Looking at replacing my KDW 2's (205/50/16) Was looking at the Yokohama S-Drives but noticed that tirerack has the F1's on sale for 73.00/each. They only thing I am worried about is the fact people seem to think the sidewall are not stiff enough. I enjoy the crisp response of my KDW's and dont want an a tire that feels mushy. Should I be worried about this tire not being as crisp?

Thanks!

 

Most of the specs for the F1 GS D3 tires were obtained from German-built tires. It seems that they are now being made in China and people have reported that the quality is not the same.

 

$73 sounds like a no-brainer to me. Car and Driver did a large performance tire test a while ago. My recollection is that the F1's took first place. Suggest you locate the test.

 

Should be OK.

Try emailing Alex@tirerack.com to get feedback about the sidewall stiffness in the current GS-D3. KDW2s are pretty stiff. But you cannot beat the good price.

 

Heres the Car & Driver article, was actually a cover story.
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...y_f1_gs_ds.pdf

There has been recent concerns though, now that they are no longer made in Germany, now they are Chinese tires.

 

Great spot on the 16" price - I just dropped an order in. I have F1's on my Audi and they're awesome, I can't wait to get them on the Mini.

I just wish they were a bit less expensive in the 17" size!

 

FYI the 205/50/16's @ $73 ea I have are German production from 2005.

Alex

 

Raise your hand if you were like me and went charging onto the Tire Rack website looking for 17 inchers and got sticker shock?

Hey Alex, are the 215/45-17s all Chinese now, or is there a chance there are some German ones left? I saw on the 'rack that there are two possibilities.

Expect an email from me soon, I need new rubber something awful.

 

Its seems goodyear can offer either as you mensioned. Hard to know witch we get. I love it when Goodyear does that!

Look forward to hearing from you Phil.

Alex

 

$73
Great deal for a great tire
Get them even if you got tread left, save for rain season
I wish the 17 and 18s were all German

 

from a tire dealer i inquired from a few months back, some of the F1 GS-D3s available in my country are made in Thailand and are said to hold up better than Germany-made F1 GS-D3s because they're "tropicalized"

well, at least that's what they told me

 

2005? Aren't they old already?

 

Alex says they are stored "correctly" so the year is not a problem

 

I ordered the 205/50/16's from Alex a few weeks back and was surprised when they were, in fact, German made just like the ones I had on the car already. They seem fine to me. I do think the sidewalls are a bit softer than the KDW 2's, though I've never used them, but at $73 a piece it was a no brainer for me- and they're the best rain tire I've ever had.