Ok so I've gone back and forth and I like to change my wheel setups fairly frequently, so I have purchased the tool and in the spring when it warms up I am committing to doing the 4x100 conversion. That being said, I have purchased my wheels already which I am thrilled about, I have a spare set of TPMS, so all that leaves is tires.
For those that are going to ask, I purchased some 17x8 +40 TRMotorsports FF10 in Light grey. So 17.1lbs advertised weight. I also am currently riding on the Maxxim Sixx 16x7 wheels that I picked up when they were $27.xx each and they are 4x108 and 4x100 which works out great. So I have lug nuts for the wheels, got centering rings with my order (had to call to clarify the car they were going on to get the right rings), and I have a spare set of TPMS to put in them.
So I will be on a Bilstein B8/Eibach Pro Kit combo, so not too low, but I also don't want to be rubbing too much, but not afraid to fender roll if need be. I already have camber bolts installed up front as well. As much as I would love to go with a 205/45/17 (simply because of the cheaper/better tire options) I figure it's wise to go with 215/40/17 to prevent too many problems. So this is where I need some input from people who may have owned these specific tires. I am not really interested in stretching a 205/40/17 tire on there, we have potholes and I would like a little bit of protection.
Side note* this is a daily driver at almost 100 miles a day and it does get cold and it does rain in VA frequently to include standing water, they will not be driven in snow though. I do not need Star Specs, RS-RRs, etc.
1.) Pirelli P Zero Nero GT - They got solid reviews from Tirerack, I had them on my MK6 GTI when I bought it and they were a solid tire overall in most conditions and they lasted quite awhile before getting obnoxiously loud.
2.) Yoko S-Drives - I've had these on my MR2 before, feel like they are just an old technology tire and nothing special, but get the overall job done?!
3.) Federal 595 Evo's - I don't know much about these, nor do I know anyone who's run them, however reviews are a mixed bag on these. They are rumored to last quite a bit longer than the RS-R's though.
4.) Federal 595 RS-R's - Aside from noise, many people seem to enjoy these and they are pretty sticky, but claims of low life expectancy has me weary.
5.) Nitto Neo-Gen - I had a set of these on my R53 Mini and overall they seemed solid (maybe it was just these specific tires), but I could never get rid of a nagging steering vibration until I got different tires. Balanced, road-force balanced, etc. still vibration.
6.) Falken FK615 - I like the reviews, but I am not fond of the price. They will actually be more expensive than the wheels were and I've read reviews of low life expectancy as well.
So, any thoughts or valuable input on these specifics that could help lead to an overall decision?! Personal experiences or comparisons of multiple if you've owned multiple would be great. Absolute grip above all else is NOT what I'm looking for. Just something capable of handling the X37 power while still maintaining the enjoyment I get from driving the little FiST daily.
Yes I've searched, yes I've read a ton of threads on this forum and others about specific tires, but comparisons would be great. I'm currently leaning toward the Pirelli's I think due to the solid price and overall performance.
Thanks!
For those that are going to ask, I purchased some 17x8 +40 TRMotorsports FF10 in Light grey. So 17.1lbs advertised weight. I also am currently riding on the Maxxim Sixx 16x7 wheels that I picked up when they were $27.xx each and they are 4x108 and 4x100 which works out great. So I have lug nuts for the wheels, got centering rings with my order (had to call to clarify the car they were going on to get the right rings), and I have a spare set of TPMS to put in them.
So I will be on a Bilstein B8/Eibach Pro Kit combo, so not too low, but I also don't want to be rubbing too much, but not afraid to fender roll if need be. I already have camber bolts installed up front as well. As much as I would love to go with a 205/45/17 (simply because of the cheaper/better tire options) I figure it's wise to go with 215/40/17 to prevent too many problems. So this is where I need some input from people who may have owned these specific tires. I am not really interested in stretching a 205/40/17 tire on there, we have potholes and I would like a little bit of protection.
Side note* this is a daily driver at almost 100 miles a day and it does get cold and it does rain in VA frequently to include standing water, they will not be driven in snow though. I do not need Star Specs, RS-RRs, etc.
1.) Pirelli P Zero Nero GT - They got solid reviews from Tirerack, I had them on my MK6 GTI when I bought it and they were a solid tire overall in most conditions and they lasted quite awhile before getting obnoxiously loud.
2.) Yoko S-Drives - I've had these on my MR2 before, feel like they are just an old technology tire and nothing special, but get the overall job done?!
3.) Federal 595 Evo's - I don't know much about these, nor do I know anyone who's run them, however reviews are a mixed bag on these. They are rumored to last quite a bit longer than the RS-R's though.
4.) Federal 595 RS-R's - Aside from noise, many people seem to enjoy these and they are pretty sticky, but claims of low life expectancy has me weary.
5.) Nitto Neo-Gen - I had a set of these on my R53 Mini and overall they seemed solid (maybe it was just these specific tires), but I could never get rid of a nagging steering vibration until I got different tires. Balanced, road-force balanced, etc. still vibration.
6.) Falken FK615 - I like the reviews, but I am not fond of the price. They will actually be more expensive than the wheels were and I've read reviews of low life expectancy as well.
So, any thoughts or valuable input on these specifics that could help lead to an overall decision?! Personal experiences or comparisons of multiple if you've owned multiple would be great. Absolute grip above all else is NOT what I'm looking for. Just something capable of handling the X37 power while still maintaining the enjoyment I get from driving the little FiST daily.
Yes I've searched, yes I've read a ton of threads on this forum and others about specific tires, but comparisons would be great. I'm currently leaning toward the Pirelli's I think due to the solid price and overall performance.
Thanks!