Any thoughts on Sumitomo HTR Z III?

[Quattro Pete]

Has anyone tried this tire yet?

http://www.sumitomotire.com/theline/product.asp?c=per&id=42

I was initially considering ContiSportContact3, but according to TireRack's test, the HTR ZIII is just as good or even slightly better.

The CSC3 costs $170 in my size while the HTR ZIII costs only $93. That's a big diff.

Any thoughts?

 

[Audi Junkie]

I think the guys on AW were saying they were pretty good.

My thoughts on price point is that if a set will last you several years, buy the best you can practically afford. If you go through a set in less than 2 years, buy on price.

 

[98LSC32V]

Excellent tires, very good grip.

 

[Big O Dave]

Essentially a re-badged Falken ZE912, which is an excellent tire. Falken is a Sumitomo brand.

On second thought, perhaps the ZE912 is a re-badged HTR Z III... hmmm.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Dave, are you sure? The tread pattern is different and the ZE912 is an all-season tire while the HTR Z III is a summer tire.

 

[NutBuster]

Found this info...

http://www.powerhomebiz.com/News/022008/stamford-tires.htm

they are likely the same basic tire construction, but possibly made in different plants with different compounds (have to check the UTQG plant codes to see if they're the same). I'd personally go with the Sumitomo because I've run the HTRZ and HTRZ II on my Z28 and liked both of them. Excellent price and reliability, but I'm done with directional tires. I need the freedom to rotate, and that's what the HTRZ III will give me.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I am well aware of the corporate relationship between Sumitomo, Falken, Dunlop, and Goodyear. But I still don't see any similarities between ZE912 and HTR Z III. What am I missing?

 

[BrianWC]

I had a set of HTRZ II's on my 900 and they had awesome traction. Didn't last very long, though.

 

[98LSC32V]

Yea I don't think the HTRZ III's are the same as the Falkens at all... I also have the HTRZ II's on both my Mark VIII's and they provide superior handling and traction for the money but they do wear out quickly especially if you do any burnouts.