Ask Connor at The Tire Rack

gxlex · June 2005

Hi Conner -
Thanks for the suggestions! Someone also suggested Falken tires... do you have any opinion on those tires?

Thanks, LiAnn

gxlex · June 2005

Hi Conner - forgot to ask this too.... what is the bolt pattern of the wheels? In another forum they said this was what caused certain rims not to fit. Would the centerline stingray III fit on my GX470?

THanks Again!!!

connortirerack · June 2005

Due to the fact that we do not carry faulken tires and I have no experience with them, I could not give any information on them.

Sorry I cannot be of more assistance than this.

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

herron · June 2005

My AWD Honda Pilot has 30,000 miles the front tires are worn and need replacing the rear tires are still okay do I need to replace all 4 tires.

connortirerack · June 2005

The bolt pattern for your Lexus is 6-139mm. I do not carry stingray wheels so I wouldn't be able to say if they fit or not. If you click on the link at the top of the page you will be able to see all of the wheel that the tire rack carries for your car.

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

qbrozen · June 2005

its usually a good idea.

going forward, you really should rotate them more often. According to Honda, they should be rotated every 15K.

204meca · July 2005

Connor, I need to replace my OEM tires.

My priorities are ride & noise #1, wet weather handling # 2, occasionally drive in snow & occasionally tow a 1900 lb boat. Price limit is $75 per tire. High miles is low priority as I only drive about 10-12 K per year.

I have Kuhmo HP4s on two cars (04 A4 & 92 Civic) and been quite happy with them -- great tire for a great price

. I am getting the impression that this model is being phased out by the KH16, but can not find much info on this tire. How does it compare to the HP4?

The BFG TA/Ts, Avid H4S (is the Avid TZ going to replace the HS4 & is it a significantly better tire), BStone G009 also look like good bets. What do you recommend for me? Thanks, I appreciate your expertise!

blkbratt · July 2005

Hi,
I have a 2000 Honda Civic, EX and am looking to purchase new tires and rims. Right now, I have stock size tires and the stock hubcaps. I do like the Ace Manta (hyperblack) rims, but I am a little puzzled as to the best recommended size tire/rim for my car. I am thinking about 17", however I am looking for any suggestions? :confuse:

popeye7 · July 2005

I recently went shopping for a set of replacement tire for my 03 ES300. I was amazed at the difference of opinion as to what is a suitable replacement tire. The factory tires are Bridgestone Potenza RE-92s with a V speed rating. I haven't gone over 90 mph in my life, let alone 149 mph, the maximum speed on a V rated tire. I plan on keeping this car for a few years, so I don't want to pay the significant premium for a V rated performance tire. Two tire dealers strongly recommended the V rated tires and another said that he could not, by law, sell me a lower rated tire due to recent liability statutes.(I live in New Jersey) What's going on? Fortunately I haven't had to buy new tires, except for my kid's cars in quite some time. Can you please recommend a good, quiet riding, set of replacement tires for my 03 ES 300?

elie · July 2005

Hello Connor,
I just purchased a used 2002 Toyota Camry XLE V-6 from a Toyota dealer. The car was fitted with 4 virtually new looking Yokohama YK420's. This is apparently a tire sold exclusively at Discount Tire Co, though from the tread it looks pretty much like an Avid T-4. Well, I am happy with the Camry--I am certainly not complaining about the smooth quite ride, but I have never drove a car that I felt so timid going around corners, and the steering is very very light. I am hoping that better tires will improve things a little, and I read the good TireRack reviews for the Continental ContiExtremeContact and BFGoodrich Traction T/A tires. What do you think? Is this really going to help me feel more handling confidence in my Camry, or is it a waste of money, especially considering that the current tires have a lot of tread life left?

stickguy · July 2005

tires can certainly make a difference, but what you described sounds like every Camry I ever drove! You might want to try and find another one at the dealer with different tires that you can try out, just to see if it is the same.

