Hey guys,

Im having problems with traction in the dry in 1st gear from 3-3500rpm onwards even with clutch disengaged on my tj sports 2WD MANUAL.
I know its a magna thing particulary 3.5 manauls however im sure it can be reduced further with the correct tyres.

Mines got 235/40 18in Faulken ze912 tyres at moment & king lows & mechanically standard apart from cat back.

My question is, has anyone managed better results than these with better rubber?

I dont mind paying for it even though I know thread life will suck, (only 2 fronts needed) ive been told from several tyre shops that Dunlop sp sport maxx GT are topend for grip($300each), also bridgestone s-001 & pirelli pzero nero's(both $230 from jax @moment).

I drive very calmly so im no hoon however I do give just a very occasional squirt off the mark & also a the lights when im tring to get infront of another car to avoid parked car, im not expecting complete grip of course, just stickiest tyre possible without going semi slicks.

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone with the same car has had some success with this.

Cheers guys:happy:

The Pirellia PZero Neros aren't a good tyre. I was looking at them around Christmas time and most reviews reviews were not positive. Those Dunlops would be OK but I reckon there's better out there.

I have ran into the Falken 912s in my travels and they seem more like a touring tyre than a sports tyre. I don't think you could eliminate your traction issues completely, but a grippy set of tyre would go a long way in improving it.

I am currently running Michelin Pilot Sport 3s, which were about $300 in 235/40/18. In my auto VR-X, I can barely get TCL to kick in (in the dry at least). They are noticeably more grippier than my previous tyres, which were good tyres in their own right (Maxxis MA-Z1s). The Michelins also won a recent magazine tyre test.

I would also consider the Bridgestone S001 and Adrenalin RE002, as well as the Goodyear Eagle F1s. If these are too expensive for you, the Kumho KU31s get a good wrap.

The ZE912 arent that great. I had those on my Barina SRi and it lit the wheels up no problem in the dry. I think there is two problems:

1) tyres. A set of max-sport summer tyres from Michelin, Goodyear, or Continental should help. Check out www.tirerack.com and look at importing from the USA. Continental CSC3 or CSC5, Michelin Pilot Supersports, or GoodyeR Eagle F1 ASYM2. There are also cheaper tyres like the Federal 595 which are almost a semi-slick

2) technique. Your throttle control needs improving.

Thanks for quick reply mate, hmmm yea that seems a good wrap for your michelins & def worth investigating as a viable option if you think your traction is that good.

Cheers mate

Yup Dave's on the money. You're always gonna have traction issues with a FWD launching hard. Take it down to the drags - it's gonna be a compromise. High revs - more wheelspin, search for that happy medium

The Dunlop SP SportMaxx GT tyres suggested aren't going to do you much good until they've warmed up, nor are they going to be any good if you like a good life from your tyres. They wear out quickly. They're also pretty so so in the wet as they're a summer tyre. I've had them and wouldn't again knowing how much I drive in the wet.

Conti CSC3's like Dave suggested would be my pick.

The Dunlop SP SportMaxx GT tyres suggested aren't going to do you much good until they've warmed up, nor are they going to be any good if you like a good life from your tyres.
This. Once they're warm they're fairly grippy, but they also like to die fairly fast. Expect 20kms at best.

I'm in love with my RE002s at the moment. The falcon has so much torque and an open diff but even under WOT they won't spin in the wet unless i make them. I think they'd be great under a magna, and they should last 40-50kms with no problems.

If you really want traction, go 245/40R18 RE002s and get yourself some rock hard coilovers with an LSD.

This. Once they're warm they're fairly grippy, but they also like to die fairly fast. Expect 20kms at best.

I'm in love with my RE002s at the moment. The falcon has so much torque and an open diff but even under WOT they won't spin in the wet unless i make them. I think they'd be great under a magna, and they should last 40-50kms with no problems.

If you really want traction, go 245/40R18 RE002s and get yourself some rock hard coilovers with an LSD.

RE002 are good, but they dont offer the levels of grip like the top rung tyres. They can be had for cheap though

Conti CSC3's like Dave suggested would be my pick.

i have got less than 20,000km out of mine with regular tyre rotations :|

Thanks guys,

Ive done some more searching & all the models that you all mentioned seem very good for sure.
Im still seaching but so far the michelins that red valdez has seem to be the best due to better tread wear/grip & very close in other areas.

Thanks again guys for the great feedback;)

I've found the Yokohama C series to be excellent in both wet and dry (especially wet) on my KH (standard rims).

C drive isnt a performance tyre and wont offer the outright grip wet or dry of the Goodyear Eagle ASYM2

They grip fine but if you are after monster grip buy some continentals or another max performance summer tyreor buy a semi slick like federal 595 rsr, They are pretty cheap.

atm ive got nexins 215/40R17 n6000 on my gen 1 grips like any thing but wear out quickley they have only lasted me 6 months, and i havent been getting burnouts going because i carnt lose traction lol

The 595 RSR are stupidly grippy im the dry, not so great in the wet though

Have you tried the Achilles 123S or Goodyear Eagle F1s..?

