Ask Connor at The Tire Rack

cwo4 · May 2004

I now drive a new 2004 Camry XLE. I put about 50,000 miles a year on a car, mostly Interstate. What tire would you recommend for: (1) Comfort (2) All Weather scenarios and (3) Durability, not necessarily in this order? I'm looking at the B.F Goodrich Traction T/AH because of the owner reviews at Tire Rack, but I'd like a professional opinion. BTW, thanks for taking the time to answer these questions.

service66 · May 2004

I have a '93 Camry V6 XLE
Recommended tires are 205/65-15, with a load/speed rating of 92H.

Currently I have a set of Yokohama s306 -- the ride is harsh on bad pavement [which means most pavement in Indiana] and they're quite noisy on cement roads.

I want to avoid dedicated winter tires, so I need an all-season tire that's quieter and more forgiving on bad pavement. I like taking roadtrips, and the Yokohamas aren't my idea of a roadtrip sort of tire.

From what I've seen in this thread [your recommendations for cars similar to mine], the Bridgestone Turanza LS-H would seem to be the answer

The ContiPremierContact seems favorable, but if surveys are correct I'd have to give up ride/noise comfort for more snow traction. I'm not sure THAT much snow traction is necessary -- the Yokohamas I have now are okay in snow.

How do the Bridgestone Potenza RE950 and the Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus compare with the 2 tires above?

I do need wet/snow traction and I'd like to get some good wear out of them, but ride and noise are important. I tend to driver fairly easy -- less stress for me and the car -- but on the rare occasion I'm running late....

aaargh · June 2004

Connor:

I've been offered a set of four Semperit snow tires (235 45-17) for my 04 Acura TL. The asking price is $800 including factory rims (only have a few thousand miles on them - bought in October, owner is moving to warm climate).

Are these tires any good? Is this a good price for tires and rims?

Having the rims should save me $150/year in mounting and balancing. Does this number sound correct?

I don't know the exact model of the tire, but can find out if needed.

I'm in Cleveland, so I will be driving in snow. I have the regular tires that came with the 5-AT. Are snow tires recommended?

Thanks in advance.

connortirerack · June 2004

i would recommend using a P215/60R16 Bridgestone Turanza LS-H (108.00 each). When you are comparing touring all season tires the Turanza LS-H is an outstanding tire. they are rated for 50,000 miles and are very highly rated in dry, wet, and snow conditions. the BF Goodrich Traction T/A HR are also good tire but they tend to wear faster and are a little noisier. they also didn't perform as well in the wet weather. the BF Goodrich Traction T/A HR are also not made in any of the recommended sizes for theis car in 16". the "T" speed rated version is made in the correct sizes however your vehicle requires an "H" rating as per Toyota specifications.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

I think you are on the right track with the Turanza LS-H. as a secondary recommendation i would suggest the Michelin Energy MXV4. both are touring all season tires that offer comfortable quiet rides. However the Michelin will tend to wear faster and be more expensive. The Bridgestone Potenza RE950 are performance all season tires and are oriented towards traction and handling. as a comparison the Potenza RE950 will be louder and will wear a little faster than the Turanza LS-H.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

The idea of having a snow tire and wheel package is always a good idea if you live in a winter climate area. However i have never heard of "Semperit" tires and regrettably i cannot offer any insite on them. I would recommend asking the person you are purchasing them from where he got them and give them a call to get the supplier to give you the manufacturer specs on the tires.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

service66 · June 2004

Thanks, Connor. After reading through the whole thread the Turanza was my impression, but it's always good to have an expert opinion.

thanks again

service66 · June 2004

Semperit is an Austrian brand owned by Continental.

http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/com/en/continental/port- al/themes/press_services/archive/products/tires/passenger_tires/p- r_2002_10_17_2_en.html

zakiman · June 2004

Connor,
I am about to follow your advice from a previous post to go ahead and put the RE950s on my Honda Accord CP5speed. You said this "RE950 is an excellent tire for this car. the down side for most PT owners is that they cannot rotate the RE950s due to the directional tread design ' .
Is this rotate problem occur only with PT cruisers or it could be a problem for Honda cars ?

Thanks in advance..

connortirerack · June 2004

Just because a tire is directional doesn't mean you cannot rotate them. the problem is to rotate them you have to dimount and remount the tire to suit the position the tire will go in. it will also cost a little more at the time of rotation do to having to pay for balancing. in any case the bridgestone RE950 isstill an excellent tire and i believe you would be very happy with it on either car.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

kyfdx · June 2004

You can still rotate them front to back... You just can't cross them... Unless you dismount and remount as Connor says. I personally never cross rotate anyway.. I get nothing but trouble that way.. Of course, if you want to rotate in the spare, you would have to cross rotate, but I never do this either.

regards,
kyfdx

gatrhumpy · June 2004

Does anyone know where I can find a picture of a 2003-2004 Honda Accord coupe or sedan with 2004 Acura TL 17" wheels?

masonmi · June 2004

I've seen some reviews on tirerack and other sites on the Goodyear Assurance Comfortred and Tripletred tire, are these comparable to the Michelin tires? I own a buick with a tire size of 205/70/15 and i'm leaning towards the Goodyear Assurance Comfortred's they appear to be a quiet tire, however some tire dealers are recommending the Tripletred, any suggestions?

