Our hometown Notre Dame Fighting Irish are known for their football team, but that may be changing after Notre Dame's amazing comeback victory over North Carolina in the ACC Tournament. What a game! Many of us at Tire Rack can't wait to see how the Irish do this week in the Big Dance.
And with March Madness here, you know what that means...autocross season is just around the corner. If you would rather zip around pylons instead of dribbling through a full court press, it's time to start prepping your car.
We'll test the newer tires against their peers in May, so stay tuned for results. And, while we may not be able to help with your bracket, we've got the tire information you need!
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.When it comes to taking care of your vehicle, tires are a big part of your maintenance budget. You can't afford to overpay, but good tires are essential for safe driving. Even with the high quality brands we offer, we'll see major differences in overall performance, especially in wet traction. We've done head-to-head comparison tests where we've seen over a 40-foot difference in 50-0 mph wet braking. That's the difference between rear-ending that inattentive driver abruptly stopping in front of you or avoiding an accident.
You don't have to choose between safety and saving money. We'll give you the information and choices you need so you can get the right tire. A great example of this safety and value nexus is the General brand. General leans on its German parent company's substantial Original Equipment tire experience and advanced European engineering to produce tires with outstanding performance and value. General recently introduced the AltiMAX RT43 to replace the AltiMAX RT. As part of this transition, General has given us some amazing closeout pricing on the General AltiMAX RT:
With the AltiMAX RT closeout, you're saving money on a tire with stellar test results and solid review feedback. A great tire at a great price, your first step towards keeping your vehicle in top shape.
Name a fun, affordable and reliable mid-engine car? Sounds like a trick question, but the 2000-2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder hits that rare trifecta.
WHEEL DIAMETER
As you look at Spyder wheel options, you'll see wheels ranging in diameter from 15"-18". Although the Spyder can run 15", 16", 17" and 18" wheels, staying with a 15" wheel allows for broader tire selection and less rotational weight.
OFFSET AND WIDTH
The earlier (2000-2002) Spyders ran 15x6 45 mm offset (ET 45) front wheels and 15x6.5 ET 45 rear wheels. The lower the offset, the further "out" toward the fender the wheel moves. While some drivers might prefer the wider stance of lower offset wheels, our goal here is to maintain the car's original steering feel and tracking. So try and stay with wheels that are close (within 6 mm) of the Original Equipment wheel's 45 mm offset. This will minimize scrub radius change, while helping to preserve the car's go-kart handling and steering feel.
Although later (2003-2005) Spyders have 16" rears as Original Equipment, you can change to 15" rear wheels. Your wheel choice might not be available in a wider rear size, however it's okay to run the same wheel width front and back. The key to maintaining the car's overall handling balance is staying with the tire suggestions covered in detail at "Alternative Tire Sizes for Your MR2 Spyder."
TIRE & WHEEL PACKAGE
In addition to the above considerations, find a wheel that meets your style preferences and a wheel finish that works well with your Spyder's body color. Go with the style and finish that you like.
Are you looking for tons of grip from your track-only competition tires, while not spending very much? Our $95 closeout Kumho Ecsta V710 tires offer you the opportunity where you get the best of both worlds. Both autocrossers and racers have appreciated the Kumho Ecsta V710's combination of responsiveness, cornering grip and steering response. Its sticky compound is versatile enough to provide competitive times in autocross runs and on two-mile road courses.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Keep in mind that since Kumho has discontinued the Ecsta V710, these closeout tires are older DOT date code production and are more suitable for casual lapping days not record-chasing runs. Here's a summary of the more popular sizes we'll be getting:
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.How does your tire choice come into play when you experience oversteer or understeer? By matching your tires, you'll maintain the same overall tire grip in the front and back. When you have mismatched tires, you're either adding more grip to the front or more grip to the rear that causes abnormal and/or unpredictable oversteer or understeer. We've literally tested hundreds of tires and there truly are differences in wet, dry and snow grip.
