Ask Connor at The Tire Rack

connortirerack · October 2005

There are a few different reasons that factor into the surveys that i do not agree with.

If you are looking at the "Customer Survey Ratings" then:

1) The person that is writing the review is basing the performance of the new tire against the tires that were just removed from the vehicle. the tires are being removed because they are most likely worn out and not performing the way they would when new.
2) You have no way to tell what kind of driver the person is that is driving the car (i.e., passive ,moderate, or aggressive).
3) You have no way to tell what mechanical condition the vehicle is in that the tires are being installed on.
4) You have no way to tell the road conditions that a person is driving the car on.

Due to the above reason i do not use the customer surveys as a recommendation tool. I base the recommendations that i make on me actually go out and participating in the tire testing that we do here every week so that you are given first hand knowledge of how the tire actually performs in an unbiased test.

If you are referring to the "Tire Rack Test Results" then you first and foremost have to take into account the the tires are tested against other tires in the same classification (i.e.., Performance summer only vs.. Performance summer only, touring all season vs.. touring all season). The Goodyear Assurance line is a basic passenger all season tire that was test against other basic passenger all season tires. In the basic passenger all season category the Triple tred is a very good tire. However if you are going to compare it to a performance all season tire and then ask which will perform better.......... Hands down the performance tire will offer better traction and handling tire that a basic passenger all season tire. In the same manor, a touring tire will offer a quieter more comfortable ride than any basic passenger all season tire.

Hopefully this will clarify the confusion with what you see in the surveys.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

The original Bridgestone Potenza RE92 are not a very good tire in my opinion. it would not be hard to get a better one.
As to which of the three tires you listed (Pzero Nero M+S, Turanza LS-V or the Conti Extreme Contact) would be better would depend on what is more important to you, ride comfort or performance? the only thing i can really see from your post is that you want snow traction and for that i would recommend a snow tire. if however you are looking for the best snow capability out of an all season tire then i would recommend the Bridgestone Turanza LS-H.this tire would offer an excellent ride quality and very good snow traction for an all season tire. If performance is more important then i would recommend the Pirelli Pzero Nero MS. they would offer good snow and ice traction as well excellent dry and we traction and handling.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

The Avon M550 (as with an tire that uses polyester tread belts) will have some level of flat spotting. Normally this is only an issue in colder weather. Once you start driving, the tire will heat up and the flat spot will dissipate. As for the "hard to balance", i can't say i have ever heard of any legitimate issues with the tire. If the equipment is being used correctly then they should balance just as easily as any other tire.
If you are looking at price vs.. performance then i would actually say the Avon is the way to go.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

I would recommend using the link below and having the tires "road force tested" to find out what the issue is.

http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

Summer tire are meant for dry and wet weather driving. You should not try to use them in the ice or snow and you really should not drive them in temperatures lower the 32 degrees. Summer tires are designed to offer good to excellent wet traction depending on the tire.

Summer tires are designed and intended for people who have performance vehicles and are looking to drive them in the manor they were designed for (whether legal or not). This hopefully is not on public roadway but then again we have all see the video's on the internet. there are also several SCCA class race groups that require high traction street legal tires to compete. and that is where the ultra high performance tires come in.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

lojeff · October 2005

My wife uses it with the kids during the week but on the weekend, we go out on the beach or thru back woods. Winter is coming for NJ and last year the OEMs were not that good.

What do you think of the Bridgestone Dueler AT Revos?

OEM size is 265/65/17. Should I stick with OEM size or go to 265/70/17?

Comments/ suggestions/alternatives?

mikemoore75 · October 2005

Connor:

Need your help, please.

It's down to two tires for my wife's 2000 Honda Acoord EX 4door 4-cyl. (195/65/55R, H rated):

Bridgestone Potenza G009
or
Cooper Lifeliner Touring SLE (H rated)

We live in Connecticut, so weather (rain, snow, sleet, slush) is always an issue in winter. Wife does 45 minutes to an hour each day of mostly highway driving to her job in NY.

I am kinda at a loss cause there aren't many reviews online for the Cooper (TireRack doesn't sell them). At TireRack, the Bridgestone seems to get good reviews...

They are both about the same price at the various dealers around here....so not sure which way to go. So which is the better tire??

