tyres need replacing

[maurice]

Havent been on for a while...The Firestone TZ100,s soon have to be replaced on my 02 RX (205 50 16).found them OK but they have been superseeded.
Four all at once is going to break the bank at around $900....(I,m talking Dunlop,Good Year,Bridgestone etc all the top brands)
Has any one tried the Westlake SA 05's on their Subi . The guff on the net says they are rated as a performance tyre with W speed rating...
I can get them locally for $125 each !. $500 is much more affordable but am I risking my safety with an inferior tyre .Comments please fellas.

[HyRax]

Never tried Westlake's, but I'm currently potting along on Kumho KU31's (Korean made). Normally I spend $250 a corner as minimum (typically on Bridgestone), but this time around I spent $150 a corner (225/45/18) to save some cash on the money I was spending on my Brembo upgrade.

So far I'm finding the dry grip to be excellent with the KU31's, but I don't get much cornering feedback (feels a little floaty). The treadwear rating is also 320 with an AA rating for grip and an A rating for temperature (91Y load rating), so it should last donkeys with a bit of abuse. Have not yet had a clear opportunity to test wet grip, but from what I've been reading elsewhere, it's considered pretty good for the price.

In your case, 16's would be much cheaper. Considering that the smaller 40 profile in 18" can be had for $130 each, 16's should be cheaper still.

[t.renshaw34]

Could even go something really nice like a p zero Rosso. Wouldn't be much more than $225-250 each corner for 16".
If Ferarri put it on their base model cars then it must be alright. Lol. I was going to get them for my new wheels but I felt like going a little further so went up to the insane Nitto NT05 for the streets and the NT01 for track.
Word is the NT05 is the closest thing to a semi slick before you get an all out semi slick like the NT01.
Got mine in 245/40/18 for my 18x8.5" wheels.

[Robbks]

Federal 595 EVO are a great budget tyre and should be available for <$150 a corner for your size.

I had them in 17" on my legacy and was very happy with them

[B8ZE]

Picked up Falken 452's in 18/225/40 for $135 each fitted from St George Tyres. Probably not as nice as the Hankook Ventus V12 I have on the stockers but they handle quite well in the wet and dry and road noise isnt too bad either

[rooby]

Goodyear currently have a promotion for buy 4 tyres pay for 3.
http://www.goodyearautocare.com.au/centric/gac2.jsp

[maurice]

Thanks al for your views on this tyre stuff ..... seems like every dealer tells me something different. Leaned towards the Westlakes cause they are W speed rated and have an asymetrical tread pattern.Cant get that combination cheaper any where else around here.

[maurice]

Thanks al for your views on this tyre stuff ..... seems like every dealer tells me something different. Leaned towards the Westlakes cause they are W speed rated and have an asymetrical tread pattern.Cant get that combination cheaper any where else around here.

[maurice]

Thanks for all the views fellas.I decided on the Westlakes after reading up on asymmetrical tyres.Had them fitted yesterday by a local bloke in Lake Macquarie.He has no flash expensive TV ads like Jax,Bob jane,Tyrepower etc have.... so I'm thinking his overheads have got to be lower especially if he buys Westlake in bulk.
Web says the chinese dudes that make these tyres are rated 10th best manufacturer of rubber products in the world.
Took the RX for a spin today on a variation of tar types and at various speeds and pushed it through roundabouts..
First impression was how responsive the steering was and exceptional was the braking distance.
Left the old Firestone TZ100's (symmetrical) way behind .... taking also into account that they were nearly down to the wear bands.
Only complaint was is that they make a low humming sound on smooth tar and sometimes when braking but i don't find it annoying. I was told that asymmetricals tend to make more road noise than symmetricals.
Don't recon you can go wrong with them at $125 each especially since they are also W speed rated.
Looking for your comments.