You don't have to be driving fast for a tire mismatch to create problems. For example, if someone abruptly stops in front of you to make a left turn and you brake hard, cutting sharply to the right to avoid him, your mismatched tires that have more grip in the rear, may push your car too far to the right so that you end up over correcting to the left. If you drive by an accident scene you may see skid marks in one direction and skid marks in another direction documenting this scenario. Modern cars are designed to be easier to drive and traction control helps tremendously, yet drivers still lose control of their cars. There's no point in creating an unnecessary risk by mismatching tires.
Getting the right tires is like everything else in life - there are no shortcuts. To learn more about having the proper tires is important, take a look at "Mixing Tires."
Are you ready for autocrossing? Looking to do some lapping days at your local track? Participating in the Silver State Classic in September?
Maximize your fun by picking the right tire for your car and the events you're going to run. There are essentially four types of sticky tires you should consider for your days at the track:
Which tire should you get? It depends on the choices available in your size(s) and the specific driving events you want to participate in.
If you're going to spend your summer doing spirited driving on curvy roads, autocrossing every other weekend and participating in a single track day, then take a look at Extreme Performance Summer tires. They're designed to reach their peak grip quickly so they're a better choice for those who focus on daily driving and autocross. We'll be doing our comprehensive Extreme Performance Summer comparison test shortly, however we've heard from many autocrossers who rave about the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R and BFGoodrich g-Force Rival S. Tires in this performance category are also versatile enough to allow you to run decent lap times on your track day.
On the other hand, if you rarely drive your fast car on the street, seldom autocross and plan on doing several track events, then Streetable Track and Competition tires are more suitable for you. Since Streetable Track and Competition tires need a few warm-up laps to reach higher grip levels, they are not ideal for the quickest autocross runs, but they still perform well.
*** New TPMS sensors must be registered to the vehicle at the manufacturer's dealership or a service center with the appropriate tools. Please contact your local dealership or service center for details and rates. ***
What exactly does this mean? This means your vehicle won't recognize your new Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor codes without the use of the dealer's or service center's specialized tool(s). So every timeyou switch tires and wheels, your dealer or service center must overwrite your "winter" TPMS sensor codes with your "summer" TPMS codes and vice versa.
If you do most of your own maintenance or your dealer/service center is hours away, this can be pretty frustrating. The ATEQ Quickset is a device about the size of a hard drive with an ODBII connector on one end and USB port on the other. You'll find Quickset to be compatible with many Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Scion, Subaru and Toyota vehicles.
Ateq's documentation goes over everything in detail but essentially you'll do the following:
Review our snow tire overview and input your vehicle's information into the Upgrade Garage to build your Tire & Wheel Package.
If you intend to use Quickset please write "Please record TPMS codes" in the Customer Comment field as you place your order. Please note that it's not feasible to record which code goes with which tire but this isn't an issue with most vehicles.
Install the Ateq software on your computer, connect the Quickset device and enter your vehicle information and you'll get a screen like this:
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Hook up Quickset to your vehicle's OBDII connector and hit the summer icon to store your summer codes. After connecting the Quickset back to your computer, you should see something similar to:
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Next you will want to input the winter codes as shown below:
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
After entering the winter codes, you'll get a page like this:
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Finally, hook Quickset back into your OBDII connector and press the winter icon. You're all set to go!
Note: There is still a possibilitythat your vehicle won't recognize your sensors even if all the steps are followed correctly because a sensor is stuck in inactive state. If that happens a trip to a dealer or service center will be necessary.
