Ok, after some exhaustive research I've narrowed down my tire selection to three tires. I am specifically looking for wet and snow performance of these tires, though I will love treadwear and noise inputs from those of you fortunate enough to live in sunnier climes.

I hope to get them from sears with a pricematch to tirerack.com (as sears seems to have huge markup on their tires over tirerack). Your input is quite valuable to my purchase decision. Please be as detailed as possable if you are willing to respond.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Selection #1
Kumho
ECSTA Supra 712
Size:215/55-16
Availability:
In Stock $73

Selection #2
Dunlop
SP Sport A2
Size:215/55-16
Availability:
In Stock $89

Selection #3
Yokohama
Avid V4
Size:215/55-16
Availability:
In Stock $86

Unless they made a big change to the Kumho's, aren't the 712's summer-only tires? Check here - Tirerack's site. No snow traction, as I thought. You'd really need another $550 for a set of snows on steelie rims.

I have the Dunlops and are quite happy. I went plus-one with a 225/50/16 but probably wouldn't do it again, the sidewall gets a little sloppy.

Ciao,
TOM

DO NOT, i repeat, DO NOT get the Kumho supra ecsta's UNLESS they are gonna be your summer only tire... my friend has them on his 99 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS and we live in new england..there was 1/4 of an inch of snow on the road, and every time he tries to go around a corner, he ends up doing donuts unless he is doing like 2mph...they are $hitty in the winter... his car is awd which prolly hurts him a little, and his car is heavily modded, (keeps pace with, might even beat my maxima) but they can't be too much better on a 2wd car.

Just don't use the kumhos in the winter or you can kiss your car goodbye. Because you will crash.

Thanks for the input. I've read a couple of thread on the .org that said the kumho's had good winter traction...then there were quite a few threads about ****ty traction as well, so soliciting input was the best way to make the determination. I think i'll be going with the Dunlops. Thanks for the help. I wont be buying them until monday, so if anyone else would like to chime in, please do.

I will put in a good word for the Yokohamas ive got avids on my 17s im not positive if they are v4s or t4s its too late to run out and check right now. anyway i live in fargo and there is snow and ice here for 5 or 6 months a year. well when i got the tires in june i figured i would put the stock steelies and tires on when winter came but i started the winter with the yokohamas and damn they have been the best tires on snow and ice that ive ever had. to me they are a quiet tire with good grip and wear. i tried to vote but it said the request couldnt be processed.

I really like my Sport A2's, only down side is that with agressive driving they wear fast!!! Supposed to be 50k rated, but I will be looking to get 25k!

I ran the Yoko Avid V4s for a little over a year. I found the compound to be super sticky. But the sidewall was a bit soft. The snow traction was only "okay" in my opinion. It's a good tire for the money. I've never tried the A2s so I can't help you there. I'm currently running Dunlop SP5000s 225/55 16, on the stock 97SE rims.

I had the Dunlop Sport A2s on my last car, and I have to say they weren't good in the snow. It sounds to me like if you're going to be driving in the snow, you'll want the Yokohamas. Are the Dunlop Sport 5000 out of the question? I can't stop raving about those....AWESOME from dry cornering to snow traction.
-Chad

I was running A2's on my ride until two days ago when I noticed that my front/left tires inner sidewall had a huge crack in it and 360* of tread separation. Although I can't say I know what caused this (other than my driving), these tires wore out very quickly and are horrible in the snow. On the positive side, they where the quietest tires i have ever driven on. 712's are summer tires. I would definetly go with the Avid's, a true all season performance tire at a reasonable price (700$-installed). I ended up getting some slightly used Michelin Energy MXV-4's (for 200$, off a Saab) which feel pretty good compared to my beat up A2's.

I love my Dunlop A2's....the Michy's that the last post was talking about are a very respectible tire. I have driven on both, and both are a good tire. I have never driven on the Yoko's. I live in Maine, and we have more snow than we know what to do with. I have not had a single problem with the A2's int he snow, and to tell the truth, they do very good...just have to watch your speed (winter driving). If your lookin for a tire that is incredible for winter driving, you are lookin in the wrong tires, you are not going to get the durability in snow as you would from Blizaks. Out of all my friends up here, I am the only one with All Seasons.

A2s..

Excellent all season tire.. very quiet.. great dry and wet traction... decent in snow.


i haven't heard as much negative things about the A2s as i have in this thread, anytime before

do a search for them here..
read what people say

I just got the A2's last week. Awesome tires. Good traction/handling.

Forget those and get the Sumitomo HTR + ...I have them on my 18's, and they are GREAT !! Quiet, smooth riding, awesome in the snow and rain, they are a really great tire...I just drove them in the snow for the first time and they were incredible ! Take a look at those ! You wont regret it !

was just about to mention the Sumitomo HTR+ as well...

Based on everyones reccomendations, I purchased a set of Dunlop A2's today at sears

With pricematch to tirerack and road hazard warranty, it totaled approx 450.00 mounted and balanced. I am not having an alignment done @ sears as they were pulling the "4 wheel" bull****.

Thanks to everyone that participated, you truely had a massive influence on my buying decision.

215/55-16 is a good size as well, correct?

Just park the car in the gararge when it snows. I live in NY and the first time it snowed where I live(about 2"), I thought i saw going to smack up my car for sure. It was like I had ice skates on my car. I was sliding in spots I should not have been and I have about 75% of the tread still left on them. I immediately took them off and put my stock wheels back on. I won't pull the Kumhos out until spring.

I can only comment on the Kumho's and Dunlop A2s. I've had three sets of Kumhos and now I'm on my first set of A2s.

Kumho's have slightly better dry traction than the A2s, and that's about it. The A2's are MUCH better in the snow, and slightly better in wet conditions. The Kumho's are a softer tire, so you won't get much life out of them (I've gotten 20K-30K). The A2's should last you much longer, so in that respect you'll actually save money.

Kumho's are directional tires, so you can only rotate front to back, whereas A2's allow you to cross rotate (this is nice if you begin to get uneven treadwear).

I like the Kumho's very much Except in the snow. If you have seperate summer and winter tires then the Kumho's would be OK for your summer tires. But if you plan to use one tire all year then the A2's are better than the Kumho's. I know three people with the A2's (Maxima, BMW, Subaru) and we're all real happy.

I can't comment on the Yokohama's because I have Zero experience with them.