Z Tire Ideas??
 

I'm getting my new '11 in April and one thing I already know for sure is that i'm going to swap out the Bridgestone Pontenza out for another brand of tire that is much more quite and longer lasting, but mainly to resolve the noise issue. So far I've gotten positive comments about Michelin Pilot Sports, although I've heard some good things about the Hankook Ventus v12 EVO. I would appreciate anyone's input on this... Thanks in advance:tiphat:2

Look at the Bridgestone RE11's

:iagree: although they are a bit pricey. Hankook's can't match them performance wise, but you won't be disappointed. Only way to resolve the noise issue is to lay down some Dynamat.

Get your money's worth out of the OEM tires first. The Ventus V12s are quieter and should last longer, but if you really want to cut down on noise you need to install sound deadening material throughout the entire cabin and hatch. Tires are only going to make a minimal difference.

I just bought the v12s they get put on Friday morning I went with a 255/40R19 in the front and a 285/35R19 in the back. Installed for under 1000. I will let you know what I think about sound.

Just remember, the less tread they have, the louder they are. So even going from well used stocker's to new ones would be substantially quieter. I don't think the Hankook's actually are that much quieter than the stock tires.

The v12's are not even in the same category as the re-11's. If you want all out performance get the re-11 if you want a sedan with soft sidewalls and a quiet ride get the v12's.

The v12's are cheap and thats why people buy them. Its kinda like being penny wise and pound foolish just like the people that ask...is it ok to run 87 octane in my Z so they can save 2 dollars at the pump. You bought a sports car treat it like one. If you wanted a quiet soft ride get a Infinity.

The V12 actually isn't a bad tire at all. If you drive on the street and want a little extra life out of them they are a great buy. Sure, cost is a factor, but they review very well for a street tire. I had them on my Z after the Potenzas as a street setup and they did very well. Drove the snot out of them at ZDayZ and they were very grippy and predictable.

I would never compare their performance to an RE11, but if you want a good street tire you really can't go wrong with them. Another plus is they are absolutely fantastic in the wet.

They might not be the best tire, but they handled my first track event just fine. No complaints from me or my instructor. That said, I'll be getting the RE-11's on my extra set of wheels I have, specifically for track events.

I would not be surprised if they are quieter.

I was able to compare the RE050 to the Continental DWS when both were brand new, since the dealer replaced the tires before I bought the car, and a couple of months later I put on the Continentals to deal with the cold weather/light snow.

I am not sure how much ride difference it made, but the Continentals are definitely quieter than the RE050 tires. Since I am driving in cold/icy/wet conditions a lot, and I was taking it easy when I first got the car, I can't say how the handling compares.

But tires can definitely make a big difference in droning noise at cruise. Now, pebble/dirt/sand noise is just as bad with either.

Wilsonp, I noticed that you have the Persimmon interior, I too will be getting that with my Z. Do you have any issues with it?

I bought the car used at about 19k miles, about 1.7 years old.

The main issue I see is the inside of the door grab is dirty where it was pulled to open/close the door, and it is very difficult to clean the alcantara to restore the orginal color. Some day I'll get around to posting some pictures to my web site of the issue.

The only other issue that occurred before I bought the car was a crease or fold (or stain) in the driver's side leather on the seat back, which is a darker shade of orange than the rest. Putting some leather conditioner on the seats evened this out somewhat, and darkened the overall color making it look a little less Halloween and a little more tan leather :)