MasonMI

sydney4163 · June 2004

I have an '01 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4x4 that has 255-65-16 tires as OEM equipment. I am considering replacing with 245-70-16 because this a more common size with greater options. What are the effects on the vehicle, ride, wear and tear, etc of replacing with a different tire size? What is the real difference between the two sizes? Is it noticable? Thanks!

connortirerack · June 2004

If you are referring to a full size Buick such as a Roadmaster or Lesabre then i would also recommend the comfort tread over the triple tread. the triple tread is designed to be a a more performance oriented tire whereas the Comfort tread is designed to be ride quality oriented. the closest comparable tire in Michelin to the Goodyear Assurance Comfort Tread would be the P205/70R15 Michelin Harmony. As a comparison between the Michelin Harmony and the Goodyear Assurance Comfort Tread i would have to say the Michelin has a low noise level as well as better wet traction.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

aggie00 · June 2004

Any advice on these tires for a 02 Acura TL. They seem to have pretty good reviews, are resonably priced for a V rated tire and have a 65,000 mile warranty. The only negative's I've heard are noise and ride quality. I will only have the car for another 18 months and don't want to spend the money for the Turanza LSV's.

aggie00 · June 2004

The RE 950 is an excellent tire. My wife has them on her 00 Honda Accord. These tires stick to the road like glue. The only negative I've noticed is some cupping on the outer edge. This is probably due to the aggressive tread design. Make sure and keep the tire pressure up (I keep 37 to 38 psi) and have them rotated every 4,000 to 5,000.

masonmi · June 2004

I have a Buick Century which is a bit smaller than the Buick Lesabre, i'll most likely go with the Goodyear Assurance Comfortred's since Michelins seem to wear much faster? I'm just concerned about Goodyear quality.

connortirerack · June 2004

You could use either size on the Pathfinder with out any problems. in fact the 245/70/16 is actually one of the recommended sizes for this SUV. i am listing the specs for both of the tire sizes below so you can see the exact differences.

245/40/16
Rim Width Range...... 6.00 to 7.50"
Measure Rim Width.... 7.00"
Section Width........ 9.7"
Tread Width.......... 7.2"
Overall Diameter..... 29.7"

255/65/16
Rim Width Range...... 6.00 to 7.50"
Measure Rim Width.... 7.00"
Section Width........ 9.8"
Tread Width.......... 7.2"
Overall Diameter..... 29.7"

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

micweb · June 2004

Your website doesn't show a Bridgestone 950 application for the Neon SXT, or an H rated Traction T/A, at least on the stock 15" wheel.

The tires in 195x55x15 that look of interest are:

Sumitomo HTR + with an 8.4 dry, 8.0 wet, and 7.8 noise survey rating, for $54;

Traction T/A V, 8.9/8.6/7.4 for $78; and

Kumho HP4-716 V rated, 8.7/8.3/8.4(!) for $57.

I am surprised the new Kumho ASX isn't picking up good ratings (which is why I didn't include it in the list above).

What do you think of the Kumho's? The 716 are being rated tops in noise control, one of the important issues for me. Goodrich is better known to me as a company ... how is Kumho quality control and reputation?

gbd21 · June 2004

Hello Connor,
Which tyre for all- season,quiet soft ride and long tread life.
Many thanks in advance.
(215/60/16)

connortirerack · June 2004

Regrettably due to the fact that the Tire Rack doesn't carry Toyo tires i have never had the opportunity to drive on them and i would not be able to give any insight on them. sorry.....

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

There are actually 4 sizes that meet Chrysler specifications for this model of Neon. all of these will fit the factory OE wheels with out any problems or modifications.

185/60-15
195/55-15
195/60-15
205/50-15

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

Kumho is a good brand however they direct their products towards the tuner market that is looking for a low cost, appearance oriented tire. they are not trying to compete with the higher end Michelins, Bridgestones, etc. they do tend to be noisier tires and normally do not have as good traction levels. Out of the tires you listed i would say the BF Goodrich Traction T/A would be the best option.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

i would recommend using the P215/60R16 Bridgestone Turanza LS-H (108.00 each). these are rated for 50,000 miles and offer a very quiet comfortable ride quality.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

jwats · June 2004

Connor:

I just purchased this Acura which now has 18" aftermarket rims. I need some inexpensive wheels for use in the winter. The car was originally equipped with 17" rims altho the base model comes with 16".

