Author Topic: Good summer tire for a Focus (Read 1048 times)

wadem · « **on:** July 28, 2005, 09:22:25 pm »

I am looking for a good summer tire (already have a set of winters) for my zx3 focus. I was considering 3 or 4 different models the Kumho 712's, Falken 451 or 512, Toyo Proxes 4 and the Fuzion zri. These tires are all pretty close in price and I am just looking for the best out of the bunch. My main goal is good wet weather handling as my stock Firehawks suck in the wet.

The size is 205-50-16. I am willing to consider other tires that are close to the same prize. Thanks

tortoise · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2005, 11:29:40 pm »

I have the proxes 4 on my Protege 5 in the size you are interested in. I really like them, but have only put about 2000 km on them. They seem to perform really well in the rain. There was no hydroplaning at all in the water that had pooled in the ruts of the two lane highway I was driving on.

Pros: Quiet Ride.
Tons of Grip (with no squealing, and believe me, I've tried!).
Seem to perform well in the rain.
Smooth ride.
They look cool. (It's minor i know, but they do look cool!)

Cons: Treadwear probably won't be the best. (but most likely no different that the other tires you are looking at)
The sidewall seems a tad softer than the stock dunlops (but,I changed those out pretty quickly)
I suspect the softer sidewall gives a nice ride, but sacrifices some handling.

Overall, I really like them and this recommend them.

morty · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2005, 01:49:41 am »

Other tires you can add to your list in the same price catagory are Kumho Ecsta(replaced the 712), Sumitomo HTRZII(great summer performance for price) and BFG gForce Sport.

TireTrends - A Life Less Ordinary!

wadem · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2005, 08:54:20 am »

Which out of all those mentioned would be the best in the rain or at least much better than what is on the car now (Firehawk gta)? Right now everytime I hit a puddle of water going more than 90 the car hyroplanes. Thanks

morty · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2005, 01:16:49 am »

Of all the tires mentioned...best in the rain would be the Proxes 4 and ZE512.

TireTrends - A Life Less Ordinary!

svtwannabe · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2005, 05:58:11 pm »

I'm currently running the Proxes4's on my ZTS. I love the grip in dry and wet, comfort, and their quality. I may get a chance to play with them this weekend at Shannonville, but I may be too distracted by the GT :-)

A good amount of highway miles, and they are still holding up well.

I ran the Kumho 712's before this set. For the price, they were great. I didn't like how, with any performance tire, they got very noisy after 50% wear. I got about two summers worth of driving on them before uneven wear got them.