*Disclaimer* - I'm very OCD. This post is splitting hairs, but I want opinions regardless. Please read completely.
It's tire time for the SS. It has been running Falken Ziex ZE912 tires:
I have heard it all, but my
: They were absolutely fantastic. Even at (slightly below) the wear bars, I am very pleased with the traction. Great dry, wet, and IMO absolutely sublime in the snow (maybe except at the current tread depth). These are W rated, so the tread warranty was 40,000 miles. They were put on just a few weeks before I bought the car. So far, only counting what I can prove, I am between 39 and 40 thousand miles. They held up well...
So, I've made up my mind I want one of these two tires: the ZE950 and the Pro G4. G4 is only sold at DT, Ziex elsewhere. *NOTE* Price is no object. Two companies fight for the best deal here, so they are both going to be the same price.
Yes, there actually is a tread difference. It's very minor though.
Here are the best comparison pictures I could find. Note the picture orientation is outside --> inside.
The Ziex ZE950:
The Pro G4:
For those that can't tell them apart, I am separating the tread into four sections, divided by the rain grooves in the tire:
1| 2 |3|4
The differences are in sections 1 and 3.
Section 1's difference is that the horizontal sipe in the 950 does not go all the way through, and instead has a diagonal sipe.
Section 3's difference is that the deep diagonal sipe in the 950 is facing the inside of the tire, with a thin sipe continuing in the same direction to the other side. The G4's deep diagonal sipe is facing the outside of the tire, backward, with a thin sipe going the opposite direction to the other side.
I know there is probably not much difference in the two. But I'm just as picky with my tires as I am my oil. What do you guys think, are there any pros or cons?
It's tire time for the SS. It has been running Falken Ziex ZE912 tires:
I have heard it all, but my
So, I've made up my mind I want one of these two tires: the ZE950 and the Pro G4. G4 is only sold at DT, Ziex elsewhere. *NOTE* Price is no object. Two companies fight for the best deal here, so they are both going to be the same price.
Yes, there actually is a tread difference. It's very minor though.
Here are the best comparison pictures I could find. Note the picture orientation is outside --> inside.
The Ziex ZE950:
The Pro G4:
For those that can't tell them apart, I am separating the tread into four sections, divided by the rain grooves in the tire:
1| 2 |3|4
The differences are in sections 1 and 3.
Section 1's difference is that the horizontal sipe in the 950 does not go all the way through, and instead has a diagonal sipe.
Section 3's difference is that the deep diagonal sipe in the 950 is facing the inside of the tire, with a thin sipe continuing in the same direction to the other side. The G4's deep diagonal sipe is facing the outside of the tire, backward, with a thin sipe going the opposite direction to the other side.
I know there is probably not much difference in the two. But I'm just as picky with my tires as I am my oil. What do you guys think, are there any pros or cons?