I assume you have checked your tire size on Tire Rack and saw all the different choices. Did you see one or two you liked? I searched and found 20 different tire models.
Are you looking for something specific in a tire?
Good quality + cheap = Sams Club. There isn't a master list of places to get good alignment and install. Most any tire shop in N. America can do both.
Do you need an alignment? If so, I'd seek out shops that do alignments and suspension work in your area. But I'd have the shop inspect your car first before doing an alignment.
What I do is find the shops that offer custom wheels and tires and do work on expensive cars like Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, etc. If you were buying 18" wheels for your BMW, where would you take your car in your area? That's the first place to start. These places typically have top quality equipment and experienced personnel. To them your Honda is a piece of cake. And if they don't do alignments, they certainly know the best shops in town. Ask around.
I agree it is important to conduct a thorough interent search for tires, including all the mfr sites.
It was an odd post in that KSUB was questioning the price of the Firestones yet had already gone to Tire Rack's site to check survey results. One would logically assume KSUB would have searched all available tires in his size if for no other reason than to price-compare.
Lousy search engine or not, it did kick down 20 tires in that size.
I bought some new tires for my mid-80's car -- I wanted some for a decent price (about 50 bucks each) with raised white lettering, none of the 1 millimeter to the rim import stuff. Found some sweet -- and I only say that after buying and riding on them for a month -- tires at a "Western Auto" chain. These tires handle and ride incredibly well for the price, and I love that most people don't recognize them -- I hate trends, if you can't tell. Cooper sells them under the "Cobra" moniker elsewhere, it seems. Oh, and if you buy them, say "white letters out", when you get them put on (grin). Keep those white letters coming!
You wrote: It was an odd post in that KSUB was questioning the price of the Firestones yet had already gone to Tire Rack's ...
Bret, The honda, which i recently purchased, has FR680's. Thought of replacing it with the same model first and went to the closest firestone dealer. he recommended FR440's and said that they are superior to FR680s. Wanted to verify that and then hit upon tirerack and this board.
You wrote: It (tirerack) often skips some models of tires available in the size.
Yes!! even I noticed this. Also, in one size-based comparison of All-season tires, it listed 2 tires which dont exist in the requested size.
I'm gettin new rims for my 00 mustang. tha ones i had on from the factory r 15 by 7, and the ones that i am getting are 17 by 9. I was wondering what would b a good size tire to put on... and what kind of tire to put on. thanks for any of ur suggestions.
I am currently on my 2nd set of tires, Michelin X-One's that have about 60,000 miles on them, and since I plan to keep the car for another 2-3 years I would like to buy new tires. I was thinking about the Mich XGT H4's because they supposedly have better performance. The O.E. tires were the MXV4's but they are way too expensive. Anyone have any comments on the XGT H4's? Thanks.
...and I think that they are great. I have them mounted on a 98 Taurus, and they replaced the crappy OEM Generals. The change in handling was very dramatic. They also seem to be wearing very well. I paid $100 per tire (mounting, tax included) and I think that these tires were a bargain.
I have tire chain, American Car Care center, that I really like. They seem to have good prices. But what's best is that they willingly rotate every 3,000 miles for free. This is great for my 4wd Subaru. It can't have different wear on the treads. And they sell Michelins and Pirellis.
Need tires. Has 225/75R15 Goodyear Wrangler GSA on steel "rally" wheels. They are cupped and I can't stand them.
What is a good size and brand to go to? I want something I can leave on year round (I think), and use on and off road. I ski, and need to get out the day after or even during a blizzard. Also will want to use on the beach. Quiet and good mileage are not bad things either. What I do not need are huge things or monster mudders or whatever. I'd rather go taller than wider.
What size? 235/75R15? 245/75R15? 255/75R15? 255/70R15? 30X9.50R15? 31X10.50R15?
Bonus question: What size did the original Army Jeeps have?
Sounds like the BFgoodrich All-terrain TA/Ko tires may be perfect for you! I've heard good things about them from owners. Good traction off-road and in snow without compromising too much on-road traction or handling. Yet the noise levels are good and the ride isn't overly stiff. Are they available in the size that you want? You may have to pay a bit more for them, but they may be well worth it.
