http://img407.imageshack.us/my.php?i...5000601yo9.jpg

Proves it all, Ive been pushing the stock potenza tires sense I bought her.. she has 22,000 miles on her. I was changing my oil yesterday and saw the tire and was like O_O..

Although, My budget is low.. I was just gonna go and get new rims as well, Any suggestions on some awesome priced wheel/tire vendors?

 

www.subydude.com

 

I've given this advice it seems about 100 times now,but since near everyone has benefited by it here goes. GO TO www.tirerack.com. When you get there type in your year make and model and start by selecting either wheel or tire. It will give you multiple choices. On the tire side you can pick out categories like 'ultra high performance summer' or all season. There are truly some great buys for cheap-like the General exclaim UHP in the $70 category or the Bridgestone RE050 pole position's in the $120 range. But there is a wealth of info on each tire. When you pick 'wheel', there will be pages of wheels and you can see them and what they look like on the car.If you're remotely serious you WILL spend days on this site. Now while these guys are great and I've done business with them there are people like DISCOUNT TIRE who may have a store in your area. They have an OK website but not the equal of TR's.But sometimes their prices are even better.Research ,research etc x 10.

 

The best thing about The Tire Rack is they give weight for all the tires AND rims they sell. I lost almost 10 lbs per corner (from OEM) in intelligent purchasing. 1 lb rotating mass = 10 lbs off total weight (common racing formula). My choice was as good as loosing 400 lbs off the car. Cheapest horsepower I have found thus far ~

 

I went near 10lbs per wheel/tire on mine also, but remember the advantage is primarily during the acceleration phase and then when you're accelerating the wheel assembly at a high rate(like 0-30) But it does help almost everywhere else in some way also-it'll brake shorter, ride more controlled over bumps. I'm a fanatic on lightening the wheel assy. I just try to not gain it back on the brake rotors.Which would be a good area for another thread/discussion. PS: Tire racks data on wheel weight is the most accurate I've found. I bought a set of BBS RGR's which the manuf. listed @17lbs ea. Tire Rack listed at 17.6. Guess what mine weighed on a state cert. scale? 17.6 .

 

Falken Azenis RT-615 FTW!!

 

Falken Azenis are a really good tire for a good price. you wont find them on tire rack. try vulcantire.com or just google them.

+100 for subydude and if your near there AI will do a good job putting them on the car correctly

 

You have 06 STI w/ 17x8" BBS... those are nice set of wheels & pretty good weight (18 lbs.) & strong, too. Especially if your budget is low, why not just use the stock wheels & get some plus zero (245/40 or 255/40 will do) performance tires!

Depends on what condition you are going to use the tires for (daily driving, autoX, track). Seems like you live in VA... do you have/need separate winter sets? Don't cheap out on tires & pick the cheapest price, especially since you have performance car. I'd get Extreme or Max Performance Summer tires if I were you.

Good luck!

 

I've used TireRack.com for my last 2 sets of tires. I love their giant tire comparison tables for all the tires in certain categories. However, they don't have some of the tires that Discount Tire Co. does. HOWEVER, Discount Tire Co. has a devision just like TireRack.com called DiscountTireDirect.com and the prices are much cheaper than Discount Tire Co. and includes FREE shipping

My next tires are going to be either Falkens or Hankooks (depends if the dealership can recalibrate my Speedo for the shorter Falkens because I'm **** about stuff like that)

 

Mbasile-I like that, how 'bout the old bugs bunny lines-like "what a"

imbesell(I think bugs pronounced it a bit different than you may),nincowpoop,gullibull,maroon. Those all came from the greatest cartoon of all times IMHO.
Anyway-on to Discount Tire,I've dealt with them for a very long time and the trick I've learned is to look up the internet price and go in with your very best "happy face" and say "I looked this up on the internet ,you guys can get me the same price here , can't you?" They'll tack on the frt charges sometimes and tax but it's never failed me.

 

M=first initial
Basile=my last name

thanks for that tip though

 

About Discount Tire Co./Discount Tire Direct... their price is pretty good MOST of the time but not ALWAYS. Not trying to give negative comment here about them... I've purchased from them before (lowest price I found at the time), but shipping not as fast as Tirerack (received the next day w/ regular ground shipping). I'm looking for a new set tires (225/50-16) & interested in Falken Ziex ZE-912 (ZE-512 replacement)... Discount Tire Direct wants $95 which is pretty good considering shipping is included. Then I found this local shop (from Craigslist) is selling the same tire for $75 plus tax, which is still about $14 cheaper.

My point is find the tire you want & check both online and local shops.

 

Nobody gets that lucky with their name. Bugs was probably your great grandfather.

 

I agree completely with Fendyman. It's what so many old timers always say-research, research, etc. x 10.