Hi i am thinking about buying 285/40/17's for my SS what do you guys think about kumho's and what are you guys running and or recomend thanx John

 

I know people with nittos that have nothing bad to say so I am probably going to go with nittos when I get a tire change.

 

I put a pair of stock size Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 ($85/tire) on the back of my Camaro recently and have no complaints. I still run the Potenza RE730s on the front of my Camaro and all the way around my Impala. The Kumhos have a nice wide water channel which I hope will help keep hydroplanning to a minimum at the Camaro's light weight rear. The price is excellent (~1/3 less than the Potenzas) and I've heard good things about their handling characteristics from autocrossers. Good fodder for the kill zone.

'98 Camaro Z28 M6
'95 Impala SS

My Bowtie Website

 

I've "heard" a few things about these tires. They are a good buy for the money, perform well in the rain, and they handle good. When it comes to the track though, I heard they don't hook up as well as other tires. This is only what I heard though. I need some new tires too, and these are some of the tires towards the top of the list.

 

I too was thinking about these tires a while ago when I was considering getting new American Racing Torque Thrust II's 17x9.5 to replace my stock 16x8's. Although not the best tires out there, the price is great for the performance you get, or least what I hear from tirerack.com and its customers in the reviews section. I decided not to go that route though, and spent some money in other parts of my car instead since the tread on my current tires have about 20,000 miles left. But when I decide to get a new set of wheels and tires, Kuhmo 712's will most likely be my choice.

 

When I bought my Chrome SS wheels, I shelled out a lot of $$$. So i needed to buy some tires that fit, but didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I got the Kumho tires you guys are talking about. They are awesome in the rain, (it is raining at my house now), and they are even better on dry pavement. They have performed WELL beyond my expectations. I'm very impressed.

 

The Kumho Ecsta Supra 712s were the best tires EVER for the price, and performed better than many other far more expensive tires on my 94 Z28. So well that there is NO question what will be on the '00 SS as soon as I finish killing the factory rubber (23k).

They are great in the rain, better in the dry, and finally let me drive the darn car in the rain without being hyperaware of how hard I turned. (Autocross alignment specs up front helped a lot too.) The Kumhos wore well even with my aggressive driving style and the autocross alignment.

I tried the 716... adequate, but even with some snow, I'm back to the 712 for year round use.

These are NOT a drag tire. If you want to hook, buy real slicks with the money you save on these. Nothing will ever hook as well as a dedicated set of wrinkle slicks, and a super sticky street tire wears too fast on the street, while being exposed to damage I personally don't want to risk my life racing on.

To those who like Nittos... tell you what. Try the kumho 712, and if you like them as well as the Nittos, send me the difference in price between the two sets.

 

I think Kumhos get good reviews from some who havent had good tires... I had the Yokohama AVS Intermediates.. great all around street tire.. Had to pass inspection so I picked up 2 Kumhos for the rear.. Those things were the slickest pieces of crap.. even after a few hundred miles to get past the "new tread" slickness.. they just were not good at all.. I soon switched them to the front and then got rid of the car.. so IMO, I wouldnt get them unless I had no other choice at all.. Like Michellin says "Theres alot riding on your tires" why skimp? I say look at about 20-40 more per tire and get yourself something decent..

I still have the stock GS-C's but I dont race in them... I now have 1 pair of Nittoz, 1 pair of BFG DR's and 1 pair of ET Streets not mounted..

For everyday tires I would look again at Yokohama or maybe even Michellin or Pirelli (although the P-Zeros I have do wear quickly).

 

You get what you pay for in tires! I would try the new Yokohama AVS ES100 for 17" applications, they cost about $120/tire and are very good in the dry and wet. www.tirerack.com

 

I dunno about the Kumhos, good traction, HORRIBLE WEAR (200), for 121 shipped at discounttiredirect.com not a bad price, ive went through them twice, there a good tired when DRY, hated rain and snow my god, ive almost died. I just ordered 4 bfgoodrich kwds gforces treadwerar 400 a trac a brakein, 154 shipped per tired, not bad if you ask me, go by the tire ratings, your wear traction etc. only comparable tire to the bf was the michelin which also had a 400 tredware AA trac and A brakin GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CHOICE

 

well i ended up just ordering the nitto's 555 285/40/17 to match the front owell thanks guys

 

good choice My84Z....i think i'll try some nittos next time too

Hyperspeed - i hope you enjoy the kdws more than i did. i just did 18 months with a set on my impala and it felt like 18 years. they did not come close to the ride/handling of the t/a radials they replaced. when i got my re730s put on this fall it rode/handled like a different car. i can't imagine running that tire on an f-body, it was difficult enough on a b. i think it's the 's' that does it because i've heard good things about the kdw. they should help ya in the snow though, have fun!