Drew Host Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Can anyone recommend a good glossy tire dressing that won't spin off and will last for more than a few days? I've heard that products containing silicone are bad for the tire, let alone spin off.
I've had good results with Meguiar's Tire Gel. Apparantly, they are now marketing it under their more expensive Gold Class line, but at one time it was available at Wal-Mart. They now have two different grades, Endurance and Endurance High Gloss. Here's the link:
You're not gonna find a tire shine that will last and not sling off.
Almost all of those products have silicone in them and many also have glycerin to add even more gloss. Silicone based products will sling off and possibly stain any body cladding on your car. Products with glycerin in them only last a few days, if that. One rainstorm and its gone.
Meguiar's Tire Gel seems to last but doesn't offer the "ghetto shine" that some people like. Worth a try, I guess.
I have yet to find one that will not fling off or wear off with one rainstorm, but I HAVE come to the conclusion that shiny tires are not something I want anyway. When you shine your car you are trying to restore your car to the condition it was in after the perfect paint job. Tires are never that shiny. Why not paint them in a coordinating color scheme? That would be just as natural as shining them like shoes. Having said that, I confess that I tried lots of different products before I gave up and rationalized myself into thinking that it was an unnatural act that I would rather avoid. I do clean my rubber to get that ugly brake dust off, but then I just wash them off and let them dry. Au naturel, so to speak.
In my experience, Meguiars Endurance tire gel seems to work well and it won't completely wash away after one day of rain. TurtleWax's Tire shine also seems to work just as well. The prices of both the TurtleWax and Meguiars products are similar.
Drew Host Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Thanks to all for the information on tire dressing. I'll try the Meguiars and if I'm not satisfied, the TurtleWax will follow.
Corvette: Thanks for the great link.
Joe166: I've seen products on the shelf with different colored "sparkles" for tires ie. blue or red. That's going too far, but I think a "dressed" tire stands out enough to add a nice touch.
Yes, I have seen those. It is amazing what some people will do to their cars. That is why different colors were invented, I think. Different strokes for different folks. No accounting for tastes. (fill in any other cliches here, please)
The "sparkling tire gel" is a new Meguiars product I think. It certainly does give the vehicle a unique look. I've only seen one such example on the road, and it actually looked fairly nice and not as conspicuous as I would've expected.
Drew Host Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
I've been using Meguires for a while now. Not for the look as much for the curb protection. When the tires are treated they are slicker and the curb damage done by other unnamed driver's in my family seems to be minimized, although you can see where the gel was knocked off by a curb or other innocent object.
I made a mistake regarding the sparkly tire dressing mentioned above. It's not made by Meguiars, but rather by Black Magic (a division of Blue Coral). Check out their website at www.bluecoral.com
Drew Host Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
"The government has five-star rating systems to determine how vehicles hold up in crashes and how likely they are to roll over. Consumers looking for similar guidance on tires will come up empty because there is no standard to determine which tires are safe and which might fail."
