and swap back and forth depending on weather and event. For most stuff I drive with the WOs. For autocross and track days (if dry) I put the SCs on.
for really sticky high performance "street tires" the Nitto road racing tires are sweet or the Toyo proxies. But you get limited tire mileage and rain performance is bad if there is alot of water due to the large tread blocks. Those are the R type compounds. Some people run notto road racing on the front and drag radials on the rear I believe and do not note any lose of handling due to the drag radials. Although nittos ar enot actually R compound but very close to it.
On the opposite end of the spectrum the wide ovals are cheap and last a long time and work well in the rain.
They grip well but the walls are much less stiff and when new have 10/32's of tread so you lose the inital hard bite as the tread bends and the wall also. From a dead stop the rears have decent traction.
The Michelins and the F1's are great all around street tires. I have not had the Michelins though. The F1's striaght line traction in the rear is well ya but corneing is very good for street tires.
Personally I would recommend the Nittos but currently I am running the Wide Ovals because when I replaced them I also replaced the tires on my FX35 which has 20 inch nittos so I was trying to save a buck or 2 on the Z and wanted to try the firestones since the firehawks were such great street tires on my 02 TA.
I run Kuhmo's on the street and Toyo's on the track. I will probably stick with the Khumo's over the wide ovals as they are not a bad tire on the track in a pitch, having had to run them a couple of times.
Again it gets down as to what you are looking for from your tires....
sumitomo HRTZ2, siped since you live up north. 500ish/set
i agree. this is the cheapest set of 4 tires you can purchase for this car. im getting some in about two weeks and have been contemplating the wide ovals or these for at least a month and a half. i am extremely broke so i am going with the sumitomos. i drove a ram air trans am with a set and it handled fine. im not saying they are the best, just the cheapest. jmo. hope this helps.
__________________
If anyone likes electronic dance music, shoot me a pm and I'll fill you in about our internet radio station!
DJ Jake Evers
I just put some Firestones on about a month ago after much debate) on what to get (Firestone, Goodyears, Toyos, Khumos. I was looking for a tire at a resonable price and had decent performance. I love the Wide Ovals. They hook better than the Goodyears and are much quieter. I hear they are also excellent in the rain but it hasn't rained a lot since I got them. I imagine on a roadcourse the will not hold as well as the Goodyears but I don't spend any time on the track. The Firestones also don't look as good as the Goodyears but I saved a bundle and got a great tire.
Good luck on your decision.
__________________ Don't let my car fool you, my real treasure is in Heaven!
I like the Michelin PSIIs. Unfortunately, they're likely the most expensive tire you can put on your Z. Last time I checked they had the best wear & temperature rating of all the tires you can get for the Z. Some people don't like the width (315), but I think they look great. I'm running the 315s on the rear & 275 on the front. I can still take corners at high speed and I've gotten fairly good response at the autocross & the drag strip. If it weren't for the rain & the fact that my Z is a daily driver, I might try one of the other brands recommended herein.
__________________
"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?! HELL NO!" -Bluto
AutoForums.com is the premier network of enthusiast-owned
enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
We operate more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share
experiences and opinions as a community.
Linear Mode