As you can see in the video, the driver had a great lap, but even the best cars can desire more grip. How about swapping on some custom fit closeout matte graphite 20x10 ET40 Hotckis Y-Sports on Extreme Performance Summer Hankook Ventus R-S3 (Version 2)? Please note this a custom fit package which means the wheels and tires will clear the brakes and suspension but it will be further outwards the fenders compared to the factory set-up (fender modifications may be necessary). Center caps won't work on the front wheels because they won't clear the front hubs. The following chart compares the Original Equipment to the Hotchkis and Hankook combination:
table.tableizer-table {
border: 1px solid #CCC;
font-size: 12px;
}
.tableizer-table td {
padding: 4px;
margin: 3px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
}
.tableizer-table th {
background-color: #104E8B;
color: #FFF;
font-weight: bold;
}
Tire and Wheel Combination
Tire size
Rim Size
Overall Diameter
Wt
O.E. 19" Front Pirelli Pzero on O.E. Performance Pack Wheel
255/40-19
19x9 ET 45
27.1"
61
O.E. 19" Rear Pirelli Pzero on O.E. Performance Pack Wheel
275/40-19
19x9.5 ET 52.5
27.7"
64
Hankook R-S3 (Version 2) 20" Front on Hotchkis Y-Sport
285/35-20
20x10 ET 40
27.9"
63
Hankook R-S3 (Version 2) 20" Rear on Hotchkis Y-Sport
305/30-20
20x10 ET 40
28.5"
65
Features and Benefits:
We add 30 mm (about 1") more rubber in the front and rear, while maintaining the same width stagger to avoid abnormal amounts of understeeer and oversteer.
We get more tire without much extra weight - only approximately 3 lbs. more rotational weight (front) and approximately 2 lbs. more rotational weight (rear).
The Hankook Ventus RS-3 Version 2 offers more dry grip.
Are you looking for more grip than the sticky tire options covered here? Track & Competition DOT tires give you the highest level of grip, but their lighter carcasses, shallower tread depths and gummy compounds also make them too fragile for street use. Street use will also expose them to more heat cycles eventually causing severe drops in grip level. These tires are only appropriate if you either tow your car to events or do a tire change at the venue.
Which tire is best for you? It depends on the choices available in your size and the kind of events you'll be running. Here's a quick summary reviewing each tire's strengths:
Hoosier A7 - Stickiest autocross choice, versatile enough for time-attack events, as well as qualifying and even sprint race competition on some cars. It provides better grip and wear than its predecessor, the Hoosier A6.
BFGoodrich g-Force R1 S - Another multi-talented choice that's designed to reach peak grip quicker than the g-Force R1.
Hankook Ventus Z214 - Uses the C71 soft compound for autocross events and the C51 medium compound for track days. The tire provides a great value.
Kumho Ecsta V710 - A few select sizes at closeout prices still available. The tire is discontinued by Kumho with no replacement available.
Hoosier R7 - Higher lateral grip, better consistency and less sensitivity to repetitive heat cycling compared to the Hoosier R6.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Compared to conventional run-flats, the Bridgestone DriveGuard rides better, while offering better value and wear. As a tire that can also be installed on some vehicles that didn't come equipped with run-flats as Original Equipment, many could be skeptical to the idea ofswitching to run-flats on their vehicle.
Isn't a flat when most of us notice our tires anyway? Most drivers are more concerned about getting from point A to point B without interruption, not the detailed differences in grip and road manners.
When does the convenience of the DriveGuard make perfect choice? It depends on how drivers want to balance the tire's unique advantage of being able to drive up to 50 miles at 50 mph on a flat compared to the better wet grip performance of other Grand Touring All-Season competitors such as the Continental PureContact with EcoPlus Technology and Michelin Premier A/S. Yes, those tires have better wet grip but is the vehicle regularly driven hard enough in a rainy climate for this difference to be noticeable?
A concern about the DriveGuard amongst drivers is related to repairing a puncture in the tire. Bridgestone, who has been developing and refining run-flats since the 1980s, states that a properly repaired DriveGuard can be put back into service. As with all tires, the DriveGuard must be repaired with a mushroom patch applied to a dismounted tire and the puncture can't be on the shoulder of the tire.
Is the Bridgestone DriveGuard an option for your car? Shop by vehicle to find out.
Check your tire sidewalls to verify size, but the 2009-2015 Mercedes E350 4Matic w/Sport Package typically came with 245/40R18 tires. 245/40R18 is usually a more expensive size, but we've just received 245/40R18 Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus tires that are marked down from $225 to $97.24.