I might have just sent this twice... I feel the two best all-terrain tires are the Michelin LTX A/T and the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO. I also have a 97 Wrangler. I have the 31" BF Goodrich KO tires on mine. It came stock with 225/75 Goodyear GS-A tires and is a Sport model, so probably has the same deep-dish steel wheels of which you speak. These rims are 15x7" (wider than the stock 15x6" steel wheels), so they will accomodate a 31x10.50 tire. Unfortunately they are not offset enough to provide unobstructed clearance in the front at full lock in either direction--they rub on the control arm. It's no big deal; I hardly ever do it, since I'm not one to make U-turns with the steering up against the stops (and they rub a nanometer before that), but my wife does it at times, while maneuvering into parking spots, making a sound akin to a submachine gun firing off in the distance--quickly alerting her to back off with the steering wheel. The optional aluminum wheels will allow 31x10.50 tires without any interference of suspension components; they have about an inch more negative offset. If you have the 4-cylinder, I wouldn't go any larger than a 235/75R15. And if you have the 6-cylinder and a 3.07 axle ratio, I would stick with a 30x9.50R15 or smaller. You can tell the axle ratio by looking at the rear axle differential cover (a bowl-shaped cover on the back of the axle). You will see a bunch of bolts holding it to the axle housing. Between two of these bolts there is a steel plate with the ratio stamped into it. If you have the 3.73 axle ratio, you will have no problem turning 31" tires. You want good traction in the snow and off-road, plus you want a quiet ride and good traction? You can't have your cake and eat it too. Consider that a higher void tread pattern will be better in slush and mud, but also creates more resistance, decreasing gas mileage and increasing noise. Regarding size: as volume of air increases, less pressure is required to support your vehicle; as tire pressure decreases, rolling resistance increases, and gas mileage decreases. You might keep your 225/75 at 35psi, but if you put on some 31x10.50 tires and also keep them at 35, your Jeep will not provide enough weight to hold the contact patch fully against the road, and they will wear out in the center of the tread, prematurely. You'd have to keep them around 30psi for everyday driving. So basically, unless you have both the tall gears and the 4.0 engine, I wouldn't recommend going larger than 30x9.50R15. 235/75R15 is really the best all-around size for this application. But they won't offer as much flotation in the sand as the 31x10.50, and, more importantly, they won't look as cool. But it seems you want a tall, not necessarily fat tire, emulating the original flatfender Jeep look. The 31x10.50R15 is the same, proportionally, as your 225/75R15, whereas the 30x9.50R15 takes an inch away from both the height and width of the 31". This makes it proportionally thinner (closer to an 80 series), even though the tread is still more than a half inch wider than stock. Like I said, the LTX A/T and T/A KO are the best all-terrain--when I say "all-terrain," I mean excelling on both highway and loose earth, I do not mean "off-road". Some other tires to cosider are the Michelin LTX M/S (quieter than the A/T, not that you'd notice it if you have a soft top); the Michelin Cross Terrain SUV (extremely quiet and comfortable, probably giving you the best gas mileage, OK for sand, decent in the snow, not made for serious off-road); the BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A (an all-terrain tire which leans much more toward the off-road side, but still maintaining some semblance of road manners); the Dunlop Radial Rover RV and AT (an acceptable alternative if you are among the 1% of learned tire consumers who despise Michelin); and last, the Bridgestone tires are decent, if you can find a sale which prices them 20-30% less than the Michelins--btw, Ford was the villian in that whole Explorer Scandal (they chose to run the tires at 26 psi on this full-size SUV to hide the chassis design flaws which prompted rollovers), not Bridgestone-Firestone. On sizing: though tire sizes are by no means precise, and only designate a range of sizes, the 31x10.50R15 is supposed to be 31" tall, 10.50 inches wide, a radial(R), on a 15" rim. Conversely, a 225/75R15 is supposedly 225mm wide, with a sidewall which is 75% of that height, a radial, on a 15" rim. By using simple math you can convert the inches to milimeters and represent the sizes either way. 1in = 25.4mm So... A 31x10.50R15 has a tread witch of 266.7mm. The sidewall [(overall height - rim size)/2] or [(31-15)/2] = 8in, or 203.2mm. 203.2mm is 76.2% of the tread width (266.7), so the aspect ratio would be 76.2, which rounds to 75 (again, tire sizing is not precise--any tire will lose around 1/2" of diameter over its life). So what are you left with? A 31x10.50R15 is the same as a 266.7/76.2R15, which rounds to 265/75R15. And if you compare the two (of the same model) in a tire shop, you'll see that the difference is indiscernable. One more time: 10.50 * 25.4 = 266.7, tread width in mm [(31"-15")/2] * 25.4 = 203.2, sidewall height in mm 203.2/266.7 = 0.762:1, aspect ratio R is still R 15" rim is still 15" rim leaving you with 266.7/76.2R15 or 265/75R15 The "standard" measurement merely indicates a tire which is designed for all-terrain use and will provide more flotation. But you also see tires of the same model, with the same purpose, sized metrically. So basically, like many things in the tire world, it is not absolute--a tire does not need to be sized in inches to provide flotation. On a side note, our American metric system of measurement is a hybrid standard/metric, since the first half is metric, yet the rim is still standard. In Europe, the whole thing is metric, with rim sizes expressed in mm, such as 195/60R390. And the Brits spell tires with a 'y' instead of an 'i.' Here are some ROUGH equivalents: 225/75R15 = 28x8.50R15; a 235/70R15 = 28x9.50R15; a 235/75R15 = 29x9.50R15; a 245/80R15 (you'll never see this) = 30x9.50R15; a 265/70R15 = 30x10.50R15 I hope that helps. ---Chris PS- if you're curious how it will look with 31" BFGs, I'll email you a picture
That post was one of your best. Hopefully the hosts can archive it someplace findable so we can refer everyone to it instead of you having to repost it in the future.
