Okay I have decided that I will stick to Bridgestone/Firestone for my summer tires. The rims that they are going on are SSR Type C lightweight rims. I am looking for good dry/wet traction and off-the-line traction. My choices are down to the Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position S03 and the Firestone Firehawk SZ50EP.

Please post your preferrence if you have had experience or heard of experiences of those two.

Thanks!

 

C.) Dunlop SP Sport 9000

 

My SO3s should be in next week. I'll let you know what I think.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ighlight=tires

 

Toyo T1-S

 

My buddy has those on his Mustang. He said that the T1-S aren't the greatest for straight line.

 

Neither are any of the other tires listed. Tires are tires when it comes to straight line performance. I get the same 60' times on my T1-S as I do on my all season 205-65-15 generic brand 500 treadwear b traction b temperature tires. The S-03 is a rain tire, it was developed from the tread pattern used on bridgestone's F1 rain tire. The Firehawks just suck. Get the T1-S. If you are concerned about straight line traction get drag radials because normal street tires won't make one bit of difference in a straight line no matter which tire you go with.

 

I've checked the Mustang forums and I'm sure everyone here will agree that the guys there are a BIT more performance oriented than us and have enough of a history that every option has been tested.

Outside of the guys who use drag slicks/radials the best 60' times are from SZ50EP tires, consistently. Not ONE bad review on the Firestone SZ50EP. I was highly skeptical until I heard that. That is good enough for me if it is, for them.

I however HAVE heard a few negative reviews on the S03s as much as I would have loved to buy them... seems as though SZ50EP is a better overall tire.

 

i have the toyo proxes fz4`s 40/235/18" i like them .

 

If your dropping bucks for light weight rims, dont you think you should drop bucks for light weight tires? Michellins are pricey but they are the lightest available. The research I have done shows that Michelins Pilot Sports are 2-3lbs lighter than the SO2's, I havens looked at them in a whils, but I bet the Michelins are still lighter than the S03's. Tire weight is MUCH more important than rim weight because it is mainly located on the far out side of the wheel/tire radius.

 

I agree with you. That is another reason that I am leaning towards the Firestones because they are lighter than the Bridgestones I believe. The Michelin Pilot Sports I hear suck in the rain. The Toyo T1-S are lighter too but from personal experience of my best friend, aren't the greatest for straight line. I have heard nothing but the best about the Firestone SZ50EP in wet as well as traction on the drag strip.

But I am surprised that nobody on this forum has voted for the SZ50EP in my poll. An org member even recommeded the SZ50EP over the S03 to me, from his experience with both tires.

 

SO-3 tires weigh around 23 pounds for a 215/55/16.

If I recall correctly, an S-O3 225/55/16 weighs about 25 pounds.
My old 235/45/17 S-O2 tires weighed 26 pounds. I don't think the
S-O3 tires are any lighter than the S-O2 tires.

My SSR Integral 16" wheels weigh 16 pounds. The bulk of the weight of most any wheel/tire setup is at the tire itself. It is very useful to think about tire weight.

Inflation pressure has a lot to do with directional stability. Tire model being equal, the one with the taller profile will have better directional stability because it will put more of its contact patch front to rear (more squared rather rather than rectangular).

 

Right from the manufacturer's websites:

Size: 225/50/16
Bridgestone S03 = 26 lbs
Firestone SZ50EP = 24 lbs

Michelin does not disclose their tire weights. Hmmmmm...

 

I have info from about 2 years abou and the Pilot sports in 225/50-16 weigh 22.29lbs