I'm trying to find nice extreme high performance summer tires for my car, but I can't seem to find anything in the stock 235/55/17 size? I've found some ultra high performance choices like the Sumitomo HTR Z III or the Yokohama s.drive, but they don't seem nearly as nice as some of the extreme performance summer tires. Is there any option out there or am I just out of luck on this?

 

http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...tem=StreetComp

 

Nice, those look pretty good actually. They look almost exactly like Cooper RS-3's.

 

Speaking of that, does anyone have Cooper RS3-S tires on their GT? I think I might go with those when my P-Zero's wear down.

 

Mark,

Check these tiees out.

http://www.federaltire.com/en/produc...ts_detail_sn=5

The closest to the size you're looking fo is 235/45ZR/17 but I think for he price they're outstanding, great traction on dry pavement and wet. Right now I'm running the SS595 in 235/50ZR/18.

 

Those do look really nice, wish they had them in the 235/55/17 size. I think I'm going to go with the Cooper's when I save up the money. I had no idea they were used on the Roush Mustangs.

 

g-Force T/A KDW 2

This is a very good tire and made in the USA. Unless you are racing constantly this ultra high performance tire will be sweet on your '07. Good '300 AA A' tread wear with top ratings. My GT/CS had the g-force as original equipment and really no complaints. I just like the Goodyears better but that isn't an option for your tire size.
Be very careful about the Coopers. Many (not all) Coopers are now made in China. No thanks! If it doesn't bother you, then no problem.

 

Why do the Roush Mustangs come with Coopers then? I can't imagine Jack Roush putting something cheap and Chinese made on his cars?

 

They are probably the ones NOT made in China. I said many, not all. I would be curious though.
Research is key in any tire purchase as you know. I hate to see someone 'burned' or disappointed after a purchase is made. Best of luck with your decison. Just trying to help on an important purchase.

 

I bought riken raptors from summit last year, 4000 miles the fronts were cupped inside and out horribly... All 4 have dryrot cracking around every letter and ridge on the sidewalls...at under a year old?

They are from singapore or something, supposedly made by michelin, never again... Michelin makes great passenger tires, but not in asia

The kdw has been highly recommended by a lot of folks, i might be going that way soon too...

 

I'm never too thrilled about buying tires online, I found this out with my motorcycle. Each tire comes with a born on date and sometimes when you buy a tire online you get one that's been sitting around for a long time. Over time the tire deteriorates and even though they're new they won't last long.

 

Yeah, for sure. Is there any way to tell where a specific tire is made before purchasing?

 

Definitely. Nothing beats 'in person' looking plus the excellent reason given by Gigantor above (the date of manufacture is very important too). Tire Rack shows where the tire is made on every tire they sell in the 'specifics' or 'details' area. There are many buttons to 'click on' for each tire. That's one of the reasons why I recommended that one tire to you previously. The only problem I have encountered is that the data gets old pretty quick as tire maunfacturers change. Tire Rack even has a disclaimer about it. I bought some Firestone white lettered tires for my SS and went solely by Tire Rack stating the tire was 'Made in the USA'. Unfortunately the sidewall was stamped 'Made in Mexico' when I bought them. They had switched very recently to a new plant. There were only two brands available for my SS and the other one was also 'Made in Mexico'. Sometimes you just don't have a choice. You do. You definitely "get what you pay for when it comes to tires". I can't say that enough. Nothing worse than 'cheap tires' that tramline or have road noise once they hit the 50% tread mark. No thanks!

 

I'm pretty sure the Cooper RS-3 tires are made in America. I was looking up more info about them and read that in a review. Might have been from Road & Track. I can't remember now, haha. I think I"m going to go with the RS-3's. They have a really nice tread pattern and they're cheap. $620 for the 4 tires including installation and all that jazz.

 

Here's a few posters and links that say 'Made in China'. Better make sure if it matters to you. The first one from a BMW owner in 2012 talking about RS3. "My coopers are made in china, it was the only thing I could get on sunday

I have noticed they don't leave black on the road, must be a very hard compound, i've also noticed my rear slipping with hard curves

I'm not happy with these tires for my driving style, if you're a straight line driver there great for the price

I won't buy again!"

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=2857408
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forum...p/t-74762.html

 

Hmm, where are the stock Pirelli P-Zero tires made?

 

Right now Pirelli manufactures the P Zero 235/55/17 in 3 countries, Mexico. Brazil, and yup, China .
Since you don't like the BFG I mentioned, did you happen to see this incredible Pirelli 'close-out' value on Tire Rack?? Ultra high performance summer tire in your size too. Plus a rebate!! The tire was made in Germany. No problem there.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

 

I have the cooper rs-3 tires on my '05 GT now and I can say I've been nothing but impressed. Now I have no idea what country they are from and I never looked but they have been very good to me over the last 5K miles or so

 

Could you please post some pictures of the tires on your car? I would really appreciate that.

 

It's not that I don't like that BFG, I can't decide if it looks cool or if it looks too much like a 4x4 tread...if that makes any sense.