After researching for the past few days and with a limited selection of UHPAS tires in a 255/45/17, I settled on the BF Goodrich's g-Force SuperSport A/S. Due to budgeting constraints, I was originally going to go with the either the Summitomo HTR+ or the Kumho ASX but after reading a ton of bad reviews (flat-spotting, tread seperation, overall poor performance), i did not want to compromise so much in performance and craftsmanship (safety) over $$$.

The Pirelli PZ Nero MS also reported problems of flat spotting so that was thrown out as well.

So that left me with the BF Goodrich's and Michelin PS A/S. Although, I have the Pilot on now, and have never had a problem with flat-spotting in the 2 1/2 years I've owned them (i drive about 8K/yr on this car) I just couldn't force myself to spend that kind of money again. I've never bought BF Goodrich tires before, its always been Michelin or BStone's for me, but given the moderate price, decent reviews (although not out very long), and it being owned my Michelin (since 1990) I decided to give them a shot. No reports of flat spotting on these tires, but again I believe this is a fairly new tire.

I hope to get them put on by this Friday or Sat so I'll let you guys know how they are.

another nice thing with tirerack is that I received a call maybe an hour after I placed the order to notify me that the size I bought is not the OEM size and that it is an 1" bigger in diameter. Glad that they are looking out for their customers... don't worry gary, i referenced your name on the order.

 

never looked into the goodyear f-1 a/s? Cheaper and better than most the tires you mentioned...

 

Thanks! And I think you made a good choice, we've been very happy with these tires.

 

F1 A/S cheaper than the Goodrich SS he bought? I doubt it.

 

not sure, sorry...definately cheaper & better than the michelin's he mentioned.

 

but they didn't come in the size I was looking for, 255/45/17... they do come in the stock 255/40/17 and are about $25 more expensive than BF's.

I got the tires put on yesterday afternoon and the higher sidewall definitely adds some nice cushion that I was looking for. It kinda rides like an S-class now, and just rides so much smoother.

People at the shop were asking why I would trade off handling for a cushier ride on a car like mine, and I told them with the car weighing in at 4K+ lbs, it isn't the most "sportiest" car to begin with and to me its a better real world application, and plus I don't drive this car hard that often. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't mind a nice set of BBS LM's with Pilot Sport PS2's but don't want to have to deal with all the hassles that come with it, i.e. vibration, bent wheels, bubbles in sidewalls...

So far, I can say that I'm happy with my decision with the limited amount of miles that I've driven, but the true test will come this winter.

 

cool, I haven't looked into the BFG tires you got but i'm sure they're pretty nice.

 

Incidentally, BFG is Michelin's "cheap line"

Michelin has a great quality rep

 

i was looking at those and the BFGs.

 

mine are not compared w/ BFG kdw2's..but those are supposed to be really noisy.