I'm interested in purchasing new wheels and tires for my C4. Wheels are picked out but I'm looking for recommendations on tires. I've seen the Toyo T1R, the Goodyear F1 Asymetric, and the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2. Summer driving only with minimal to no rain. 18 inch, 45 series on the front with 40 series on the rear. I am not an aggressive driver. I'm looking for minimal noise, good comfort, and good mileage. Any experience or thoughts with the above mentioned tires or other recommendations would be appreciated.

 

I only buy BFG's for my cars.

 

Hey Mike, just curious. What is it that you like so much about BFG tires. Are they a good price point, handling, tire noise, good mileage wear? I am in the same position as the OP.

 

'89 6 speed with exhaust, ignition and few other tiny things. I've only bought one new set for my vette and they were BFG G-Force. Every dealing with Goodyear has been terrible in multiple stores, these guys sell the top so they act like they are doing you a favor so I'm looking to get away from BFG.

As for the tires themselves when they were brand new they stuck from a dead stop on good asphalt for about the first 3K miles, it was heaven. After 3K it was good traction, but I still would spin off the start and not hook until Mid first or second gear. Then after about 15K I could still chirp and sometimes loose traction in 2nd unless on a perfectly straight line. turning was much more consistent then firestone pilot (I think that was the name, don't have the car anymore) Even brand new they never stuck the same as the BF's.

I'm interested to see if someone has a more consistent tire throughout the wear. I'd like to at least keep some traction in first and total traction in second. I drive aggressively some of the time but not nearly enough to expect a tire to perform well after 15K.

I don't care about road noise, ride comfort. Just that they stick when I need them to and at least last 25K before they start to lack in performance.

As for the BF's comfort and noise, I couldn't hear them over the exhaust and vettes are never comfortable so never thought about it but I'd say 5 of 10.

 

I have been putting BFG's on all my hot rods since the 1970's. I like the look and they wear well for me.

Last year when I bought my camaro SS, they had some brand on it. The car would trammel horribily on bad roads. I new this when I bought the car. My first stop was America's tires. Had the BFG's put on. No more trammeling. Always had good luck with them.

FWIW...I only buy Avon tyre's for my bikes. They are made in England. I NEVER chince out when it comes to tires. My life is depending on them.

Mike

 

I'm a fan of the Hankook Ventus V12s. Not sure if they come in the sizes you're looking for, but they had a great rating. I run these on my wife's C6 and my C4; there is no way to beat the price, bang for the buck.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...mparison_tests

 

I installed BFG g-force Super Sport a/s on my '92 a few thousand miles ago and I am very pleased, they are quieter and ride better than the Eagle GS-C's that I replaced. Of course, the Goodyears are now an 18 year old design.

 

I got Cooper Zeon. So far no problems.

 

I really like the Goodyear GSD3s on the front and back. They seem to be almost an inch wider (at the tread) than many other brands in the same sizes. Not sure of their availability in 18" however. I run 275x40x17 on all 4 corners as my summer tires.

 

I'm trying riken raptors on my 90. 275/40/17 however have not driven it so can't say what they are like.

 

If you're running 18" wheels, you need 40 series up front (I'm assuming an 8.5" wheel) and 35 in the rear (9.5" wheel) if you want to maintain stock diameter.

 

Aren't they made in Indonesia?? Pass....

 

I had a set of these on mine when I bought it, can't complain. Even did an autocross a few weeks ago and they were very consistent. No issues so far. I've put about 25 K on them and they still have a lot of life left in them.

 

For the type of driving you do, I would go with Firestone Firehawk Wide Ovals. Wear well, handle well, and great cost.

 

I would have to agree with Corvettemike on the BFG's Sport. I had them on my car and they were good. However, I just upgraded to new rims and I went with some Firehawk Indy 500 17'' and I really like them as well and they are very quiet to. The reason I went with the Firehawk was only because I like how the threads looked as well as the reviews on Tirerack were slightly better.

Further, out of the tires you mentioned I would have to say that the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 would be the best, but very very costly, especially in 18". So the difference is do you want to spend approx. $300 for each tire or $150 each.

 

Doing a lot of research because I am in the same situation. I wish I could go with Hacocks v 12s but they don't have the all the sizes I need. Best tire for the money now seems to be Continentals either the DW orDWS s. They lean more to the ride and comfort side and less to the super agressive driver side.

 

Michelin PS2 for me

 

I put Sumitomo HRTII on the back of the 86. Not as wide as I'd like, but they are quiet and predictable.
You can predict when they are gonna break loose. (every time you nail it) I got a pair for $175
285/35/18 (same diameter as the 275/40/18)

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They might not be the cheapest (by far) but I have yet to meet somebody who has had them on a car that didn't absolutely love them.

They are way stickier than the Toyo T1-R, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A, and anything I have ever had from Goodyear while still managing to last a decent amount of time. They also stay very quiet and are the best of the bunch in the rain.

I have never had them on a C4, but I have had all of the above on my C5Z and have a hard time believing that I would ever go back to anything else.

I have had a few different BFG tires on my cars over the years and have no complaints about them. They aren't quite as good as the Michelins, but at the same time they aren't as $$$ either.