tires
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 396
From: Northwest Ohio
Lots to unpack here. What are you looking for?
Street only?
Track only?
Both?
All season?
I have a set of riken raptors on my sawblades in that size and they have been great as a street tire (and very cheap). They are Michelin off brand
A lot of info in the forum if you give it a search.
Street only?
Track only?
Both?
All season?
I have a set of riken raptors on my sawblades in that size and they have been great as a street tire (and very cheap). They are Michelin off brand
A lot of info in the forum if you give it a search.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 339
From: Simi Valley CA
I got the Mickey Thompson Street ETs. I only drive in good weather, which is most of the time in So Cal. They grip great in dry weather. I don't track my convertible or even drive it that hard. I really like the way they look. Having Mickey Thompson on my sidewall is just cool in my opinion. I got a full set of them for under $700 in 275/40/17. I think they've gone up now.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
As pedrid asked, how do you plan to use the tires? Street driving only? Some form of competition? Do you drive in snow and ice? Do you drive in temps below 20F? The fact that our OP has gone 36 hours without answering pedrid tells me he either wasn't serious or already has a solution.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: auburn ma
As pedrid asked, how do you plan to use the tires? Street driving only? Some form of competition? Do you drive in snow and ice? Do you drive in temps below 20F? The fact that our OP has gone 36 hours without answering pedrid tells me he either wasn't serious or already has a solution.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
- Continental ExtremeContact Sport is the best true street tire in this size. It's very fast on dry roads, and it's one of the two best rain tires there is. It's very good down to freezing, and safe to drive down to 20F. It's very high quality, and doesn't ride to badly either. It's not super cheap, but it's not super expensive: $948/set.
- The Riken Raptor is a killer budget tire. It has pretty decent dry grip, not so good wet and snow great, but it is labeled as an all-season. It's good quality (they started as a Japanese company that also made wheels are now a subsidiary of Michelin). They ride well. They don't have a quick response to steering inputs: they're a bit lazy in that respect. It's super inexpensive: $488/set.
- There are a few good tires in between these two price points. The Khumo Ecsta PA31 is probably pretty good at $668 and the General G-Max RS is on sale at Tire Rack right now for a net $640 and is pretty good.
Stay away from anything Toyo or Nitto: they are bad quality and poor performers at too high a price. I think the Mickey Thompson Street is still a decent summer tire, but right now it's not much cheaper than the Continental, and the Conti is a better dry weather performer and a vastly better wet weather performer.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 396
From: Northwest Ohio
That’s a great size price point on those contis! A set of 295/35r18 are like 600 more!
Again cannot concur more with Mathew, I literally have a set of both (rikens on my sawblades and a set of contis ready to go on 10.5 18s).
Again cannot concur more with Mathew, I literally have a set of both (rikens on my sawblades and a set of contis ready to go on 10.5 18s).
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 906
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Just bought a set of 4 continentals. Ebay is offering $200 off from this seller:https://www.ebay.com/itm/304805421185 I used this promo code:TIRESAVINGS23
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
Cooper vs Toyo
I have been reading reviews for weeks now. Since I have to put a set on wife's car also the budget is tight now. I have arrived at Toyo Extensa HP II vs Cooper Zeon RS3-G1. Anybody have anything good or bad to say about either of these?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
If those are the only two two choices, then the Cooper is a way better tire than any Toyo. Toyos just tend to be poor quality (as is their sister brand, Nitto). They don't stay round or balanced and they are not high-performing tires. If money is tight, the Riken is easily the best value tire out there. The Riken Raptor will perform way better than those Toyos and it will have much better quality, and it is cheaper as well. The Cooper probably performs better, but at a higher price point.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Lots to unpack here. What are you looking for?
Street only?
Track only?
Both?
All season?
I have a set of riken raptors on my sawblades in that size and they have been great as a street tire (and very cheap). They are Michelin off brand
A lot of info in the forum if you give it a search.
Street only?
Track only?
Both?
All season?
I have a set of riken raptors on my sawblades in that size and they have been great as a street tire (and very cheap). They are Michelin off brand
A lot of info in the forum if you give it a search.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
The Coopers are all-season, and we really first need to know if you need that winter capability. However, if the primary concern in this decision is budget, then the Rikens are hands-down the best option for you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
My question was poorly worded, sorry. This vehicle is a weekend curser far enough south that winter does not matter but my question was meant to ask what other manufacturers were thought well of by others to include in my search. I have personal experience Cooper and Toyo enough to include them. I did look at the Riken Raptors but found postings about sidewall blowouts that made me nervous enough to drop them from my list.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,249
Likes: 545
From: Land of the free, home of the brave...
Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02
Just put on a set of the Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02. Note that I'm highlighting the 02. They are Continental's latest version of the Extreme Contact Sport (not all weather). They are somewhat pricey, but compared to the Nitto 555s that were on my '95 C4 and there is no comparison. In several situations with the Nitto I experienced significant "oversteer" (rear end swinging out) when entering a sharp curve at high speed or during an emergency situation especially when braking regardless of tire pressure settings. The Conti's are great. After putting a hundred miles or so on the Continentals and trying to reproduce the same conditions, it was almost night and day. I'm of the opinion that there are two critical safety components that will save your azz when all else fails are tires and brakes. A few dollars saved on them when there are much better ones out there will cost you a whole lot more and its not just in dollars......
Last edited by Crossed Flags Fan; Mar 13, 2023 at 02:55 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,193
Likes: 195
From: New Caney Texas
I got the Mickey Thompson Street ETs. I only drive in good weather, which is most of the time in So Cal. They grip great in dry weather. I don't track my convertible or even drive it that hard. I really like the way they look. Having Mickey Thompson on my sidewall is just cool in my opinion. I got a full set of them for under $700 in 275/40/17. I think they've gone up now.
They are polyester belted and go out of round when parked for more than 2-3 days which causes them to shake violently until they heat up which makes for a very unpleasant ride when you are doing a quick errand run.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 906
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Like I mentioned earlier in the post I just put them on my 94 and they are great tires. Ebay is running a special $200 off selected sellers with this promo: Coupon code TIRESAVINGS23 Orders over $500!.Seller is https://www.ebay.com/str/shopcwo I got my set of 4 for $890 with free shipping