My own experience, I'd place the G-force slightly below the michelin PS2 and the GS-D3. The G-force is sticky, but in the sizes and car types I've experienced that tire on, the steering is rather light and the car over-responsive.
I was further warned that if you get replacement tires, make sure you get the tire that was specifically developed for the Solstice.
I think it depends on the car and the application. G-force's real strength is straight line traction (braking and particularly accelerating). Their marketing plays to that strength because the ads and ad placements go after the Vettes, Vipers, Mustangs and Camaro crowd, where straight line traction is important (both at the power levels the cars have, and to the type of owner). However, I like the lighter steering, and the "over-responsive" (I thought it was just enough) nature helps on these types of cars - most owners run oversize tires at the rear which makes them understeer more and those characeristics help counteract that a bit - for example I run 285s (versus a stock 265) section tires on the front of the vette, and 345 (vs. a stock 295) in the rear - the largest that will fit at both ends, and while both are larger than stock, the rear is two inchs wider to only one at the front, so this helps balance it out a bit.
Regardless, we all go with what we like.
As to there being special tires for the Solstice, they can warn all they want. There is nothing unique about its suspension or set up - a good, standard production car IRS - so if you get the right size (or go up a size or two in widfth while keeping the same radius) will work fine.
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'06 Solstice - black - new project car - put it on a consignment lot - wasn't going to work as a project car
'04 Porsche Carrera - daily driver/'09 998 Carrera S on order
'02 Corvette ZO6 C5R 427, Procharger D1S-8 lbs, methanol, 740RWT/703 RWHP, 2985 lbs
'98 Camaro 408 LS6 + NOS with a bit more HP and weight
Location: Wilds of Canada, or the Pac NW, or the Upper Penninsula of MI...
maybe I wasn't clear - if you get the Maxima tire, you'll be disappointed - the grip and steering properties were tuned for the Maxima tire, and won't feel very good on the Solstice. It's likely your max lat will drop, too.
Will the car drive from home to work and store and home with the Maxima tire? Yes. Will it be as optimized as the "correct" tire on the car? NO.
maybe I wasn't clear - if you get the Maxima tire, you'll be disappointed - the grip and steering properties were tuned for the Maxima tire, and won't feel very good on the Solstice. It's likely your max lat will drop, too.
Will the car drive from home to work and store and home with the Maxima tire? Yes. Will it be as optimized as the "correct" tire on the car? NO.
There are no "special tires" for Maximas or Solstices with which they must run. The Solstice was designed for a specific size and type (summer performance) tire, which is made by probably 2/3 of Tire Manufacturers. Put some other size, or type of tire (cheapo-brand hard compound max wear grocery-getter tire) and it won't perform as well. But put the right size/type type on it and it will do what GM intended. The standard size is a 245 45S-18That's a pretty common size, available in more than a dozen sporty types and brands. . There is nothing magic about that size or about the type of construction or sport rating - pretty standard type of sport tire used on lots of other cars -- check that size, in sport ratings, on Tirerack and you will get gobs of hits (I just did).
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'06 Solstice - black - new project car - put it on a consignment lot - wasn't going to work as a project car
'04 Porsche Carrera - daily driver/'09 998 Carrera S on order
'02 Corvette ZO6 C5R 427, Procharger D1S-8 lbs, methanol, 740RWT/703 RWHP, 2985 lbs
'98 Camaro 408 LS6 + NOS with a bit more HP and weight
Last edited by Lee Willis : 01-16-2006 at 01:58 PM.
You'll get a bit more road noise with the KDWs but they will be so much better. They would be about the most aggressive you would want for as many miles as what you will be driving. Just make sure you don't drive in the snow with those.
You should be able to make an easy buck on ebay with a complete set of the stock Sol tires by the way.
__________________
2008 Black/Black GXP, purchased 7/23 right off the train.
Mod#1 blacked-out headlights
Mod#2 GMPP Intake -I like to hear my turbo.
Mod#3 Special Sauce
Mod#4 Solo Street Race
'97 Burb.
"07 Charger R/T, Mama's car
Race #1 Charger 0 /Sol 1
Location: Wilds of Canada, or the Pac NW, or the Upper Penninsula of MI...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee Willis
There are no "special tires" for Maximas or Solstices with which they must run. ..
All due respect, but, in fact, you are incorrect.
I spoke with an engineer from Goodyear, and they said that the Solstice tire started from the Nissan Maxima SE tire, but was re-tuned specifically for the Solstice.
Differences are higher grip, improvements in steering, and they didn't know what other tradeoffs were made but may have included accepting a higher rolling resistance.
Then, I was cautioned that if I were to get my tires replaced - the Maxima tire would not be the correct and would degrade the car's feel and grip. I don't have it handy, but the best way is to look on the tire - GM places a TPC stamp on the tire, Nissan doesn't. Additionally, somewhere around, I have the DOT code for each - they are, in fact, different tires.
I was further cautioned that tirerack may not list two different tires, but they most certainly are different tires, and to be careful if replacing them.
Location: Wilds of Canada, or the Pac NW, or the Upper Penninsula of MI...
Quote:
Originally Posted by brentil
Tirerack lists two RS-A's for the size our car is if I remember correctly. One is a normal RS-A and the other is the Solstice OE.
Actually, TireRack now lists a single P245/45R18 RS-A for replacement for the Maxima and the Solstice.
However, I have some info:
The Solstice (and Sky) base tire has a "TPC" or Tire Performance Characteristic stamp on the sidewall. The Nissan tire does not.
The DOT code is made up of three 4 character alpha-numerics in 3 lozenge-shaped spots on the sidewall.
The middle 4 characters are the important ones, the first 4 are some sort of general classification, the last four identify the build lot and/or date, IIRC.
The Nissan Maxima SE tire code is "CMWR"
The Kappa tire code is "CMDR"
It makes a difference, and especially if you end up with a mix of tires - so if/when you decide to replace your RS-A, make sure you don't end up with a mixed set, and make sure you request the proper DOT code, and the tire with a TPC stamp on it.
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