Tire Replacement
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have them on my 92 ZO7. They are OK but nothing spectacular. I can’t talk about launch since that doesn’t happen with me. Also not driven in the rain but they grip pretty well at speed in the corners. They do ride a little harsh but so does everything with the ZO7 option. Price point was good. Less than $600 mounted.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,450
Likes: 6,557
From: Melbourne, FL
One other thing I forgot to mention.... They are LOUD. I have then in 375s on my truck and they are crazy noisy at highway speeds... in a truck. I have Hankoonk v12s on my c6 gs and they're much quieter, despite being wider and closer.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
I had them, they were warrantied out by the place I bought them from. They would flat spot in 3 days so bad, that I had to drive 10 miles or more before getting on the x-way. The X-way is a mile from the house, to go most anywhere, we get on the x-way. Stupid to have to drive 10 miles before being able to drive 55 mph.
After talking to and getting a stupid answer from their CSR, I will NEVER own a Nitto tire again.
After talking to and getting a stupid answer from their CSR, I will NEVER own a Nitto tire again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,143
Likes: 2,013
From: St. Charles MO
Nitto is on the low end of the quality spectrum. Not that that doesn't have its place, but I think there may be better budget tires out there for even less. I'm pleased with my Riken Raptors, for example. OTOH, there are much better tires for not a lot more money - the Continental ExtremeContact Sport comes to mind. Much, much better performance and quality than the Nitto for just a little more money.
What size(s) do you need, and what is the intended use for them?
What size(s) do you need, and what is the intended use for them?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 43
Likes: 3
I live in San Antonio and this car is just a fun wknd driver for the most part. It gets very hot during the day during the summer so the car really doesn't come out until the evening if at all during the week. I'm driving it more now that the weather has cooled off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,143
Likes: 2,013
From: St. Charles MO
So no competition driving? How about spirited cornering on the street? What size tires? As long as you don't want 315s, I'd say choose between really cheap and decent Rikens or the low/mid-priced Continental. Either would work for you, since you won't be seeing any snow or much freezing temps. The more you want grip/performance, the more you should consider the Continental.
Last edited by MatthewMiller; Nov 19, 2019 at 09:12 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,450
Likes: 6,557
From: Melbourne, FL
I have cheap Chinese crap tires like Rikens (mine are actually federals), but I wanted cheaper tires with less grip for burnouts and stupidity. I'm not a believer in cheap tires for something you care about, unless you legitimately only drive it slowly like a grandma and never take corners quickly, accelerate hard, etc. If you should have bought a Buick and not a Corvette, then maybe.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,143
Likes: 2,013
From: St. Charles MO
PS - None of which is to diss your recommendation for the BFG Comp 2. I haven't ever driven on it, but they seem like quality tires with good performance. They are also a subsidiary of Michelin, btw.
Last edited by MatthewMiller; Nov 20, 2019 at 10:42 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,450
Likes: 6,557
From: Melbourne, FL
Point of order: Riken is a Japanese tire company now owned by Michelin. Some of them may still be made in Japan, but a little google-fu indicates they are mostly made in Serbia now. They aren't a Chinese no-name company like "Lionhart" and other crap you see at Discount Tire and such. There's a difference. I would say that the biggest thing with Rikens is that they are a generation or two behind in design and (maybe) compound. However, when I bought mine a year ago they had just updated the compound on the Raptors, which is why they changed from a summer performance designation to all-season ultra-high performance. So the carcass and tread pattern are now about 15 years old, I think, but the compound is pretty new. I am happy with mine for winter and long-distance street duty.
PS - None of which is to diss your recommendation for the BFG Comp 2. I haven't ever driven on it, but they seem like quality tires with good performance. They are also a subsidiary of Michelin, btw.
PS - None of which is to diss your recommendation for the BFG Comp 2. I haven't ever driven on it, but they seem like quality tires with good performance. They are also a subsidiary of Michelin, btw.
A lot of off brand tires use molds from discontinued major brands. They buy them and attempt to formulate a cheaper compound that's good enough.
Its more a risk question. Would I use cheap tires for my own personal shenanigans? Definitely. Would I use them on a car I cared about or anyone else would ever drive? Not a chance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,143
Likes: 2,013
From: St. Charles MO
Interesting side note, a lot of the really cheap crap is leaving China. Turns out after decades of having our manufacturing, the Chinese have decided they want a middle class and safety regulations and stuff. While they are still WAY behind on all that, it is becoming enough of an expense that companies are moving to other 3rd world hellholes. Vietnam, Serbia, countries in Africa, etc.
Clarification: I'm less concerned of where a tire is made and more concerned with where it's designed and where the manufacturing specs are set in stone. To that end, there's a big difference between a Japanese tire company that's now owned by Michelin vs the actual Chinese-owned tire companies.
Last edited by MatthewMiller; Nov 20, 2019 at 04:59 PM.