I bought some Sumitomos tires from Tire rack and my only complaint is that the "recommended installer" couldn't or didn't have the right machine to fit the tires. In fact, not only did they ruin the two front rims they worked on, I refused to let them touch the rears and I decided to go to another guy I know who fit them perfectly. Oh, and I will add that the "recommended installer" also overcharged me for the two he installed, which, as I was told was guaranteed to be $30/wheel.

Anyways...not so much a tirerack issue, but I would NOT call German Car Specialists in Calgary, Canada a "recommended installer". They will never see another dollar from me. Now I have to find a place to get my front wheels refinished...

 

The UTOG rating is definitely a good guide within one manufacturer's line, but it's pretty misleading across makes, unfortunately. Sumi's UTOG 300 HTR ZIII results in a grippier tire than Bridgestones UTOG 140, on the RE0150. (As demonstrated in this test: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...irePageLocQty= ) So, it's unfortunately not very reliable for comparing different brands. We need more Tirerack tests! =)

To answer the other question posed about the HTR ZIII's vs PS2's and AD07's... I've used all 3, but I haven't compared the HTR ZIII's and PS2's under remotely similar conditions, and unfortunately the Tire rack seperated their tests of those tires too. It's safe to say however that the difference in performance between the tires is relatively small, whereas the price difference is about 2x.

The Yokohama AD07's Neova's, however, are definitely on another level above the HTRZIIIs, PS2s, RE050a, etc, and they are classified as such. They're only directly comparable against Dunlop Direzza Star Specs, Bridgestone RE01Rs, Falken RT-615s, etc... (and tires on this page: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/types/extremeperf.jsp ) If comparing to HTR ZIII's or PS2s, or RE0150's, or ContiSport 2's, etc... the Neova's/Direzza's/RT-615's can generate much more brake force, and higher lateral forces. Brake pad temperature requirements will go up, etc... While not R-comps, they are a class of tire that bridges the gap between the old-school "max performance" street tire, and the traditional DOT R-comp tire. Nearly every DE intructor that has been in my car when shod with Neovas, or RT-615s has commented in great surprise at the grip generated by these "street tires".


Tire rack's catagories are a good way to help classify the tires appropriately.

 

Ok...


500 mile update.


The sumis are:

1. great in rain
2. silent
3. great in dry....on my favorite mountain roads they beat the conti2's and pzero's for turn in and feel

I had planned two DE's but life came at me fast on unrelated fronts...so perhaps in September.

For day to day work, there is nothing legal they cannot do.
Given I have to try to keep costs realistic, they are superb.

JB

 

Really...silent?
My Pzeros sound like mud-terrains with 10k on them now

 

I really think so. Much more quiet than the Pirelli's and more quiet than the Conti2 or PS2's. My opinion. Let's put it this way, tire noise is not an issue at pressent. Nor, given the design of the tread, do I expect it to be so. Tread is 10mm still to the best of my ability to measure....no wear noted at all yet.

If Michelin put their PS2 at a set of four under 800 dollars, I might not have bitten...

 

Definitely running the AD07's next! Thanks for the info Partha!

 

The Pzeros were the loudest tire I've heard in a street performance tire. No wonder Porsche dropped them from the oem lineup.

I'll defenitely try the Sumo's next...
Mike

 

As someone riding on Kumhos, this is great to hear. The Kumhos are loud as hell, so when I found this thread, my first question was "How loud are they?". Mike beat me to it

Unfortunately, due to the fact that I bought some wheels on eBay with them already on, I have another like, two years on my current set, and then a fresh set on my OEM wheels, so it may be a long time before I buy another tire.

Unless the Kumho noise drives me nuts first...

Are they particularly stiff/change the ride at all, or are they pretty similar? I've noticed the Kumhos are a bit rough in this regard...

 

Call out customer service dept. on this and let them know what happened. We have a guy here who handles these issues.

800-428-8355 ext. 360. Have your order number handy.

 

I now have about 4,000 kms on them and they are solid all around performers, especially as a daily driver.

Also, several enthusiastic drives in the dry on a familiar road ant the tires show good turn-in, better corner speed, and gradual break-away -- all excellent compared to Continental Contisport II that came stock with my C4S.

They don't appear to make any noise on break-away -- not sure if this is good or bad.

Road noise is average -- gut feel -- no decibel-ometer!

Very happy: especially in the rain -- several road trips recently with heavy rain and standing water and almost no hydroplaning even at speed.

One one recent rainy deluge trip, my wife and I were traveling in convoy: she was driving our Audi A4 S-Line with Michelin Pilot PS2 and she had far more hydroplaning.

(Granted, my Sumitomos are a little bit newer -- but the Pilot PS2 still have decent tread depth -- so I was very impressed with wet weather performance.)

Look forward to trying them at Mission Speedway Sep 8 for a DE -- will see how they are on the track.

 

Sounds good and thanks for the info can you tell us what tire you had last or are comparing them too.

 

Now lets see some "affordable" 19 inch tires!

 

There are only a few 19" choices right?

 

Whats up with the Nitto's? Only see 1 person on this post running them...

 

PDC driver event at Mission Raceway tomorrow. Will let you know how the Sumitomos HTR ZIII's perform.