Thanks in advance for your help.
Mike

micweb · October 2005

Thanks Connor. Are they quieter than All Season tires? I have heard the tread design on AS tires makes them more prone to noise...is the converse true, that summer tires are quieter, or does that get lost in the search for ultimate traction?

superdog · October 2005

have the sport package tires.. feels like im floating when driving in heavy rain.. can't even imagine when the snow comes.. Please suggest some snow/ice tires.. when i put them on..do i have to get a wheel balance also?

Thanks!

SD

connortirerack · October 2005

When i was moderating PTcruiserclub.org i had almost as many people tell me they loved the OE 205/50/17 RSA's as i heard hated them. There are tires in this size that are better like the Avon M550A/S and the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S which would be the best tire.

I wouldn't say the OE RSA's the worst but the are definitely not the best. I would rate these three tires in the following order.

205/50R17 Michelin Pilot Exalto AS -- 161.00 ea
205/50R17 Avon Tech M550 A/S -- 102.00 ea
205/50R17 Goodyear Eagle RS-A -- 165.00 ea

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

Actually i would not recommend any of the tires that you listed for your odyssey. The Michelin Hydroedge and the Goodyear Tripletred are designed to look like performance tires without actually giving the higher traction level of the performance tires. The Goodyear Comfortred are a descent tire but in my opinion over priced for what you get. The Yokohama TRZ is actually a fairly good tire but they do tend to wear fast and they start getting noisy when you get to around 9-10/32". The tire that i would recommend for you would be the Bridgestone Turanza LS-T which are currently priced at 87.00 each plus shipping. This tire would offer an excellent ride quality as well as great traction and handling in dry wet and snow conditions.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

gatorjmd · October 2005

15 was a typo... 255/55-18

djesse · October 2005

Hi Connor,

I'm look for good wet(hydroplane) and snow traction all season tires, that have reasonable ride and comfort and good tread life, and of coarse decent handling. I'm from Vancouver BC, Canada, sometimes drive up to a couple hours a day, more highway than city.

First, my tire size is 185/65-15H (86-loadwieght), can I size up to 195/60-15H or would 195/65-15H be better? Is their an advantage.

Second, I'm deciding between the Bridgestone Potenza G009, Turanza LS-H, and BF Goodrich Traction T/A. What's your best recommendation? Would you recommend something else?

krzyss · October 2005

I know.

Krzys

jac5 · October 2005

Connor, Please give your professional opinion on the goodyear comfortred tire. It has high rating on tire rack survey and seems to have a nice tread pattern for all-season and well contructed. thanks for the advice.

connortirerack · October 2005

The VW Dealership is correct. You should not use a speed rating lower than the manufacturers minimum recommended speed rating. As i have posted in many posts before it is impossible to quantify rolling resistance because of all the different factors that that effect rolling resistance.

If you are looking for the smoothest rolling tire then i would recommend using a touring style of tire similar to the OE tires on this car. There were three OE options for this car from the factory. the three tire were 195/65R15 Continental Touring CH95 (56.00 ea), 195/65R15 Michelin Energy MXV4 PLUS (110.00 ea), 195/65R15 Goodyear Eagle LS ( 73.00 ea) and all of these carried a 91H service description. Out of these three tire i would say the Michelin would offer the smoothest ride due to different materials used in the construction of the sidewall.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

I would recommend using the 205/70/15 Bridgestone LS-T (72.00 ea). In fact i recommend them so highly that i purchased a set for my dad's '01 Buick Park Avenue Ultra and in the almost two years he has had them i have never heard a complaint.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

I think the Bridgestone A/T Revo's are an excellent tire. In fact i use them on my '01 Ford F150 4WD from late fall through early spring. I also use them when my wife and i travel because they offer an exceptional ride quality for an A/T tire and to be completely honest ........ they look good. In the summer time i have a different set of wheels and tires that have Goodyear Wrangler MT-R's on them because i do allot of off road driving. The Bridgestone AT Revo offer great traction and handling in dry, wet, and snow conditions. The Goodyear's that i use in the summer time for off roading are extremely noisy on the road and are terrible on snow and ice.

