I was thinking abotu getting the Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP tires. Tirerack reviews on them are really good. I am getting them to go on my lightweight rims. However with Firestone's bad name from the SUV scare, I am beginning to wonder if I will ever have to worry about these tires popping on me or something. They are Z rated. I was thinking that just the OEM Ford SUV tires would have had this problem. Am I safe to assume that and buy these? They aren't cheap either so I assume they should be good.

Thanks for any inputs.

 

I had them and they were very good tires. These tires are not built in the same plant as the suv tires were. So I think you are okay. But these are not "light" tires either. I recently bought Kumho Esta Supra 712 in the same size 235-45-17 and the Kumhos are lighter. The SZ50s handled better and had a stiffer sidewall(probably why they were heavier). Good rain tire also. Ultimate handling and feel was better with SZ50s. But for the price of the Kumhos (about $100 each) I could not pass up that deal. Since you went to the trouble of getting lightweight rims, I would try to search around for lightweight high performance tires also. Not all makers list tireweights but if you inquire, they should give it to you in the size you request.

 

What about the Toyo Proxes T1-S? Are they any good? Some Mustang GT guy claimed that the Toyo Proxes T1-S kicked the Firestone Firehawk SZ50's ***... he owned them both.

I am getting 205/55/16 and they weigh 21 lbs in that size. Here's their link to look up their weight. Tell me if you think these tires are good and light enough. I don't know how light tires should/can be. I only know rims.

http://www.toyo.com/tires/tire_lines...specs/t1s.html

 

Go to www.tirerack.com and take a look at the test reviews and the owner surveys. I wouldn't go on just one person's opinion.
Or go to www.twinturbo.net and punch in Toyo in their search engine.

 

My friend has Toyo's on his probe and he says that they are great. Also I had the chance to meet and spend time with Alfred DuPont and Neal Sapp, Touring Car GT race drivers. They drive the BMW 328is for ERT BMW, they race with Toyo's.
Another good tire that I'm looking at are the Bridgestone OS2 they are pricey but supposed to be great, they come stock on the new 911's 969's!

 

I would have to say at this point that most of the Firestone blowout fault seems to lie at Ford's feet. Poorly designed 'vehicles', with underinflated tires = blowout.

 

On tirerack.com they have the Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP at the top of the "ultra high performance" tire category and the Bridgestone Potenza S03 Pole Position at the top of the "max performance" category.

Any idea which category the Toyo Proxes T1-S would fit into? I think they would fit into the "max performance" category in which case they are very expensive and probably not worth it for my car. Sort of like "too much tire for my car." They would be best suited for Inline-6, V8s and the like.

I'm wondering how they would compare to the FIrestone Firehawk SZ50 EP on our import cars. There is no place that does a side by side comparison between Toyo and Firestone.

 

You're absolutely right. I have Firestone Firehawk SH30s on my car, and I have never been happier with a set of tires. They give outstanding wet traction, and as for blowouts, I doubt it. I drive a lot on the highway all the way up and down Florida in heat that would make Satan reach for a cold beer, and my tires have held up very well.

 

I'd have more faith in Firestones than other brands. Try running any other tires, underinflated by 7psi on a bloated Explorer. Any other brand probably wouldn't have held up much better.

 

glad to see not all you guys belive excatly what the media says. THose same Firestone tires come on ALOT of different cars but only the Explorer has probs. Other Ford models uses them, Toyota uses them, Nissan uses them, GM uses them, but only the Explorer had probs. 95% of the blowouts happen on the rear right tire, or was it rear left? i forgot, They redesigned the Explorer this year with many new rear suspension features, Wider wheelbase, independant rear suspension, and they raised the inflation pressures. Old Explorer recommened inflation pressures were 26psi front and rear. Kinda low for a heavy SUV dont you think? where do i get my info from? i work for Firestone and all this data comes to us.

 

I use the SH30 year round. Great for racing and Canadian winters. Won't let me slip. No Regrets.

BTW, the reason why the SUV tyres blow up (yes, tyres. Tires is actually wrong), is because they are not even T rated. All the ones that blew up were driven in excess of 150km/h. Check it out.

 

WarpSpeed Performance recently bought Firestone Firehawks from the Tirerack for our 96SE Maxima, in fact we bought our rims there as well, good prices. I have Firehawks on my Corvette as well and have been very pleased with them.

Dallas

 

I have SH30's and they slip and peel out like crazy when I race. I have a basically stock VE (intake only) and I can never seem to get off the line without peeling out forever. Any suggestions? Right now I rev to 2500-3000 rpm's and pop the clutch when it's time to party.

I also would like to add that I have never been concerned about them blowing out.

 

Get wider rims and tires. What do u have now?

 

Personally I've been using the Firestone Firehawks SS20's.
This is an old tire design but I've been very pleased with
it. I replaced my old SS10's when they were discontinue.
The SS20's never blewout even when I had a sustain rate of
110mph on highway in Alabama( Cops never patrol I-75 there)
Cold weather environment is very good (Good traction).

I wouldn't worry about the Firestone Tires blowing out
out under you. They've been making excellent tires for
almost a century. Do more research before you decide.
Good luck!! :P

mike

 

All I got to say is just because one company get trashed about one tired .. Don't make there other models bad.
Look at FORD they came out with a few not so good cars. And people still buy them.
But from what I hear the Firehawks are very good.

 

thats koo guys, im glad you guys are pretty open minded about the tire stuff. I dealt with SOOO many close minded Explorer owners about these tires during the recall, it was sad, get yelled at all the time, even get threatened....

 

MaXXX, not wanting this to turn into a flame war, but you cant automatically assume blowouts are related to low speed ratings, alot of things factor into tire blowouts. That same tire if it was V rated, can blow out also if underinflated or whatever.

 

i like those tires

 

I have the factory size 205/60 HR15's right now. I know that sounds thin, but I have the original SE rims and those 205's bulge out around the sides. If I put anything wider on, I will lose sidewall stability and it won't handle as well.

 

Correction ... the Altima SE's Firehawk GTA's were recalled, as were lots of Yukon/Suburban tires that they initially said were not part of the recall. Firestone is even running advertisements on TV with the new CEO talking about how they're working to improve the quality of their tires to make sure no more defective ones get out the door.