Can anyone rank the most popular summer performance tires based on the stiffness of the sidewalls? I'm nearing needing new tires and would like to keep the steering response of the run flats in a non-run flat tire.

Thanks

 

Falken Azenis's are about as stiff as they come. . .

For a more reasonable street tire, I've been quite happy with the steering response of my BFG G-force sports also, mainly, I'd stay away from most Khumos. . .

 

From what I've observed, the stiffness of the sidewalls on the new Bridgestone RE-01R is insane, which is one reason they're so dang heavy. Followed closely by the Yokohama ADVAN AD07... and then the Falken RT-615...

 

Falken Azenis RT-615.

 

This may be a funny data point, but I'm running 205/50R16's, and I recently replaced a set of Kumho Ectsa SPTs in that size with Goodyear Eagle F1 (gs-d3... or whatever that unmemeorable alphabet soup is...), and the Goodyear's have substantially stiffer sidewalls than the Kumho's - but still not quite as stiff as the OE Runflat Dunlop SP9000's, which were the same physical outer dimensions - but on a 17" rim: 205/45R17. I've also noticed the Goodyears are noticably noisier than the Kumhos, but that is offset by the substantially improved grip and predictability of the Goodyears.

I got the Kumho SPTs because they were primarily designed to have extended tread life, while providing the dry performance of the Kumho 712, which I ran on my Subaru with great satisfaction - other than they wore out very quickly. The SPT's do have some extended durability, but to me it was VERY obvious when the "good" layer of rubber compound wore away and I was left with the extended life compound - driveable, but not any better than runflats, in my opinion! Also, I used the front pair of SPTs up in around 13,000 miles (with one track day at Laguna seca, and "parade laps" at Vegas Speedway) of "spirited" driving - enough to get used to and become annoyed by the shriek of the Kumho's as they neared the critical slip angle. The Goodyears provide excellenet auditory feedback: a nice progressive increase in "rumble", without anything dramatic to distract the driver.

For what it's worth, I thought the Kumho's turn-in characteristics were decent, considering the improvement in ride comfort/traction over the performance runflats. Goodyears are better.

_Dave_

 

I like the SPT's as well. Especially if it rains alot where you live/drive. They don't stick as good as the Falken RT-615's, but they ride better and are better in the rain.

 

S03

 

S03's have very stiff sidewalls. As for the Kumho SPT - umm....sidewalls like butter. I had an issue with a valve stem on my BBS this weekend (while parked!) and the sidewall is 100% rubber Luckily, it was an easy fix but if you really want to know how stiff a sidewall is, deflate your tire to 5psi.

 

^^ S03's are almost as sturdy as runflats. well, not quite.

 

I have the Falken Azenis and love them, the side wall is super stiff. Though the rubber compound is super soft which makes them wear out quicker then others..

With it being a softer rubber it stickes to the road more, though with the tread pattern it dosn't do so well in the rain, it's more of a dry weather tire. You can use it in the wet, you just can't drive as agressively as you could with other tires.
Gilman.

 

tis true. I had 215/45/17 S03's stacked next to 205/55/15 SPT's and it was like night and day. I could barely flex the S03's with my hand, whereas the SPT's were soft and pliable.