With a production date of 2011, these tires have been stored indoors and thoroughly inspected by Tire Rack. Beyond these great savings, the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season is simply a good tire choice for the E350, especially for easy-going drivers. Given the Cinturato P7 All Season's key strengths of low tread noise and good ride compliance, your car will continue to ride well and quietly.
If your tire's on the vehicle are 245/40R18 97V, the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Seasons are listed as 245/40R18 93H and are compatible for your vehicle. 97V and 93H are the tire's service descriptions. A service description tells you what a tire's load carrying capacity and speed rating are. As we see here, a 93 load index tire carries 1,433 lbs. per tire and 97 load index tire carries 1,609 lbs per tire. Your 2012 Mercedes E350 w/Sport Package has a front Gross Axle Weight Requirement (GAWR) of 2,436 lbs. and a rear Gross Axle Weight Requirement of 2,646 lbs. Therefore, a compatible tire needs to carry 1,323 lbs. These 93H Pirellis carry 1,433 lbs. per tire and meet your car's load carrying capacity.
Do you love to drive? Do you have a fun car that comes out for track and autocross weekends or do you simply relish the curvy roads of your daily commute? You should consider the sticky grip and razor sharp steering response of an Extreme Performance Summer tire. Last year, the Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Spectested out to be the top performing tire in the category.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This year there are three new entrants to the Extreme Performance Summer category: BFGoodrich g-Force Rival S, the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R and Kumho Ecsta V720. Given the Hankook R-S3 Version 2's marketplace appeal, we made it the fourth tire in our recently competed comparison test. What did we find out? Our complete detailed test report will appear shortly but here's a quick summary of what we determined from the dry track session:
The Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R is the real deal. We've heard of many expert autocrossers who saw significant improvement when they switched to this tire. Our test data backed this up. When you add the positive anecdotal feedback from drivers that have tracked it, the RE-71R is simply the best street, autocross and track tire for most.
Germany is known for many things, including awesome cars, but their tires are pretty good, too. Based in Hanover, Germany, Continental has plants all over the world with plants in Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and North Carolina. A few of Continental's great offerings include:
For drivers who reside in states with fair weather, the superior wet and dry grip of the Continental ExtremeContact DW makes it a great choice. However, if you have a long commute and are willing to give up some at-the-limit grip for better treadwear, take a look at the ExtremeContact DWS. For moderate drivers who experience light snow conditions, you'll want to consider the ExtremeContact DWS and PureContact with EcoPlus Technology.
Typically, Grand Touring All-Season tires ride better and are quieter options, but lack steering response. There are always exceptions to the rule and in this case, a few tires that outperform their category. For example, the Ultra High Performance All-Season Continental ExtremeContact DWS rides well and is a relatively quiet tire. And in the Grand Touring All-Season performance categeory, Continental's PureContact with EcoPlus Technology is known for handling responsively.
In general, what are the critical differences between the PureContact with EcoPlus Technology and ExtremeContact DWS? We don't test across different performance categories so there's no hard data to analyze, but we have enough seat time from separate summer and winter tests to judge them. We feel that the PureContact with EcoPlus Technology comes out ahead in overall snow performance, tread and impact noise, treadwear and ride comfort.
Do you like the Honda CR-V but wish it were a little smaller? Your wish has been granted - say hello to the 2016 Honda HR-V!
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Legendary Honda reliability, a great combination of performance and efficiency, tons of cargo and passenger room, what more could you want? Hoping to add a bit of style and individuality to your HR-V before it gets lost in the herd? We just finished test fitting the HR-V and you can view all wheels available for the vehicle here.
Function
All our listed wheels are compatible, but some wheel purists prefer a wheel that is very comparable in width and offset to the 5-114.3 17x7.5 55 offset (ET) Original Equipment. This way your new wheels won't be abnormally recessed or protruding compared to your factory wheels. Staying closer to factory specs is also optimal for maintaining factory steering feel and tracking.
Style
Wheel preference is ultimately in the eye of the beholder, so pick the wheels you like. If there are several wheels that catch your eye, stay with wheels that flow with the HR-V's overall mini-CR-V styling theme. Yes, you should get distinctive looking wheels but maintaining some continuity avoids radical disconnect for a better end result.