Anyone interested in off-road tires should print out post # 676 and use it to run off a batch of wallpaper.
I have about 45K miles on my '98 Concord and have always been disappointed with the amount of road noise it picks up on rough textured roads. I am ready to change the tires and am looking for something quieter than the Goodyear Eagle GA's that came on the car.
Hi all. I need an advice. The front tire on driver side is wearing too much on one edge. Does it mean low pressure, out of alignment or anything else? Thanks for help in advance.
If the wear is only on one edge, the car is probably out of alignment. Do you get a pull to one side on straight highway, no matter which lane you're in? If so, it's likely the car is out of alignment. The problem could be that the tire is out of balance, but there would be a very noticeable vibration at highway speed.
After closer inspection I found that tire is worn on both sides. Then I checked a pressure and surprise... surprise... it was really low. Thanks anyway.
He gang! We have two 2000 Taurus's. Mine has Freestone Affinity's, the wife's has Continental Conti Touring's My tires are nearly worn out at less than 21K. They are also very noisy, and have poor handling characteristics during cornering and all but the mildest stops. My neighbor loves the Future 2000 Touring DE, which was rated quite good by Motor Trend. At $60.00 for a 225/60/16, I am curious if any one else has run these? I hate to put $500 in a set of tires on a car that I will only have for 18-24 months!
The Conti Touring's are doing pretty good! With 27K on them they look like they may make 50K. They are much more quiet the the Freestone Affinity's, and they handle much better. The Affinity is simply a horrible tire! I like to get a lot of bang for my buck, like a one year old Taurus 24V SEA with 20K for $11,400!
Both Yokohama's I think would be a good choice. The Touring has an 80K treadlife warranty and will ride smoother an quieter. The T4 has a 60K warranty and is more performance-oriented. So I guess it depends on your driving style and preference.
The Pirelli has received high marks in some magazines but my impression is that they perform better in the dry than wet. Treadlife warranty is right there with the Yoko's.
All are pretty comparable and I think you've done a good job in shopping.
My vote is for the Avid T4 in 215/65-15. I vote NO on the plus zero sizing. I think its best to go plus one or skip it altogether.
I'm always a little suprised to hear someone has worn out the Affinity's after a short time. They are designed to provide long tread life but folks have said they don't. Oh well.
If you like the Conti's on the other Tauri and they are working well, why not a set for your Tauri? I say stick to what you know and like.
I don't care for the Pep Boys stuff. Too many other good tires out there for close to the same price and better quality.
TCWONG is looking at Yokohama Avid T4 which would work well on your car. If you're upsizing to 225/60-16 (sounds like it) you have lots of choices.
You didn't tell us what you want in a tire, only what you don't like about the Affinity's. It's hard to offer reasonable advice with little info.
$500 for a set of tires??? Don't know where you're shopping - Neiman Marcus? Right now Tirerack has Continental Conti Touring A/S for $45 on blowout. The BFG Touring T/A is $60, same as Yokohama Avid H4. The Goodyear Eagle GA is $62 on blowout. All are 215/60-16, your OE size.
