Since I saw such a detailed thread for 15 inch summer tires I thought I'd ask about 16 inch tires. I asked Alex this morning about tires and he agreed with me about tire size (205/50/16) but I was very confused with his advice about which tire to go for. Weight is an issue! I just bought some Rota slipstreams in a 16/7.0 and don't want to spoil the weight savings with a really heavy tire. He pointed me towards the SO3s on closeout sale of $90.00 but at 24lbs that kind of takes away from getting the Rota's. I want a tire that I can use for the canyons and a "few" autocross events a year so a R rated tire is out. Anyone with some feed back on what they use and why they like it ?

 

Great price on those, I have been shoping as well. Ive heard nothing but good things about the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's and Toyo Proxes-4. No Toyo at tirerack though :-(

 

I have the S-03's in that size for my summer tires, and I love them.
Great, great tires...they are a little on the heavy side for that size, and will
not be available after the closeout sales end, so I'll have to look elsewhere later,
when I'm ready for new summer tires.
I'm leaning toward the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx (21#) the next time around.
The Goodyear F1's (22#) would be a very close second choice.
I like the tread pattern of the Dunlops a little better, and I've heard
that the F1's are a little soft in the sidewalls, which would be the
other side of the spectrum from the S-03's.
There's nothing else in that size that comes close to those three for a
great dry and wet capable street summer tire.
If there is, please tell me before I need new tires in a year or so.

 

I'm doing the same thing as pauliekeys
S03 - $90
F1 - $114
Ecsta - $70
SO3 has a pretty low tread UTQG, and survey result on tire rack.
F1 surveys a bit better than the Ecsta, but 63% better? Hmmm...

 

This is great you guy's ! The more input the better. I'm curious to know about a few others as well. I would love to hear from some people that own these tires as well. The Nitto NT NeoGen VR and the Kumho Ecsta SPT. They both get Great reviews from people on the Discount tire site. Thanks everyone .

 

I am looking at Yokohama AVS ES100s in 205/50/16. I've had them on a different car and I liked them so I am about to order them for my MCS. When I looked today, they were priced at 77.00 at TireRack. Those are Z rated. I guess if they had a lower speed rating than Z (but still acceptable) they might be cheaper?

 

I polished off a set of Avon M500 in that size last year. They were used for street driving (90 mile round trip commute) and the occasional autocross (when it was too cold or too wet to use R compounds).

I was impressed with the tires. Before switching to a class that allowed R compounds I went through 6 sets of R215 Azenis on the same car. The Avons were a notch back in dry grip, but surprisingly close. They worked well in the rain, and were nice and quite (unlike the Azenis!). I had not intended to autocross them, but they did well for street tires and had good break-away characteristics.

I've also used S-03s but not on this car. I suspect the grip of the Avons is very similar to the Bridgestones. On that prior car, when I switched from 225/50-16 SO-3s to 215/45-16 R215 Azenis on the same 7.5" wheels the Falkens had slightly better lateral grip, despite being narrower.

Scott
90SM

 

This thread has my 1st choice!

 

And they are your first choice because... (details, man! We need details! )

 

I like those tires performance wise but I had them on the Wife's car and didn't like how they followed the Cali grooves in the freeway and the rears wore out in about 8,000 miles. Would have rotated but on here car (BMW 330i sport)the tires were staggered and could not change from front to back. They are very heavy (24lbs) in the 205/50/16 and with my new wheels (rota slipstreams) that are just under 14lbs, I didn't want to add weight with the SO3s. There are just to many comparable tires that weight much less. Great tire though, just not for my car and the weight I want to come in at.

 

I was looking at the Yokohama AVS ES100s in 205/50/16 and compared them with the parada spec-2's. The parada's 205/45/16 were very comparable, but just a little cheaper b/c they are V rated, $64.00, and had a a better tread UTQG rating. First of all, is it possible to put an aspect ratio of 45 with a width of 205 on my MCS and how long did your AVS 100's last?

 

If tire weight is an issue, it's hard to beat the lightweight tire offerings from Toyo (T1R) and Continental (SportContact2), they are consistently lighter than the Michelins, Bridgestones, Goodyears, etc.
I've always admired S03's and F1's but at crunch time prefer a lighter tire for the nimble MINI.

 

kliebss, unfortunately I don't remember how long the AVS ES100 lasted on my last car. Sorry.

 

Possible to run 205/45, sure - its very short
205/50's are better - still shorter than stock

Es100 = 20K average well rotated

Alex

 

Look at the Falken Azenis RT 615 or Nitto 555 for summer tires. My husband uses these and is very happy.

I just bought Nitto Neogen (215/40/17) - I'll be happy to tell you about them next week.

 

I have the goodyear f1's in 205/50/16 - best performance tire I've ever had. Quiet, sticky, excellent in the rain, and they're lasting. I will buy them again unless there's some crazy special on a different tire.

mb

 

I ended up getting the same tire. Nitto Neogen (205/50/16). These tires got great reviews as being a very sticky tire that also work well in the rain. I guess we will find out soon enough. I'm still waiting for my wheels to show up. Tires came in last week and are waiting at Discount tire.

 

I just blew out one of my run flats, (10K mi) and have a track day 3/10, so new tires it is.

I'm asking Alex about the S03s v. the GY F1s, both in 205-5-16 for my stock R84/Xlite/Vspokes.

I'll post his/my ;-) decision.

 

Both tires are nice. Alex gave me his thoughts a couple weeks ago and he seems to really go for the S03,s regardless of there weight. In his words "the performance out weigh'd the weight". I had a set on the Wifes BMW (330i) and didn't care for them. I've heard nothing but good things about the FIs but they were a tad over my budget that I was trying to stay under. If I was getting street legal track "only" tires I would go with the falken Azenis Rt615 or the Hankook Ventus Rs2 Z212 although Falken doesn't make a 205/50/16. You can get a 215/45/16. I've driven on a set of the Falken's and those things are truly sticky.

 

Alex just hooked me up with the S03s.

I have the stock V-spokes on now, so I'm already looking at a lot of weight in the corners, need tires NOW, and these may turn into winter wheel/tires and I'll get something track specific if I get serious about that. (Next Sat will be my 1st track day.)

I'll post one more time, after the track day to give initial impressions of these tires for daily commute/highway/track. Just one man's opinion, of course...

 

Very cool ! They are hard to beat at that price.

 

Agreed!

$156 new market for $90 now!

 

If prices were not an issue, what would be optimum for MCS in the summer months? I am talk about 16" tire. As the stocker 17" web looks great on my MCS but I want something stickier.

Otherwise, S-03 is great for the money..

 

I am thinking of the Azenis RT 615 for autox and everyday. How have they been in the rain? I am running 215 40 17 on a 7.5 rim. I think the 45 profile might be a bit tall.

 

I've been waiting to hear what you think of the Nitto Neogen's. I'm STILL waiting for my wheels to come in. Anyone else have them ? thoughts ?