tire opinions wanted

[geo3@earthlink.net]

Stewart, Joe <(COX-Atlanta) Joe.Stewart@cox.com> wrote:

>Yokahama Parada (never heard much about them)

I have them now on the G.  I really like them.  They are not the stickiest
street tire, but plenty sticky enough for me.  IMHO if you need stickier than
this for street driving, you're probably doing something dangerous.  They are
responsive and communcative.  A little noisey right now, but I don't know if
I've picked up an irregularity since they weren't really noisey when new.
They are great in the rain (as you know, we have Acts of God here in TX).
Second best rain tire I've driven on.  I think they inspire confidence.  Wear
looks to be pretty good so far (don't really know how many miles I have on
them, but about 4 months worth so far and plenty of tread left.

>Sumitomo HTR Z II (ditto, never heard much)

I went through a shitload of these POS.  Pure crap IMHO.  The shoulders of the
tread wear through easily (I've heard this from someone else as well).  I'm
pretty sure it's the tire because I've had *none* of the same problems with
the Paradas  None.  They are only so-so in the wet, despire *looking* like
they would be a good wet tire.  In fact, they are pretty so-so in the dry as
well.  I can say they were a decent tire on the track at last year's
convention DE.  There they did not wear strangely and took the event in
stride.  Go figure.  All in all, the Parada is a *much* better tire IMHO.

>Yokohama A520 (heard good things?)

I had them on my SE-R and loved them.  Folks have reported them to be a bit
loud.  They are a really good dry tire and the best wet tire I've ever driven
on, bar none.  I will definitely get them again for the SE-R when I put it
back on the road (if I finally get off my ass and put the old engine back in
finally).  I got 40k miles out of them and I don't exactly drive like a
granny.  They are a bit better than the Parada.  The Parada should last a bit
longer though and be less noisey.

I bought the Paradas due to my *very* favorable experience with the A520 and
the S306 (I *think* - they were the 14" tires we had before the 17s).  Now,
after having the Paradas, I'm totally sold on Yoks.

George Roffe