P265/65R17 Bridgestone A/T Revo -- 150.00 each

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

chitiger · October 2005

I'm seeking replacement tires for an IMS modified 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan, with 215/ 65/15 tires. I live in Chicago, and traction in rain and snow are a big deal, especially with the lowered floor for wheelchair access. The adaptation also adds additional weight to the vehicle, and makes traction in snow something of a problem.

One dealer recommended Kuhmo HP 4 716 tires, while another told me that the added weight of the adapted minivan would make those Kuhmos a poor choice, and recommended Bridgestone Potenza G 009's instead. I have also considered Dunlop SP 60's, Goodyear Regatta's, and maybe even Dunlop SP Sport A2's because of the high heat and traction ratings (and because I just put a pair on my BMW 318ti, and love them!).

I'm also on a budget, so I'd like to keep the replacement with all costs under $500.

What do you think? Are there any other tires that I should be investigating?

ChiTiger

connortirerack · October 2005

Due to the fact that i do not carry the Cooper tire line i cannot offer any opinions on them. In respect to the Bridgestone G009, i think they are an excellent tire. They offer great dry, wet, and snow traction. currently i have your size in stock for 63.00 each.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

It would really go back the to the specific tire you are referring to, not necessarily the fact that it is summer only or all season. The one fact that has held true in tires in all the time that i have been doing what i do is that the first quality to go in cheaper tires is noise levels. It is also the hardest characteristic to maintain through out the life of the tire.

The noise or humming sound that you hear when you are driving is caused by the air being compressed and forced through the tread channels and the repetitive action of the tread blocks hitting the pavement. The only way to make a tire quieter is to find a way to break up the air flow and to randomly change the size of the tread blocks. You find that cheaper tires tend to have straighter tread lines and the tread blocks are all the same. This type of tire will be very noisy. If you look at the higher end tires you will normally find the size of the tread blocks vary from block to block and the lateral tread channels tend to be angled more aggressively and randomly to break up the airflow between the blocks.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

An '05 BMW 330i with sport package should have 225/45/17 on the front and 245/40/17 on the rear with either Michelin or continental summer performance tires. There are two different directions you could go with this. If you wants just snow tires that you could fit onto your wheels then i would recommend using 225/45R17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 (144.00 each) and 245/40R17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 (159.00 each). If you are looking for tires and wheels that you could switch out yourself then i would recommend using the 205/55R16 Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 (107.00 each) with the 16X7.5 ASA JH3 (109.00 each). Personally i would go with the tire and wheels. the tires would be 606.00 plus shipping, plus mount and balance fee's every spring and every fall. The tires and wheels would come to you mounted and balanced, ready to install for 864.00. You would simply need to place them on the vehicle when you switch the tire for the seasons.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

You can upgrade to a 195/60/15 but not a 195/65/15, it would be to tall and would probably rub. I would recommend using the larger 195/60/15 over the 185/65/15. The wider tire would offer a little better handling as well as better ride quality. Out of the three tires that you mentioned, i would rate them in the following order for the characteristics that you mentioned.

1) 195/60R15 Bridgestone Turanza LS-H -- 96.00 ea
2) 195/60R15 Bridgestone Potenza G009 -- 62.00 ea
3) 195/60R15 BF Goodrich Traction T/A -- 57.00 ea

The LS-H would offer the best ride quality and excellent dry and wet traction. I would also recommend them because of how much you drive on the interstate.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

This is a tricky question. The vehicle has been modified and is heavier than the factory specifications. I would not recommend using a high-speed rated tire on the van. The softer tread compounds will not perform as well under heavy load as the harder compound and lower speed rated tires. The best tire i would recommend would be the 215/65/15 Bridgestone Turanza LS-T (81.00 ea). In my opinion it would be better to use an XL or C load on this vehicle but regrettably there are not any made in the sizes that fit.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

connortirerack · October 2005

This is the time of year that i become extremely busy because it is the Tire Racks busiest time of year. My time becomes extremely limited due to trying to take care of the influx of customers calling in and placing orders for snow tires and wheels. Because of this It becomes very hard to keep up with some of the internet forum Q&A. Because, like most people, i am trying to make a living and am paid only by commission i have to take care of the people on the phone first because they are ordering with me. I apologize in advance for the delayed responses and as always, if you have a question that you need an immediate response to or would like to place an order please feel free to call me directly. I can be reached at 800-428-8355 X269.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

hastab · October 2005

Connor,

I have decided to go with winters for the Max. The tirerack webiste has a number of options. Local tire shops in the Toronto area have indicated that the Blizzak WS-50 and LM-22 are great tires but the wear is high and I'll probably need to replace at about 15K miles. However they have been unable to comment on the Blizzak REVO, a newer model.

