lookforjoe, on 28 December 2011 - 09:51 PM, said:
I like Kumho ecsta AST. I currently use them in 235/40x18, and have used them also in 235/45x17 ASX. Excellent wet & dry traction, I also actually used them all through the last two winters, although I wouldn't recommend them as winter use for FWD. Good tread wear. Much better wear than the Sumitomo's I had previously, which would also blow out the sidewall at the slightest hint of a pothole.
Hussein, rarely do i disagree with you. This time i will have to. From my experience selling wheels and tires to customers. I have seen alot of stuff. From treads seperating from the sidewall, to flat spots on tires causing out of round.
here's my experience
kumhos: suck all around from 26's to 16" tires, sidewall cracking, to flat spots to fast wearing despite the tread rating(lies)
conti dws zero complaints zero problems, did these in variety of flavors 225/35/19 on B5 S4 stage 3+ to 245/50/17 acura rl oem tire replacement
nitto invos 225/40/18's, 215/45/17 ect ect nadda nothing zilch
falken azentis or anything falken from 215/55/16 to 285/30/22 they suck ass, belts ripping, treads shifting, out of round,
yoko avid, not a problem
toyo proxy t1 awesome tire, complaint low low tread life
nitto 555 awesome tire like the toyo but better tread life
coopers suck ass(personal opinion)
hankook noisy after a few thousand miles, several complaints on that
nankang bottom of the budget junk tires
michelins: name brand expensive, overall great tires
linglong/runway/sunny are all china made tires that i call no name and use them to hit a price point. customers ask what brand are they? i say they black and round and hold air = cheapest one i can can find!
three catagories PRICE QUALITY or PERFORMANCE, you can only get two
price/performance conti dws
performance/price: toyo
quality/performance: michelin
my opinion price/performance recommandation nitto, or conti
avoid no name
my recommondations come from a retail stand point of guageing feedback from customer complaints and comments
i personally have had toyo t1's, nitto 555's summer tire currently on my c70, on my xc90 currently is nitto nt420s all season. had coopers on my c70 and they suck donkey balls