225/50/15 Tires almost gone

[GLHS-024]

What's everyone doing for 225/50/15 tires? Needing a set for a Daytona Shelby Z. All I'm really coming up with are Kumho Ecsta AST.

[cordes]

What are you looking to do with them? There are a few 225/50 and 225/45 sizes out there, but I wouldn't want to drive in heavy rain or year round with them. They also won't last forever.

[Rrider]

The ones with high treadlife are almost gone. Johnny found some Ecstas for a decent price on ebay, I think that is the best bet.. for as long as those last. Fast wearing ones are much easier.

[GLHS-024]

Just a good all around summer tire, with decent treadwear. Everything I'm finding is like a autocross tire. Local tire shops have nothing, and saying they can't get anything. Might have to start looking for a set of 16" pumpers.

[HSKR]

Maybe?? I have the 16" Ninja wheels for normal driving. Going to use my 15" snowflakes for snow tires.
http://www.onlinetires.com/products/...ictra+95v.html

[marc]

What about a tire in the 205/55-15 range. I'm thinking of going with that size in a summer tire for my Daytona. Same revs per mile as a 225/50-15, perfect rim width with the 6 1/2 inch crab wheels, always felt the 225/50-15 was a bit to wide for the 6 1/2 inch crab wheels. Although thinner, I think it would have more grip due to the summer tire compound vs a wider All-Season tire compound. I was thinking of the Yokohama S.drive.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

[Vigo]

205/55/15 is still available in decent selection but 225/50/15 is effectively gone as far as street tires. Time marches on so you'll either have to change tire or wheel sizes to get back in business.

[going4speed]

I changed wheel sized on my car. I just could not fathom using Kuhmo's. They are permanantly banned from my household after losing it on the highway many years ago on a set of Kuhmo's.

Anyway I went with 16x7 wheels with 225/50/16's on the lancer. I figured I did not want to have tires on the car I could not replace if we had a blowout or in the near future they completely stop supplying that size and I need a pair I would need to buy a set at that point. I figured by paying for the 16's I was paying it forward and buying some insurance in regard ease of replacement.

[contraption22]

Going with a more modern sized wheel would not be the most horrible thing in the world. 225/45/17's on a 17x7-8 wheel would fit fine on Daytona, and still give you plenty of meat.

[HSKR]

I changed wheel sized on my car. I just could not fathom using Kuhmo's. They are permanantly banned from my household after losing it on the highway many years ago on a set of Kuhmo's.

Anyway I went with 16x7 wheels with 225/50/16's on the lancer. I figured I did not want to have tires on the car I could not replace if we had a blowout or in the near future they completely stop supplying that size and I need a pair I would need to buy a set at that point. I figured by paying for the 16's I was paying it forward and buying some insurance in regard ease of replacement.

I've used a few sets of Kumho's on my truck. Nothing wrong with the tires. Of course all the ones I used were high performance rated. Actually the Kumho STXs I used are still some of my favorite tires I have run, but they stopped making them in the size I need for my truck.

[GLHS-024]

How do the 205/55/15's look on a Daytona? Hate to buy wheels right now, trying to spend money on the Charger.

[Reaper1]

Don't want to start a tire "p*ssing match", but I've never had any issues with Kumho, either. I've run a few sets of them and loved them all. Currently have Kumho XS 225/50/16's on my RPF01's (16x7). Provided the road and tires were warm enough they had cornering grip for days! I was impressed that they wore fairly well, too considering how soft the compound is.

[contraption22]

Ive also had good experience with Kumho's. Had a couple of sets of the old Ecsta Supra 712's and we've used several sets of Azenis RT615's on our Lemons car.

[jonnymopar]

I just happen to have my Neon wheels on my Daytona right now and they're Kumho Ecsta 4X 205/55R15 mounted on 15" pumpers from a Shadow. I'll snap pics when I get home. I think they look a little small with the larger ES ground effects, but on a Shelby Z, they'll probably look right at home.

I don't know how much power you've got, but with a 2.4L and a 555 with LSD, I'm right at the brink of traction in 3rd gear with that tire size. Granted they're all-seasons, not strictly summers.

[Rrider]

Hopefully it will be one of those deals where, once it gets narrowed down to a single maker. Then EVERYBODY will have to buy the Kuhmos. And there will be enough sales for that one tire to continue on. That is what happened to 8.75x16.5.

[marc]

So what do you guy think would give better grip, the Kuhmos 225/50-15 All-Seasons or the Yokohamas 205/55-15 summer tires?

[Reaper1]

What models specifically? Typically a summer only tire is a higher performance tire, but that doesn't always mean it's better.

[GLHS-024]

Only Kumho I'm finding is the ECSTA AST 50R.
Unfortunately I can't even get the Kumho's locally. I tried a tire shop in Ashland Ky, Huntington WV, and Prottorville Ohio they all told me their suppliers have 0 in inventory. I'll have to order online.

[Vigo]

AST is not really a high performance tire. I have some of those in 225/50/15. They are just ok. You can almost certainly get a more aggressive 205/55/15 that will perform better overall.

[marc]

Thank you Vigo, that was the answer I was looking for. My 944 Porsche also has a limited selection of tires too. I ended up putting on Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum Grand Touring All-Season 215/60-15. Its the right size for the car but just not a high performance tire. My 86 Daytona Turbo Z with a full 89 Shelby swap has Goodyear Eagles GT's 205/60-15. I'm no race car driver, but the Daytona is the better handler of the two.