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Last weekend, I finished off the tread on my 2 yr-old SZ50 EPs at the first lapping day of the season. Right down to the treadwear indicators, but, man, were these things gripping something fierce - even in the relatively cold weather! The deal that I thought I'd made for a set of Kumho MXs fell thru, as there are NONE in Canada, and Kumho will not commit to a date for them to arrive in Vancouver from Korea. One of our local shops was running a promotion on these new Goodyears and had 2 sets left. They seem to be rated quite highly on the Tire Rack site (and I definitely couldn't afford to wait any longer for new tires)- so on they went. First impression is that they grip as wel as the SZ50 EPs. However, they do not seem to have the "lightning-quick" reflexes to steering wheel inputs that the SZ50 EP had. It's almost like the car responds in "slow motion". This will take some getting used to for me. I'm hoping they'll lose some of that looseness as they break in and the tread gets worn down a bit. I haven't driven them in the rain yet (I was tempted today - but the car is clean! ), but wet traction looks to be one of the tire's strong suits. They seem to ride a little softer and quieter than the SZ50 EP as well. The acid test will be how they behave on the track and hopefully I'll be able to do that in about 3-4 weeks again. But I'm hangin' on to those old SZ50 EPs for the track, in case I can get my hands on a set of inexpensive 17" wheels!
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I just put a set on my car about a month ago. So far, I'm very pleased. I had the stock F1s on my '02 SS before these tires. There's no comparison. The difference in the rain is night and day and they don't "bump steer" like a lot of other tires in the dry. Anyone who hasn't checked the reviews on the Tire Rack should check them out.
[ 17. April 2004, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: 35th SS Drop Top ]
Posts: 44 | From: The Lone Star State | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
We replaced our stock Goodyears with these just before B. Green last year so the break in was on the hiway down there. So far we are very please with them.
posted
I was looking at them the other day. I still have life in my KD's but always thinking ahead!
Why not just get the Firestones again?
-------------------- Hawkeye: SSOA F98-C98
1998 SS - Black All Options - Mods Whisper Lid, K & N, Lou's Short Stick, Shift Light, Skip Shift, SLP Y, Borla, 4:10's, BMR STB, SLP SFCs, Granatelli MAF, Hypertech III, 160 Stat, Mallory Billet Pedals, Metco Aluminum LCAs,Fast Toys Ram Air Mod, Spohn Panhard Bar, BMR Torque Arm, free EGR mod,power antenna, BMR LCA brackets, Gentex Temp/Compass Auto Dim Mirror, AllMaxx Strobe and Wig Wag, BAER Eradispeed rotors,PPC Headers with Random Technology Hi Flow Cats, BMR Drive shaft Loop,FAST 78MM Throttle Body, FAST 78MM Composite Intake, Mobil 1 & lots of Zaino.
Wife & Best Friend Mary - copilot. Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Hawkeye: I was looking at them the other day. I still have life in my KD's but always thinking ahead!
Why not just get the Firestones again?
Believe me, if they were going to be available, I wouldn't think twice about putting on my 3rd set of them! The SZ50 EP is only available now as a run-flat tire in 'Vette sizes. My Firestone dealer had an opportunity to grab the last set in the warehouse, but then I started thinking... so what hpaaens if one of the tires gets wrecked? (this happened on my last set when I put my front wheel off the track for a split second and it came back on - the sidewall on the tire got cut to ribbons! At least I was able to replace it with the same tire!)
posted
Thanks for the post....my EP's are done too...I need new tires. Haven't check out the reviews on Tire Rack yet, but how do these compare to the KDW's?
NiravSS
-------------------- NiravSS Posts: 156 | From: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I went to the local Firestone dealer about one month ago. No shortage of SZ 50 EP's. They have not been discontinued, they are selling well. An urban legend that they are no longer available. Do a search of a little while back and there was lots of discussion. EP's are still being made for our size and will be for the forseeable future.
-------------------- Hawkeye: SSOA F98-C98
1998 SS - Black All Options - Mods Whisper Lid, K & N, Lou's Short Stick, Shift Light, Skip Shift, SLP Y, Borla, 4:10's, BMR STB, SLP SFCs, Granatelli MAF, Hypertech III, 160 Stat, Mallory Billet Pedals, Metco Aluminum LCAs,Fast Toys Ram Air Mod, Spohn Panhard Bar, BMR Torque Arm, free EGR mod,power antenna, BMR LCA brackets, Gentex Temp/Compass Auto Dim Mirror, AllMaxx Strobe and Wig Wag, BAER Eradispeed rotors,PPC Headers with Random Technology Hi Flow Cats, BMR Drive shaft Loop,FAST 78MM Throttle Body, FAST 78MM Composite Intake, Mobil 1 & lots of Zaino.
Wife & Best Friend Mary - copilot. Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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1998 SS - Black All Options - Mods Whisper Lid, K & N, Lou's Short Stick, Shift Light, Skip Shift, SLP Y, Borla, 4:10's, BMR STB, SLP SFCs, Granatelli MAF, Hypertech III, 160 Stat, Mallory Billet Pedals, Metco Aluminum LCAs,Fast Toys Ram Air Mod, Spohn Panhard Bar, BMR Torque Arm, free EGR mod,power antenna, BMR LCA brackets, Gentex Temp/Compass Auto Dim Mirror, AllMaxx Strobe and Wig Wag, BAER Eradispeed rotors,PPC Headers with Random Technology Hi Flow Cats, BMR Drive shaft Loop,FAST 78MM Throttle Body, FAST 78MM Composite Intake, Mobil 1 & lots of Zaino.
Wife & Best Friend Mary - copilot. Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Hawkeye: I went to the local Firestone dealer about one month ago. No shortage of SZ 50 EP's. They have not been discontinued, they are selling well. An urban legend that they are no longer available. Do a search of a little while back and there was lots of discussion. EP's are still being made for our size and will be for the forseeable future.
I doubt it. They don't seem to be around. For the past few months they were listed as "on backorder" on the Tire Rack web site. Now they are gone completely from the site. I believe that tire is discontinued. They also aren't listed on the Firestone / Bridgestone web site as far as I can find. There are probably some sets still around at some tire dealerships, but other than that, I believe that tire is discontinued.
[ 18. April 2004, 02:54 PM: Message edited by: 35th SS Drop Top ]
Posts: 44 | From: The Lone Star State | Registered: Dec 2002
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quote:Originally posted by 35th SS Drop Top: I doubt it. They don't seem to be around. For the past few months they were listed as "on backorder" on the Tire Rack web site. Now they are gone completely from the site. I believe that tire is discontinued. They also aren't listed on the Firestone / Bridgestone web site as far as I can find. There are probably some sets still around at some tire dealerships, but other than that, I believe that tire is discontinued.
I believe this is the case - at least at the places I've spoken to... I remember the thread well... there are still some of the tires around, but they cannot be ordered from what I've been told. This is what my Firestone dealer passed on to me. I guess time will tell...
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), but wet traction looks to be one of the tire's strong suits. They seem to ride a little softer and quieter than the SZ50 EP as well. The acid test will be how they behave on the track and hopefully I'll be able to do that in about 3-4 weeks again.
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