CudaJoe

iTrader: (1)

Hey all,

I ended up buying a set of gently used Enkei M52's off a member here and looking at them, they are in pretty good shape minus the one rim that has some paint damage on 6 of the spokes, not bad.

They are 18x8 with a 40 offset. I am trying to figure out what kind of tires I want to run on them. Currently I have my stock wheels with Continental DWS tires (fairly new with plenty of life left). I am going to use those as my fall/winter wheels and these Enkeis as my spring summer wheels. The only tires I have ever known have been Kuhmo Ectsa ASX, Continental ContiSport Contact 2's and the Continental DWS tires.

Kuhmo Ecsta's for all intents and purposes are garbage and a poor persons choice. I was using them cause they look like a tire and are made of some sort of rubber like substance. They got me through college and high school though their life expectancy for a 320 treadwear tire lacked horribly. Most id get is 15,000 miles out of them... That was on a 2000 Hyundai Tiburon.

The Contisport Contact 2's. I think that's what the stock LNF tire was called (~$220 a tire). These had really good grip, like they **** all over Kuhmos lol. But. Life expectancy was less than 20k miles. The Extreme Contact DWS tires are amazing for all-seasons. I switched to all-seasons on the cobalt since I drive year around. These tires pretty much lasted me 47,000 miles and I ended up buying another set. They just don't handle 300 hp very well lol. spinssssssszzzzz. Im sure Kuhmos would never grab traction as George Izzaboss proved on facebook. lol.

Well, now Im yearning for some fun sticky tires again. Something that doesn't break the bank but handles 300 whp and 330 trq like a champ. These will ultimately go on only during the summer and spring, no cold weather.

Pics of the wheels


NOW tire choices ive narrowed down to.

225/40/18 Continental Extreme contact DW (max performance summer tire according to Tirerack) $132 a tire

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....autoModClar=SS



or

235/40/18 Dunlop Direzza ZII's (extreme performance summer tire) $169 a tire

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....autoModClar=SS



Both tires are on sale right now. Direzza's are on close out due to the new Direzza ZII star specs. The Continental DW's are cheaper and a likely candidate because they are in the same performance class as the stock cobalt SS LNF tires (max performance) but I really like the idea of having extreme tires lol.

Most have said that the Direzza's are just short of having R-compound track tires but they are street legal. My biggest question needing an answer here is... 235/40/18 is a slightly bigger tire size and the Direzza's have a wider than usual tread length normally. All the gurus and the internet wheel calculators of the world say these should be fine. Im on stock suspension.

Is anyone running this tire or a similar tire at 235/40/18 on the stock wheels or similar size wheels? I believe stock wheels are 18x7.5 with a 42 offset.

Dipped_Cobalt

Dunlops.

Staged07SS

iTrader: (25)

I run the Direzza's with my M52's.... love them so far.

ECaulk

iTrader: (6)

I run Nitto 555s 235/40/18 without issue on Powell YYZs, which is pretty damn good tire, granted tire rack doesnt sell Nittos

CudaJoe

iTrader: (1)

im thinking the Direzza's definitely lol. There was a close out sale on some BF Goodrich tires as well. $150 a tire. Tempted by them as well but the only tire anyone has been telling me is Direzza z2s

cobaltss#01

iTrader: (4)

I got direzza II and love them.

turbocharged717

Same here but 225 on coils. They are pretty good.

CudaJoe

iTrader: (1)

so update to this thread. I got the Direzza zII's. Also the universe is playing a cruel joke on me. I hit a pothole and blew out my Continental DWS which is like brand new.... Theres a hole in the side wall.

What are the odds my rim is bent ?

It doesn't look bent at all in this photo but... you never know




Boy I enjoy throwing spares on the rear

Dipped_Cobalt

^^ buy an extra regular size wheel to have for a spare, fawk donuts.

how hard of a pothole..cus if it poped the tire..oh my

CudaJoe

iTrader: (1)

It popped the tire. I guess it was hard then? My first time blowing a tire from a pothole :/

Dipped_Cobalt

im sure the rim took the impact, but should be sound. once on the balancer it should show.

CudaJoe

iTrader: (1)

called the delaware state insurance company, gave them my info, they said they will contact me when the claim goes through.

On the other hand i got my tires and wheels on now so I figured Id post it up






Brakes need some love next, lol.