i have an oppertunity to get some cheap Kumho Ecsta Supras for my GSR. the tires i have on it now were put on by the dealer so they are of course the worst cheapest tires you can possibly find. and they are just not cuttin it for autox. so i am looking at these kumhos. they will be for autox and for street. also, does treadwear pattern matter?

 

how long have you autoxed or how many events now?

If less than a year then I would stick with your current tires.

 

ecsta 712.. ehh.. not good, not bad..
ecsta MX.. gooooood...

hope that answered your question..

 

Treadwear pattern matters little if at all in dry conditions, and can make a big difference in the wet. I've never heard of the Kuhmo Supras before, so i don't have a clue what those are about. I don't have any direct experience w/ the 712s, but most say they're okay for street/daily driving and are none-too-impressive for autocrossing. In case you just awoke from an extended hibernation, best street tire value for autocrossing are Falken Azeni and Kuhmo MX.

 

I actually used them for a year in 2001. THey were ok but i was using 215/40x16" 712s on a 16x7.5" rim.

For your first year of autocrossing don't bother with DOT R tires. In the hands of a novice you can cord or flat spot a nice set of R tires on your first day - there goes $600-900. Learning the limits of your car on street tires is better, since R tires do not give much feedback.

 

I've been autocrossing on kumholio 712's for two seasons. They're a good beginner tire, but you'll probably want something more after a few events. Check the other thread, I gave you a pretty good rundown there.