I need new tires...

I want to replace the aging 205/60/15 rears and 185/65/15 fronts with either Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S High Performance All Seasons, Yokohama AVS ES100 Ultra High Performance Summer tires, Bridgestone
Potenza RE750 Ultra High Performance Summer tires, Potenza RE950 High Performance all-seasons, or Potenza High Performance All-Seasons. The customer survey rates the Michelin Pilots at the top in all categories (list at $89), with the rest below on the list.

Does anyone have any preference in tire brands. I plan to use the Spyder almost exclusively in the summer, but am concerned about surprises that can occur, such as sheets of water that frequently run off the hills onto the Pacific Coast Highway that could cause traction/hydroplaning problems. So...I want 'em sticky, have anti-hydroplaning and fairly good ride capabilities, with mileage last on the list. Ideas?

Almost forgot. I got the information from tirerack.com...fantastic site for tire info.

Partial answer to my own question. There appears to be a problem with finding a front tire in 185/65/15 in the same brand as the rear 205/60/15 size. The only Brand/model that matches is the Bridgestone Potenza RE950, a "high-performance all-season" tire, as described by the tire rack. I would like a summer ultra-performance or summer high-performance, but there are no Brands that offer matching front and rear tires in the above sizes.

So....are there or should there be any problems with a 205 rear tire in one brand and a 185 front tire in another brand? I am thinking about handling on asphalt twisties as well as rain-grooved freeways.

And...are there any real differences between "summer" vs. "all-season" tires? I might be getting anal here, but can someone please give me a hand?

Yes, generally there is a difference between just summer and all season tires. The summer tires will be stickier because the manufactures don't have to worry about colder temps. Its all about the chemistry of the tire. high performance tires are great if you only use them in the summer. They all all designed to an extent of shedding some water.However, so if you not driving consistently in the rain (like in seattle) then the summer tires should be fine. Yes you can run different manufactures front and rear, but not side to side. And don't expect high performance tires to last longer than say 10,000 miles if you drive aggresively

Personally, i only use Bridgestone tires, if they are good enough to win 7 formula one championships and have become the sole supplier to F1 then they are good enough for me.

hope this helps

Thanks, Dustin. The next question that is on my mind: Is it better to go with the stickiest tires (I am considering that very sticky tires can cause a rather instant loss of traction with no warning in a tight turn) or tires that are less sticky, but that allow for more
"drift" in tight turns, giving the driver some warning of traction loss. I'm directing these comments to the particular cornering characteristics of the rear-engined Spyder.

A tire that has a higher mileage/wear rating would be nice, but if I can avoid an accident by using a tire that lasts only 10,000 miles, but that allows me to stay alive or out of the hospital, that is the tire I will buy.

I'm not sure how to respond to this question exactly. Even super sticky tires will still lose traction like a regular tire. however the forces needed to generate a breakaway is alot higher, therefore when they do go they go fast. i think its not the tires that are going to keep you out of the hospital, its your left foot. Go buy some moderately sticky tires, then go to the nearest track and push as hard as you can. learn the limits safely, slide off the track a few times, do enough damage that you never want to repeat having to fix something again. Get good at driving at speed. Moderate tires will give you a good combination of wear and safety (grip). After your track sessions, you will know how you and your car handle together. NEVER drive it a 100 percent on regular roads. While nobody cares when we total ourselves, they all get a little pissy when we take out a van of children because we overcooked a corner. Never rely on a tire to save your ass. IF so you are pushing to hard.

again, hope this helps.

When it comes to my next set of tires I sure would love the input of Spyder owers all who care to respond and tell me which tires you have been most satisfied with. I'm going to narrow that request to tires used not for all out racing or the ones that wear the longest,or some other specialty, but a tire that has served you well in dry and wet conditions, I guess a middle of the road tire that does everything well. Thanks for your time. Karl Dempwolf

I ordered Yokohama Avid H4s front and rears. $360 out the door price from America's Discount local branch. Costco offers the Bridgestone Potenza 950 in the same front rear combo (205/60/15 x 185/65/15). I wanted to keep the tread pattern similar and these are the only tires offered in a high-performance all-season tire. There were no "summer" high-performance tires that could be ordered with front/rear similar patterns, other than the Toyo, offered by Les Schwab. Schwab charged a lot more than the other two, and does not offer Yokohamas. The Toyo might have been in the running, but I didn't want to pay what Schwab wanted. FWIW, I spent many hours on Tire Rack to get the information I needed to make a decision.

How will the Yokos handle? I haven't a clue. I don't have a lead foot, so I would hope they will be okay. I'll give you my impressions after I get the tires installed and it stops raining.