I need to drop the hammer on some new tires for my 2001 V8 Sport size 235/50ZR17.

Initially I planned on Kumho Ecsta SPT but after reading some advice here and advice from a local tire shop I am thinking about Kumho Ecsta ASX. I couldn't find BF g-Force T/A KDW 2 in that size but looked at Yokohama S.drive.

I live in very hot and sunny Sacramento, CA BUT it does rain through fall/winter, I'm a "spirited driver" and wore out the crappy Big O Eurotour pretty quickly that replaced my previous set of P Zeros.

Any opinion would be greatly appreciated, I want to do this this week, specially interested if anyone can tell me about the Yokohama S.drive or the BF KDW 2 new tread pattern vs. the old.

Thank you fella's.

 

Just a little note.. 245/45/17's will also work. They are very close in size. Sometimes a manufacturer may not make the one size but they do the other. That was the case with the General Tires I got a little bit ago. One thing to also check. Many manufacturers will make the same tire type and size in different load ratings. Go with the higher rating, that will get you a tougher sidewall and better protection from the likes of potholes and such...

 

If you're dead-set on Kumho tires, most folks who run them say that the ASX is a better tire for sport sedan applications. I'm not a big fan of any of the Korean tires, though....

When new tire time rolls around for our 2005 S-Type 3.0, I've decided on the Dunlop Sport Signature in the normal 235/50/ZR17 size. Great treadwear warranty, the price is right, and Tire Rack customers have a lot of good things to say about the longevity and handling of that tire....

 

Interesting, will that change effect the DSC/traction control system in anyway? That size opens up a whole new gamut of possibilities.

 

No it won't. Dealers have installed that size as well. If you compare sizes you'll see that there is only about 1/2 inch difference in outside diameter. Here is a good tool to use when looking a tire sizes.....

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html