Any recommendations for winters Blizzak or otherwise ? Ride comfort and wear are important factors.

pier · October 2005

Thank you Connor. You are correct about the Michelin. I had a pair on my previous New Beetle - very smooth.

Am I correct in stating that you should never mess with the load rating of a tire (i.e. go to a lower load rating). Would going to a lower load rating heat the tire beyond its accepted range?

ldew · October 2005

Hi, Conner, hope you can help me with this. I have a 2000 Mazda 626 which has P205/60R15 tires on it. I blew one of them in the hurricane debri here and the replacement was $80! I owned a 1992 Mazda 626 that took P205/65R15 tires that were approx. $40. Question #1 - Can I replace the 60R15 with a 65R15? #2 - If so, do I need to replace at least 2 tires of the same kind which would still equal $80? Please note that my concern is money at this time, not cosmetics, but if it will mess my car up then I'll keep the 60 or if I have to buy 2 65s at least it's equal to the price of the one. Also, during this time, I blew my donut spare, so if the 60 to 65 can be done and I need to replace 2, can i keep the good 60 and find a junkyard rim for use as a spare? I appreciate any help you can give me on this. Thanks.
Laura

glenford · October 2005

Connor, I have the subject vehicle (and I am a Tire Rack satisfied customer!).

I like it a lot, but I wish it handled better, and had less body roll. I know, I know, should have figured that out before I bought it.

I checked out some options at the TR, but wondered if you had any recommendations - springs, tire upsize (does this affect gas mileage?), whatever. I currently use Nokians dedicated for winter, and could leave them mounted if I got new wheels and tires. Also, I don't think I want to do anything that will stop others from eventually buying this thing from me. But if it handled better, I might put another 50K miles on it.

Thank you. Tim

bc13 · October 2005

Hi Connor. I'm looking at purchasing a used set of goodyear wrangler at-s for my 2000 suburban. Any thoughts on the tire? Also, what other type of tire might you recommend for the snow? Its a 2wd, so I'm trying to get something with atleast alittle better traction than i have (michelin's - forget what they are). Final question the car came with R16 tires, would R17's fit? Thanks in advance.

jipster · October 2005

Hello, I own a 1999 Buick Regal LS with 64,000 miles.I have owned this vehilce for a year and a half. Recently I noticed the front Firestones are of different tires. One is a Firestone FR 440 the other is a Firestone FR 680. Both have roughly 30k of tread left, but are cracking some on outer tread(the part that touchs road surface and inside as well) and sidewall...doesn't seem safe to have two tires that are rated differently in front. I have Goodyear Intergrity's on the back....they look to be okay. Indentation though about half inch wide and quarter inch in depth running along outside tread. Could you comment on saftey of the Firestones i.e replace asap, when you can get around to it, or when tread is down.

Also, what would be a good replacement for these 15" tires. I want a fairly quiet tire, that is excellent in wet and dry stopping (don't get much snow) and has a smooth ride....that would be a good fit for my Regal LS. Thanks

igbins · October 2005

I live in the Yukon and I drive a '94 Tercel. We don't get as much snow as you might think (semi-arid), but we do have several months of hard-packed snow to drive on. For the past 4 winters I've driven on Blizzaks and I have LOVED them! But this year, although the tread is still relatively good, I am looking to replace these winter tires because my husband is a new driver, and has no experience with winter driving.

So, I went to buy a new set of Blizzaks and the salesman is trying to convince me to go with the Nokian winter tires. He suggests the rubber compound is longer lasting at its "sticky" stage and that the increased number and design of the sipes makes these a better tire than the Blizzaks. But all the reviews I've been able to get my hands on have rated the Nokians quite a bit lower than the Blizzaks.

Any opinion? Thanks

goodshopper99 · October 2005

Hi,
I need to order a snow wheel/tire package for 2004 BMW 325i.

I need to know if Sport Edition F6 wheels in 17 inch size comes with BMW Center caps. I know that ASA rims do.