Also, consider bumping up the pressure a little bit (but not above the max rating). This can help the handling and steering feel a bit, although it might take away a little from the cushy ride.

jc9799 · July 2005

elie,

Just wondering, what did you drive before the Camry?

qbrozen · July 2005

Have you checked the pressure in the tires? I can't even count the number of times that the dealership has overinflated my tires by a large margin. In a Camry, I suggest no more than 32 lbs in each tire when cold.

elie · July 2005

I havent driven sports cars. We had a Honda Civic. For last few years, my wife and I have been driving an '02 Mazda MPV ES and I have also had a very creaky '86 BMW 535i with 140K miles as a second car. I am not a very aggressive driver---its just that when going around a corner in the Camry at 25-30 mph it feels like the whole car is leaning over like on a roller coaster!

elie · July 2005

Interestingly, the first respondent to my message said to increase the air pressure to improve handling (which I believe is true). I had to bump up the pressure after I drove the car home to get it to 29 psi, which is the recommended pressure according to the information on the car's door. So Connor, what do you have to say about all this? :confuse:

elie · July 2005

I should clarify---I mean 25-30 mph going around a wide curve. The roller-coaster effect applies to going around a sharp corner even at a much lower speed.

connortirerack · July 2005

Because of the fact the vehicle is AWD you would need to replace all four tires. Otherwise the difference in traction levels and tread difference can cause problems for your transfer case and differentials.

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 · July 2005

Out of the four tires you have listed I would say the Bridgestone G009 will offer the best ride quality with the least noise. I would rate the four tires you have listed in the following order.

1) 215/60R16 Bridgestone G009 -- 72.00
2) 215/60R16 Yokohama Avid H4S -- 70.00
3) 215/60R16 BF Goodrich Traction T/A T -- 69.00
4) 215/60R16 Yokohama Avid TRZ -- 65.00

Personally I would not recommend any of the tires you listed for the characteristics you want. If noise level and ride quality are the most important factors to you then I would recommend a touring tire that is designed specifically for ride quality rather than high end performance. What I would recommend for your needs would be the P215/60R16 Bridgestone Turanza LS-T which are currently 84.00 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 · July 2005

Liability laws.......... aren't they a pain in the butt?!?!

The tire shops that you spoke to were correct to a point. Due to liability reason they cannot sell a tire with a lower speed rating than the manufacturer requires. However they were incorrect with their fact. Even though your ES300 came with a V speed rated Bridgestone RE92 (not a great tire) Lexus only requires the car to have a minimum of an H speed rating. In my opinion a V speed rating on this Type of car is a pretty big waste of performance. The car is designed as a touring sedan and built for ride quality. what I would recommend would be the 215/60/16 Bridgestone Turanza LS-H which are currently priced at 114.00 each.

You also have to keep in mind that the speed rating covers more than just how fast the tire can travel. It also covers area's like internal construct and tread compound,handling capabilities, load capacity, and yes........ speed capabilities.

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 · July 2005

This email is covering post 1001-1007.

You have asked a question that I get asked about 30 times day. "Will a better tire make my car handle better?" Regrettably the answer is kind of vague........ MAYBE!

you have to remember, as "stickguy" stated this is a Toyota Camry. Even though it has a V6 it is still a basic modeled "family car" type of vehicle. The proverbial grocery getter. Please don't take offensive, I am just trying to state that the car was not design for performance driving. You can increase the traction level with a higher traction level of tire. The Yokohama's that your have now are a very basic tire with a hard tread compound. Not a great combination for handling purposes. you can achieve even better handling by increasing your rim diameter and shortening the sidewall to eliminate some of the flotation aspect in the sidewall. I would recommend anything drastic. I would say a 17" tire and wheel would be the way to go. You could also increase the quality of the suspension components to help limit the body roll.

However keep in mind, you can put 5,000.00 worth of upgrades on a Yugo but you still have a Yugo.

As for air pressure levels. The only air pressure I am allowed to recommend is the vehicle manufacturer recommended air pressure. The recommended air pressure is calculated to suite load capacity, ride quality, and handling to the vehicle's capacity. If you under inflate a tire you lose load capacity which causes a safety issue and you will make the tire wear on the outside edges but not in the middle. If you over inflate the tire you make the tire more rigid and will make the tire wear right down the center but not on the outside edges. By increasing the air pressure in a tire you can increase handling slightly but you will have the negative side effects that I listed above.

If you are looking for better handling I would recommend replacing the tire and maybe wheels with something that will suit your needs better.