I am in a lil problem with one of my tire! I check tire pressure one week ago and one of the tire loss few psi while rest of them were ok. A week later, I check the pressure again. This time, the tire loss at least 8 psi (from 33 to 25). I checked the appearance and no damage whatsoever. Where do you think the air might leak from? Please help me
The slow leak might be from the valve stem. I've had slow leaks on both my van and car (one tire on each) within the last year, and both times it was a bad valve stem. The tires would lose maybe a pound or two per day, meaning I would have to pump them up every few days or once a week.
The tire stores where I took them for repair checked the inside of the tread area and found no holes, so they pumped up the tires super-high and immersed them in water and discovered little bubbles from the valve area. They're both fixed fine now.
I need to replace my original tires on my 1995 Chrysler Concorde. They are Michelin XW4 - size P205/70R15 - speed rated 95S
I have a brand new full size spare of the same type that I would like to use so I only have to buy 3 new ones. I went shopping at Costco, Vespia and Crown Tires and I am being told that I HAVE to buy the XW4 style to match the spare. Something about the tread being different than on any other 205/70R15 tire. I have never heard of this before. Is this true? Or am I being taken for a ride because I am a woman?
I probably won't have the car that much longer and don't want to spend a ton of money on tires.
Tires have a life span. You essentially have a 7 year old tire in your trunk. I personally would not mount this tire on the car even as a spare. Most auto manufacturers state in the owners manual not to mix tires on an axle and to avoid if possible mixing tires on a car.
Why bother with the Michelins anyway. If you are planning on getting rid of the car soon, shop for a decently priced tire and replace all four. I'm sure Costco has a Goodrich or Uniroyal that will work for now.
They also carry a brand called Kirkland. I haven'tfound who actually makes the tire but it is Costco's private "value" brand.
If you are selling the car privately (not trading in) I think it is wise to replace all tires with a brand name. They are more recognized than the off brands and will make a potential buyer feel that a quality product was installed by you.
If you trade it then you'll probably get away with an off brand.
The "spare tire" trick is not a good idea. There are slight variances in tire size even if they all say they're the same size. This variance can cause some driveability issues. Also one odd tire will steer, brake, and handle different than the other three and this could cause a problem at the very instant you need all tires to operate at their best.
I don't know your budget but you can get brand names like Yokohama, Firestone, General, and BFGoodrich in 205/70-15 for about $50 each. A Michelin XW4 is about $90 each.
Since I wrote that post I called discount tire direct and the tire rack for their "expert" opinions. Do either of you any experience ordering from these guys? Are they reputable - they seem like good prices.
I want good tires but don't want to pay a lot - of course! They both recommended the Yokohama Aegis. Any opinions? What about the Yokohama Avid? One guy also suggested the Dunlop S40 - but it didn't get great ratings on the survey on tirerack.com
Comments
Are you looking for something specific in a tire?
Good quality + cheap = Sams Club. There isn't a master list of places to get good alignment and install. Most any tire shop in N. America can do both.
Do you need an alignment? If so, I'd seek out shops that do alignments and suspension work in your area. But I'd have the shop inspect your car first before doing an alignment.
What I do is find the shops that offer custom wheels and tires and do work on expensive cars like Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, etc. If you were buying 18" wheels for your BMW, where would you take your car in your area? That's the first place to start. These places typically have top quality equipment and experienced personnel. To them your Honda is a piece of cake. And if they don't do alignments, they certainly know the best shops in town. Ask around.
The tirerack search engine is at best so-so concerning listing tires by size. It often skips some models of tires available in the size.
It was an odd post in that KSUB was questioning the price of the Firestones yet had already gone to Tire Rack's site to check survey results. One would logically assume KSUB would have searched all available tires in his size if for no other reason than to price-compare.
Lousy search engine or not, it did kick down 20 tires in that size.
Found some sweet -- and I only say that after buying and riding on them for a month -- tires at a "Western Auto" chain. These tires handle and ride incredibly well for the price, and I love that most people don't recognize them -- I hate trends, if you can't tell.
Cooper sells them under the "Cobra" moniker elsewhere, it seems.
