Kumho Ecsta 712 on OEM Wheels?

[SoCal-NSX]

I know I'm begging for a flame here but I checked the FAQ's and don't see that anyone has tried this out. The feedback I've seen on other Kumho's is that they will probably make a pretty good daily driver tire and then I can have a set of Yokes for the track.

They make a 225/40/17 so the rear is OEM size but the fronts have to be either 215/40/16 (888 Revs) or 225/40/16 (875 Revs).

Anyone done this?

Option 2 is race on the OEM wheels and get an aftermarket wheel that allows me to get tires that aren't $800+/set.

Dave
'94 Brooklands Green Pearl

 

[ilya]

I don't know about Kumhos in stock size, but I can give a little insight into how they perform since I use them daily.
Kumhos are not even in the same class as Yoko or Bridgestones. However, for the money they are a solid performing tire for the street. I use Kumhos as my daily driver tires. When cold they are pretty hard, but once warmed up they actually grip quite well.

They are much better than all of the cheap brands available (for around the same price), but not nearly as good as the stock Yokohamas. For street and even canyon runs, I like the Kumhos. For the street, I want a tire with a decent wear rating. For canyons, I like a tire that breaks loose fairly easily and gives me plenty of warning before I end up over the cliff. With Yokos I would be going much faster before I lose traction... and by that time it may be too late. That's why I actually prefer cheaper tires for street and even canyon runs. I have broken the Kumhos loose plenty of times on a canyon run and it has always been at a speed well within my ability to regain control. If you're going fast enough to slide with your Yokos....

I'll pick up a set of Bridgestones if I can ever get my butt to one of the local tracks where I don't have to worry about sliding off. I guess a good driving school wouldn't hurt either.


[This message has been edited by ilya (edited 13 May 2002).]

 

[SoCal-NSX]

Good feedback. What size are you running on what size wheel?

BTW, for a good local track/driving school, here's my 0.02 http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/004441.html

Thanks,
Dave

 

[ilya]

My tires are much larger, running 17/18 wheels. 275/35 rears. I forget the fronts, 225/40 guessing. They're still a bit slippery until warmed up though. They grip well at low speeds, but are not very good for high speeds.
The car drifts very easily through higher speed sweepers like a long freeway interchange.

I've also found that I can set my alignment back to factory spec and beyond (-2.5 rear camber) and still get plenty of life out of the Kumhos.

[This message has been edited by ilya (edited 13 May 2002).]

 

[V12NSX]

I currently use the Kumhos as my daily drivers in 225/40/16 front and 255/40/17 rear. They are fine for every day driving. I really don't do a lot of hard driving till I'm at the track. I have a set of SSR type C's shod with Hoosiers for that. I've already gone through 3 sets of OEM's in one year of owning my car, hence the move to Kumhos.

S.L.

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

I ran kumho ecsta 712 with 215/40/16 and 255/40/17.

 

[DaveG]

I have the 225/40/16 Kumho's on the front and 255/40/17 on the rears. I think they make a good street tire and for the price you can't beat em'. BTW, I live right up the road from you in RSM near the golf course. Private me if you want to check out the tires on my car.

Dave

QUOTE]Originally posted by SoCal-NSX:
I know I'm begging for a flame here but I checked the FAQ's and don't see that anyone has tried this out. The feedback I've seen on other Kumho's is that they will probably make a pretty good daily driver tire and then I can have a set of Yokes for the track.

They make a 225/40/17 so the rear is OEM size but the fronts have to be either 215/40/16 (888 Revs) or 225/40/16 (875 Revs).

Anyone done this?

Option 2 is race on the OEM wheels and get an aftermarket wheel that allows me to get tires that aren't $800+/set.

Dave
'94 Brooklands Green Pearl

[/QUOTE]

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by SoCal-NSX:
I know I'm begging for a flame here

 

[SoCal-NSX]

I deserved that

[This message has been edited by SoCal-NSX (edited 14 May 2002).]

 

[POWERED by HONDA]

I'm running front Kumho's in 225/45R16.

Did I pick the wrong size? Everyone else is running with 40 series sizes (in 215 and 225).

I tried to keep the overall diameter as close to stock (215/45R16) as possible... and according to PowerDog's tiresize calculator (http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi), the 225/45R16 size has a 1.5% difference in size compared to OEM while the others have a higher % difference:

215/40-16 -3.6%
225/40-16 -2.3%

???

 

[V12NSX]

It's not just the difference of the fronts to fronts, but the difference from front to rear if you are concerned about TCS being bothered. Yes the non-stock sizes are a little larger in diamter overall, but not a lot. (I get in and out of driveways a little easier!)

S.L.