I've been looking at both on tirerack.com and so far the
potnezas are rated higher in every category. Yet the are
classified as high performance all season tires, whereas
the kumhos are in the ultra high performance category.

Is this because in the all season category the potenzas get the high rating, but if they were rated under the ultra high performance tab, they would get lower marks?

Or, are they indeed better tires?

the kumho's over here cost 113$ each but the RE950's are 133$
i don't mind paying the diff if they are that much better



Ultra High Performance:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/uhp.jsp

High Performance all season:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/hpas.jsp

 

You may want to consider the Sumitomo HTR+.

 

i dont like khumos in the rain, i have driven potenzas on an eclipse and i think they are better tires than the khumos. i have no experience with sumitomo. i run dunlop sp 8000 on my 300zx and they have very good traction in the dry. the wet is another story but that car sucks in the rain no matter what tires its got. if i could get new tires for the maxima (have khumos right now) i would pay the extra for michelins, in my opinion they have the best traction rain or shine. to answer your question get the potenzas (unless the sumitomo's are good, since they are japeneese they probably are...?).

 

I have the Sumitomo HTR+, but now there's a new game in town. They're called the AVS ES100.just say no to KUMHO

 

...but they suck in fowl weather...ie really only good during summer.

it will be well worth $133. I have had both. I'll probably go back to Bridgestone again.

 

I just bought the Potenza 950's, and only have about 1000 miles on them, but here are my thoughts. (Now take note, the only other tires I have had on my Maxima are the stock Good Year RS-A's and winter Blizaks WS-50's-so take this with a grain of salt).
The 950's are nice tires, but I don't like the road noise, especially at highway speeds. Around town they are good, the noise and the ride. (I am running the stock 16" SE rims). I ran from VT to Boston this weekend with a car full of stuff, and I didn't think I had great traction in the rain, felt a lot of understeer, guess the car full of stuff didn't help much. Running nothing for cargo, and normal rain, it seems okay at best. I am waiting to try it in the snow....but 98% chance they are coming off in the winter even though they are new.

 

I think I can help you here beacuse I have 950s on my stock rims (for winter) and I have Kumbo 712s on my 17" summer/autoX rims. First, they are not the same class of tire.. The kumbo is a much better dry tire which I would choose if you don't have snow in the winter (or if you want a summer only tire). The 950 is IMO the best performance tire that you can use year round. They grip great and also work well in the snow and rain.

 

Hmm cool! The thing i find weird though, is that it shows the 950's as having better overall specs than the kumhos... but i'm assuming it's mean in it's class...

 

Yes, the category difference makes it impossible to compare them using the surveys.
The Potenzas would not score high in the Ultra High Performance tab and vice versa, the Kumho wouldn't score high in the all-season tab.
You shouldn't be comparing them. You should ask yourself whether you want an all-season tire or a summer set and a winter set.
I wouldn't use the Kumhos in the winter just like I wouldn't use the S-03s in the winter. But the Kumho will kick the Potenza's butt in the summer. Make your decision based on that, not on comparing apples to oranges I personally have a set of summer and a set of winter. It's more expensive but you get the best in each season as opposed to one decent but lesser all season tire. Some prefer to save their money and get the all-seasons.

 

I would only challenge a portion of your statement by saying that the RE 950s MIGHT be the most cost-effective all season tire, its certainly not the best as that title seems to be unanimously held by the Michellin Pilot A/S. Also the Dunlop SP 5000 and the BF Goodrich Kdws are rated as good or better than the RE 950s. Just some other options for those interested.