1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
>> Last weekend I drove a 9kT wearing Michelin Pilots. I wasn't blown away, but they met two really important standards for me: silence and a smooth ride.
I had pilots on my Aero for a while until I purchased a second set of Firestone SZ-50's (first set on my '91 9KT). They are both quieter, while ride is marginally better. The only advantage I saw with the Pilots was their very low rate of wear, for a Z-tire--being replaced at 46k with usable tread still remaining.
>> In my browsing at Tirerack...I've been thinking about the Bridgestone Potenza RE730, because the customer survey seems to rate them about the same in silence and smoothness as the Dunlops.
If you're browsing the Tire Rack's surveys, how could you have missed the #1 "ultra-high performance" tire in that survey? It is the SZ-50EP (a newer model than what I have) and has the highest rating for quietness and ride, along with almost all other categories. These tires are truly phenomenal and I continuously and unabashedly promote them at every opportunity. In the wet they are amazing, rarely breaking traction even in full panic stops on wet pavement on substandard roads. In the dry they are equally competent. Now, if they would only last 50k miles. My first set lasted 40k and this present set appear to be wearing a bit more, perhaps needing replacement at 35k.
If you're worried about the Firestone failures, these tires are made in Japan and are completely removed from that scandal. The technology is identical to the Bridgestone S02-PP, except the tread pattern and rubber chemistry is a bit different.
The catch is that Tirerack's own ratings show a very large differential between the two.
Who has wisdom and experience with regard to these ratings and their dependability? I'd really appreciate input. I don't do boy-racer stuff anymore, so ultimate cornering isn't a high priority with me. Getting my ride to be comfortable enough so that my wife will get in my car is high. Another piece of my thinking (sorry, but I'm way past 50) runs along the lines that I get no road hazard coverage from Tirerack--but Costco will sell me the Bridgestones at about the Tirerack cost,and provide road hazard coverage.
However, if you have 15" wheels the options for this tire are limited to one, and it is probably too large for the 9K wheel well.
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