Summer Tires 2008

[Biggins]

I've received some helpful suggestions on some other message boards, but I thought I'd spark a debate here too...

Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice, cheap summer tire?

I've run the Hankook RS-2 as my summer tires for the past 3 summers, and I like them. I want a tire that is no more than ~100 per tire and will do well in the rain. It'd be nice to have one that isn't too loud on the interstates also... I don't plan to autocross/track these tires, but it'd be nice if they could do double duty when I change my mind likely around June.

Any other options aside from these?
Hankook RS-2 again
Toyo T1R
Kumho SPT
Dunlop Direzza Z1
Bridgestone RE-01R

My size is 225/50/16 or 225/45/17 for reference. Thanks!

[VA 330Ci]

No new suggestion, but a +1 for Toyo TR1's. I have a set on now and love them. Great dry, Great wet!!!!

[1996 328ti]

I love my Toyos too.

[pseto]

i have Toyos for my 335i and X5, but they're not going on till the spring. For the price they are pretty good handling, although they tend to get kinda loud after 12k miles (i'm on my 2nd set of Toyos on the X5).

[Biggins]

Has anyone tried any of the other tires I listed? Any other summer tire suggestions?

If I get 8k miles out of my summer tires, I'm delighted.

Steven, have you used the T1Rs for any rainy track days?

[lax01]

RE01Rs

[OwnedbyDuncan]

Toyo Open Country H/T's! they work great in the wet and dry and hold up well crossing fields and on dirt and gravel roads.

I would also look at what Yokohama has to offer.

Dunop's are just awful.

My top two choices would be from either Toyo or Yokohama.

And see Sam or Paul at Radial Tire!

Dave Apker and the collies

[1996 328ti]

Steven, have you used the T1Rs for any rainy track days?

No, but I'm sure they would be good. I only needed two tires so I put the T1Rs on the front and still have plenty of tread on the T1S on the rear. I'm still using RA1s for the track.

[mcoupemindy]

I don't plan to autocross/track these tires, but it'd be nice if they could do double duty when I change my mind likely around June.

Honesty ... I love it.

Get the Toyo's.

[woodym3]

Any other options aside from these?
Hankook RS-2 again
Toyo T1R
Kumho SPT
Dunlop Direzza Z1
Bridgestone RE-01R

Hankook RS-2: No experience
Toyo T1R - I had a student using these on his E36 M3 in the rain at VIR a few years ago and was amazed at how well they performed. They're a bit more than $100 though, aren't they?
Kumho SPT - A VW GTI equiped with these won its class in the 2006 Shenandoah Red Line Time Attack (in the dry). They just don't look like an "ultra performance street tire".
Dunlop Direzza Z1 - An Oktoberfest participant in Texas this past September used these to a class win in the autocross and said they were great in the drivers school. I would look at the reviews posted on Tire Rack's website.
Bridgestone RE-01R - We used these on the 2006 One Lap of America and they did great until it rained and temperatures dropped into the 40s. In those conditions they sucked. I was still impressed with their performance and price enough to purchase them for my M Coupe a year ago.

[ChosenGSR]

Are the Toyo T1rs in the same "class" as Falken Azenis 615 and RE-01Rs? I was running Kumho MXs last year and liked them, I think they performed very well on track. This year I am on the fence myself as I'm due for a new set. I'm intrigued by the Direzza Z1s, $130 for 235/40/17, about the same price one would pay for the Azenis 615s. The RE-01s are about $180 a piece, so substantially more expensive.

[AG]

I think the T1R is a slightly lower end tire. Otherwise, Toyo wouldn't be showing an R1R tire up on their website. Now that looks like a nice competitor to the RE01R.

[1996 328ti]

The T1R replaced the T1S.

[mcoupemindy]

Are the Toyo T1rs in the same "class" as Falken Azenis 615 and RE-01Rs? I was running Kumho MXs last year and liked them, I think they performed very well on track. This year I am on the fence myself as I'm due for a new set. I'm intrigued by the Direzza Z1s, $130 for 235/40/17, about the same price one would pay for the Azenis 615s. The RE-01s are about $180 a piece, so substantially more expensive.

T1R's are no where close to RT-615's.

[pranu]

I had the honor of starting the Summer Tire 2007 Edition thread - and the consensus that I got then for my daily NON AutoX (yet) driver was the Toyo T1R - which I must say has been a very good tire to me.

I was partial then to the Goodyear Eagle F1s - but due to them being in short supply I went with the cheaper (not cheap) Toyo's and I am very happy and thankful to this board for recommending them as they have felt very nice on the road and given me the fairly secure feeling that they like to stick to the road!

I can't wait for April to switch out of my Dunlop Winter Sports back to the Toyo's.