KDW2 (KDW NT) vs. GS-D3

[merc123]

I'm kind of at a decision point now. I was browsing discount tire and I found that for 18" wheels I can get the KDW2 or GS-D3's for close to the same price. Only different is I can get a 295 GS-D3 but only a 285 for the KDW2's. It's going on 18x9 and 18x10 wheels. Which would you recommend for all around better traction wet, dry and treadwear? I would only like comments from those that have had both types of wheels if possible.

BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW NT 295/35R-18 99Y BSW $235.00
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 285/35R-18 97Y VSB $274.00

BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW NT 245/40R-18 93Y B $172.00
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 245/40ZR-18 93Y VSB $227.00

 

[Dope 97GT]

I had 285 BFGoodrich KDW2s on my 18x10 saleens and they were the best tires ive had to date. they gripped well in the rain and awesome at the track.

 

[DropTopPony]

i haven't had the KDW's yet but my GSD3's are insanely good in wet and all around traction...both tires get rated well around here.

 

[Superhereaux]

subscribing

 

[stangGT97]

I have the KDWs with the traditional tread... they seem to grip pretty well in the rain, and on the dry pavement. I will say, they are kind of loud though, but I'm not sure if thats an issue that has been resolved with the new tread design.

 

[CRZYHRSGT]

Well, it goes against everything I think about GoodYear, but everything I've heard both on here and at work (Porsche, Lotus and Ferrari owners) is that the GS-D3s are a remarkable tire. They have all the qualities you're looking for...traction on track and wet as well as treadwear. On the flip-side, I've had complaints from the Elise owners (some came with the KDW2s) that they're noisy as hell they're wearing out FAST.


G/Y FTW...

 

[merc123]

I have just KDW on the car now and I'm not impressed because they wear fast and when they get close to the wear lines their traction is REALLY bad. I'm waiting to win the rims on ebay so I have a few days to decide.

 

[Duke309]

I think the question is, are you willing to pay that much more for the gs-d3s?

 

[merc123]

$814 BFG's vs. $1,002 for GSD3's

$188 difference or ~$47 per tire. If the GSD-3's are that much better of an all around tire then I think it's worth it, but they will have to outlast the BFG's and with a 280 treadwear vs. BFG's 300 I don't think they will.

 

[V_Eight]

I ordered my 295/35-18 KDW NT's monday, they come in tomorrow. Will put pics here.

 

[Uncle Meat]

GS-D3 FTW.

 

[merc123]

I ordered my 295/35-18 KDW NT's monday, they come in tomorrow. Will put pics here.

What'd you have before?

 

[Stangdriver1119]

i haven't had the KDW's yet but my GSD3's are insanely good in wet and all around traction...both tires get rated well around here.

+1

 

[BlackenedSVT]

I have the KDWs with the traditional tread... they seem to grip pretty well in the rain, and on the dry pavement. I will say, they are kind of loud though, but I'm not sure if thats an issue that has been resolved with the new tread design.

you can actually hear tire noise over your exhaust? Something isn't right with this picture... I can barely hear my radio

 

[V_Eight]

What'd you have before?

275/40-17 BFG KD

 

[merc123]

That's what I have now I'm interested in a comparo.

 

[Disturbed One]

$814 BFG's vs. $1,002 for GSD3's

$188 difference or ~$47 per tire. If the GSD-3's are that much better of an all around tire then I think it's worth it, but they will have to outlast the BFG's and with a 280 treadwear vs. BFG's 300 I don't think they will.

You CANNOT compare Treadwear ratings from one brand tire to another. That is not a government controlled rating. You can only compare GY to GY, BFG to BFG and so on and so forth. They make the number system up for how their tires are going to rate compared to another tire in their line up.

The Traction and temp ratings are controlled so those are comparable.

 

[stangGT97]

you can actually hear tire noise over your exhaust? Something isn't right with this picture... I can barely hear my radio

Yeah I can, when I'm cruising @ light throttle on the highway, sometimes when slowing to a stop

 

[CRZYHRSGT]

You CANNOT compare Treadwear ratings from one brand tire to another. That is not a government controlled rating. You can only compare GY to GY, BFG to BFG and so on and so forth. They make the number system up for how their tires are going to rate compared to another tire in their line up.

The Traction and temp ratings are controlled so those are comparable.

Treadwear Grades

UTQG Treadwear Grades are based on actual road use in which the test tire is run in a vehicle convoy along with standardized Course Monitoring Tires. The vehicle repeatedly runs a prescribed 400-mile test loop in West Texas for a total of 7,200 miles. The vehicle can have its alignment set, air pressure checked and tires rotated every 800 miles. The test tire's and the Monitoring Tire's wear are measured during and at the conclusion of the test. The tire manufacturers then assign a Treadwear Grade based on the observed wear rates. The Course Monitoring Tire is assigned a grade and the test tire receives a grade indicating its relative treadwear. A grade of 100 would indicate that the tire tread would last as long as the test tire, 200 would indicate the tread would last twice as long, 300 would indicate three times as long, etc.

The problem with UTQG Treadwear Grades is that they are open to some interpretation on the part of the tire manufacturer because they are assigned after the tire has only experienced a little treadwear as it runs the 7,200 miles. This means that the tire manufacturers need to extrapolate their raw wear data when they are assigning Treadwear Grades, and that their grades can to some extent reflect how conservative or optimistic their marketing department is. Typically, comparing the Treadwear Grades of tire lines within a single brand is somewhat helpful, while attempting to compare the grades between different brands is not as helpful.

Tire Rack Tech Page

 

[V_Eight]

No competing with this ****. These are sex!