My questions:

1. Must I buy 17" or could I use 16" for winter?

2. Do Acura rims have same bolt pattern and offset as Honda?

3. What would you recommend?

Thank you
John

beo · June 2004

hi connor,

what's your opinion on these 2 tires for bmw 330i,
regarding treadlife, noise, and performance?

thanks.

connortirerack · June 2004

You can use a 16" wheel without any problems at all. the lowest cost wheel i have for your Acura would be the Sport Edition Fox 2 which are currently priced at 99.00 each plus shipping.

Every vehicle is a little different including Honda's and Acura's. the only way i could say if a fitment between two cars is the same is if i had the the exact year make and model of the two vehicles and i carried the wheel in question. this way o would have access to the complete wheel specifications.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

CapeCod · June 2004

Cupped the Continetals currently on the car very badly. After rotate, allignment, and rebalance noise is actaully worse than before!
Currently running 205/55/16
I am considering KUMHO but don't like the K band around the sidewall. Is the band also on the reverse side????
Gyear Eagle LS but read compliants about not wearing well?
A local shop, who I like, is promoting SUMIC tires which are made by Cooper???? opinions?
Another choice Sumitomo SRIXON 4 ????
Another choice Bstone Insignia ????
BFGoodrich T/A ??
Uniroyal tiger paws??
I need QUIET with some snow traction for upstate New York??? Suggestions please? Thanks

connortirerack · June 2004

My opinion is that i wouldn't put either one of these on a BMW 330i sport. both of these tires start out with loud treat noise and they get worse as they wear. they also tend to use soft tread compound that wears quickly without giving any added traction levels. these tire are designed mostly for appearance reasons for the import tuner crowds. If you are looking for a low cost tire and performance and handling is not as important then it is a good tire for you.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

carguy1234 · June 2004

Hi Connor,

I'm looking for replacement tires for my 2001 Toyota Sienna that have the best winter traction capability. Would like to make the change this fall.

I'm currently using BF Goodrich The Advantage Plus, 205/70R15, treadwear-560, traction-A, temperature-B (Sam's Club tires). These tires replaced the OE Dunlop SP40's. The BF tires are superior to the Dunlops, but I'd like even more traction than these for snow and ice (Minnesota).

I suppose dedicated snow tires would be best, but this van doesn't need to be driven on the worst of the snow days (our other vehicle is 4WD). So I'm just looking to improve my winter capability with the best traction all-season tires I can get for this van. I'm not worried about summer performance, cornering, etc.

Thanks

michaellno · June 2004

Hi Connor,

Just discovered this thread ... you are providing a great service.

Anyway, the original Firestone Firehawks on my Saturn are badly cupped and need replacement. I'm looking for an all-weather tire that is quiet and has a decent tread life (the Firestones have 29,000 miles on them).

The tire size is 215/55-16.

Thanks!

connortirerack · June 2004

if you are looking for a very good all season tire for a mini van i would almost always recommend using the 205/70/15 Bridgestone Turanza LS-T (71.00 each). they offer an excellent ride quality with very good dry, wet, and snow traction. if you wangt my hnest opinion i would still recommend using a snow tire in the winter time simply due to the fact minnesota tends to have longer harder winters.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

the 215/55/16 Yokohama Avid T4 (83.00)offers an 80,000 mile warranty with good traction and handling. As a secondary recommendation i would suggest the 215/55/16 Dunlop sport A2 (90.00 each) which has a 50,000 mile warranty. the dunlop will offer a little better traction in both dry and wet weather but it will also wear faster.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

just to let everyone know i will be out of the office at the Canadian Grand Prix from 6/11 - 6/15 and i will not be able to respond to any emails.

Thank you and have a great weekend,
connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

stever · June 2004

For general tire talk please visit Tires, tires, tires (where you'll find a few recently moved posts). This discussion is for Conner to respond to questions. Thanks!

Steve, Host

no1renonevada · June 2004

Hi Connor,
I just purchased a brand new 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab PU with all the goodies, including upgraded factory alloy wheels and 255/70R-16 tires. GM put General AmeriStar tires on it. There is a vibration in the 40-50 mph range, and it cannot be balanced out. The dealer has ordered two new tires to replace the fronts. I'd like to replace them all.

What do you recommend in this size? I want to stick with a highway tread, similar to what the Generals have. Thanks.

micolson · June 2004

I have a 2003 F350 super duty crew cab shortbox SRW, 6.0L Diesel. What is the largest tires I can put on my truck without a lift. I have seen 285's, 315's on some that don't look like a lift was installed. Do I need to do any recalibration for the speedo, ABS, etc???

