My options for tires 245/50/16

[TransAm12sec]

Hey I'm almost ready to stick a set of tires on the 16 x 8 formula wheels I bought. I just need to get the clearcoat off and polish them.

But anyways I'd thought I'd share my options, and ask for any opnions.
Each tire is speced at 245/50/16

Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
This appears to be the best bang for the buck
Each-$75.2 Total-$300.8 Speed Rating-T-118 mph
Price at www.roadwaywholesaletire.com
Info at tirerack (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Firehawk+Indy+500)

Kuhmo 711
Cheapest tire, but will most likely last the least amount of miles
Each-$57 Total-$228 Speed Rating-W-168
Tirerack.com 711s (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+711&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=45HR6E711&fromCompare1=yes)

Yokohama AVS ES100
I like the tread design, and the price isn't terrible.
Each-$97 Total-$388 Speed Rating-W-168
Yokohama AVS ES100 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=AVS+ES100&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=45WR6ES100&fromCompare1=yes)

Kuhmo 712s
Appears to be a decent tire
Each-$87 Total-$348 Speed rating-W-168
Kuhmo 712s (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+Supra+712&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=45WR6ES712&fromCompare1=yes)

BF Goodrich Radial T-A
My dad has these tires on the 90 Formula, nothing seems to stand out about them.
Each-$99 Total-$396 Speed Rating-S-112
BFGoodrich Radial T/A (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Radial+T%2FA&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=45SR6RADTA2&fromCompare1=yes)

Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP
My neighbor tested these tires for firestone. He told me they have a dual layer tread design. The inner tread is softer so when it wears down to that layer, it is softer for better wet traction performance.
Each-$137 Total-$548 Speed Rating-Z-150+
Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Firehawk+SZ50+EP)

And finally, Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
Unless I get a raise soon, I don't think I'm going to spend this much, but it's still an unbelievable tire.
Each-$152 Total-$608 Speed Raiting-Y-186
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+F1+GS-D3&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=45YR6F1GSD3&fromCompare1=yes)

[Bad-TSi]

Kuhmos suck.

[A B4C Z]

Gs-D3 I got um and love um.

Kyle

[PB86MCSS]

I have BFG Radial T/A's on my IROCs in 245/50/16....nothing stands out about them to me either. Not a bad tire and relatively cheap...I've put on about 12k or so so far on them, no problems really but in wet weather the car seems to slide pretty easily, not sure if thats the tire width or the tread pattern...probably wouldn't get them again.

[Pepsicola300]

I have BFG Radial T/A's on my IROCs in 245/50/16....nothing stands out about them to me either. Not a bad tire and relatively cheap...I've put on about 12k or so so far on them, no problems really but in wet weather the car seems to slide pretty easily, not sure if thats the tire width or the tread pattern...probably wouldn't get them again.

I also have the BFG's they are nothing special. They seem a lot like my Cooper Cobra's on my Sonoma, which also suck. especially in the rain/ snow :3gears: I am thinking about the 711's or the AVS ES100's for my GTA rims. (245/50/16)

[eviljay]

If your car is not a daily driver I would recommend the Nitto 555r's for the back. I recently put these on and I'm pretty impressed with the hook up. Not an all season tire though.... Otherwise the F-1 was my second choice.

[TransAm12sec]

The car is my daily driver. I'm only going to be using this tire in the summer. I've got a set of 15 x 7 wheels with 235s in front and 215s in back.

[Red97GTP]

I really like my BFGoodrich Traction T/A's. They hook real nice in the dry and also very well in the wet. They were alot better than my stock Goodyear RSA's. They are highly recommended.

Brian

[02hawk796]

The car is my daily driver. I'm only going to be using this tire in the summer. I've got a set of 15 x 7 wheels with 235s in front and 215s in back.

what???? You have a Front Wheel Drive Trans Am or something?

Anyhow, I had the Firehawk 50s in 275/40Z17 on all 4, now I have same Firehawk 50s in 285/40Z17 on all 4. I like them, first (orig) set lasted 42K with me spinning them constantly. Never hydroplaned prior to 35K, they stuck like glue. That second traction kicked in around 25K, didn't know what it was at the time. With around 20K on them, I blasted through a huge lake of standing water on Mayfair in heavy traffic, put a wall of water over the top of a Semi cab, still stuck like glue, and never wavered in the lane, I passed everybody else. But mine cost $179 apiece from tirerack.
I don't do brake stands nor 1/4 mile, but with 11 inches of width they keep trying to grip when spinning - not much time but lots of distance before they catch.
They're driven from after the salt is washed away until the first salting in the fall.

[TransAm12sec]

That's the winter setup.

[Cryptic]

I had a set of Yoko AVS db's I liked them alot, not sure how they compare to the ES100

[SlowStee]

kumhos rock for the price!! i have the 711's which arent the greatest....go with some 712 supras !.........they are good tires for the price

[02hawk796]

You winter drive with wider tires in front than in back?
Sounds suicidal.

[TransAm12sec]

Their is much more weight in the front.

[02hawk796]

Their is much more weight in the front.

So? That's still sounds suicidal to run in winter with that setup.
Is your front axle weight more than 70% of your curb weight?
My 280ZX was 70/30 weighted, and I had it set up so well that I passed 4WD trucks and SUVs in snow so deep I was plowing the stuff over my bumper and up the whole hood - had to slow down for the headlights to be effective. That was always hell on the plastic air dam thing under the bumper, though.
With the setup you described, it would seem you'd have to drive very meekly the whole winter.
I have difficulty imagining how squirrely that must be, unless the axle lengths were changed in some way. Yikes. Do your winter rims change the offset in some way?
Doesn't your front end slide around alot, or do you just stay in the city and avoid snow?

[TransAm12sec]

The winter wheels (15 x 7) have the same offset, just different size tires.

I'm not sure what my f/r weight ratio is. The car is an 82 Trans Am with a V-8.

While there are a few inches of snow on the ground, you need to be careful in any car before the plow comes. Sure a narrower tire would be better, but it works out fine.

I'm very surprised you consider it suicidal to run 235s in the front. My dad runs 235s all around in the 87 Monte in winter, and in the 90 Formula. It's not to complicated to do.