Oh, and if you buy them, say "white letters out", when you get them put on (grin).
Keep those white letters coming!
Steve
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You wrote: It was an odd post in that KSUB was questioning the price of the Firestones yet had already gone to Tire Rack's ...
Bret, The honda, which i recently purchased, has FR680's. Thought of replacing it with the same model first and went to the closest firestone dealer. he recommended FR440's and said that they are superior to FR680s. Wanted to verify that and then hit upon tirerack and this board.
You wrote: It (tirerack) often skips some models of tires available in the size.
Yes!! even I noticed this. Also, in one size-based comparison of All-season tires, it listed 2 tires which dont exist in the requested size.
It actually saves me money over the long haul.
What is a good size and brand to go to? I want something I can leave on year round (I think), and use on and off road. I ski, and need to get out the day after or even during a blizzard. Also will want to use on the beach. Quiet and good mileage are not bad things either. What I do not need are huge things or monster mudders or whatever. I'd rather go taller than wider.
What size?
235/75R15?
245/75R15?
255/75R15?
255/70R15?
30X9.50R15?
31X10.50R15?
Bonus question: What size did the original Army Jeeps have?
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
http://www.meguiars.com/product_showroom/showproducts_template.cfm?SrcLine=CW
Almost all of those products have silicone in them and many also have glycerin to add even more gloss. Silicone based products will sling off and possibly stain any body cladding on your car. Products with glycerin in them only last a few days, if that. One rainstorm and its gone.
Meguiar's Tire Gel seems to last but doesn't offer the "ghetto shine" that some people like. Worth a try, I guess.
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Corvette: Thanks for the great link.
Joe166: I've seen products on the shelf with different colored "sparkles" for tires ie. blue or red. That's going too far, but I think a "dressed" tire stands out enough to add a nice touch.
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Tires Lack Standards for Safety
Steve
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Is there something available which is 15" rim, maybe 8-9 inches tread width, and 31" tall?
Thanks in advance.
I feel the two best all-terrain tires are the Michelin LTX A/T and the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO. I also have a 97 Wrangler. I have the 31" BF Goodrich KO tires on mine. It came stock with 225/75 Goodyear GS-A tires and is a Sport model, so probably has the same deep-dish steel wheels of which you speak. These rims are 15x7" (wider than the stock 15x6" steel wheels), so they will accomodate a 31x10.50 tire. Unfortunately they are not offset enough to provide unobstructed clearance in the front at full lock in either direction--they rub on the control arm. It's no big deal; I hardly ever do it, since I'm not one to make U-turns with the steering up against the stops (and they rub a nanometer before that), but my wife does it at times, while maneuvering into parking spots, making a sound akin to a submachine gun firing off in the distance--quickly alerting her to back off with the steering wheel.
The optional aluminum wheels will allow 31x10.50 tires without any interference of suspension components; they have about an inch more negative offset.
If you have the 4-cylinder, I wouldn't go any larger than a 235/75R15. And if you have the 6-cylinder and a 3.07 axle ratio, I would stick with a 30x9.50R15 or smaller. You can tell the axle ratio by looking at the rear axle differential cover (a bowl-shaped cover on the back of the axle). You will see a bunch of bolts holding it to the axle housing. Between two of these bolts there is a steel plate with the ratio stamped into it. If you have the 3.73 axle ratio, you will have no problem turning 31" tires.
You want good traction in the snow and off-road, plus you want a quiet ride and good traction? You can't have your cake and eat it too. Consider that a higher void tread pattern will be better in slush and mud, but also creates more resistance, decreasing gas mileage and increasing noise.
Regarding size: as volume of air increases, less pressure is required to support your vehicle; as tire pressure decreases, rolling resistance increases, and gas mileage decreases. You might keep your 225/75 at 35psi, but if you put on some 31x10.50 tires and also keep them at 35, your Jeep will not provide enough weight to hold the contact patch fully against the road, and they will wear out in the center of the tread, prematurely. You'd have to keep them around 30psi for everyday driving.
