Falken Ziex Choices @ Tire Rack

[gizzard]

After my car gets repaired and the rear brake pads get replaced, I plan on replacing all four tires. At just over 30,000 miles, the traction is pretty bad, especially in the rain.

A few months ago, I checked out Discount Tires' selection and they had the Falken Ziex 512 for about $75 or $80. I forget the exact price, but the total for all four was a hair under $300.

I checked again recently and using the selection guide, the Ziex didn't show up. This is the tire (http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireByBrandDetail.do?rcz=91768&mk=MAZDA&rc=LAIINT&yr=2003&cs=205&pc=28747&typ=Passenger%2FPerformance&vid=008079&rd=16&ar=45) I found when I searched by brand, but I'm not sure it's the same tire.

I would appreciate any help.

[Mr. Win]

What car? If you have a p5 the selection will be 195-50-16, where if you want the ziex your going to have to look for the 205s and they are 71 bucks i just bought them.

[SciFiMan]

The 512 should be there, mine get installed Thursday. You could try searching by size also.

[ZoomZoomH]

does tire rack even carry falkens?

edit: wait you meant Discount Tires, you just typed Tire Rack in the title. I just checked, Tire Rack doesn't carry Falken tires :p

check out www.vulcantire.com (http://www.vulcantire.com), i got TWO sets of ZIEX 512's from them (for my Protege and my FC RX-7 when I had them), both sets were ridiculously cheap, and they worked really well

[gizzard]

Yes, I have a 2003 Protege5. I realize the stock tire size is 195/50/16, but I want something a tad wider.

SenorCorwin, where did you find them at that price? They are $91-100 from Discount Tire.

[Mr. Win]

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?sw=false&cs=205&pc=28743&rd=16&ar=50

205 like i said. Free shipping till the new year as well. 296 with stems.

[ZoomZoomH]

http://www.vulcantire.com/ze512_t.htm

$69 from Vulcan Tires, $36 shipping for all 4...

EDIT: wow great deal from discount tires, free shipping! buy from them instead! (thumb)

[Mr. Win]

Yea shipping to FL is 70 dollars because of backorders at vulcan and at tires.com i even got the chromies and chrome valve stem covers (thumb)

[dupa12345]

i have mine for about 6mon/5k .. do you dilligence in finding the right price .. i got a set of the 205s for under 300 shipped

as to tires - all the reviews i read said they were good for rain/moist but for me they suck like any other all season tire
and in the snow they are probably worse than stocks or maybe just as bad ... i guess they get pretty hard in cold temps and become metal cylinders that like skidding a lot
that high tread rating must be a trade off for cold temp flexibility
dry is all good .. you'll get some nice white smoke and burned rubber smell in hard breaking ... but they sure as hell stick and dont let go

[gizzard]

Ah! there's the price I'm looking for! Thanks a bunch.

Now is there any reason to go for 205/50 over 205/45 or vice versa? I know the speedo will be off no matter what.

Edit: dupa, I'm in sunny SoCal, so I shouldn't have to worry about snow or torrential rains. =)

[dupa12345]

lucky you .. not only its freezing here but i have millions of stop signs and red lights everywhere i go .. not to mention launching but i have to be carefull not to spin them in 2nd

anyways i got mine from ebay .. the guy had two shops in either NY or jersey and another somewhere in cali .. took him about 3 weeks to ship and had me worried for a while but got to me for under 3 bills

205/50 was the closest size to stock at best price .. i was looking at the lower profiles that would go on our rims just as well but decided i'll be better off with slightly higher sidewall

all of this by minimal amounts but heres some thoughts about the profile size

bigger = heavier, slower accel, less precise cornering but higher top speed in gears, maybe better milage, more comfortable
smaller = the other way