If not, do you know if I can buy them?

jan3sobieski · October 2005

Hey Connor. I need some help and quick.
I own a 2001 Divic DX coupe. I need the best tires that exist for my car

First of all the stock ones are 185/70/14. I was wondering if i can put bigger ones on the stock rims?
Second question: I'm hearing a lot of commotion about people saying that TripleTreads or HydroEdges are the best tires, then you say the Turanza LS-T's are even better, better yet, I hear people saying that Traction T/A H beats all of them. I'm so confused I can't take it anymore!

I need new tires. Winter is coming up, so they have to be more than decent in the snow but they have to be extremely good on wet and dry surfaces. I need them to be really good in cornering especially on wet surfaces. Tread wear is a medium factor, traction/grip is the highest factor, price is the lowest factor. Please, tell me which ones should i get? :confuse:

Thnx

ronaries10 · October 2005

hi. I have an 05 Acura TL and am interested in winter snows and wheels/mounted. I live in Columbus OH where we get very moderate snowfall, but often have ice or slush on the roads in morning & evenings. I've read that my Bridgstone Turanza tires are only fair performers in winter. I have no praise for them but hope to get 30k miles out of them if I can.
My question is what is the likely impact of going to a minus size tire/wheel combo on the performance of the car? Secondly, what would be difference of the Blizzak LM22 vs WSor WR models? My daily use of the car is short commute with a spirited driving style; and occasional weekend jaunts into the snow belt cities - which I avoid doing during heavy storm conditions.
My other thought has been to just keep using the Turanza tires & buy a summer tire. I could purchase a summer tire for fun NASA events (not actually racing ... just spirited driving!) ...and run the Turanza tires only after summer, but I fear they will not perform adequately in snow conditions. Anyway, thanks in advance for your thoughts on winter wheels & minus size performance!
Ron in Ohio

keehner · October 2005

I have a 2000 Nissan Altima SE that I just bought. The ride is extremely rough. I was hoping a change of tires would help the ride. Right now it has Douglas M+S 205/55 R16 90H Performance GT-H on the front and Mastercraft Avenger LSR 205/55 R16 on the rear (M+S also). Please recommend something that can ease the bumpy ride.

donaldm1 · October 2005

Can I replace my 245/75/16 LR E on 02 Chev 2500HD with a 265/75/16 LT C? The truck is used empty except for a shell and small items while pulling a pull type trailer. Load range C would give a better ride.

flnan · October 2005

Now I know why I got a good price on my used 2003 Maxima SE, it's because it needs new tires! I was clueless going into my local tire store and quickly became educated on the cost of replacing them. I live in No. Florida and drive a combination of city/hwy. Please recommend a tire (225/50/17) for me that won't totally break the bank but still is a good tire and won't have me driving all over the road.
Thanks a bunch,
Clueless

jmills · October 2005

If the reccomended tire pressure for an OEM 205/50-17 tire is 32 PSI - What tire pressure should be used if the tire is replaced with a 225/45-17 using the same rims on the same car?

msu79gt82 · October 2005

This is a fairly new tire and sometimes it take a while to get information to post for consumer reviews.

You noted on Feb 15, 2005 that this was a fairly new tire. Now that its more than 8 months later what is your take?

I'm looking to replace the horrible oem Goodyear RS-A on my '06 Infiniti M35 (245/45 18) with either the Pirelli P Zero Nero M&S of the Avon Tech M550. I must confess a somewhat more comfortable feeling with the Pirelli name; however that is an unfairly biased thought due to name recognition only. The Avon's are higher rated and a better price. Thanks for your input.

BTW: your website has an error on the rating comparison chart (the P Zeros are on there twice).

frootloops16 · November 2005

Is there any pros or cons with buying a directional tire over an asymmetric tire? Do directional tires wear worse then asymmetric or about the same?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Froot Loops

msu79gt82 · November 2005

I was just wanted to let you know that I just put on a set of Avon Tech M550 on my Accord (205/45-17) and they have been really wonderful.

Thanks for the reply. How many miles do you have on them? Some of the past posts had some observations about a noticable degradation after abut 800 to 1000 miles.

