What tyres should I be looking at?

boxhead · #1 (**permalink**) 01-20-2010, 07:12 PM

Hi there all the Cobra people.

I will most likely be wanting/needing new tyres for Shelbyfest this year.
Does anyone have any recomendations?
There is a chance I will be driving the Cobra from Alice Springs to Melbourne then back home again, and its main use will be on the streets (little chance of rain on the roads - although a big chance of dust).

If I get them through Tire Rack I will get them sent to Mums house in Melbourne and drive down on my current tyres then get the new ones fitted in Melbourne.

The fronts are 235/45/17 and rears are 275/40/17,

I have been checking the Toyo R888 for front and rear through Stuckey tyres and they are super expensive, I could not locate them on Tire Rack.

I have also looked at these from Tire Rack, http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Qty=4&i1_Qty=4

Anyway, bearing in mind there main use, what can people recomend?

boxhead · #2 (**permalink**) 01-20-2010, 07:19 PM

Further to this, the local tyre shop just rang me after I hit post.
He can supply the Bridgestone RE001 for the front for $245 each, does anyone have any feedback on these?
http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/...Adrenalin.aspx

He can do the rera Kumho for $360 a piece.

PCC · #3 (**permalink**) 01-20-2010, 08:17 PM

Boxy,

I have the Khumo's recently fitted on my STi (245 x 40 x 18) at $275 a corner fitted in Aus.

Seem pretty sticky.

Classed as a semi slick by Khumo although I have my doubts.

Value for money 10 out of 10

In the dry 9 out of 10

In the wet 7 out of 10

But that is on an AWD Car

Had the RE 001's on my previous WRX - not the best, not the worst

boxhead · #4 (**permalink**) 01-20-2010, 08:38 PM

Thanks for the feedback Pete.

sambo · #5 (**permalink**) 01-20-2010, 10:24 PM

Sumitomo HTR Z III seem to be excellent value for money by all reports. At around $100 per corner it doesn't matter how fast they wear out.

http://tires.tirerack.com/search?vie...tomo+htr+z+iii

boxhead · #6 (**permalink**) 01-20-2010, 10:39 PM

Thanks Sambo

Wazza · #7 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 01:13 AM

Hi Boxhead,

I'd say the Sumitomos aren't what you're wanting ......

Nothing wrong with the tyres, but it would seem that you're looking at R888 Toyos, so it's a road legal race tyre you're chasing.

Khumos on Tyre rack might be the go.

The R888's are a bloody good tyre though.
I used them for years on the bumblebee ( Black and yellow Cobra)....and after race meetings I would take longer and longer to take the race wheels off , and put the street tyres/wheels back on.
I always claimed there wasn't a roundabout on the Gold Coast where I had to back off when I had the R888's warmed up.
( Only late at night and when there was no traffic of course )
Cheers,

(Hope to see you all at Winton)
Warren

stumpeater · #8 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 02:31 AM

G'day, We use the R888 on our track day car (Turbo Nissan Gazelle) in 16", and although noisy when pushed, compared to Bridgestone Semi slicks we had before, and maybe not quite as grippy, they are certainly very good value for $$. I read a tyre comparison report in December Motor Magazine, and they were not rated as good in the wet,( I have not used them in the wet as we put road tyres on for wet days.) They will certainly be on top of my shopping list when the time comes, as I hope never to test out the wipers on the Cobra, (But I do live in Melbourne)

Peter.

T.L. · #9 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 01:43 PM

I went for the Kuhmo KU36 on my car.

The car is not completed yet, but I went to moved the tyres the other day when it was stinking hot, they had stuck to the ground and when I was rolling them along the ground picked up every peace of rubbish that I had on my floor. I have since thrown away the broom!!!.

I got 245/45 and 315/35 on 17"s. I only had two choices in the rear size being Sumitomo and Kuhmo, well 3 including Pirelli at double the cost, so I went for the KU36's.

I will let people know how they go in a couple of months, but I can't complain about the price.

I got mine from a local mob, Liza tyres in Bayswater, $330ea fitted. Good guys and looked after my rims. Took them 2 days to get them from warehouse.

Wazza · #10 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 02:48 PM

I think the Kuhmo KU36's are called "Ecsta XS" in U.S.A.
If you're interested , have a look at the attached link from Tirerack.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes....model=Ecsta+XS

Although they might be a bit cheaper from Tirerack...I recon the price that Liza tyres charged was pretty good, and better if you can get them in Australia...all fitted and someone to talk to if there's a problem with any of the tyres.
Cheers,
Warren

boxhead · #11 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 04:34 PM

Hey there everyone, the Kumho Ecsta XS (as per Wazza last thread and in my initial post) is the one I am leaning toward.

The local tyre shop just called again and he now can get the Ecsta in teh sizes I want - he is quoting $360 each for rear and $250 each for fronts.
To get the same tyres from TireRack including freight and current conversion rate will set me back about $1100.00 (then I need to add fitting cost).
So reality is there will be less than $20 in it in the end.

Does any of you Melbourne mob have any tyre suppliers that you would recomend in the Northern suburbs?
As I would preffer to get them done while down there.

sambo · #12 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 04:54 PM

Boxhead, I can recommend Mark Donnellan of Donnellan's tyres in Box Hill. He fitted the last set of tyres to my GTI and we got speaking about Cobras. Turns out he used to own a Robnell, so it's in his blood! He also buys stock from Tire Rack when the AUD is good, which I thought was interesting.

Mark Donnellan - Donnellan's Box Hill (Bridgestone Tyre Centre).
837 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill Ph: (03) 9898 9591. Melway Ref: Page 47 B9

Box Hill is eastern suburbs strictly speaking but in reality its about 20 mins from what we'd call "northern" suburbs.

Sambo

Wazza · #13 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 05:00 PM

Just to further confuse you...
Got a message from one of our race group here in Queensland, that let me know that the track tyre they use is the Kumho ecsta v700....link attached.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....del=Ecsta+V700

IT's a lot of fun deciding on tyres isn't it ??.....maybe not!

Good luck with it all.

Cheers,
Warren.

boxhead · #14 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 05:52 PM

It recomends they be shaved prior to dry track use.

Whatever I get also needs to suit being used on teh street, I dont have a second set of rims yet and I might be driving to Winton with the Cobra yet.

stiffy · #15 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 06:31 PM

Boxhead,

828 Sydney Road
BRUNSWICK VIC 3056
(South of Moreland Rd, on the corner of Sydney Rd and Donald St)

(03) 9386-5331

Speak to Russell. They have a great range.

STIFFY

boxhead · #16 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 06:44 PM

I emailed Stuckey about the Toyo tyres (too expensive for my tight arsedness)
But I will ask about the Kumho Ecsta.

alffie · #17 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 08:42 PM

I went with the pirrellis as no one up here could do a 315/30/18 under $950!! Got them from the states fitted for 320us and the fronts were 235/40/18 were 85us

Modena · #18 (**permalink**) 01-22-2010, 03:50 AM

Stuckey, Stuckey, and Stuckey. They can be a bit expensive, but they know their ****.

stumpeater · #19 (**permalink**) 01-22-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxhead

It recomends they be shaved prior to dry track use.

Whatever I get also needs to suit being used on teh street, I dont have a second set of rims yet and I might be driving to Winton with the Cobra yet.

I was talking to a guy who races a HQ Holden, and he says they shave their brand new tyres prior to racing too. It would break my heart to see all my new rubber lying on the floor. The reason they shave them is the tread blocks move on the case generating heat and causing the tyre to wear out quicker, and affect handling, with a true semi-slick, (and full slick) heat is good as they just get stickier.