i ordered the HTR-Z III from Jim yesterday and hopefully i can have them installed by Thursday to give you guys my impression.

why the sumitomo's? two things, tireracks review and the treadwear. i was lucky enough to have the oem last me a year and half with 28k on the odometer, but i felt the price for the oem plus tire life equaled not worth the money for me. if sumitomo's 300 treadwear is true the tires should last me twice as long as the oem and based on tirerack's review should equal if not best it in the perfomance category.

before i made the decision i wanted to make sure that tires specs matched as close to the car and wouldn't affect it in a negative way especially after reading the "correct tire size" sticky for the AP2. if it weren't for the S2000 CR coming out it would've made it even more difficult buying the HTR-Z III.

17x7.0 / 17x8.5
Bridgestone Potenza RE050 Tires (front/rear) 215/45R17 87W / 245/40R17 91W

17x7.0 / 17x8.5
Bridgestone Potenza RE070 Tires (front/rear) 215/45R17 87W / 255/40R17 94W


215/45-17 RE070 HTR-Z III RE050
Treadwear: 140 300 140
Tire Weight: 24lbs 22lbs 22lbs
Tread Width: 7.4" 7.6" 6.7"
RPM: 847 848 840
Tire Diameter: 24.6" 24.5" 24.8"
Sectional Width: 8.3" 8.5" 8.3"
Approved Rims: 7-8.0" 7-8.0" 7-8.0"
Measuring Rim: 7.0" 7.0" 7.0"

255/40-17
Treadwear: 140 300 140
Tire Weight: 28lbs 25lbs 27lbs
Tread Width: 9.1" 9.1" 9.1"
RPM: 833 834 847
Tire Diameter: 25.0" 25.0" 24.6"
Sectional Width: 9.8" 10.3" 9.6"
Approved Rims: 8.5-10" 8.5-10" 8-9.5"
Measuring Rim: 9.0" 9.0" 8.5"