I'd still like to hear from Connor before ordering.

connortirerack · November 2005

The Blizzak Revo was designed to take the place of the WS-50 while improving the ice traction and dry pavement handling. the LM-22 would offer better dry pavement handling but the snow and ice traction would be similar between the two. However I do not show the Blizzak Revo in the OE 225/50/17 size. I have listed the WS-50 and the LM-22 below for your review.

225/50R17 BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK LM-22 -- 161.00
225/50R17 BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK WS-50 -- 136.00

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

john500 · November 2005

Perhaps I could learn from your expertise.

1. What is the automotive industry-accepted method of determining lateral acceleration?

I recently saw a television show (with I think Gordon Elliot) zipping around in a Mitshubishi Evo and I thought he said that the car can attain a g value greater than 1.00 (I'm assuming he meant lateral acceleration). However, MotorTrend rates this car at 0.85 g (the Corvette is > 1).

2. The Mazda Miata is classically accepted as a marvel of handling, however, it's lateral acceleration is under 0.90. Is lateral acceleration a proper way of quantitatively evaluating the "handling" of a car?

3. From cars that I have swapped tires on, there seems to be a large improvement in "handling" when going to wider tires. How much of an improvement can typically be obtained?

connortirerack · November 2005

Quote - "Am I correct in stating that you should never mess with the load rating of a tire (i.e. go to a lower load rating). Would going to a lower load rating heat the tire beyond its accepted range?"

This is not necessarily true. The number you are referring to is called the load index (i.e.., 97Y, 89H, or 92T. The numeric designation is the Load Index). This is a scaled number and can mean different things in different sizes. There really is no rule of thumb for increasing or decreasing the Load Index.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

frootloops16 · November 2005

Yeah I don't blame you with wanting to hear what Connor has to say.

I only have a few hundred miles on them (less then 1000) and so far nothing, but I too have heard that they start to degrade some after the first thousand or so. So I'll be watching out for that.

Froot Loops

slance66 · November 2005

I've got a standard non AWD Volvo S60 in metro-boston. They do a nice job plowing our roads, but my driveway is steep. I can't usually climb it once it has more than a couple inches of snow. I'm looking at winter tires for the first time, to replace my Michelin MXV+4s. Because most of my driving will be on dry pavement, even in winter, I'm somewhat concerned about going with a Q rated tire like the Blizzak WS-50. The tires that have an H or T rating and might be an upgrade over my Michelins seem to be:
Dunlop Wintersport M3
Pirelli Winter Carving
Nokian WR A.W.P.2

The Nokian is not technically a snow tire, but it seems that it would be better than the MXVs. How much improvement will I see by adding these tires? If it isn't much, are my concerns about Blizzaks or Michelin X-Ice tires on dry pavement overblown? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

jr1828 · November 2005

Hi,

I'm looking for a tire to compliment my Wife's newly lifted Isuzu Axiom. The truck now has a 2inch lift and the stock tires (235/65/17) now look way too small.

P265/65R17 Bridgestone A/T Revos were recommended to me by members of several Isuzu forums that I belong to. But, I'm concerned that my wheels are only 7in wide (factory 17x7), while Bridgestone seems to recommend a 7.5 wide wheel. Do I need to be concerned?

If the 265 is too wide, what other sizes would you recommend that are about 30.5" tall? I would like to stay with a width of at least 255. if possible.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

stever · November 2005

Ask Connor is set up in Q&A format for Connor to respond to fitment questions.

If you have comments about your own tire setup or want to get into other general tire issues, please head over to Tires, tires, tires. That way Connor won't have to plow through off-topic posts trying to help folks with the limited time he has to participate (especially this time of year).

Thanks!

Steve, Host

connortirerack · November 2005

WOW, that's allot of numbers. I read this about 6 times to make sure i understood what you were asking.

Because the vehicle is equipped with ABS and i believe traction control i would not recommend mixing tire sizes. When the vehicle computer picks up the front axle spinning at a different speed than the rear it will try and engage the Dynamic Stability Controls to get the wheels spinning the same speed. Since there are different size the and will never spin at the same speeds the DSC will be working all the time and would eventually fail. The vehicle would need to have four matching tires on it at all times.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269
When placing an order online or the phone, please reference Connor at ext 269

Ask Connor at The Tire Rack

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Your Privacy