Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I figured I would pop back in. Traction is important to me, but as you can see in this size range, the only choice I have are UHP all season or summer tires. The vehicle in question also weighs 5,200 lbs and has AWD. For this vehicle, my driving conditions, and for this range of available tires, noise is my primary concern.
Noise is actually primary for me when I shop for almost any tires... The tires can grip like slicks but if they roar on the highway I will not tolerate them. The exception was my S2000. That car was a sorts car and a bucket of noise anyway, much like your RX-8.
The Falken and Sumitomo may be the "same" tire but the Sumitomo has garbage reviews where the Falkens don't. I even found a recommendation for the Falkens from another owner who has them and reports that they have been quieter than his last set of DWS. There is a new DWS 06,however... So it is a toss up for me between the two. The Sumitomo is also listed at $105... I can't help but wonder why.
I want the XL tires so I can use the ROW tire pressures vs the insanely high US spec pressures. The US pressures on the door are for maximum load where the ROW door chart shows a range.
So far I have checked every reputable and disreputable source on the net. I'm the type of guy that researches just about every purchase over $500 until it's dead; I have 3 more weeks before I am CONUS and will pull the trigger.
Just to share my experience.. personally I will avoid XL tyre except for sport car.
Why ? Most of the time the tyre does not have enough load capacity on standard tyre pressure, and when you inflate it higher most likely you will hear more roar from the tyre.