Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

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Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby eric9144 on Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:59 pm

Opening this one up to opinions as the selection for 205/60/15's has become much more limited since the last time I bought tires...

These will be primarily for 'spirited' street driving (that makes it sound like I don't do anything bad on the streets right?)

My 914 has been more or less PCA idle for the past few years as life has been pretty busy, but now it's time to shake off the dust and get back to it. I have a second set of wheels for Auto-X so I'm not looking to run race tires out on the streets or 50 series for that matter...

I think these are my choices, feel free to add others if I haven't listed them:

Goodyear Eagle GT
Falken Ziex ZE-512
Kumho Ecsta ASX
Bridgestone Potenza G019 Grid
Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS Pole Position
BFGoodrich g-Force Sport
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Re: Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby harnishclan on Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:39 pm

Can't speak to the size, but I have used Kumho Ecsta ASX and currently have the BFG sport on my 01 Boxster. Kumho wore very well, but made a pretty fair amount of road noise. BFG's have almost 700 miles and nothing significant one way or the other. Grip is decent for a street tire, understeer is less pronounced during my own spirited driving.
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Re: Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby Dan Chambers on Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:45 am

Maybe check out the Toyo tire line. The Proxes series are nice tires for street or track (read: unshaved, or shaved). They have a 205/50/15 that my wife runs on her 912 (she has 6X15 Fuchs wheels).

I've run the R1R and the RA-1 on the street with great results. The RA-1 was designed for "rain/wet competition" so it makes a great 3-season tire (no snow, sorry). The R1R drives well in the dry with just a hint of traction loss when wet/puddling conditions occur.

I still run the RA-1's on the street now. Like 'em lots. They're competitive with the brands you listed.

C2 Motorsports is a great dealer for Toyo's. Steve Coe is very friendly to PCA members. He'll get you the tires and mount them up for you at very competitive pricing. Give him a shout.

Happy Roads! 8)
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Re: Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby JERRY B on Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:50 am

Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec IS THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK $92. after rebate, Good enough to get #2 BRI in my GSS 944 :burnout:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearc ... iameter=15
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Re: Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby Kim Crosser on Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:05 am

If they come in your size, I just got a complete set of Dunlop Direzza Star Spec Z1 at SD Tire & Wheel for $660 "out the door" (actually $740, but there is an $80 rebate from Dunlop until July 30th).
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Re: Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby eric9144 on Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:41 am

Those are great tires--probably the set I'll put on my auto-x set of wheels, but they're only in 50 series, not 60's... I'd like to run 60's on the street.
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Re: Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby Steve Grosekemper on Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:55 am

I run 195/65-15's Goodyear Eagle GT's on my 912 with 6x15 Fuchs and they seem to be a very nice tire.
I also like the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport which I have used on other cars.
They have 205/60-15 as well.

Good all around tires, quiet with long wear and good handling just not the fastest lap of the day.
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Re: Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby NickP on Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:28 pm

I'm on my second set of the BFG's G Force Sports on my 73 911. It's one of the few V rated tires in 205/60/15 and I've been pleased. Handles very well, pretty quiet and good tread wear. There are not many choice left for the early cars. I cant understand why Porsche doesn't "suggest" to one of their current oem tire suppliers to make some modern 15 inch tires since Porsche is once again selling 15" Fuchs through their classics department. Very frustrating
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Re: Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby DonCostello on Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:15 pm

I currently have Dunlop Direzza star specs on my 'o6 Boxster S and will probably get the same when they wear down. LOTS of positve reviews/comments online for street/AX/track. I last had Nitto N01's -- they handled incredibly well in AX and I do like them. The problem is that they are practically slicks and whenever there was a threat of any rain I was afraid to drive on them, missing several events. The Dunlops are very close in performance (the rear end will break loose on an AX or track turn, whereas the Nitos never did), but it just makes for a different type of driving. Also, I can just leave the Dunlops on the car all the time, which makes life easier not having to change wheels for events. I have 6000 miles on them, including 6 AX and 5 track days. I think they will probably be good for about a total of 8000. The next set I get, I will have heat cycled first. Also, they run quiet and comfortable on the street.
One more thing: they are rated as 200 tread wear which I don't believe is accurate. They were designed/marketed as an AX tire and I think they put the 200 on them because thats a magic number to avoid class changes. In my experience, they actually wear more like the 100-150 range.
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Re: Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby Kim Crosser on Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:04 pm

Unfortunately, Dunlop doesn't make the Direzza in a 205/60-15. The closest ones would be the Yokohama AVS (280 treadwear) or the G-Force (340 treadwear) that Steve mentions. In the 195/65-15, there are the Pirelli P6000s (180 treadwear), but Tire Rack is asking $180 each for those... :shock:
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Re: Opinions needed-Best Tire 205/60/15

Postby harnishclan on Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:57 pm

Had the yokohama avs on a 944 and the tire noise is incredible after a few thousand miles. Decent tires, as pretty much all of these tires are, they all also have compromises at this price point in either traction, noise, or wear. Definately a plus 1 on the rain and the Dunlops though.
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