Hankook V12 Evo2
Michelin PS3
Goodyear F1
Continental CSC5.

This post has been edited by 6UE5T: Jul 7 2016, 11:23 PM

F1-D5 has that size.
Can share what's the issue with the Hankook?

V2 Concept 2 is Hankook's mid level tire only. The V12 Evo 2 that I suggested above is their high performance category tire, so should be much better than the V2 Concept 2. Based on the reviews, this V12 E2 is rivaling other top class tires like PS3, RE003, CSC5, F1, etc2 and it ranks pretty good despite its much cheaper price, so it looks like good value for money. I actually have not yet used this tire also coz my current one still quite new but next tire change I'm planning to try it.

The 500 tread wear rating means it's using relatively hard compound which should last very long (durable) but that usually also sacrifices grip coz normally tires with good grip/high performance ones use softer compounds. If you check most high performance tires has tread wear rating around low 300 or lower. The V12 E2 has tread wear of 320, similar to PS3, F1 has 300 tread wear, CSC5 at 280, while RE003 is only 220. The extreme category tires have tread wear below 200 or even below 100.

The AA is indicative of its wet traction rating, not dry. So tires that are good in the wet usually should have this AA rating. But this is simple traction/friction rating, not necessarily reflecting aquaplaning resistance or overall characteristics in the wet. RE003 only has A traction rating.

Compared to Michelin PS3, some say the RE003 is better in the dry but slightly below in the wet which is still pretty good considering PS3 is well known to be very good in the wet already. So I don't think you can go much wrong with the RE003 except the shorter durability. However I'd think your current Concept V2 should still have thick treads with only 40k km used for a 500 rated tire. So isn't it a bit of a waste to change when it's still can go a lot longer? Unless you just cannot live with the weaker grip and have the budget to change again.

I'd say, value for money go for the RE003 or Hankook V12 Evo 2. Other choices are the Goodyear F1A2 or the new A3, and Continental CSC5. PS3 is a very good all rounder tire but a bit on the expensive side and it's an aging tire. As for the S.Drive, it's just even older tire and has not been featured in most high performance tire reviews anymore. In the last few years, Yokohama has instead go with the Advan Sport to compete in the high performance category and not that old S.Drive, so that means the S.Drive is pretty much outdated already, and the price is still not cheap also since it's still made in Japan.

Your car may have more over steer tendency now coz new and higher performance tires at the front, so be careful. Usually for normal drivers, it's safer to put the better tires at the rear so you don't spin out easily.

If prefer ride comfort then don't change to 18! Just stay 16 or 17 so you can still use thicker tires. If use 18, you'd need thinner tires hence will not be as comfortable. I suggest max you use 17 with 225/50/17 tires, that is still pretty comfortable. If change 18, like bro leehernandez said above you'd need to use 235/45/18 but that is still 0.6-0.7cm thinner tires than 225/50/17 so still harsher ride (plus less tire choices I think).

I think you wont go wrong with either choice especially in terms of performance but the RE003 will not last as long. Note that both are high performance tires category (UHP) so comfort might not match mid level ones.

MC5 is middle level tire from Continental, below the CSC series and made for Malaysia market. If I were you, I won't choose it coz I think it's not worth it for the price. I'd rather try the Hankook V12 Evo 2 or Bridgestone RE003 which are higher category but yet similar prices or even cheaper than MC5. For Continental I'd only go for CSC series and only if got a good deal (coz usually they are even more expensive). If you got cheap price for MC5 (cheaper than the other 2 I mentioned) then only can consider.

Nope but I want to try it out for the next change coz the reviews I read in the web are pretty good plus the price is relatively cheap for tire of that class, so seems to be value for money. You can google to read various reviews of that tire.

Ecopia is econo level tire, while RE003 is high performance level so not comparable. Which one you want, just a tire to drive from a to b which gives the most durability and fuel economy but less grip, or a tire that gives you the better grip and handling which adds more safety factor due to it's high performance capability but at the expense of durability & fuel economy?


Continental CSC5 is very good too, maybe even better than PS3.
Yokohama never use before though, maybe next time will consider.
I'm no sifu btw...

See if a tire has better performance and grip, that means it can maneuver better/sharper during emergency and can also stop faster, therefore you have a better chance of avoiding accidents hence better safety. That's why I always advice people to buy the best performance tire they can afford and not to skimp on just any tires because they are cheaper. Most people don't realize this and only say "ah I don't drive fast la, I don't need good expensive performance tire la, I just want tires that last very long bla bla bla..." Well tire is the ONLY contact patch that connects your car to the road so it is a critical part of the your car safety! A car can have all the safety features you want like VSC/ESP/TRC/ABS/auto brake etc2 but if you put shitty tires then it will significantly negate the safety so it's illogical.

It should not be too bad though, got many already use and the reviews I heard so far it's still decent in the wet. Maybe not as good as PS3, CSC5, or F1 but still pretty good. Maybe try Hankook V12 Evo2, that one seems good value for money, should be even cheaper but also similar high performance category tire.

Wheels locked up means the tire lost grip and skid, and that means the tire just did not have enough grip. People usually take tries for granted, they think it's all the same, just all black rubber donut! Countless times I see relatively expensive cars or cars using big rims but using cheapo shitty tires. How come can afford to buy fancy cars or big rims but cannot afford to buy equally good tires??? Just cannot understand these type of mindset.

No.2 and 3 only, which ever is cheaper (I suspect no.2 is cheaper). No.3 is an excellent tire but slightly more noise and can have chipping if driven aggressively (similar to PS3).
No.1 & 4 are way below, not worth if if have to pay similar prices as no.2 & 3.

Upgrade to 15' better for handling but not necessarily for noise.

Stock rims are heavy, that's why! If like stock rims then just go for that.
If want lighter rims then can consider Taiwan made Enkei Tuning or Advanti, or Thailand made Lenso. Other option if got budget is to look for used Enkei RPF1 made in Japan, just be careful not to get cheated to buy the fake ones (coz plenty of those around).

Depends on your budget. Below are excellent choices from the most expensive and also ranked the best now to the cheapest but still very good value for money on performance tires.
Michelin PS4 or PSS
Continental CSC5
Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 3
Yokohama Advan Fleva
Bridgestone RE003
Hankook V12 Evo 2

PS4 will not last long like XM2, maybe just a bit longer than PS3 & PSS.

At smaller sizes, difficult to find a match for the PS3 in the wet at cheaper price range (in the dry there are already many other options). PS4 is already available and surely better but it will be more expensive. The other cheaper options are:

- Yokohama Advan Fleva v701: this one not really sure how it will stack up to PS3 especially in the wet coz it's still very newly released tire. FYI it has been used as the race tire in MTC Sepang series and the feedback I read from a reliable source in ZTH Forum who is closely connected to the racing community is that this tire is actually pretty good both in the dry or wet. Price also very competitive, much cheaper than PS3, so this is probably your best bet.

- Goodyear F1D5: this is also a very well balanced tire, very close to PS3 in both dry & wet performance. But like PS3 also has similar chipping problem of driven hard enough. I'd think this maybe your second best option here.

- Hankook V12 Evo 2: this is also rather new tires in Malaysia (even though has been released longer in other countries). Based on reviews on the web, the dry performance is pretty good but wet might not be as stable as PS3, not really sure. Price is the cheapest though.

- Bridgestone RE003: this one better in the dry than PS3 but not as good in the wet. The wet traction rating is only A compared to AA of the others above. It will also wear out much faster due to the low tread wear rating of just 220 vs 300-320 in the others above. So this might be your least favorable option.