cliffyk

I was reading the blurb about the new 60k mile Nitto Motivo tires, and looked up the specs to find it had a treadwear rating of 560--Wow!!!

I have 340 rated tires, that came with the wheel set, on the back of my '03 right now, and although they are fun for "smoking up" by barely touching the throttle or for drifting through turns in town, I cannot wait until they wear to the point I can convince SWMBO I need to get a couple of Falken RT-615s or something else with a 180 to 200 treadwear rating.

560? From a straight-line traction perspective you may as well just run solid hard rubber tires from a shopping cart...

Kerns

You mean you don't already run solid hard rubber tires from a shopping cart? Because I do... That tread rating is pretty absurd. Possibly not a bad idea using them as a front tire.

JRad405

I read an article a while back about all season tires and how they dont perform that wrlk in snow because they dont get soft enough in snow for good traction. My next set will be softer in the rear. Are the motivos all seasons?

cliffyk

I suppose so, doesn't matter down here as we only have 2-1/2 seasons, we have:

• Nice = 0.5;
• Hot = 0.75;
• Friggin' Hot = 1.25;

The durations are not based on chronological but rather psychological time-keeping, and there is no snow and/or ice involved in any of them...

Gt04

Those falken Rt-615s are a sweet tire Cliffy, that's what I run on my car I love them

cliffyk

Here in Florida they use limestone in the McAdam and it wears a smooth as glass in a couple years. You need a tire with a wear rating of 240 or less to even think about hooking up on the street.

Between that and the lousy plastic markings riding a bike in town after a light rain is a new experience in terror...

cliffyk

They have been my absolute favourite tire for at least 10 years now. I ran them in all four corners on my '90 to '93 Miatas, and on my '03 GT, 'til I bought a new wheels and tires combo a year or more ago.

They don't last long (8k to 12k, maybe 15k miles) but they do grip the road. a few years back (Miata days) I told the alignment guy at the local Goodyear store, who was harassing me about treadwear patterns, that "if tire life were even close to a primary concern I would drive a Corolla"...

Gt04

Yea I know what you're talking about, I lived in destin for a year and I go to st. Augustine every year for at least 2 Weeks. I refuse to walk anywhere in the old town there after a good rain for my own safety lol. I've seen plenty of wrecks there just in my time visiting but I still love st. Augustine

TRUEBLUE3934

I agree that the treadwear rating is mostly a function of compound hardness, but the tire design(tread blocks, etc) have some impact upon the duration of life.

I ran soft tires years ago when I wasn't married and justifying new tires every 9-12 months was not an issue. I have been pleasantly surprised at the street grip from tires with 300-320 treadwear ratings. I am satisfied with my Nitto555's and I currently have over 30,000 miles on my 315-35-17 rears with easily 8,000-10,000 more miles left in them.

Just about everything in life is about compromises. Deciding what is most important to you and what you are willing to give up to have it.

I may try a set of Cliffy's dream tires next time just to see how I like them.

cliffyk

It's the damned lime rock in the McAdam down here that makes getting traction a bitch--thing about the TR-615s is that they have a treadwear rating of 200 (180 in some sizes).

I think 275/40-17 is as big as they make 'em, so they are 8k to maybe 12k tires on the back of a GT--and they are $188 a pop +shipping...