Finish
Do you want your wheel finish to sharply contrast with your HR-V's body color? Do you want a finish that kind of blends in? Do you like the idea of gold or bronze on a Misty Green Pearl HR-V. It's all to up to you!
Potential Choice
Get the wheels you prefer, but if you are asking for my advice, I am a big fan of the 17x7 5-114.3 ET 50 Rial P10 in bright silver or black.
By the time it got to me, Uncle George's 1978 Honda Accord had plenty of miles on the speedometer. No worries, it was my first car and a well maintained Honda is solid as oak, regardless of the mileage. It was burgundy red, with red velour cloth seats and manual transmission.
I loved that car! It never let me down. Not surprisingly I've had eight different Hondas since then, each one endowed with the same solid steadfast reliability as my #FirstCarMoment.
Sooner or later those kids will be hitting the open road with the enthusiasm and excitement of the young at heart. You've got to let them go, you've to set them free but if you're a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or older sibling you have to make sure they're ready.
Quite a few years ago, a friend of mine used to store his red Lotus Elan in our family's pole barn. He didn't drive it as much as he wanted, but when he did, it put a huge grin on his face. Lotus Elans are a rare sight these days, however many of us were fortunate when a Lotus Elise visited Tire Rack for an autocross event. Just like my friend's ride, this was one sweet car!
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Not only did the Elise look awesome, the owner ran some great times on our track. Getting faster runs depends on the driver, set-up and tires. The owner of this Elise did a wonderful job on his set-up and tire choice. The Sport Package Elise normally runs 195/50R16 fronts and 225/45R17 rears. However, given the lack of 195/50R16 tire choices, he went with 205/45R16 in the front. His 205/45R16 and 225/45R17 tandem, along with some sway bar adjustments keep the car neutral and less susceptible to snap oversteer.
He's currently running the Hankook Ventus R-S3 (Version 2) and said he's happy with them. The tire is a great choice, but he mentioned they wear out a little too soon and is leaning towards switching over to the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R. The Hankook RS-3 is a good tire but the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R offers even better grip and overall performance.
Whether he won or lost, it's truly winning when you're driving a great looking car like the Lotus Elise!
With August upon on us, it won't be too long before the 2015 Tire Rack Solo National Championships arrive. If you're heading to Lincoln in September then you've most likely already made your tire choice. Wondering whether you picked the right tire? Want to know what else is out there? We've recently posted the official results of our latest Extreme Performance Summer tire test. To view the results, take a look at "Testing the Newest Extreme Performance Summer Tires: Witnessing the Evolution of the Species."
Is your autocross vehicle your daily driver? There's a price to pay for those quicker laps in the form of faster treadwear, louder tread noise and a harsher ride. If you don't care about road manners or fast treadwear, select one of the aforementioned top three tires. If you're not concerned about getting the best PAX scores consider, you may want to take a look at last year's top Extreme Performance Summer choices, the Hankook Ventus R-S3 and Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Spec.
There are definitely many great tire choices for those who like to drive, just watch out for those cones!
For a long time, Germany owned the luxury car game. Then along came Acura, Lexus and Infinity. Now the new hot name in luxury is Hyundai.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Hyundai? Yes, Hyundai. We've heard from many Hyundai Genesis Sedan owners that they're happy with their luxury car choice. A few though have been disappointed with the average wear from their 235/50R18 Original Equipment Dunlop SP5000 M tires. Make sure to the check your tire sidewalls to verify size as Hyundai used more than one wheel size on the 2009-current model Genesis Sedan.
If it's time to replace your 235/50R18 Genesis tires, consider the 235/50R18 Michelin Latitude Tour HP that's currently on special. Not only is the tire a great deal, it performs very well. In our comprehensive comparison test, the Latitude Tour HP demonstrated great wet grip and very good overall performance.
And to make the deal even more special, when you buy a set of four Michelin tires before September 27, you receive $70 via a MasterCard Reward Card.