So basically, unless you have both the tall gears and the 4.0 engine, I wouldn't recommend going larger than 30x9.50R15. 235/75R15 is really the best all-around size for this application. But they won't offer as much flotation in the sand as the 31x10.50, and, more importantly, they won't look as cool. But it seems you want a tall, not necessarily fat tire, emulating the original flatfender Jeep look. The 31x10.50R15 is the same, proportionally, as your 225/75R15, whereas the 30x9.50R15 takes an inch away from both the height and width of the 31". This makes it proportionally thinner (closer to an 80 series), even though the tread is still more than a half inch wider than stock.
Like I said, the LTX A/T and T/A KO are the best all-terrain--when I say "all-terrain," I mean excelling on both highway and loose earth, I do not mean "off-road". Some other tires to cosider are the Michelin LTX M/S (quieter than the A/T, not that you'd notice it if you have a soft top); the Michelin Cross Terrain SUV (extremely quiet and comfortable, probably giving you the best gas mileage, OK for sand, decent in the snow, not made for serious off-road); the BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A (an all-terrain tire which leans much more toward the off-road side, but still maintaining some semblance of road manners); the Dunlop Radial Rover RV and AT (an acceptable alternative if you are among the 1% of learned tire consumers who despise Michelin); and last, the Bridgestone tires are decent, if you can find a sale which prices them 20-30% less than the Michelins--btw, Ford was the villian in that whole Explorer Scandal (they chose to run the tires at 26 psi on this full-size SUV to hide the chassis design flaws which prompted rollovers), not Bridgestone-Firestone.
On sizing: though tire sizes are by no means precise, and only designate a range of sizes, the 31x10.50R15 is supposed to be 31" tall, 10.50 inches wide, a radial(R), on a 15" rim. Conversely, a 225/75R15 is supposedly 225mm wide, with a sidewall which is 75% of that height, a radial, on a 15" rim.
By using simple math you can convert the inches to milimeters and represent the sizes either way. 1in = 25.4mm So...
A 31x10.50R15 has a tread witch of 266.7mm. The sidewall [(overall height - rim size)/2] or [(31-15)/2] = 8in, or 203.2mm. 203.2mm is 76.2% of the tread width (266.7), so the aspect ratio would be 76.2, which rounds to 75 (again, tire sizing is not precise--any tire will lose around 1/2" of diameter over its life). So what are you left with? A 31x10.50R15 is the same as a 266.7/76.2R15, which rounds to 265/75R15. And if you compare the two (of the same model) in a tire shop, you'll see that the difference is indiscernable.
One more time:
10.50 * 25.4 = 266.7, tread width in mm
[(31"-15")/2] * 25.4 = 203.2, sidewall height in mm
203.2/266.7 = 0.762:1, aspect ratio
R is still R
15" rim is still 15" rim
leaving you with 266.7/76.2R15 or 265/75R15
The "standard" measurement merely indicates a tire which is designed for all-terrain use and will provide more flotation. But you also see tires of the same model, with the same purpose, sized metrically. So basically, like many things in the tire world, it is not absolute--a tire does not need to be sized in inches to provide flotation. On a side note, our American metric system of measurement is a hybrid standard/metric, since the first half is metric, yet the rim is still standard. In Europe, the whole thing is metric, with rim sizes expressed in mm, such as 195/60R390. And the Brits spell tires with a 'y' instead of an 'i.'
Here are some ROUGH equivalents: 225/75R15 = 28x8.50R15; a 235/70R15 = 28x9.50R15; a 235/75R15 = 29x9.50R15; a 245/80R15 (you'll never see this) = 30x9.50R15; a 265/70R15 = 30x10.50R15
I hope that helps.
---Chris
PS- if you're curious how it will look with 31" BFGs, I'll email you a picture
Anyone interested in off-road tires should print out post # 676 and use it to run off a batch of wallpaper.
Epic, man.
225/60R16
Any suggestions?
If you want quiet then I'd recommend the Michelin Symmetry. OE on Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car, among others.
For 225/60-16 you're looking at ~$100 per tire at your local Sam's Club.
Thanks for help in advance.
