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Question says it all, looking to replace the tires on the SS and wanted to know what everybody else is running? I have compared several different brands and types and need to get off the bubble on some of them. Thanks for your help.
-------------------- 99SS Black t-tops M6, Hurst shifter,Lous Short Stick, leather,SLP Loud Mouth Dual Dual, SLP Chrome rims,Mats,fobs, car cover,SLP Banner, CAGS & STB,Zaino,5.7LS1 decal, SLP Y pipe.SLP ATM,Harlan Shift Light. Number 16 Fuel Rail covers. Chrome hood scoop grille.SLP Airbox Lid.SLP SS front grille.Red Camaro lettering in rear, Camaro lettering on front brakes (painted red) Custom painted stripes with Kamelon paint.http://communities.msn.com/99CamaroSS3312/shoebox.msnw?Page=1 Posts: 1201 | From: Medina,Ohio | Registered: Feb 2000
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I HIGHLY Recommend The Firestone Firehawks SZ50 EP's. I got them in march, and have since put a lot of miles on them with hardly no wear. The things grip greap and turly beleive they are one of THE best tires in the rain. I have never slipped going around a corner with them on, dry or wet. I know others like these tires as well. Just my 2 cents (3 cents CDN)
Good Luck!
Posts: 2651 | From: Enola (Harrisburg Area), Pennsylvania | Registered: Jan 2002
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Incrementally better than the original F1's, but pricey.
Depends a lot on what you are looking for. They look good, handle well on the street, do a great job of protecting the rim (and driving the alignment people crazy trying to put the alignment tool on).
They don't perform anything like an R-compound (I'm currently running Kumho Victoracer's) in autocross, or like a drag radial (I've run on the 16" BFG DR) on the drag strip.
My next tires (which are currently being rented by Tim) are BFG KDW's. Wont' know how they perform until after our holiday in November.
Posts: 4222 | From: Winnipeg MB CA | Registered: Feb 2000
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Another vote for the BFG G-Force KDW's.....an all around great tire, don't get much rain in So-Cal (of course it'll rain now) but i'd recomend them for everyday street use. Found mine at America/Discount tire for about $115 ea. I won't go to another tire store, these guys use jack pads & hand torqued every lug nut. Great people to deal with. Just my thoughts.
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Comp T/A's on my chrome rims for the street. BFG KD's for the road courses when I was using the SS for that.
Posts: 5946 | From: Litchfield, NH, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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My vote for the Firehawk's....they are a great tire, much better than the F1. Basically Dan summed it up, but if you want a deal, have a firestone dealer match the price on tirerack (which I did), and then you get lifetime rotation, etc, and if you want, the road-hazard warranty.
N.
Posts: 156 | From: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: Oct 2000
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Another vote for the G-Force KD's...I put on my second set at 44,000 miles after swapping out the Goodyear Eagles at 7,000. That's pretty good for a VERY sticky tire. Remember the line from Pretty Woman..."Man this thing corners like it's on rails!" Well, that's about it! But better you shouldn't use them in the wet! Also pricy...a set for around $1200 installed and micro-balanced.
-------------------- 2000 SS #31, SSOA M00-0031, Cal. plate 00 SS, Ebony black T-Top coupe/onyx black leather, DG Motorsports carbon fiber grill insert with SS logo, power seat, Monsoon CD, M6, !CAGS, Lou's Short Stick, Mobil 1 with engine plaque and filler cap, Whisper Lid, K&N filter, ASR, Bilsteins, BMR shock tower brace, Auburn high torque diff, SLP cat-back dual duals, SLP Y-pipe, chrome ZR-1 5-spoke wheels with SS inserts, GT Cross-Drilled Rotors, B.F. Goodrich G-Force KD's, RS Front Skirts, chromed hood insert, SS mats, cover, dash plaque, key fobs, SSOA car blanket, SLP silver logo plaque opposite SS logo on rear fascia, custom pinstriping on hood scoop, "Camaro" and #31 on rear fascia ...plus Zaino clean! Posts: 350 | From: Chula Vista (San Diego), CA USA | Registered: Dec 2000
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Yet another vote for the KD's. I generally don't drive it in the rain though.
