Need: Kumho KU31/36 in Sydney

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:01 pm

Ok, Tempe Tyres win hands down.

Quoted me $140 / cnr for KU31 205/45/16 :mrgreen:

and... $110 / cnr for KU31 215/40/16 :shock:

So, back to the original question - what's the pros and cons for me to go to 215/40/16 config instead?

Should i get 215 for rears and 205 for fronts?

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:28 pm

damn! that's cheap!

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:19 pm

Just reviving an old topic since i'm planning to change my tyres in 2 weeks' time.

I currently have 205/45/16 setup with Toyo Proxes 4 and they've lasted me almost 50,000kms.

I'm going to change to KU31s and give them a shot and i'm wondering whether:

1) Anyone has tried to use wider tyres for the rears? Say 205/45 for the fronts and 215/40 or even 225/40 for the rear? Does it make that much of a difference and will it disrupt the balance of the car?

2) What if i go all out and get wider tyres for all 4 corners? What are the pros and cons?

Appreciate the help

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:46 pm

215/40x16 will fit fine on 7" rims and I found them little different from 205/45 in T1Rs anyway. In theory they would be a little harsher over bumps, but not significantly. At the price difference I wouldn't hesitate. One thing to watch though is the load rating - NB's should run 87W from memory, and the lower profiles often rate lower than this, which could earn you a defect notice if you get a picky policeman.

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:16 pm

Thanks bigdog.

Sounds like there's not much performance gain from running wider rears....

Shambler · Postby **Shambler** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 4:33 pm

A little late, however I was just quoted $120 a corner for KU31 205/45R16 by Tempe Tires...

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 6:13 pm

Shambler - I just got mine put on for $110 a corner less than 3 weeks ago so give them a little nudge when you do yours!

I personally didn't get an alignment from them as I've got one done 2 months ago by Stu at Spinning Wheels.

Btw. As some quick feedback on these tyres...

- dríven more than 2000kms on them already, in all dry, wet, thunderstorm, hot, cold & freezing conditions;
- I've got them in 205/45/16 and i've tried 30, 32 and 36psi;
- Fantastic grip in the wet, minimal understeer unless you're being stupid;
- Good grip in the dry, it's got better grip than my Toyo proxes 4 but the performance gap isn't as great as it is in the wet;

Unfortunately, I would have to rate the Toyos more highly on 'feel'. The KU31s are definitely better tyres but I feel less in control of them than the Toyos. There's also almost no warning on the limits of the KU31s whereas the Toyos would give me progressive squeels as I push it closer and closer to its limits.

Overall - I can't complain about tyres at $110 a corner but I've got a feeling that the KU31s won't last me anywhere near as long as the Toyos, which lasted me 47,000kms.

gobsmax · Postby **gobsmax** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 2:47 pm

Anymore feedback on the tyres Vic? Might be picking up a set this week.

wun911 · Postby **wun911** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:31 pm

Sorry nube question: Can you put 215 45 R 16 onto the stock rim??? Is the stock tyre for the NB8B 205 45 R 16???

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:05 pm

Gobsmax, my initial feedback still stands on the KU31s. I've done 13,000kms on them now and I think they're approaching halfway so a 30,000kms life would be a good guess, which is considerably less than the Toyo. If I had to choose between the Toyo and KU31s again, I'll go with the KU31s since the Toyos are just terrible in the wet.

Wun, I think the stock 16"wheels are 16*6?... which means it'll fit 195/50/16... I think