Kumho vs Fulda

[magoo]

I've been searching the site on tires and the Fulda name never comes up.
I need to replace the hard, noisey original tires on my 86. I had 1 ride in an 84 with the Fuldas on and I remember them being quiet. Since my c4 would out handle my other cars even with rubber bands on it, I've thought about what I want in a tire and the most important things seem to be ride and quiet. A little wear would be nice but I don't put too many miles on.
I hate to open yet another tire thread, but any input would be great. I was hoping not to spend $800 on tires, but if necessary I guess I will.

Thanks

Mike

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I've been searching the site on tires and the Fulda name never comes up.
I need to replace the hard, noisey original tires on my 86. I had 1 ride in an 84 with the Fuldas on and I remember them being quiet. Since my c4 would out handle my other cars even with rubber bands on it, I've thought about what I want in a tire and the most important things seem to be ride and quiet. A little wear would be nice but I don't put too many miles on.
I hate to open yet another tire thread, but any input would be great. I was hoping not to spend $800 on tires, but if necessary I guess I will.

Thanks

Mike

I believe Fulda is affiliated with Goodyear. If you have an NTB tire store in your area, they are starting to carry them. They make one Fulda which looks a great deal like the Goodyear tire that people seem to like on this FOrum--I believe it's called the GS-D3 or something similar. Actually, I think you can do VERY well for way less than $200 per tire. If I were you I would check out the TireRack website. There are lots of good specials at the moment, and tires which come to mind are the new Firestone Wide Oval, the BF Goodrich KDW, Kumho (which is making a real push in this country), the aforementioned Goodyear and several others. Something I am doing is taking a look at brands that are NOT on TireRack, and are making inroads into this country among the street racer crowd---e.g., Nitto, Hankook (terrible name, unfortunately, etc.). I am not one of these persons who looks down on the street racers and "rice rocket" crowd. Some of the most interesting and innovative things are being done by these people, and they love and drive their cars, unlike the trailer queen mentality "originality" crowd who seem to infest the Corvette world at the moment.

/s/ Chris Kennedy
Houston, Texas

 

[Robert]

I decided to go with Falken tires. I really like the look and the price was great from a local tire dealer. $385.00 complete set.

www.falkentire.com/


Robert

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I decided to go with Falken tires. I really like the look and the price was great from a local tire dealer. $385.00 complete set.

www.falkentire.com/


Robert

Thanks for mentioning Falken, as this is definately another brand to take a look at----they are affiliated with another major manuafacturer, but I can't recall the name. You know, as I started researching these lesser known tires, I found that many were affiliated with major manufacturers. Does anyone have any further information on this? It leads me to wonder whether you get the benefit of the major manufacturer's tires, but for less money if you go with the "affiliated" name.

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[Edmond]

I think it was Road and Track that did a test with a C5 and various tires. The Kumho's did very well and the quality of tire to dollar amount spent was difficult to beat.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I think it was Road and Track that did a test with a C5 and various tires. The Kumho's did very well and the quality of tire to dollar amount spent was difficult to beat.

That's interesting about the test--thanks for info. I have found that it is often a good idea to consider other products than the ones you have been using, even if you are satisfied with the product. For example, have you every run out of something that you need, but you can't find a replacement at a local shop so you buy something else to hold you over, and you find out you like the stuff you were "forced" to buy better than what you've been using for years! I have a friend, who once told me in a rather imperial way that Corvettes "should" have Goodyear tires, when I mentioned I was looking at all sorts of brands for my '89 Ebay rat. He doesn't own a Corvette. He's a good friend, so I gently told him that that sort of attitude sort of leads to personal disappointment when you find out what you could've had, and product stagnation when the manufacturers find out about it. Anyhow, the emergence of Kumho and some of these other brands on the scene (and even on TireRack---a right-of-passage given TireRack's pervasiveness) is something I am following closely. I still think that Kumho's are a bit high in price for tires seeking to establish a foothold, but, relatively speaking, they are definately an extremely attractice price/value alternative. I would also take a look at the new Firestone Wide Ovals for our cars. It's a terrific looking tire when you actually see one in a store, and with the special $80 off on four on TireRack it's a terrific buy (I think this makes them about $125 per tire, with discount factored in). Even though they are expensive, looking at performance tires is fun, isn't it! I really envy the people who founded and own TireRack. You are selling these tires, advising people etc., yet since you are not manufacturing them yourself you don't have all those hassles. It's sort of like the Amazon of tires.

