Summer tires - I'm looking for suggestions on good performance and relatively low road noise.

Hey all - I will likely be in the market for some new summer tires next season and wanted to start searching now, because why not?

I currently have the stock Dunlop Sport Maxx that comes with the 2016 WRX and they seem very loud on the road. As far as performance goes, these are sticky/stiff enough for my needs but are just too loud. Consider that my old and cranky side complaining.

I appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!

 

Michelin pilot super sports

 

When I had my Continental DW tires they were a pretty stick yet fairly quiet tire. Great in rain as well. They get rock hard under 40 degrees or so though.

 

I'll second the extremecontact dw.

Don't let them get under 40 degrees.

 

I'm a personal fan of the Bridgestone potenza pole position s04. It's the only tire I've gotten (twice) so I can't say how they compare to other sets out there.

I have them on my sti that I daily and don't have a lot of road noise that I notice, which is saying something because I'm a bit of an auto hypochondriac when it comes to car noises.

They last about 15-20k(?) with spirited weekend driving habits. Literally, ymmv. From what I can tell, they won't break loose until the stock suspension seems to reach its limits.

The only downside, and I'm sure this is with all summers, is temp. I think mine makes noise from sitting over night until they warm up.

Mine need to be replaced next season and I might go with the s04 again. Unless someone has a better suggestion.

Edit: I should mention, the tires stick pretty well on wet roads. I think I'm close to 5/32 on my set now and just started having hydroplaining issues with the recent weather which is expected. I heard some tires don't handle water well but I was pretty impressed with my first set.

 

Another +1 for these. I love them.

 

I like my Dunlop Direzza ZII's, but I don't have any track experience on them yet, nor do I have any real world experience in comparison to any other performance tire. This probably isn't much help

 

Is road noise your only concern with the tires? What will you be doing with the car? Spirited Driving? Autocross?

I liked the Pole Position S04 tires when I had them on my G37 last summer. The road noise was pretty minimal, but then again it's a much newer car than my WRX.

I currently have Hankook Ventus V12 summer tires and they're great too, definitely in the same convo as the Pole Positions and Super Sports. That said, I think I've got a fair amount of road noise with them on my WRX, but that's comparing my experience in two totally different cars. I would imagine you'd have a much, much quieter drive in your 2016 WRX versus my 2003.

 

I just bought some Kumho PS91 for my CTS-V and they are badass.

I have had Michelin PSS and these are just as good at a fraction of the price.

 

Spirited driving mainly, nothing crazy. No auto-cross. I have a spare set of the dunlops that I got when I bought a second set of wheels and took them off in favor of winter tires. I'd burn those if I ever do a track day.

TLDR: main use will be everyday driving with fun on the on-ramps.