Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires Time for new tires............Feedback please!!!!

Thanks again for the feedback guys. I have heard great things about the Continental ContiExtremes and your feedback is very helpful. Sounds like a great tire! One thing though............has anyone run a 225/50/16 on the factory SVT 16" rims? Any rubbing anywhere? I wouldn't expect any issues, but never hurts to ask.

Thanks to CLASSVT for the Comp TA VR4 feedback, those sound good too. If I decide to go 215/50/16 I will definitely go with the VR4s. I like the way you said "I think you could get away with abusing some VR4's", just what I wanted to hear!

Next tire I get will be the ContiExtremes. I want something that feels safer in rain than Nitto 450s. The prices on the ContiExtremes seems to be the best for the quality of tire your getting. I think the ContiExtremes would be better in rain than the VR4s, but the VR4s should be better dry. The 225/50 should be fine, speedo will be off just a little though because of more sidewall.

Geez, I finally pretty much made up my mind on what tires to get, either BFG Comp TA VR4s or Continental ContiExtremes. Both tires have rave reviews on tirerack.com and I have received much positive feedback on this forum as well.

I talked to my local tire guy yesterday and told him I was considering these tires because the KDWs were a bit too rough and noisy and I wanted to try something new. He told me that both these tires ride just as rough as the KDWs and that I would be unhappy with them if I was looking for more comfort. I find this hard to believe and will probably go with one of those tires anyway, but it still drove me nuts when he said that. He suggested a set of Pirelli's if I wanted a more comfy ride. In my experience with Pirelli tires I seem to recall that they were oriented towards performance and not a cushy ride. Oh well, everybody has their own opinion. As a tire guy I'm sure he's just making a generic assessment, obviously he's never suited up an SVT with different tires to see how they really behave. His loss! Hehehehehe.........

From your choices, these might be a little high in price but the Firestone SZ 50 EP's are very nice on wet and dry pavement, they handle just about equally when cornering. They are quieter and smoother riding than the Firestone GTA's that came stock on my SE. I got some 16" wheels to get these tires. They are on the SVT best seller list at the Tire Rack for '98 SVT's. Right now the Tire Rack has them priced at $117, $35 less then they were when I got my second set last year. At $117/tire, worth looking into.

I just replaced mine with the stock size.

By the way, does this tire guy sell either the vr4's or the continentals?? If not, you have to realize that he is telling you this to turn you away from those tires and to buy one that he sells. just my .02

Svtman21, I'm interested in your evaluation after driving the VR4's a while. I'm looking for some new tires soon. Thanks to everyone for the info!

IM needing to replace the front right side tire due to it almost worn past slick..ready to blow. I bought the car (1998 gl 2.0 zetec) back in november and have put jsut over 10k on these, but dont know how old they are anyways (63,5xx on the car)

from recommendations i went and looked around tirerack.com
for all 185/70TR 14 tires.
the ones that seemed to be very affordable and very reliable from feedback were the Firestone - Firehawk INdy 500 ($49) anyone gone this route or think it would be neat/stupid to have this on a side of a contour?

im thinking about it..but just neeed some help with suggestions for a pair of tires - for under $70 each tire.

thanks for any help,
Michael

1998 Contour 2.0 Zetec 63,5xx miles

I'll sell you three YKS tires with very little wear for $40+ shipping. They're not too bad of tires.