Avon Tech M550 A/S
Kumho Ecsta AST

I am pretty split between the two. Both prices are right, but the ratings on the Avons are rated better, but all reviews for it are crappy. The Kumhos get okay ratings and mainly good reviews.

Anyone have either of these tires? Lemme know how the tread wear, ride noise, and specifically how the handling is in dry, wet and snowy.

Thanks a lot!

 

Have you thought about Goodyear Eagle F1 All Seasons?

 

Yes. But I can't spend more than $100/tire, and those are $122/tire. My credit line is only $500.

 

I had the Avon's and the Ecsta ASX. Avon, hand's down, though the AST is obviously a diff tire

 

Different, as in, good? I assume so, by the way your tone sounds. How did it handle in snow, if you drove it at all in snow?

And isn't the ASX a summer tire?

 

I have ASXs and ASTs the ASXs are the ones you want to look at if you do anything beyond a strict A to B driving. Had Egale HPs, both aare much quieter, Kumhos seem to be holding their ownas far as tread wear, despite the constant squealing with the ASTs.

No Experiance with the Avons.

 

Can I get Bridgestone Pole Positions for the Mini? If so, what size?

 

ASX > AST if I remember right. I thought the Avons were better than the ASX, so, by default the Avon > AST.

 

Ah, okay. I'm also looking at the Continental ContiExtreme tires for there AWESOME ratings and FREAKIN AWESOME PRICE (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....=yes&place=12)!

They are 215/45/17's. Will those look right? I dunno what the first two numbers (215/45) mean. Haha. How much different will they look? Such as, will they look like tires you'd put on a sedan rather than a sports car?

 

I've run that size on about six sets now....they do fine.

 

Those will be slightly higher than stock, but 215/40's will be slightly lower, so either way your speedo will be off. The lower profile tires (215/40's) will give you a gearing advantage.

The 215 represents the width of the tire in MM, the 40 represents the aspect ratio (40% of 215, or 86 MM). The aspect ratio is the height of the sidewall (low profile or high profile tires). Basically it means the tire's sidewall will be a little bit shorter with 40 profile tires.

This is a great site for calculating tire sizes and what the changes will do to your car (even has a diagram for a visual aid )
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

The difference in sidewall height from stock tires (205/45/R17) to the tires you're talking about (215/45/R17) would be .2 inches. That means that your car will ride .2 inches higher off the ground. Not really that big of a difference. I personally don't like the look of the 45 profile tires, but to most it doesn't matter.

Hope this helps

 

Welp. I just ordered the Continental ContiExtremeContact tires, and they're being shipped to the shop that's installing my new rims.

WOOT!

It's mod heaven for me right now. Intake just got on. Rims and tires coming up. And smaller S/C pulley gettin in soon.