Tyres: Alternatives to KU31s

[16bit]

i think you will find it might work the other way. pay more get less life.

[RawSouth]

At $110 for the KU31 vs $220 for the RE001 (Last time i bought them), the KU31s seem like pretty good value. Im probably going to pick up a set on the weekend.

[Charlie Brown]

Victor Good Luck with your search. As I said I have used the 595's and they have spat me off the track without any warning. They also suffer with heat related grip loss. I am running PS3's on my Ford and they work very well.

See... that's the thing that I'm puzzled about.

Both the PS3s and KU31s are rated at 320 for tyre wear. So why do the PS3s last 'longer' then 30,000kms?! (PS3s don't come in anything smaller than 17s unfortunately but this is a general question)

You may be able to pick up a set of PP2's if you ring around. They were available in 205x45x16.

I had a set of PP1's on the NC when new. They lasted 31,000 kilometres including 6 track days to the wear bars. Without the track days I recon they would have lasted 45,000 kilometres, and I don't pussy foot it around corners.

You also must remember that the top end tyres cost more because they spend more on research, materials and construction methods. They have different rubber grades across the tread width rather than one grade. Outside is softer for grip and insides harder for wear.

Next, don’t take too much notice of the wear rating on the tyres sidewall. Different brands may have the “same” wear rating, but it’s determined by the manufacturers themselves rather than a central testing lab. Thus if a manufacture wants to pitch tyres to people who want a long lasting tyre, they may bump the numbers up to make the sale. i.e. purchasers may pick a 350 rating over a 300 rating expecting to get better wear, where this may not be the case if the tyres were tested on the same machine. There is a mile of information about this out there is you do some research.

My Michelin Pilot Super Sports have a rating of 300, the KU31 have a rating of 320 as you said above. I have been told by Spinning Wheel that I will get in excess of 40,000 kilometres out of my tyres and they didn’t sell them to me. I’d doubt that I’d get that from the Kumho’s.

For what it's worth, it doesn't seem worth while importing Kumho's from TireRack.
Kumho KU31 in 205/55/16 are $89US each,
KU36 in 215/45/16 are $108US each,
then add $373US for transport of 4 tyres,
plus your Bank Wire fee of around $35AU
and a fitting fee of $20 per tyre.
The KU31's work out at $193ea and the KU36 $212ea based on $1USD = $1AUD.

There isn’t the huge range in prices from the bottom to the top tyres in the US but If you are going to import from TireRack you need to research local pricing first. Problem is that all the top performance tyres don't come in 15" & 16" rim size.

[BadBong]

Dear Mr. Brown - I think you've done it again and answered all my questions with 1 post!

Given that you go through tyres like it's out of fashion... I'm going to do my research on the PP2s (and any other tyres that you would recommend )

*I still can't believe that tyre tread ratings are not done by an independent body... how misleading is that?!

[project.r.racing]

I get 40k - 45k from my ku31s, they cost $150ea.

Project r racing -> There is absolutely no way I can get 45,000kms out of my KU31s, not unless I drive the car like a bus. But you have a good point there in asking why I would change to something else in this price range so it looks like I should investigate on whether it'll be worthwhile for me to pay $200 per tyre and get say... 40% more mileage? That shouls still be worth it.

If there's a tyre around the $200 mark with similar performanec to KU31s but will last 40% longer (40,000kms vs 30,000kms on the KU31s)... please let me know

lol I don't drive mine like a bus either. Motorkhanas, hillclimbs, laps of QR or LS, touge runs, LSD fitted and I still got 40,000km. Must be the difference in sizing to where they are manufactured. 195/50R15s are made in Thailand, I know my size are manufactured in Korea.

Also depends on power output aswell, high powered cars chew tyres. Me = low power. You = ???

I also run a fairly sedate street alignment settings. Do you run a more aggressive track settings?

---

Agreed with MR Brown also. No reason to import tyres from the USA if they are already cheap in AU. I personally wouldn't look at importing Kumho as they are so cheap in AU, and the importing costs chew up the intial savings. But for semi slicks that cost $300+ here, well that is a different story, cause the USA savings is massive.

[TonyMax]

If you're talking about the garden variety Federal 595 we have them in 235/45/17 or something like that on our XR6 and they're very VERY noisy on the highway . Mind you we have some 15" KU31s in the garage that haven't been put onto the MX5 yet so they may be just the same.

[Guran]

Not quite. UTQG ratings are specified on a US government test track at San Angelo, Texas, under controlled conditions. Manufacturers do not have to use that track - they can test at their own site, or even nominate a UTQG rating without testing. But if complaints are made, NHTSA can demand a compliance test on their control track. A pretty dodgy system! A detailed list of ratings is available on the NHTSA website:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/saferc ... rading.pdf

[Sailor]

I've just ordered a set of these
http://www.toyotires.com.au/_webapp_109 ... s_T1_Sport
to replace the beautiful Maxxis MAZ1 that unfortunately are not available in the size I require.

[kris]

I'm very happy with my michelin super sports very happy extremely happy, actually maybe too happy given they are just tyres..... still happy

[kris]

By the way Floda has identified that a set of ku31s from kmart come with a $100 fuel voucher

[Gmi]

I'm very happy with my michelin super sports very happy extremely happy, actually maybe too happy given they are just tyres..... still happy

is it quiter than the 050a?

[BadBong]

By the way Floda has identified that a set of ku31s from kmart come with a $100 fuel voucher

yes but Tempe Tyres is $100 cheaper than Kmart per set of KU31 in 16"...

[Charlie Brown]

I'm very happy with my michelin super sports very happy extremely happy, actually maybe too happy given they are just tyres..... still happy

is it quiter than the 050a?

YES, YES, YES. Without doubt THE best tyres I've dríven on.

215/45/17 is the smallest size they are come in and you need to import them from TireRack. In AU Michelin only bring in 18" and up.

[Silvia]

Anyone know of best price for KU31's in 205/45/16 in Brisbane please?

[Guran]

Anyone know of best price for KU31's in 205/45/16 in Brisbane please?

You're at Caloundra? According to http://www.kumho.com.au/dealers your nearest Kumho dealers are Tyrepower (5491 5504), Bob Jane (5491 4777) and Kmart (5491 7134). Give each of them a call for a quote.