Alan uses them Achilles and his little Evo hauls!

Then again Marty uses the Goodyears and swears by them!

SuFz :ninja:

They grip fine but if you are after monster grip buy some continentals or another max performance summer tyreor buy a semi slick like federal 595 rsr, They are pretty cheap.
I imagine the 595 RSRs (or the Achilles 123 that Sufz mentioned) would have an insane amount of grip. But something like the Michelins or Goodyears would ride better, be quieter, and would generally be a better tyre to live with day to day.


Ive done some more searching & all the models that you all mentioned seem very good for sure.
Im still seaching but so far the michelins that red valdez has seem to be the best due to better tread wear/grip & very close in other areas.
I've done 10,000km on mine and they still have a lot of tread on them. I'm terrible at guesstimating tread but I reckon 40,000km would be achievable out of them, if not more. Which is pretty good for the grip they offer.

Good timing for this post lol, yer ill need some thing gripey in wet because i lose traction when taking off all the way into 3rd

Just saying don't go paying 300 a tyre for a general 'good' tyre when you can get some of the best tyres on the market for that much.

Good timing for this post lol, yer ill need some thing gripey in wet because i lose traction when taking off all the way into 3rd

That will be your lead foot as well mate

haha yer probley some thing to do with it

I tried KU36 recently and found them very good.

They were used on my everyday car so had wet use also.
They are definitely not as good as some other tyres mentioned here in the wet, but I didn't have any drama's at all. However I add I don't go pushing in the wet.

At present I have Federal RSR's on the front which I find are not quite as good in the dry but little better in the wet maybe.
They were also dearer than the KU36.


If you want the best all-rounder and aren't strapped for cash I'd go for michelin pilot sport 3 (think that's the name). Maxxis iPro are very good too if you can find them.

KU31 a good allrounder at value price.

Ku36 are an excellent dry tyre, i can launch at 4000 and not lose traction at all. Compared to the previous stocl wheels where i would have wheelspin from 2000- 5000 in first and most of second as well.
They are not absolutly amazin in the wet as brett said above but aswell if your not being agressive in the wet should not have any problems.

ive nailed down 2 choices that i can get my hands on kumho ku31 or toyo proxes 4, has any one had the toyos before?

brett if you want cheap federals in future ask me and ill get you in contact with a sponsor who do good prices.

Personally, I would go kumho. They are a fantastic tyre for the price.

ive nailed down 2 choices that i can get my hands on kumho ku31 or toyo proxes 4, has any one had the toyos before?


Toyo Proxes 4 were not as good as some of the previous Proxes models beforehand as far as I've heard. Having said that they would be similar to KU31, or a bit better I reckon.

I imagine the Toyo's are more expensive though?? Both a decent choice though!

Toyo proxes 4 are a awesome tyre I prematurely chewed though mine but the cost compared to the ku31 there is not much difference between the two to justify spending the extra money on tube toyos

I wouldn't jump straight into a high cost investment so quickly... have you tried modifying your tyre pressures? I run 46psi rear, 34psi front and it cured 50% of my traction issues... and that's with 300hp on tap. If I can drive around enthusiastically in the wet without breaking traction, then unless your using Linglongs or some crap, its driver error.

I run Kumho KU31 up front and an inferior tyre on the rear.. in a track environment it gives me an excellent ratio of easily controllable over steer into corners, yet is completely safe on road. The relocation of battery to boot helps this also, but disadvantages take off traction.

Try the psi change first, if then your still not happy, I highly recommend KU31s, but have heard a lot lately that Federal 595s are comparable/better performance at a cheaper price so there's food for thought.

mmmm thats alot of food for thought boys :shock: lol!, yea I obviously need to do a little more reaserch then, I run 36psi all round but I'll try 34 at front & more at rears, really dont think it'l make a huge difference to be honest but hay it wont cost anything to try.
Ive still got enough tread left on my faulkens to take my time & choose best tyre that suits my needs (comfort/grip etc).

Thanks alot fella's I'll see how I go

Cheers:)

Red Valdez, do you find that the Michelin PS3's are noisy at all? because thats one of my prerequisites

They're a pretty quiet tyre. I was after a reasonably quiet tyre too, and I'm very happy with their noise.

Ok thanks mate;)

i have got less than 20,000km out of mine with regular tyre rotations :|
Gee that sucks, the Boxster at work got about 40k out of the CSC2's that came on it from factory, and has done about 30k so far on the CSC3's on the rear. Can't rotate on these things either, 235's on the front and 265's for the rear!

Gee that sucks, the Boxster at work got about 40k out of the CSC2's that came on it from factory, and has done about 30k so far on the CSC3's on the rear. Can't rotate on these things either, 235's on the front and 265's for the rear!

The CSC3 on the clio is a bespoke tyre with a specific compound just for the clio. Not sure why lol

Its tread wear is lower than other CSC3's that i have seen.