Put a set of competent (but not stupid competent) Bridgestone S-04 tires (or Firestone re-branded S-03 tires) Max Performance on the wheels in 215/255 (or 225/255) and you probably forget wasting spending money on other non-OEM wheels which just look different.

-- Chuck

 

 

Me want!

Awesome thread/review!

 

These wheels and tires are for the street, correct? If so, all modern tires have more then enough outright grip for the intended use. Consider whether, given that current reality, the other characteristics of the tires under consideration are the more important decision making factors. For street driving my opinion is that wet performance is a big factor. I say this even though I honestly avoid rain as much as possible. But, it is impossible to avoid completely and the S can get a bit nervous in the wet even at street driving speeds. Don't ask how I know.

Personally, I find it hard to justify the Michelin's price tag after driving on the S-04s and especially the new Conti's. Whats not to like? Also, I have no personal experience, but the Firestones are reported on these pages to be very good tires, not max performace category, but you would never know it from what I hear. I feel for sure as far as grip goes they have all you need for the street.

EDIT: OP - you might find this report re the new Conti tire to be of interest. http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...act-Sport.aspx

 

 

If you are exceeding the limits of grip on public roads with modern summer tires you are driving in a way that I do not drive on pubic roads. So, your needs probably differ. You certainly can't go wrong with the Michelin's. No doubt they are great tires.

As far as rain and the S. I don't mean to say necessarily that it is worse than other sports cars. My prior experience is with older low powered British cars - like the Healys and MGs and Triumphs. I do not have experience driving newer higher powered sports cars. I do think the S is a bit of a hand full by comparison to those old British cars. At least I found it so at the start. But, the bad experience I had was when the S was new to me and I got sideways on the interstate in the rain doing a bunch of really dumb things that i do not blame on the S at all. I am embarrassed t admit that first, I had cruise control on. Second I was going 70 mph. Third, I had very old tires with lousy tread. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I lucked out and nothing bad came of it. Actually, one good thing came of it. It scared the heck out of me, and I learned - or rather re-learned - several important lessons. My sense is that people lose it on wet public roads in the S with some regularity. Probably doing dumb things just like I did.

 

I know the AP1 wheels were made by Enkei. Were all of the AP2 wheels also made by Enkei?

 

To your point on the Chinese products and the ones you listed, most of those you listed are companies that reside elsewhere and simply manufacture their products in China, under guidance of the companies quality management system. For example, a lot of medical device components are manufactured in China (I work in medical device development so I will use that). They are held to the quality system processes of the company who developed/owns the product and most times, the manufactures that do this work are in an industrial area of Shenzhen that has a large US/EU presence in those facilities.

That is totally different than a Chinese product manufactured in China. To put it in perspective, I know Chinese engineers that work in some of those facilities, manufacturing medical and aerospace components. When given the option to purchase automated assembly equipment at their locations, they all stated they would not buy it from China ... and would only buy important equipment from the US, Japan or Germany so they knew they would get quality equipment Even the Chinese know when not to buy Chinese So made in China takes on a lot of different meanings depending on the company, industry, etc.

This says nothing about the wheels you purchased since I do not know anything about them. I am just speaking to the comments made and shedding some light.

 

Yes. They are Honda's supplier (Honda buys wheels).

-- Chuck