Thanks anyway.
1. Yokohoma Avid Touring in 215/65/15 size
2. Pirelli P400 Touring in 215/65/15 size
3. Yokohoma Avid T4 in 225/60/15 size
Have anyone try these tires on a minivan? Also, would there be any advantage of going to a plus-zero size for a minivan? All comments welcome.
Thanks.
The Conti Touring's are doing pretty good! With 27K on them they look like they may make 50K. They are much more quiet the the Freestone Affinity's, and they handle much better. The Affinity is simply a horrible tire! I like to get a lot of bang for my buck, like a one year old Taurus 24V SEA with 20K for $11,400!
The Pirelli has received high marks in some magazines but my impression is that they perform better in the dry than wet. Treadlife warranty is right there with the Yoko's.
All are pretty comparable and I think you've done a good job in shopping.
My vote is for the Avid T4 in 215/65-15. I vote NO on the plus zero sizing. I think its best to go plus one or skip it altogether.
If you like the Conti's on the other Tauri and they are working well, why not a set for your Tauri? I say stick to what you know and like.
I don't care for the Pep Boys stuff. Too many other good tires out there for close to the same price and better quality.
TCWONG is looking at Yokohama Avid T4 which would work well on your car. If you're upsizing to 225/60-16 (sounds like it) you have lots of choices.
You didn't tell us what you want in a tire, only what you don't like about the Affinity's. It's hard to offer reasonable advice with little info.
$500 for a set of tires??? Don't know where you're shopping - Neiman Marcus? Right now Tirerack has Continental Conti Touring A/S for $45 on blowout. The BFG Touring T/A is $60, same as Yokohama Avid H4. The Goodyear Eagle GA is $62 on blowout. All are 215/60-16, your OE size.
Chris
The tire stores where I took them for repair checked the inside of the tread area and found no holes, so they pumped up the tires super-high and immersed them in water and discovered little bubbles from the valve area. They're both fixed fine now.
Same can be done to the area around the stem where it meets the rim.
http://www.natltire.com/ntw0799/pages/mudders.html
[Too bad I didn't know this last week, I picked up 31X10.5 BFG TA/KO's... a nice tire, but I would have gone narrower had I known]
275-85R-15 33 8.6 119
315-85R-15 36 9.1 137
http://www.natltire.com/ntw0799/pages/mudders.html
I have a brand new full size spare of the same type that I would like to use so I only have to buy 3 new ones. I went shopping at Costco, Vespia and Crown Tires and I am being told that I HAVE to buy the XW4 style to match the spare. Something about the tread being different than on any other 205/70R15 tire. I have never heard of this before. Is this true? Or am I being taken for a ride because I am a woman?
I probably won't have the car that much longer and don't want to spend a ton of money on tires.
Please help!!!
Thx
Why bother with the Michelins anyway. If you are planning on getting rid of the car soon, shop for a decently priced tire and replace all four. I'm sure Costco has a Goodrich or Uniroyal that will work for now.
Good Luck
If you are selling the car privately (not trading in) I think it is wise to replace all tires with a brand name. They are more recognized than the off brands and will make a potential buyer feel that a quality product was installed by you.
If you trade it then you'll probably get away with an off brand.
The "spare tire" trick is not a good idea. There are slight variances in tire size even if they all say they're the same size. This variance can cause some driveability issues. Also one odd tire will steer, brake, and handle different than the other three and this could cause a problem at the very instant you need all tires to operate at their best.
I don't know your budget but you can get brand names like Yokohama, Firestone, General, and BFGoodrich in 205/70-15 for about $50 each. A Michelin XW4 is about $90 each.
Since I wrote that post I called discount tire direct and the tire rack for their "expert" opinions. Do either of you any experience ordering from these guys? Are they reputable - they seem like good prices.
I want good tires but don't want to pay a lot - of course! They both recommended the Yokohama Aegis. Any opinions? What about the Yokohama Avid? One guy also suggested the Dunlop S40 - but it didn't get great ratings on the survey on tirerack.com
Any thoughts would be appreciated!!
Thx