I am looking for a low end (read that as cheap\affordable) tire to put on an extra set of factory 16's I have lying around. A friend suggested Kumho Ecsta AST in either 205/50R-16 or 205/45R-16. Will these work for spirited driving and/or autox and which size would you recommend? Thanks for any help.

 

I just got a set of Hankook Ventus RS-2's that I like a lot. Good in autoX, didn't get slippery at a recent LVR SCCA event. $104 each online.

 

I don't know how these tires would work for autocross, but, I was at Mid-Ohio road course this past weekend for a 2-day HPDE. A friend of mine has run 205-50-16 Kumho ASTs on his MCS for the last 2 years and he is very satisfied with them. They look like they still have at least 2 more years of tread left [he drives about 3-4 HPDEs a year].

 

You can't go too cheap and expect it to work for performance driving and autocross. If anything use the cheaper tires for daily driving and save the good tires for HPDE and autocross.

Low end usually means Touring and Passenger tires which are very low performance and fast wearing like most OEM tires.

Kumho Ecsta AST is a High Performance all season tire
400 treadwear H speed rated 20 lbs each
205/45-16 $68
205/50-16 $57

Kumho Ecsta ASX is a much better tire than the AST (UHP all season)
420 treadwear W speed rated 19-20 lbs each
205/45-16 $74
205/50-16 $75

Stock 16" rims are 16x6.5" and will fit various sized tires-
205/45-16
205/50-16
205/55-16
215/45-16
225/45-16

With performance in mind and under $100 each (what is your budget?)
In 215/45-16 fits rims 7-8" wide 23.6" tire diam. Will fit stock 16" rim.
Hankook Ventus Rs2 Z212 $90 20.5 lbs 200 treadwear
Falken Azenis Rt-615 $98 21.7 lbs 200 treadwear

In 205/45-16 fits rims 6.5-7.5" wide 23.2" tire diam. 83 load rating
Hankook Ventus Rs2 Z212 $85 19 lbs

In 205/50-16 fits rims 5.5-7.5" wide 24.1" tire diam. 87 load rating
Hankook Ventus Rs2 Z212 $85 23.5 lbs
Falken Fk 452 $77 22.4 lbs 300 treadwear Ultra HP Summer tire
Falken Ziex Ze-912 $78 21.6 lbs 360 treadwear V speed rated UHPAS
General Exclaim UHP $66 380 treadwear 19 lbs
Kumho Ecsta SPT $87 closeout 320 treadwear 21 lbs
Sumitomo HTRZII $63 220 treadwear 20 lbs

General Exclaim UHP $66 380 treadwear 19 lbs
is pretty cheap and good for street but not as stiff for heavy performance driving. Still a good value. Sumitomo is also good value. Otherwise for a little more Kumho ASX is good value.

 

I have Hankook R-S2s on my monster Miata and I love them. They do seem to be wearing quickly, though.

 

Thanks for the help. I'm still trying to figure out which set to get, I'll keep you posted.

 

Hankook RS-2's or Falken Azenis for the spare set... the ASX's won't stay hooked up well enough to make you happy...

 

The Falken Azenis 615s I got for the HPDE last weekend at Mid-Ohio worked really well, and I am thrilled that I finally have a tire that holds up to the track's demands.

 

I've run the Kumho ASX tires for a year. For me they are a good all around tire. I have 3 track days on them & don't recommend them for track use. Talk about greasy.

The AST have an even more open pattern than the ASX's that I run. If you autocross on them, you won't be fast.

 

My friend from Dayton, OH, has run the Kumho ASTs on the track for the last 2 years and is EXTREMELY satisfied with them. He averages between 2 and 3 2-day HPDEs a summer, and runs them everyday in-between.

 

Man those would suck worse than the ASX's do. Maybe he likes sliding around on them.

 

I dunno..he's pretty fast on the track, though, with them. In fact, he was signed off his last session on Sunday, and will probably get moved to B class next HPDE in October.

 

Wow he must be a good driver. You should turn him loose on your Azenis.

 

Nope...I made him work to get by me on Sunday, where before, he always just cruised by when I had the runflats. I love those Azenis....

 

I have a set of 215/50/16 Dunlop DZ101 with 3k miles for sale for $200. Half off new for nearly new tires.

 

It's possible but not easy nor recommended.

The lower the performance design of your tire the better a driver you need to be to keep up on the track.

High Performance tires can be used but don't expect that much from them under normal conditions.

Having a lack of front camber won't help much either- as you'd wear the outer edges of the front tires in a hurry unless you know when not to go too hard in the corners.

I once had a Maxima sedan with 3 year old worn Michelin MXV4 all season tires out on the track and my instructor used that setup (all stock) to beat and lap several modded MINIs. At the end of the day (HPDE) the tires were really worn out but it showed me that with enough driving skill you can use nearly any street car to beat modded cars on the track.