Posts: 1632 | From: Rindge NH, formerly Boylston MA | Registered: Feb 2000
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I have the BFG G Gorce KD's. The only rain I'm in is if I'm caught on the way to or from a show. Still legal freeway speeds are fine.
They are sticky, look good, however they will follow imperfections in the road surface and wander a bit.
I'm satisfied. There is always a trade off. No such thing as a perfect tire!
Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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Hawkeye has got it right. There are trade-offs and it depends on what you want.
I love the BFG KDs for solo, lapping and appearance. Great tires. But the trade-off is fast wear and "interesting" wet weather capabilities. If there is standing water you will aquaplane.
Just a notch below the KDs for dry traction is the Firehawk SZ50 EPs. IMHO, the best bang for the buck. Grip is just a notch less than KD, but they will wear better and are amazing in the wet. You can drive them in the wet, like you drive most other tires in the dry. BTW, EP stands for extended performance. The rubber composition varies throughout the depth of the trend depth so they grip as well when almost worn out as they did when new.
I have not heard much about BFG KDWs. I beleive they are not quite as grippy as the KDs in the dry, but they are much better in the wet.
I presently have Yokohama A520s on the Firebird, as I could not get SZ50s when I needed tires (the SZ50s on the car were worn down PAST the wear bars and SZ50s were on backorder everywhere). I would NOT recommend these tires. They are slippery in the dry and even worse in the rain. They also look to be wearing rather quickly. I believe they have been replaced by the AVS ES100. One of our club members just put these on his Camaro and is not al all happy with them either. He had KDs before.
Another tire to look at is the new Goodyear F1 GS-D3. I have been hearing rumblings that these tires are pretty good.
My pick is the SZ50 EPs as the all round best street tire. In fact, that is what recently went on the front of the wife's Vette (She had a tire come apart on the highway...the carcass was shredded and smoking (lierally) when she finally got it stopped). If I didn't drive in the rain, then the BFG KDs would be my pick.
Bill M 98 TA
Posts: 383 | From: Oakville, Ontario Canada | Registered: Jan 2003
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BFG- KDW's so much better then Goodyear.. great all around tire.
If you are just using the car for dry driving go with the BFG KD's a bit more money but an overall good dry pavement tire.
Posts: 160 | From: Toms River, NJ | Registered: Mar 2003
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I have Michlien Sports on my 99 Z , they are mud & snow . There great in the wet and not bad in snow . I try not to drive in snow but sometimes I have to . Michliens are priciey but well worth it . I have Dunlop s5000 on my SS a very good tire in the rain and much cheaper than the others. The trade off is the Dunlops are not as good in the snow but good everyway else . I heard alot of good feed back witrh the Firestones but have never seen or rode in a car with them . Hope this helps
-------------------- ChuckSSter * 72 Z/28 Matching #s All Orig * 85 Z/28 All Orig * 99 Z28 Pewter T-Tops * 00 SS Black T-Tops SLP # 5873 Posts: 398 | From: Middletown NY | Registered: Jan 2003
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I have the BFG KDW. They are much better than the Goodyears but I would definitely look at the Firehawks next time around. The KDW's have GREAT wet traction and decent dry traction but I thought they would be a little stickier. The Michelin Pilot Sports are great tires but pretty expensive!
-------------------- Mark H.
Whoever said you couldn't run away from your problems obviously wasn't driving an SS. Posts: 942 | From: Santa Barbara and Ventura, CA | Registered: Feb 2000
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Thank you all for the information. You all are great. I have narrowed my choices down quite a bit. Thanks again. Posts: 1201 | From: Medina,Ohio | Registered: Feb 2000
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