pockeTTs

(skip to bottom for tire info...)

Friday night I got a nail in my rear, driver's side sidewall cruising out to Irvine's GAMEWORKS from L.A. I noticed it after we'd parked and were about to get something to eat before blasting aliens or racing head-to-head Sega style. I figured, I've got roadside assist, let's see if it's still inflated when we get out.

Sure enough, it was still inflated and we drove back at less than nominal speeds with no problems. The next morning, it was still inflated so I set out to get it replaced.

I bought my FWD180TC used. It had been traded in on a Porsche and so I traded in my 1994 Z28 for its silver beauty. Anyhow, it came with new tires but the front and rear didn't match (Bridgestones in the back, Nittos in the front) and neither were brands I would prefer to have on the car. Okay, so do I replace the one that's gone with the same model or replace the back two with what I want or all four with what I want?

I went to Just Tires to inquire about a replacement RE040. Special order, couple days, $230 plus installation and all the tack-on, hidden charges. Don't think so. I'd rather spend a little more on a set of Dunlop SP9000s or Pirelli Asimmetricos, both cheaper and better tires than the Bridgestone. Oh, they can get them too, special order, same price. Okay, thanks, see'ya.

So I hopped online to see if I could find a Discount Tire in the area. Sure enough, though it's called American Tire out here. Poking around at their brands and prices I came across a brand that wasn't really familiar but I'd heard of them once before: Kumho. Yeah, the cover story for last month's European Car, the supercharged 993 had Kumho rubber and the Porsche tuner said he hadn't seen price/performance like this in any tire, ever. Sold. Good enough for me. And jee-zus, they were only $110 each at American Tire.

I did some poking around and side by side comparisons and these look like some of the best kept secrets out there. The Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 meets or beats both the Dunlop and Pirelli rubber in nearly every category. Check this out and think about it next time you need new feet for your TT:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare2.jsp?compare=true&partNumber=&make=&model= &price=&width=225%2F&ratio=45&diameter=17&sortCode =49650&speedRating=&qty=&stockMessage=&type=T&manu facturer=Dunlop&manufacturer=Kumho&manufacturer=Pi relli&startIndex=0&sortValue=%23&compareList=0&qty _245ZR79000_=4&qty_245YR70DR_=4&compareList=2&qty_ 245YR70A_=4&qty_245YR70D_=4&qty_245YR70AR_=4&qty_2 45ZR70DN2_=4&qty_245WR72000E_=4&qty_245ZR78080E_=4 &compareList=8&qty_245WR7ES712_=4&qty_245WR77000S_ =4