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Posted by SSCamaro2001 (Member # 1610) on :
 
How about some feedback regarding tires. After 20K worth of hard cornering, my Eagles are all gone. Have looked at the new Eagle F1, G-Force KDW, and Yokohama AVS. I'm ready to buy but could use some input...


 

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Posted by DanPazich (Member # 1352) on :
 
i've heard nothing but good from the AVS sports...was really considering them, but might be too high sinc ei have to buy 4 new tires as well this spring. A lot of owners on here like the BFG KD's adn I'm personally looking at the KDW's since they're cheaper and have the best performance out of any tire rated around that price. If money was no object I'd probably get the KD's...Is this a daily driver and will you be driving it in the rain? Snow? I run winter tires on mine now (see sig.)That's just all my opinion. Gotta see what others say. I'm probably in the same boat, wanting to spend under $200 a piece.

BTW- i put about 12-14 k on my orignals before i need them replaced this spring! That includes replacing 2 last april because of an accident.

[ 07. January 2003, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: DanPazich ]
 

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Posted by SSCamaro2001 (Member # 1610) on :
 
Thanks for the input. This ride is garaged when it's wet outside. It seems to find the pavement when I have the need for speed... I have talked with two people that run the AVS. Both like the way the tire corners. Need to hear from the KD group.
 

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Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
 
I've heard a lot of good feedback about the KDWs. I am going with the KDs since I don't drive it in wet weather.

The AVS may be a good tire and I know it's a little anal but I don't like the way they look - just my .02.
 

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Posted by SSCamaro2001 (Member # 1610) on :
 
Now you've got me thinking. I saw the AVS on an 01' Cobra. They looked really good on a Ford! (hehe)
 

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Posted by mhayman (Member # 146) on :
 
I have had the KDW's for about 8000 miles and they are great all weather tires. They don't do quite as well in dry traction/cornering as the KD's from what I understand but since I do drive in the rain I need the extra water channeling of the KDW's.

I would definitely buy these again. And I like the way they look too. The new KDW's have a cool tread pattern.
 

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Posted by DanA_F99_1977 (Member # 118) on :
 
I have the KD's. They are great in the dry and the one time I got caught in the rain (on the way home from SLP NH 2001) I went easy and was fine. They are slick in the rain.
 

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Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
 
I had NITTO drag radials all round for Skyline
Drive. Very sticky tire indeed. But, low tread life and not rated for rain at all.

The 555s might do the trick. At the Discount Tire Web site, I like the Michelon Pilots! I'm leaning towards them for the spring on my SS.

[ 08. January 2003, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: Hawkeye ]
 

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Posted by Elie Garfinkel (Member # 1635) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by SSCamaro2001:
How about some feedback regarding tires. After 20K worth of hard cornering, my Eagles are all gone. Have looked at the new Eagle F1, G-Force KDW, and Yokohama AVS. I'm ready to buy but could use some input...

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Sorry to confuse the issue here for you, but it might not hurt to research the Firehawk SZ50 EP tires, depending on your priorities. I am currently on my 2nd set and I'm of the opinion that there isn't a better all-round tire out there for our cars that works as well on the road course as it does on the street. If you track your car, I would recommend this tire very highly
Dry traction is superb and it does not get slippery/squirmy on the track when hot. I find the tire reacts more quickly to steering inputs than my original F1s did. I will also concede (from experience)that the BFG KDs react even a bit more quickly than the Firehawks to these inputs. However, I have not heard good things about the KDs in the wet. This may or may not be a priority for you. The KDWs are better in the wet, but give up some dry traction in the trade-off. I rarely drive the car in the wet, but I can tell you in all honesty that the wet weather traction of the SZ50s is nothing short of phenomenal! Again, this applies to the track as well as on the street! Passengers in the car are simply amazed at the grip afforded by these tires in the wet. (I'm used to not having to change my driving style in the wet with these tires!)
I get reasonable mileage out of a set of them, given what I do with the car. (4-5 lapping days, 4-5 autocrosses and a few days at the dragstrip every season gives me about 16,000-18,000 miles on a set). They also retain their grippiness right down to the bitter end of their lives. On my first set, I was astounded to see the tread down to the wear indicators during a rotation. Given the way the tires were still gripping, I thought I had lots of tread left! Hope this helps!

Best regardSS,

Elie
 

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Posted by SSilver02 (Member # 967) on :
 
I've used the KDWs and Nitto 555s as well as the Firestones. The KDWs were on my '99 SS and I liked them. I live where it rains all the time and the KDWs definitely slid a lot less than the 555s do. Granted I only have the 555s in the back on my '02 (still running the originals in the front). I had the Firestones on my '69 and was very impressed with them. Like the previous poster said, they perform in the wet as well as the dry. I never felt uncomfortable or like I was on the edge of their performance. I'm a very aggressive driver and like to push the car to its limits. I was pretty amazed a few times when I thought I had gone into a corner a little too aggressively. My next set of rears will either be the KDWs or the Firestones.
 

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Posted by SSCamaro2001 (Member # 1610) on :
 
Thanks to all,

Spent a good part of the day hands on looking and pricing. Wear ratings are best for the Firehawk @ 340 to worst for the AVS @ 180. Will have to price the Firehawk tomorrow. This neck of the woods has the KD/KDW @ about $220 ea. on the car.

Here's some links for some of the tires.

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/assets/pdf/gforce_ta_kd.pdf
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/assets/pdf/gforce_ta_kdw.pdf
http://www.goodyeartires.com/catalog/products/EAGF1GS.html
http://yokohamatire.com/pdf/AVSsportBltn.pdf
http://www.bridgestonetire.com/dpp/index.asp

Thanks again


 

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Posted by NiravSS (Member # 778) on :
 
I would also like to echo a few of the above comments regarding the Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP's. I replaced the stock F1's with these and the difference was like night and day, including substantially increased wet and dry traction. I love the grip and feel that it is possible that the limits of the tire may be higher than the limits of the SS. I purchased my set from a local Firestone dealer, after they matched the price from Tirerack.com. I would suggest you try the same, as the dealership was charging $150/tire over what tirerack was charging. They may reduce the price just to get your business. In addition, I can get them rotated, replaced, or fixed at any firestone. Definitely a good deal.

Also, i'm sure you already have, but if you haven't, check out Tire Rack for good info, reviews, as well as the comments of other drivers. There, the firehawk's got the highest "would you buy again rating", 9.2 vs. the F1's 6.4 out of 10. Just something to look at for more info.

NiravSS
 

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Posted by RHT (Member # 902) on :
 
I've still got my F1's on at 20K miles. They are okay for going to work everyday, but I plan on goiong to Portland this year and hitting the track.

Seattle and Portland are wet!! So, I'll probably go w/ the KDW's.

Can we put 315's on the back w/ no problems and on stock SS ZR1 wheels? I love that look, but don't want to have ANY rubbing on the car.

Ryan
 

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Posted by OBSSD (Member # 1258) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by RHT:
I've still got my F1's on at 20K miles. They are okay for going to work everyday, but I plan on goiong to Portland this year and hitting the track.

Seattle and Portland are wet!! So, I'll probably go w/ the KDW's.

Can we put 315's on the back w/ no problems and on stock SS ZR1 wheels? I love that look, but don't want to have ANY rubbing on the car.

Ryan

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