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

204meca · July 2005

Thanks, Connor, I will be making a purchase in a couple of months & your information is very helpful!

qbrozen · July 2005

Ah, I see. Well, as far as increasing or decreasing to improve handling, it all depends. Too little will give you poor handling, as will too much. You need to get the optimum contact patch of rubber on the road to get the best handling. 29 seems too low to me, but if that's what they recommend, who am I to argue? I guess I could say that maybe toyota suggests that to add to the smooth ride that the Camry is known for (i.e., SOFT). I'm pretty sure all sedans I have owned have 32 printed on the door sticker. I typically run around 33-34.

lastc4 · July 2005

Connor Good Day,
TTR suggested replacement tires for a 96 C4 Corvette pretty slim. Currently have Sumitomo HTR 45Z's previous owner installed. All forums indicated they are not bad for the money but man any small divot you hit feels like the tire is flat.

My pushing a car days are over - looking for a summer performance Dry/Wet tire as weather here in Atlanta goes to both extremes. Q1: What kinda mileage can I get out of the Sumitomo's. Q2: Are they safe. Q3 What kinda performance do they generally produce.

Again spent a long long time on the TTR site - Profile Last C4. I am only asking because the site left me with more questions than I started with.

The LAST C4

subjockey · July 2005

Connor,

I have a 2001 Suburban 4WD 1500 and just found that the OEM Goodyear Wrangler ST (P245/75R16) left front shows steel at the inner edge after 32,000 miles.

I rotated at 7k, 13k & 20k. I am looking for suggestions for replacements with the following priorities

1. Safety - handling & braking
2. Value for money
3. Ride
4. Road Noise

Vehicle is family car (rare teenage driving) (~5k/yr) mostly around town, occasional highway. In upstate SC, we get minimal snow, occasional ice storms, but mostly hot summers with thunderstorms. I just put Hankooks (Dyna Pro RH03) on my 2000 Durango based on the above priorities based on Consumer Reports evaluations. I plan to align Suburban after getting replacements. One other question, what is your opinion on rotation with and without balancing (to save money). :confuse: Thanks in advance.

mikenannie · July 2005

I have 42,000+ miles on my current Bridgestone's and I'm planning to replace them this week. I've read the posts here and understand that the Michelin Cross Terrains are recommended highly. I live in Northern Indiana, 30-40 inches of snow each year on average. I also tow a 2500 lbs popup camper frequently during the warm season. Would this tire still be a good choice for me?

I'd like something that rides well and performs well in the snow, but can also handle my towing needs.

Thanks!
Mike

mz6greyghost · July 2005

Connor:

Regarding a 2004 Mazda 6S. Current tires are OEM 215/50-17.

I've noticed that my speedometer calibration is slightly off. Speedometer reads 55 when my actual speed is 53-54 MPH. I'm looking to replace the less-than-stellar OEMs with either Yoko Avid V4S or Avon Tech M550 A/S. If I upgrade to 225/50-17, not only will get a larger contact patch while maintaining the sidewall, but will it help to "zero out" the difference in my speedometer reading as well?

Also, which of those tires do you recommend? I'm looking for a performance tire that has great grip as well as a quiet, semi-long-lasting tread. I have winter tires and wheels, but want A/S because of the erratic weather we have up here in upstate NY.

Thanks in advance...

chuck1959 · July 2005

Conner,
I have been looking for raised white letter tires for my 1990 Lincoln Town Car. (215-70 15)? Everyone I check with doesn't seem to have them.

morin2 · July 2005

Have enjoyed this board for a long time - thanks for a great job Connor!

Wife has 2003 Buick Rendezvous CX AWD - driven like a soccer mom's minivan on road only but she does go out in winter slush and light snow, and makes route 95 trips from MD to MA. this "SUV" takes P215/70R16.

Considering the following:
Yokohama Geolander H/T-S GO51
Bridgestone Dueler H/L and H/L Alenza
Dunlop Radial Rover A/T
Goodyear Fortera Silent Armor

Any comments will be greatly appreciated!

hoopoppy · July 2005

I have Camry LE V6 '04, and the feeling is mutual. Two weeks ago, I changed my tires to 225/55ZR/16 Yokohama ES 100. I can feel the difference after upgrade; handling and cornering are improved. The only disadvantage is sports tire has short life(average 25,000 miles). I got my tires from America's Tire for $105 ea. Tire Rack sells for $92. I used to driving sport sedans, and Camry isn't like any of them. It's isn't lack of power but acceleration is very slow.

connortirerack · July 2005

Regrettably since the tire sizes were not specified I have no way to see exactly what size you are referring to. You simply stated you have a 1996 Corvette C4 but which model?