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[Toms007]

I decided to go with Falken tires. I really like the look and the price was great from a local tire dealer. $385.00 complete set.

www.falkentire.com/


Robert

I bought the Falken Ziex512's and really like them so far. I paid a little more than $385 ($540) but I don't know what size you need, mine were 275's.

 

[Edmond]

Goodyear tires are good, no doubt. But, IMO, I think that dollar for dollar, there are better alternatives out there.

 

[del_parker]

Thanks for mentioning Falken, as this is definately another brand to take a look at----they are affiliated with another major manuafacturer, but I can't recall the name. You know, as I started researching these lesser known tires, I found that many were affiliated with major manufacturers. Does anyone have any further information on this? It leads me to wonder whether you get the benefit of the major manufacturer's tires, but for less money if you go with the "affiliated" name.

/s/ Chris Kennedy

Sumitomo

 

[6 Shooter]

del_parker

Sumitomo

I see this is your 1st post - Welcome to the

Later . . . . .
6 Shooter

 

[magoo]

Welcome del parker and thanks for making your first post a reply to my thread.
I'm trying to think outside the box a bit on the tire issue and find something for ride and quiet. I know my wheels are directional. Does anyone know if all 255/50R16s are directional and must they be?

Mike

 

[alka1967]

I bought the Falken Ziex512's and really like them so far. I paid a little more than $385 ($540) but I don't know what size you need, mine were 275's.

I just got 4 Falken 275's a couple weeks ago and like them. Robert got a great price at $385 since I paid $140 per tire from my local mechanic. Del is correct, Falken is part of Sumitomo.

 

[hngacurv]

When I bought my C4 the previous owner had just put Fulda tires on it. Long story short detail shop flattened one and I had to have it replaced. Fulda is a brand put out by Big O Tires. After those wore out I replaced them with Kuhmo MXs and there is no comparison. The Kuhmos are 100 times stickier and just a better all around tire in my opinion. The price for the Fulda was $215(from Big O) and the Kuhmo(from Tire Rack) was $158.

 

[1995 RedVette]

Sumitomo

I have a set if Sumitomo HTRZ II's on my 95 and like them so far. I have about 5,000 on them and they are quiet and hold on pretty well (I drive in the mountains a lot). I paid $520 for the set mounted and balanced (4 P275-40R17's), and the best part is......I finally got rid of the vibration from the old GY GSC's that were on the car (275 's on the front 315's on the rear) and are a lot petter looking IMHO.

Brett

 

[Chris Kennedy]

While we're talking about various brands, Toyo makes a tire in the 275 40 17 size that looks terrific and has gotten good reviews---I think it's called the Proxes T1-S (or something like that----you'll recognize it when you see it!) The prices vary widely, but about the lowest I have found is in the $150 range, from a place in Alabama that advertises over the web.


Speaking about GS-Cs, I had a set on my old IROC-Z, and I thought they were among the worst tires I ever had. They were extremely mushy, and you really had to pump them up to get them to perform better. I couldn't believe that Goodyear was selling them at such a high price, and got mine through TireRack. Maybe they performed better on Corvettes. I got rid of them pretty early in their career, and bought a set of BF Goodrich Comp T/As, which I loved. One tire I am now looking at is the Comp T/A KDW.

/s/ Chris Kennedy
Houston. Texas

 

[geekinavette]

I recently bought a set of Yokohama Avid V4S tires for my '84. I'm am REALLY happy with them. They have a treadwear rating of 500 (unheard of in a performance tire) and AA traction rating. They drive MUCH nicer than the Remingtons I had on it. I have measured 0.99G doing a U-turn...and there was no sign of wanting to break traction. $127 each from tirerack.com.Bill

 

[Edmond]

I've never heard of a Remington tire. Only Remington I know has to do with firearms. :L

I've read great things about Yokohama tires. That is a great price for tires with those specs.

I just wish that they didn't discontinue making the SZ-50's from Firestone.

 

[geekinavette]

I think Remington is getting away from passenger car tires and dealing more in truck tires. They don't make the 255/50-16 any longer.

The Yokohamas are FAR superior. As I understand the Avid V4S is relatively new, like Feb. of this year.

Bill