How sticky?

[kai-wun]

Hai..!

I just realized how little much I need to save to live a happy life, and though the Fit is a huge part of it ... I am starting to low for ways to cut down on the modding bug.

Tires.

I've always, and still do, believe that Tires are the number one (after Driver Training, of course) more influential way to improve handling of a car. Handling, braking, acceleration even.

I've had my heart set on Dunlop Direzza Z1 Sport Star Specs. Apparently the new "star" of the seasons, wickedly sticky for a wicked price.

Now the question is, are these Star Specs too much "tire" for a stock GE8? 118hp, 107lb-ft of fury. Drum brakes and torsion beam rear suspension isn't exactly ideal for the track either.

The Star Specs are actually quite attractively priced, just their treadwear rating is horrific. I love driving, therefore will be driving a lot. I've heard them going bare anywhere from 20-30,000km ... which means new tires every summer or two.

What are some alternatives? I've heard good things about Yokohama S.Drives (which obviously aren't in the same league but my friend still keeps raving about them) and the Falken ZE912 on my father's car feels quite planted.

Thoughts? Star Specs still worth it, or can I find a longer lasting tire that will give same/similar performance as the Star Specs just 'cos the Fit doesn't have the potential?

At the limits, is the bottleneck still the tire (star specs) or the fit (not enough power, brakes, handling etc)?

[Gbaby2089]

if i were you i'd have to sets of wheels and tires, one for sporty driving one for DDing

[Fitguy07]

Best value for your $$ - Kumhom Ecsta SPT, BF Goodrich Traction NA, Fuzion ZRI, Dunlop Direzzas. Again, the most sticky tire will get worse gas mileage and horrible treadlife. It's a matter of what your willing to sacrifice.

[kai-wun]

Originally Posted by Gbaby2089

if i were you i'd have to sets of wheels and tires, one for sporty driving one for DDing

That's a bit much. I think I might pick up 15x7 with Star Specs JUST for track, but I'm not gonna be swapping tires every time I wanna do "sporty driving".

I will definitely have snow tires for winters ... but just wondering what I should do for summer.

[Gbaby2089]

yeah i realized that after i posted what i meant was exactly what you posted......

[cargun]

Star specs outgrip the Fit's chassis... I back corners off to where the car feels comfortable as the tires keep gripping and gripping. I have 150 miles on the tires now and the rear tires still have nubbies all the way across them. The fronts' were gone in the first 5 miles though.

An 04 Celica GTS takes the same road at the same pace as the Fit now... the tires limit the Celica (Kumho Solus KH16) as I never seem to phase its suspension.

The Fit could be way better if the rear tires/suspension could be made to share some of the load. But to make it really handle I think a complete shock/spring/swaybar package is necessary.

I wouldn't let the simpleton suspension turn you off though, look at what car's like the F-body do with solid rear axles. Weight bias is the Fit's biggest issue that I would try and address before complaining about the lack of a fancy suspension setup.

[BoostLE]

I'm in a similar dilemma and keep reminding myself how well this little car handled when it was stock. The stickier rubber makes the car lean more and it feels less planted sometimes..as if it's easier to lift the inside tire. Stickier rubber might make more sense if I had stiffer suspension to go along with it.

I'm running the Falken Azenis RT615's(15K miles) now and had Michelin Pilot PE2 (28K miles)before. I might just go back to a longer wearing A/S tire like the OEM tires.

[awptickes]

I DD my fit with star specs. I love it. It's so confidence instilling... I can make that car do anything with those tires. I also race with the same tires and wheels, and I find the tires match the chassis quite well. These tires warm up quickly, are predictable, and easy to keep on the edge. They're great autocross tires. They're also great sporty-driving DD tires. You'll never exceed the traction limits on the street driving sanely, I think they're incredibly safe tires.

I would not suggest anything with a TW rating under 250 without suspension upgrades. Unexpected things happen on the street with soft suspension and sticky tires.

I started driving in Germany, so I don't see anything wrong with replacing tires every two seasons, and using summer tires in the summer, and winter tires in the winter. I love the Direzza star specs to death and I will use these tires again if I need a cold-compound tire.

[awptickes]

I didn't notice you were considering the zeix ze-912s as well.

I have both sets of tires. I even had the ze912s on the same wheels I had the star specs on. Night and day. And to be honest, I'd rather buy a set of star specs every two summers than buy one set of ze912s. I use the ze912s in the winter, and I really really really strongly reccomend thinking that they're going to satisfy you. The fit slips and slides around with them, even when warm/hot outside.

[JDMxGE8]

I don't see anything wrong with running Star Specs on a GE8. I would if I had new wheels.

[awptickes]

I'm not recommending it to people who think they can drive but can't. The OP looks like he might be able to handle it.

The direzza z1 star specs were the best dollar to second ratio mod I put on my car.

I watched a civic with stock suspension roll over because the kid put some stickies on it and took a corner too fast, so you can understand why I hesitate.

[JDMxGE8]

Originally Posted by awptickes

I'm not recommending it to people who think they can drive but can't. The OP looks like he might be able to handle it.

The direzza z1 star specs were the best dollar to second ratio mod I put on my car.

I watched a civic with stock suspension roll over because the kid put some stickies on it and took a corner too fast, so you can understand why I hesitate.

The driver rolling over wasn't a result of having sticky tires. It seems like it was just driver error. Cars roll over, despite what kind of tires are on the car.

[awptickes]

I would agree that the unskilled driver was probably 90% of it.

[JDMxGE8]

Originally Posted by awptickes

I would agree that the unskilled driver was probably 90% of it.

Yessir.