Corvette Base - 255/45-17 (F) 285/40-17 (R)
Corvette Grand Sport - 275/40-17 (F) 315/35-17 (R)
Corvette ZR1 - 275/40-17 (F) 315/35-17 (R)
Corvette Z07 - 275/40-17Z Front and Rear

As a general overview of the Sumitomo HTR Z, they offer good dry traction and decent wet traction. I would say the average mileage in 17 and 18" size would run around 12,000 miles. They also tend to be very noisy. But, if you are simply looking for a low cost option then the Sumitomo is a good direction 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

kielbasa16 · July 2005

Hey Mr.Shiftright said that this is the place to ask about rims. I have a 93 VR-4 with the stock (17 x 8.5) chrome wheels on it. They feel like they weigh a ton and I don't like the chrome look. I was wondering if anybody is selling some nice rims or knows of any good websites and or shops. I live on Long Island in Suffolk County. I would really like something very light in terms of weight, but darker in color, like a gun metal or something. I checked out superbuytires.com but they only had rims for the SL model of the 3000GT which are 17 x 7. Thanks I appreciate your hep and especially you Shiftright.

connortirerack · July 2005

1) To meet the needs that you have listed in your inquiry, I would recommend the 245/75R16 Michelin Cross Terrain (140.00 each). They would offer an excellent ride quality and great traction levels in dry, wet, and snow.

2) In my opinion re balancing is not necessary unless you think you may have damaged a tire or you are feeling vibrations since you last had the tires balanced. I would however recommend performing a tire rotation every 6-7,000 miles. An easy way to remember this is by simply rotating the tires at every other oil change.

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

kielbasa16 · July 2005

The tirerack.com website was very helpful and informative. I like how they provide colors, an example of how it would look on the specified car, the weight and everything, however I only came across one 17 x 8.5 wheel that I really liked, and it was priced at over 300 dollars, so the 4 would come out to over 1,200 dollars. Am I being naive hoping that there is something less expensive out there that would meet what I'm looking for?

tom010 · July 2005

I decided to buy new rims because my brother had bought 17" Rims (hotwheels) for his 95 Accord (which I gave him). I thought it would ride horrible....rode fine...actually great....

So I bought 16" Rims (konig torubles) for my 98 accord feeling it was "safer:" with 215/55/16 Goodyear tripletread tires....the car road HORRIBLE...you could feel the suspension "bucking". This hadn't happened in my brothers car with 1" larger rims...given an older series of acccord....

I had to end up going back to 15" rims (konig) with 205/60/15 tires H rated tripled tread again....

AND NO ONE could explain offset to me correctly at discount tire or at belle tire...can anyone help?

One guy said it was the tires....one said it was the rims...one said it was the wrong offset ...even thought hey all seem to be 40mm if they are aftermarket.

bport · July 2005

Hi Connor!

I just took my 1999 Ford Explorer to be looked at to make sure it was running alright, but they called and told me I have a couple things wrong: one of them being that I have chopped tires. I had never heard of this before, nor had my husband. The way he explained it to me is that my tires used to be perfectly rounded, but now they are jagged in shape and if I run my hand over them I could feel it. You can't see it from just looking at them. He said this has happened because of someone not balancing/aligning my tires correctly. He said this is what is causing the whirring sound when I drive. And yes there is a sound that sounds like "weer weer weer weer" if that makes sense. Of course he said he could replace them all. I insisted he tell me if this would hurt my Explorer, and he said it would not. So what would be the point of replacing the tires? There is a lot of road noise. Can it be solved by rotating them? What will solve the problem? Is having chopped tires bad? I am extremely confusedand worried I am going to have to spend a lot of money. Thank you Connor!

connortirerack · July 2005

I think the Michelin cross terrain is an excellent tire. the only tire I have seen that I think is better is the Bridgestone Dueler Alenza. The Bridgestone will offer a quieter ride and will last a little longer. The Bridgestone is also less expensive than the Michelin.

