| Porsche Tires & Wheels Discussion of Tires, Wheels, Suspension, etc. |
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06-03-2009, 11:50 AM
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Porsche Prophet
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Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs--still happy?
I just bought an '06 Cayman S.
The Michelin PS2s are due for replacement, and I'll be reverting to 18s with new wheels and tires. I've Searched and read all the posts about these ZIIIs; some love them for the price; some don't. These will be street tires in a hot, dry climate--Phoenix. I'll be buying 18"-original-size fronts but slightly larger rears...275s, as the CS seems rather low-geared to me...but that diameter is still within Porsche's 3% tolerance. Call me cheap if you wish, but I just don't wish to spend c. $1400 for a set of Michelins; the ZIIIs seem to be perfectly fine.
How's the long-term experience with them?
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06-03-2009, 12:52 PM
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Porsche Purist
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Re: Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs--still happy?
See if the Ventus S1s sale on TR is still on. Buddy went to ZIIIs and then back to PS2s.
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Tomasz
Apologies for spelling mistakes, most of them are keyboarding errors. To enjoy this forum I run out of time to proof read.
My garage: 2000 Audi S4 (not stock) | 2007 Porsche Cayman S (FabSpeed Headers, RS60 Tips, SRP 4.1, ATB, GT3 Ducts, GT3 RS Steering & Shifter, Custom Aluminum Look, ZR4)
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06-03-2009, 01:04 PM
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Re: Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs--still happy?
Welcome to the swamp, Jeffery.
There may not be many CS owners here who have long term experience with those tires, but several people have mentioned them here recently.
Okay, you're cheap. But from the comparison test results and other info at TR, these seem to be good tires for the money. The 275/40/18 size is even cheaper than the OEM 265/40/18 size ($139 versus $164).
The '06 Cayman S is actually geared a little higher in the first several gears than the Boxster S of the same year, so no need to go to a taller tire to raise gearing. You probably can't feel the extra .3" of diameter anyway.
TR specs also show the 275/40 tire as having a narrower tread than the 275/35 for some reason (9.8" versus 10.0"); and the taller tire weighs 4 more pounds as well. But price favors the taller tire by $40 each.
Considering the cheaper price, and a diameter closer to OEM, I'd get the 275/40 over the 275/35 too (I have Toyo R888s in 275/40, but with 245/40 fronts). But the tires you're getting also come in the OEM 265/40 size.
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06-03-2009, 01:46 PM
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Re: Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs--still happy?
Jeff:
Hi. I also just bought an Artic Silver '06 Cayman S. I'm having fun. How about you? I've heard mixed reviews on the Sumis. I do know that the HTRZ II s are not good tires so don't get them, even on sale. The IIIs are good out of the box. Don't know how they work longer term or what the life expectancy is. I'll probably stick with PS2s on my 19" wheels. I plan to buy some 18" take-offs for winter and track tires. I was going to go with Nitto NT-01 (which can be driven on street in summer if you're a sporting sort) but I'm hearing that they may stick too well and that something a little less grippy would be better for a stock Cayman. Issues with oiling and with the power steering pump. So I may just become a lightweight until I have the mods on the car I need for it to be on the track and bulletproof.
Those wheels you have are gorgeous. I have Carrera S, which look damned good too but yours may be my favorite for Cayman.
If you are tracking the car, you should use 18" wheels because tires don't last long and 19s are a lot more expensive. For street, why not stick with 19? If you don't have PASM, that may be the answer. I live in Chicago and our streets are very rough.
-Six
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PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
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This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM |
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06-03-2009, 02:01 PM
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Platinum Sponsor
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Re: Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs--still happy?
Give me a call when you are ready for 18" Track/winter set. We have Porsche Factory 987 Boxster wheel and tire packages pretty reasonably priced.
Originally Posted by sixisenuff
Jeff:
Hi. I also just bought an Artic Silver '06 Cayman S. I'm having fun. How about you? I've heard mixed reviews on the Sumis. I do know that the HTRZ II s are not good tires so don't get them, even on sale. The IIIs are good out of the box. Don't know how they work longer term or what the life expectancy is. I'll probably stick with PS2s on my 19" wheels. I plan to buy some 18" take-offs for winter and track tires. I was going to go with Nitto NT-01 (which can be driven on street in summer if you're a sporting sort) but I'm hearing that they may stick too well and that something a little less grippy would be better for a stock Cayman. Issues with oiling and with the power steering pump. So I may just become a lightweight until I have the mods on the car I need for it to be on the track and bulletproof.
Those wheels you have are gorgeous. I have Carrera S, which look damned good too but yours may be my favorite for Cayman.
If you are tracking the car, you should use 18" wheels because tires don't last long and 19s are a lot more expensive. For street, why not stick with 19? If you don't have PASM, that may be the answer. I live in Chicago and our streets are very rough.
-Six |
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PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
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This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM |
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06-03-2009, 03:33 PM
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Porsche Prophet
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Re: Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs--still happy?
Originally Posted by sixisenuff
Jeff:
Hi. I also just bought an Artic Silver '06 Cayman S. I'm having fun. How about you?
Those wheels you have are gorgeous. -Six
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Mine's 5 days old and I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! And yes indeed I'm having a blast driving it, even taking little nitetime trips around some twisty stuff close to the house.
TY...yes, everyone tells me those wheels are gorgeous, but I'd like a little less-jarring and quieter (and less-expensive!) ride, so 18s it is. Want to buy my tires and wheels? 
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06-03-2009, 04:56 PM
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Re: Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs--still happy?
Originally Posted by sixisenuff
Jeff:
...I do know that the HTRZ II s are not good tires so don't get them, even on sale...
-Six
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+1 Six, from personal experience with II s.
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chas
2006 CS Midnight Blue, Bi-Xenon, SportDesign Wheels, Heated Seats, Automatic Climate, Sport Shifter, SS Tailpipe
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06-06-2009, 11:35 AM
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Re: Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs--still happy?
I've used IIIs on my other two cars and while the perf was decent and the price great, they did wear more quickly.
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2000 Audi S4 (daily driver)
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2007 Cayman S (psychotherapy)
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06-06-2009, 01:36 PM
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Insider
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Re: Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs--still happy?
I used the HTR Z III's on my 335. I thought the tires were pretty good. I started with 18's and then thought the wheels looked too small so I switched to 19's. Still a good tire. So now I have four extra seats in the basement.
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06-06-2009, 02:43 PM
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Re: Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs--still happy?
Not a cayman owner yet, but I have these on a Scion tC. I've driven them pretty hard through the canyon roads of Malibu and angeles crest keeping up with a friend's WRX Sti. With about 4k miles on them I'm very happy with them. Will wear a bit more quickly depending on how hard you go. Found out about them from tirerack's tests.
A New Name Challenges the Max Performance Summer Category Testing New Trends In Max Performance Tires ( for comparison the PS2's tested on the same car)
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