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Best OE tires for my 97

Joined
6 March 2008
Messages
8
Location
IL
HI all, I have searched and read the tire thread, but I am not finding what I am looking for....at least something current.

I need new tires for my stock 1997 NSX. Choices seem lame, so unless I'm missing something......do I go BFG G-force rival or the Falken?

are there any NSX specific choices like the old days lol?

Thanks in advance!

John
 
Thanks for the quick response! Which of those would you do? Extreme contact?

Also, between the BFG and the Falken which would you choose? or would you absolutely go with the smaller fronts?
I'm an OE guy and I don't track my car, but do drive it "spiritedly"

Thanks again!!
 
For summer tire, I'd personally go with Firestone or Continental. Folks seem to really like both.

For all-season, I'd go with BFG or Continental.

I am a recent NSX guy, but downsized my 2005 fronts (17's) to 205 for the same reason- better choice of tires.
 
I put PS AS4 on my 2005 and love them, but that tire is not available in a 16" size that will work on the stock 1997 front wheel @Zgusto has.

Oops good catch. I have aftermarket 17/18 CE28 rims on my 1997.
 
Thanks for the quick response! Which of those would you do? Extreme contact?

Also, between the BFG and the Falken which would you choose? or would you absolutely go with the smaller fronts?
I'm an OE guy and I don't track my car, but do drive it "spiritedly"

Thanks again!!

Adjust your search from a 215/45/16 to a 205/45/16 for the front and you'll open up a lot more options. Don't be quickly turned off by the idea of not an OEM size. Do some digging on the ones you find and find out what the actual width is and you may be surprised. For example, the Hankook Ventus RS-4 was available in the 205/45/16 size (it's not any more unfortunately) but for the 205 tire it actually measured 213 so it was almost 215, i'm sure there are more out there that are a 205 listed tire with a width actually bigger than 205.
 
FYI The Tirerack link I provided in the first response is a custom size search for 205 fronts, not the standard 215 size.
 
Discount Tire Direct is another source.
 
Believe it or not, you might still be able to get the OEM tires from the Acura dealer or Japan-based Honda dealer by sea freight. They likely will be special order only and you'll probably have to donate a lung or kidney in terms of price, but here they are:

Bridgestone
FR - 42755-SL0-A82
FL - 42756-SL0-A82
RR - 42757-SL0-A82
RL - 42758-SL0-A82

Dunlop
FR - 42755-SL0-G82
FL - 42756-SL0-G82
RR - 42757-SL0-G82
RL - 42758-SL0-G82

Yokohama
FR - 42755-SL0-G83
FL - 42756-SL0-G83
RR - 42757-SL0-G83
RL - 42758-SL0-G83

NSX-R (Bridgestone)
FR - 42755-SL0-R01
FL - 42756-SL0-R01
RR - 42757-SL0-R01
RL - 42758-SL0-R01
 
with 215/45F and 255/40R you have few good options like Falken 660.

Looking on Tirerack, I notice that continental has added a new All Season variant DWS 06 Plus to the extreme contact family, and they produce a 205-45-16 (along with 245-40-17)! Probably similar to the model it is replacing, but hopefully it is a good tire for those of us looking for an all season, daily driver tire!
 
16/17 Dry Performance Options are still looking slim. I'd love to have some Pilot Sport 4S options but:

Anyone try the 205/45/16 (6.9") & 245/40/17 (8.3") Firestone 500s?
Or the Conti ECS in the same size? (actual 7.0", 8.6")
 
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16/17 Dry Performance Options are still looking slim. I'd love to have some Pilot Sport 4S options but:

Anyone try the 205/45/16 (6.9") & 245/40/17 (8.3") Firestone 500s?
Or the Conti ECS in the same size? (actual 7.0", 8.6")

I have the Conti ECS in those sizes. Once my car is on the road, I will report back. Going with the 205/45 front opens up more choices.
 
Honcho said:
I have the Conti ECS in those sizes. Once my car is on the road, I will report back. Going with the 205/45 front opens up more choices.
Awesome, thanks. I suspect we have very similar tastes :)


solidol said:
Any reason not to go with say Falkens or BFGR in 215/255?
Probably not a good one.

I had a set of Falken RT615s (no K) years ago that I really didn't like. No experience with BFG other than the KO2s on my truck.

I've had Firestone 500s on an S2000 (aka Bridgestone re003s). Good at any price, and excellent for what they cost. But I replaced them with Michelins. Never had Conti ECS on anything, but they are well reviewed.

So, for better or worse, that is how I got to ECSs and 500s.

Edit: And ordered the Contis.
 
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ventus r-s4

It's too bad they no longer make the R-S4 in those sizes anymore - it's been a great tire. Now I'm not sure what to get for my next set :(



Since 2008 i always run ventus r-s3,r-s4 needed new tires this year . Couldn't get them , decided on conti's , my tire guy recommends General G Max , very simple i dont like them he takes them off gives me the conti's . Put them on ,rides nice ,no noise , running them in cold weather no problem . I was skeptical because of the price ,didnt want cheap tires , they work fine .
 
Well, Contis are on. 205/245 combo fit better than I thought. They are much more communicative and quiet than the old 215/255 180 UTQG tires they replaced. I may have made a mistake by not going with a softer tire, but we'll see as they wear in. So far so good.
 
Well, Contis are on. 205/245 combo fit better than I thought. They are much more communicative and quiet than the old 215/255 180 UTQG tires they replaced. I may have made a mistake by not going with a softer tire, but we'll see as they wear in. So far so good.

I have same setup. Got about 17k out of the rear which I was very pleased with. Very good tire.
 
The more I drive them the more I like them. Kinda apples/oranges on the cars, but I think they are as good as the 500s and maybe a bit stiffer in the sidewall and quieter. The ultimate grip with a 340 treadwear tire less is noticeably less than I am used to, but maybe it is a good idea to slow down a bit anyways.
 
FWIW I really like the Indy 500 for a 3 season tire (I run them in the cooler months with RT615K+ on my NSX, along with RE71 and A052 on my S2000), they grip well even down to +5C weather (where the others turn into hockey pucks). My only gripe is that their sidewalls are softer than I like.
 
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