P225/70R16 Bridgestone Dueler Alenza 112.00
P225/70R16 Michelin Cross Terrain SUV OWL 134.00

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

micweb · July 2005

I have purchased yet another ZX3, this time a 2005 stick shift with ABS and side air bags. It is the "S" model with steelies and 19/60-15 tires and wheels. I have upgraded the suspension with firmer KYB shocks (I tried the SVT damper + spring kit from Ford Racing but it was a little to busy for me) and have front and rear damper housing braces in it.

I seem to get a lot of "roar" from tire/road noise on the stock Goodyear RSX H-rated tires.

How would you rate these tires in terms of quietness and handling - to make it easier to respond, maybe you can number the list up from quietest (I suspect the LS-H will be quietest at #1) and up from best handling:

# quiet........................................#handling
Sumitomo Srixon4
Sumitomo HTR H4
Kumho Solus KH16
Bridgestone 950
Bridgestone LS-H
Goodyear Triple Tread
Michelin Exalto A/S
Michelin Hydroedge

Would the LS-H match the RSX in pure handling (grip, turn in?)? Would the Triple Tread? The Triple Tread is of interest to me because it received outstanding Survey marks at your website, but maybe the type of people who buy that tire aren't demanding. The Exalto is of interest due to the great test results on your website, but I am worried it will be as noisy as the RSX already on my car.

When are you going to have some installers listed in the Bay Area (San Francisco) who have the GSP 9700 Road Force balancers?

Thanks, Michael

stever · July 2005

Connor from The Tire Rack is here to answer your specific tire questions.

If you want to have general tire discussions with other members, please use the Tire, tires, tires discussion linked at the top of the page. This should make for an easier Q&A process in here. Thanks,

Steve, Host

connortirerack · July 2005

The only size tire I can recommend in 17" for your Mazda would be the factory 215/50/17 according to the manufacturer specifications. A 225/50/17 would be a 1/2" taller and 3/8" wider. From what I understand about the car from a guy that works here and owns one of these a 225/50/17 will rub pretty heavily. If you are looking for a tire that will perform well at a lower cost I would recommend the P215/50R17 Yokohama Avid V4S (102.00 each). They offer good traction and handling in dry and wet weather, decent snow traction, and will run around 35,000 miles. If you are looking for a longer wearing tire I would recommend the 215/50R17 Bridgestone Potenza G009 (116.00 each). The G009 will also be quieter and offer better snow and ice traction.

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 · July 2005

The only tires I have in a 215/70/15 size with raised white letter would be the three I have listed below:

P215/70R15 BF Goodrich Radial TA RWL -- 63.00
P215/70R15 Dunlop GT Qualifier RWL -- 59.00
P215/70R15 Firestone Fire hawk Indy 500 RWL -- 61.00

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

connortirerack · July 2005

Thank you, It's good to feel appreciated.

All of the tires you have listed are good tire but I would rate them in the following order.

1 )215/70/16 Bridgestone Dueler Alenza -- 109.00 (not the standard HL model.)
Best overall ride quality and traction levels
2) 215/70/16 Goodyear Fortera Silent Armor -- 118.00
Very good ride quality, good dry and wet traction. OK snow traction
3) 215/70/16 Yokohama Geolander H/T-S -- 78.00
Good ride quality, tend to get noisy as they wear.
4) 212/70/16 Dunlop Radial Rover A/T -- 67.00
They are noisy right from the start. Wet traction and snow traction are not great.

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

davidd3 · July 2005

Connor,

I have a 2006 BMW 330i on order for a 3 year lease. I expect to take delivery in September. I'm thinking about snow tires for it and I'm looking for advice and suggestions. I am not getting the Sport Package. So my car will be coming with 225/45-17 inch all-season run-flat tires, which are presumably better in the snow than performance tires though not as good as snow tires. This will be my first BMW. I live in NY. I've somehow managed the last 3 winters with RWD and all-season tires on an Infiniti G35. It doesn't take much snow to make the car go sideways, or not go at all, as the case may be. Thankfully it is only a relatively few days of winter where RWD is a major handicap in my area. I've never done the snow tires thing before. I may or may not do it this time. I'm wondering how much of a difference they would really make and whether the improvement over all-season tires would justify (1) the costs of purchasing and changing tires and (2) the inconveniences of additional service appointments and having to store whatever set of tires is not being used at the time. For those days when roads are dry (most days of winter), do snows ride and handle as well as all-seasons? Since this car has no spare tire, I suppose I'd be limited to run-flat snow tires. Presumably there is such a thing.