Thanks!

armand · June 2004

My 2004 TL (5 sp automatic) with factory tires rides harder than I would like. Also I hear that these tires are not good in wet and snowy weather. Is there a tire that is good in bad weather and rides significantly softer. I would give up some of the excellent handling I have now.

cop414 · June 2004

Conner,
I ordered 4 Yokohama Avid V4S (P215/50 R17) for my Mazda6 on Friday. They arrived this morning-great service so far. I have found a shop that is 5 miles from my home that has a Hunter machine and they will be mounting and balancing them on Friday. I have one question though-the tires have a maximim PSI on the side wall of 50psi. That just seems awfully high, even as a max. What pressure would you recommend for everyday driving? I do about 50-50 in town-highway, sometimes "spirited", but usually not.
Hope you had a good time at the races-I watched some of it here on the tube yesterday:p

stickguy · June 2004

For the TL, is a cushy ride was a priority, you shouldn't have gotten a car with (IIRC) 45 series tires. A profile that low will, by nature, ride firmer. I'm sure there are some tires that might be a little softer riding, but I doubt by much in that size and speed rating. You can try lowering the pressure a little bit, but that ca create other issues (i.e.wear).

For the 6, for normal driving, simplest thing is to use the recommended pressure from Mazda (found on the inflation sticker). I usually add ~10%, giving up a little comfort for better traction and wear. For example, on my Maxima, if Nissan specifies 32/29, I usually run 35/32.

armand · June 2004

When I test drove the TL I didn't feel it was so firm a ride. I like a firm ride (my other car is an A4)but after living with the TL for a few months I find it too hard a ride.

Thanks for your response.

dave59 · June 2004

Connor,

I'm looking for tires for my '99 Grand Marquis. It came with Michelin Symmetrys. I would like a quite ride but would like to improve the traction and handling.
Thanks

fndlyfmrflyr · June 2004

Hope you enjoyed the Grand Prix.

Have 03 PT GT with stock 17 inch rims. Rims are rather narrow (6 inches, limiting sizes that will fit the rim). OE Goodyear RSA (205/50 17 - 93H) tires getting rather noisy as they wear. Doubt the tread will last 20K miles. Anything will probably be an improvement over the OE tires.

Michelin recommends an MXV 215 tire instead of the OE 205 size. Michelin tires seem to have a smaller circumference than other brands so this slightly wider tire is really the same size as the Goodyear OE.

Tired of the noise from the Goodyears. Want a nice quiet ride and responsive handling. Would like a lot more miles from a set of tires. Not thrilled with the price of the Pilot A/S, and would like to know what you recommend. Not tied to Michelin.

Also have 96 Avalon with OE Dunlop SP4000 tires (15 inch tires back then). Want to retain quiet and nice ride, but not see loss of handling and stopping. In SoCal, so snow is not an issue, but even though it doesn't rain much either, wet performance is a concern. What do you recommend?

02trooper · June 2004

Hi Connor,

I'm trying to decide whether to buy the Dueler HL or the Cross Terrain. Please let me know which one you'd rather pick due to they are both rated very close to each other. Is the Cross Terrain worth the extra money compare to the HL? Thanks!

connortirerack · June 2004

just to make a comment on the tires you have, i would recommend having an RFV(road force variation) test done. it is very possible that you simply need to have a match balance done but the only way you can do this is in conjuction with an RFV test. as a recommendation i would have to say the P255/70SR16 Michelin Cross Terrain SUV (143.00 each) would be my first choice. they offer an outstanding ride quality and great all year round traction and handling.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

The only size i could recommend for your truck would actually be the OE size of 265/75/16. this is due to the fact the vehicle is designed with a very heavy chassis and i higher load carrying capability. Regrettably for a vehicle like this i have to stick to the manufacturer recommendations due to liability issue's.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

I would recommend using one of these two tires.

235/45R17 Bridgestone Potenza RE950 -- 148.00 each
235/45R17 Yokohama AVID H4S -- 102.00 each

The Brisdgestone will be quieter with better overall tgraction and handling. they are both rated at 50,000 miles. compared to the OE bridgestone tires that cam on the vehicle these will be far far better.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

You should always use the vehicle manufacturers recommended air pressure. Never use the max PSI marker on the sidewall. all this tells you is not to infate over a certain pressure.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

connortirerack · June 2004

i would recommend using the 225/60/16 Michelin Hydroedge (115.00). this is one of michelins newest tire which uses a better tread compound and a directional tread design for better dry and wet traction.

connor@tirerack.com
Tire & Wheel Specialist
The Tire Rack
877-522-8473 ext 269

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