I liked my 2013 Honda Civic Si because it was a fun, quick and capable car with a moonroof. While the Civic Si was nice, it simply did not stir my soul the way my old BRZ did. So I said goodbye to my Civic Si and picked up a 2015 ice silver metallic Subaru BRZ Premium.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The changes Subaru made to the BRZ in 2015 are outstanding. A shark fin antenna gives the car a much cleaner look, while the ice silver metallic paint reminds me of the nordic mist metallic of my old Honda Prelude SH. 2015 also brought an improved suspension compared to 2013. The 2015 feels just as tight and maneuverable, but Subaru did much better dampening high-velocity piston movements so the car settles back down over tar strips and road imperfections instead of crashing down like my 2013 seemed to do.
As for tires, both my BRZs came with the Michelin Primacy HP Touring summer tire as Original Equipment. I quickly changed over to the 225/45R17 Michelin Pilot Super Sports that were used on my old BRZ and 2013 Honda Civic Si. The tire provides a great combination of steering response, very good dry grip, great wet grip, versatility and relatively low tread noise.
As summer ends, I decided I wanted something new for the last few weeks and next year, so I purchased a set of 215/45R17 Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R. While not tested on the track yet, I can feel the shorter gearing and lower center of gravity of the 215/45R17 Original Equipment size compared to the slightly wider and taller 225/45R17. There's definitely a tradeoff in road manners, but I suspect I'll see better track times at Gingerman. And you got to love that!
Remember last winter? Will this winter be just as bad? Predictions will be made but nobody really knows. The best course of action is to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
There is no simple rule of thumb on whether or not to run winter / snow tires. If you're in a region that normally averages over a foot of snow, you should strongly consider installing winter tires. Dedicated snow tires will enhance an all-wheel drive vehicle's winter capability, make an intrinsically "bad-in-snow" car better and improve safety in that family sedan, SUV or minivan.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
All-wheel drive, ABS (Anti-Lock Brakes) and traction control help, but no car maker can manufacture traction. All-wheel drive will help get you going, however you'll need proper snow grip to stop and turn. Since innate snow prowess and overall performance will vary by vehicle, select a tire from the performance category that works best for your vehicle, your driving temperament and local weather. The three major performance categories are: Studless Ice & Snow, Studdable Winter / Snow and Performance Winter / Snow.
Studless Ice & Snow tires give you optimum ice and packed snow grip, but are less responsive on dry roads. Theses tires trade a little clear road handling precision for their high level of snow and ice traction.
Studless Ice & Snow tires tend to be available in higher profile sizes and include the following:
If you go with a Studless Ice & Snow tire, you should consider going with a narrower tire as it cuts through deeper snow better. This is especially true for a lighter car like the MINI Cooper, but there exceptions to the rule as discussed in detail here.
Studdable Winter / Snow tires can run studded or unstudded. When studded, they provide good ice and packed snow grip but are less responsive on dry roads. When unstudded, these tires perform well in moderate and deep snow, yet do not match the ice traction of tires in the Studless Ice & Snow category. It's important to note that the use of studded tires may be prohibited or restricted in your area, so be sure to check with local authorities to confirm legality.
Looking for the traditional security of winter tire studs for enhanced traction on ice? Consider the following Studdable Winter / Snow options:
Performance Winter / Snow tires exhibit dry-road deficiencies to a much lesser degree. If your vehicle came with summer performance tires, the Performance Winter / Snow tires will be more comparable in steering response, acceleration, grip, braking and cornering grip. They give up some ice and packed snow grip to acheive it. Tires in this category wear slightly better compared to Studless Ice & Snow tires, especially during the early and late winter days when temperatures are a little warmer. All winter / snow tires have more tread noise and vary from tire to tire. Performance Winter / Snow tires do tend to be quieter than the other performance categories.
Available in lower profile sizes, the following Performance Winter / Snow tires are worth a look:
Is a Studless Ice & Snow, Studdable Winter / Snow or a Performance Winter / Snow tire right for your vehicle? It depends on your car, where you live, how you drive on dry roads and how you want to balance the above compromises.
