I am thinking of this tire after reading about them on the Tire Rack web site. I plan on 215-45-17 size with Centerline RPM wheels. Any feedback?

 

I've got these on the OEM 17" SLites. I am very pleased. The tires have an attractive tread pattern and are quite sticky. They do take a while to warm up and tend to be sort of slippery for the first 10 min or so each morning (I live in Massachusetts...so it's generally been in the 30s in the mornings since I've gotten the tires).

My MCS (also an EB/W) is totally stock suspension-wise. With your upgrades and anticipated wheels, one thing I'd be concerned about is rubbing. I've heard that these tires WILL rub on lowered cars....but Alex @ TireRack said that this is easily remedied by rolling the inside of the rear wheelwell lips. Just FYI.

 

I have those same tires on ASA AR1 wheels I purchased at the tire rack. I have zero rubbing on my MCS, however, be careful with your wheel offset, mine have a 40 offset and if you go below 40 you probably are at risk of rubbing. The tires are great and can't be beat for the price! Plus they look cool!

 

Sanddan,

I will be at the Portland Pulley Party if you want to hold off on getting the tires till afterward, then you can drive my MCS and see what you think. I have 17" Kazera KZ-S at 17 lbs per wheel and the GS-D3's and love the tires.

Let me know,

Jason in Medford

 

I have the F1"s on SLights and like them. Yes they look cool too.

Of note, I was surprised that at 33 lbs the sidewalls were quite soft. I added 1.5 lbs and got a slight improvement. The first time I flew into a very fast sweeper on the highway, I almost got caught out.

If you are going to flog your car around, you may ask Alex about a stiffer sidewall. My wife loves the ride of the F1's, very nice for cruising around and normal driving.

Also, a friend of mine said F1"s wear very quickly on the track.

 

I've got the F1s on 16" V-spokes, in the somewhat unusual size (for 16" on an MCS) of 205/55-16. I have the Alta 22mm sway bar on stiffest setting, otherwise my suspension is bone stock.

My only comparison on an MCS is to the previously used (and used up entirely) Dunlop SP5000 all season runflats in 195/55-16 size.

By comparison to those, the F1 ride is:

- much more comfortable (the SP5ks were too harsh for me on the super bad TX public roads), and yet not too soft for me

- much grippier in the dry. Off the track for street driving I'd rate the F1s a 9.5 out of 10, the SP5ks by comparison I'd rate at about 5 in the dry.

- unbelievably grippy in the wet. Here for street driving I'd rate the F10s a 10, and the SP5ks a 3 only.

- the turn in IS however slower with the F1s, I'd attribute that to the wider 205 vs 195 contact patch.

- the steering feels just a bit more sluggish as well, and I'd also attribute that to the wider contact patch.

Overall, I love the F1s and would get them again!

 

Currently I have Yokohama ES100's in 205-50-16 on stock wheels, (just about worn out). How would these compare to the Goodyears? I want to get the new tires and wheels on order this week. My driving is 90% freeway with the rest aggressive windy roads. Autox once or twice a year and I hope for a track day this summer. Thanks for the feedback.
Dan

 

ES100's tough to best for the price. How many miles do you have on your current ES100s?

 

>>I am thinking of this tire after reading about them on the Tire Rack web site. I plan on 215-45-17 size with Centerline RPM wheels. Any feedback?

Tirerack gives the GS-D3 good reviews. But the reviews for the Yokohama ES100s are also excellent in 17" size.
I'd say that the 215/45-17 size would be a bit better performance than your 16" ES100s and the price would be pretty hard to beat for the high level of performance, wet/dry traction, quietness, and good wear that it provides.

I currently have the ES100 in 215/45-17 with Centerline RPM 17x7 rims and for highway use they are quite good.
For autocross they are OK but probably not as good as Bridgestone S-03 or certainly not like Kumho V700 tires.

I am also looking at Goodyears, Bridgestones, Toyos and Falkens for my next set of tires. I think the ES100s are good for that 215/40-17 and 215/45-17 size. I'll get dedicated track wheels for the added performance so I can save my ES100 for the street.

I talked to Randy Webb about tires. He likes the ES100s and didn't have much experience with the GS-D3. S-03s are very good on performance but cost much more and are heavy.

 

I have 15K miles and the wear bars are showing on 2 of the tires and close to showing on the other two. This is with only 1 autox day last summer. That's my only gripe about the ES100's is the wear life. The quote for wheels and tires came to $1700. I think I will get a quote for the ES100's to compare. My guess is it will be about $100 less than the Goodyears. Thanks for all of the advise.
Dan

 

You have a slightly taller sidewall so your turn-in will not be as crisp as with 195/55-16's or 205/50-16's. What you give-up in performance you gain in comfort.

retroom



>>I've got the F1s on 16" V-spokes, in the somewhat unusual size (for 16" on an MCS) of 205/55-16. I have the Alta 22mm sway bar on stiffest setting, otherwise my suspension is bone stock.
>>
>>My only comparison on an MCS is to the previously used (and used up entirely) Dunlop SP5000 all season runflats in 195/55-16 size.
>>
>>By comparison to those, the F1 ride is:
>>
>>- much more comfortable (the SP5ks were too harsh for me on the super bad TX public roads), and yet not too soft for me
>>
>>- much grippier in the dry. Off the track for street driving I'd rate the F1s a 9.5 out of 10, the SP5ks by comparison I'd rate at about 5 in the dry.
>>
>>- unbelievably grippy in the wet. Here for street driving I'd rate the F10s a 10, and the SP5ks a 3 only.
>>
>>- the turn in IS however slower with the F1s, I'd attribute that to the wider 205 vs 195 contact patch.
>>
>>- the steering feels just a bit more sluggish as well, and I'd also attribute that to the wider contact patch.
>>
>>Overall, I love the F1s and would get them again!