Your advice and suggestions will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

David

connortirerack · July 2005

I would recommend the 17X8.5 Wedsport TC005. They come in a grey finish and weigh in at 14 lbs. You can see them in you click on the Tire Rack link attached to this page, then enter your vehicle information.

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 · July 2005

The final out come for the wheels and tires as well as price is completely dependant on what you would want the car to look like. There are wheels listed that are less than three hundred dollars each but if they are not a style that you will like then I don't recommend buying them. It would be a shame to spend several hundred dollars on wheels that you do not like. You also need to look at the wheels that you are getting from the Tire Rack. Unlike most of the other tire shops we do not sell anything universal and all of our wheels are hub centric to help eliminate vibration. In my opinion it is better to pay a little more for what you like than settle for what you don't.

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 · July 2005

I am going to take a guess and say the tire were over inflated. Normally you will not feel much of a difference when you increase only 1" in rim diameter. However if the tire was over inflated (very common) it would make the tire feel very stiff and would also make the car ride harder. In fact, even a 17" normally doesn't effect the ride to the point of being uncomfortable.

If you click on the link I have attached below you will be able to find all of the pertinent information regarding offset.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=101

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 · July 2005

What you are referring to is more commonly called "cupping". Cupping or chopping is caused by bad alignment and is very common in 4wd vehicles. If the tire cupping is bad enough then the damage is not repairable. This doesn't mean the tire are dangerous or no good, it simply means that you will have more road noise and if their cupping noise get's bad enough you will end up with some vibration. Cupping is caused by lateral scrubbing on the tread face because the tires are not tracking in the correct angle or path.

I would recommend getting an alignment done before you place new tires on the vehicle.

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 · July 2005

Before I go into answering the actual email I need to try and clarify something. You typed " the stock Goodyear RSX H-rated tires". I think you are referring to the stock 195/60/15 Goodyear RS-A which does tend to be a noisy tire.

Per your request I would rate the tires you have listed in the order listed below. All tires listed are based on the factory size 195/60/15.

*****Road noise****
Bridgestone LS-H -- 96.00ea
Michelin Exalto A/S -- 87.00 ea
Bridgestone 950 -- 81.00 ea
Michelin Hydroedge -- 99.00 ea
Goodyear Triple Tread -- 89.00 ea
Sumitomo HTR H4 -- 44.00 ea
Kumho Solus KH16 -- 45.00 ea
Sumitomo Srixon4 -- 47.00 ea

****Handling****
Bridgestone 950
Michelin Exalto A/S
Bridgestone LS-H
Michelin Hydroedge
Goodyear Triple Tread
Sumitomo HTR H4
Kumho Solus KH16
Sumitomo Srixon4

As soon as we get more shops in that area apply to be placed on our installer list we will get more on there. However, until then you can always find a shop at the web site I have attached blow.

www.gsp9700.com

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 · July 2005

To be completely honest, I do know of any run flat all season tire that is any good in the snow. If you are sure you that you would rather have all season tire rather than using snow tires then what I would recommend would be to drop down in performance level and use a touring style all season tire (preferably non direction for the best snow traction). The tire I would recommend for you would be the Bridgestone Turanza LS-Z (199.00 each). you will still have great traction and handling. However, you would gain ride quality and lower noise level.

Personally, I would recommend using a snow tire in the winter time for the best traction levels. There will be some addidtional cost for this but i see it this way. I would rather be inconvienced with a little additional cost and have the tires stacked in the corner of the garage than being inconvienced by wrapping the car around a tree and possible hurting myself or my family. If you get tires and wheels this will eliminate the addidtional cost time and cost needed for mounting and balance every spring and fall. All you would need to do is switch them out in your driveway.

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

donaldm1 · July 2005

Original tires on my Chev 2500HD are 245-75-16 Range E with 26,000 miles coming up on 4 years old. I intend to replace them to avoid problems. The OE Bridgestones have been OK, but in the past I have always used Michelins which are very expensive. Could you suggest other brands that will be quiet and not have balance problems which I have experienced after a few miles with other brands.
Second, since other than a camper shell and pulling a trailer the truck is light can you suggest another size or load range that will improve the empty ride.

davidd3 · July 2005

Connor,

Thanks for your reply.

What do you recommend in a run-flat snow tire for this car?

David

Ask Connor at The Tire Rack

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