I currently run Yoko AVS ES100s in the 205/50ZR16 size. I'm looking at taking those off once I've run them all the way down to the wear indicators.

1. Are BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW (215/50R16) any stickier? Tread life better or worse?

2. Are Bridgestone Potenza S03 (205/50ZR16) any stickier? Tread life better or worse?

 

The ES 100s are good tires, and I have a friend that swears by them. I have S03s and the main advantage of them over the Yokos are the wet traction. They (B'stone, Alex@Tirerack) also claim the wet traction remains high even when the treads are less than new due to a special compiound. I have never driven the BFGs but a member here used tehm for STX and he may shed some more light on them. dpayne1 where are you?
Chris

 

I have the Yoko ES100 on a 3 series BMW, they are good, but not what I call great. The S 03's are reported to be the best out there by Alec and Tire Rack. The Goodyear F1 DGS3's test and rate well according to TireRack's data and opinions, and are 30% lower cost than the S 03's. Consumer Reports rates the Goodyears well above the S 03's and actually recommend's the Toyo Proxes as a better choice for handling. I am in the same boat looking to replace my original 16" Dunlop's to something better. I have the Goodyear's on order through Tire Rack because they offered a rebate back in December. But the Goodyear's are backlogged as a special order so I am not sure if I should switch to S 03's, Toyo's, Falken Azenis, or ? After driving the ES100's on my wife's 3 series, not really a "contender" for my MCS. Opinions welcome!

 

S03's are excellent tires. and tires vs tires, the S03's are much
better tires than the ES100 in terms of both wet and dry grip and
cornering stability.

BUT, on a well handling car as our MC/MCS, the S03's are a bit overkill
for the streets. They are rather noisy (howling) and very stiff sidewalls
rattling any loose teeth on rough terrain. If I was in your boat, i would
just get the ES100's again in your size, or try some Falken tires.

i use S03's on my weekend car, but do not plan to get them for my
MCS.

 

I go for S-03, because sometimes you get rain!

KD's are cool in AZ, where you are, because its rains infrequently.

Alex

 

Thanks for all of the feedback! I do most of my driving in dry Arizona state. It does rain infrequently, so I'd be willing to slow down for those 5 days of the year. So wet weather performance is not high on my list.

Can any vouch for the order of stickiness of the three?

Can any vouch for the tread life of the three?

 

I personally would choose between the ES100s or the Kumho MXs as these are both great tires and affordable...the goodyears and bridgestones really carry a premium and while marginally better then the es100s I don't see them being much better then the MXs...now problem for you is that there is no good size for the MINI with 16s and the MX (its like a 55 profile) but there is good sizes for both 15" and 17" wheel options. Personally I don't feel anything better then the es100s or kumho mx's are needed on the street and the MXs actually hold up very very well at the track and autocross as well. I'll be putting ES100s on my car for my next tires as I am keeping my stock 16 wheels for a bit longer, but once I switch to 17s I will be going with Kumho MXs. (just because they cost a ton more does not make them better :smile: )

 

It seems to me that the S03 and KDs are in a different group than the ES100s - I think the Yoko that is in their category is the AVS Sport. I currently have the S03 (215/4-17 on SSR GT1 wheels) on my MCS and also had them on my 2001 M3. On the M3, before getting S03 I had the AVS Sport - S03 is a much better (all around) than the AVS Sport.

Recently I put my original runflats (with the stock S-lites) back on my car because we have a lot of new home construction going on (neighbors reported picking up nails) but we've been having a lot of rain here in Hawaii so I had to switch back to the safety of the S03s. BTW, I like the fact that the S03s stay stuck on the road (especially in the rain) throughout much of its tread life.

For AZ though I'd vote for the KDs per Alex's recommendation, if they are cheaper than the S03s.