Tires, tires, tires

mtnman1

Anybody have experience with these tires? I am replacing my OEM Michelan MXM4 tires on my 2009 Fusion V6 SEL. The Michelans were a great riding and handling tire, but terrible in the snow. I was told by my ford dealer that the Continentals are a very good performance type tire but have part of the tread that is more aggressive for more of a All Season performance as well. I am having them installed at my local Ford Dealer this coming Friday because they beat the best price in town on them. They are also about $250 less for a set of 4 versus the Michelans which were about $980 for tax, Installation, valve stems, etc.

Mr_Shiftright

It's a good tire but it's certainly not a snow tire by any stretch.

kyfdx

I've heard they are really good in snow for the first season, but once they wear in, they are no better in the snow than any other all-season tire...

Mr_Shiftright

It's much more of a performance tire. I wouldn't use it for snow except in a pinch.

mtnman1

I wasn't looking for snow tires, but a tire that had an all season tread and gave me some degree of a performance tire. Fortunetely Columbus, Ohio is pretty flat so a decent tire will do okay as long as the snow doesn't get too deep. With the michelans even when they were new all it took was a few inches and I had trouble getting around. I'm hoping these will be an improvement over the Michelans. With this tire there are two types. One is the DSW and the other is like a DS or DW. Something like that and the DSW is supposed to be better at handling snow. Of course not like a pure snow tire.

Mr_Shiftright

Well my personal opinion is that "all season" really means "not particularly good in any season"; however, if people are using them in light snow and reporting good luck here, well then, you have to give that serious weight.

shark715

I have the DWS's (DSW is a chain of shoe stores) on my '03 Mini Cooper S. I have about 20k miles on them, and they are still the best in the snow versus the other all season tires I've had previously (I've driven the car more than 140k miles). TireRack.com actually tested in the snow, and also reported the same; that's what led me to try them. If it's not too late you might want to price them on their website versus your Ford dealer. Note that in most states you avoid sales tax. Someone mentioned that they are not as good once some of the tread is worn away. No doubt that's true, but the same would be true of ANY tire. One thing I will say about these tires though is that they have relatively soft sidewalls...compared to others the ride is on the plushy side, and the tradeoff is that the handling is not quite as sharp. But I think an average driver would not even notice that, and would appreciate the smooth ride. On the other hand, if you have a sporty driving style, this may not be your tire.

krzyss

DW - Dry Wet is summer tire
DWS - Dry Wet Snow is all season tire

DWS is supposedly decent in snow, the only better all season tire in snow would probably be Nokian WR G2.

Krzys

kyfdx

I had Nokian WR... pretty close to winter tire capability in the snow... and, a good all-season tire the rest of the time...

Pricy, though... Those Contis have been on sale, lately... WR G2 are probably 50% more, at least...

mtnman1

I think even tire racks price plus shipping then to have them balanced and installed would be very close to what Ford is charging which is $732 for balance, mounting, tire valves, road hazard, and taxes. Beat the best price in town by $50 which I researched online before I went to my Dealership. Plus I get 5% back towards future maintenance every time I have my Fusion serviced there which also gives me a free oil change after every 4 changes. Thanks all for the information. Having them installed this Friday at 2pm. Wish I could have gotten them today to test them out since the forecast is for a couple of inches of snow tonight through morning rush.

michcbr250

I have 08 Honda Ridgeline and have the LTX M/S the biggest thing with these tires are rotate, rotate, rotate I can't stress it enough. They currently have 42,000 on them still holding up good. I've been told several times that all Michelin tires are like this.

capriracer

I think the rotate, rotate advice applies to ALL tires, regardless of brand. This everything to do with the difference between what the front tires experince compared to the rears.

For example: FWD cars both steer and drive with the front tires. That causes the wear rate on the front to be 2½ times faster than the rears.

On RWD the fronts only steer (and brake) and that causes the shoukders of the tires to wear more than the centers, where the rear tend to wear more in the center.

The goal is to get all 4 tires to have about the same wear and for the wear to be even front to rear.

slorenzen

I have a set of Yokohama Avid's on an '06 Civic, and I noticed that now that they have approx 45K on them, the tread on the edga(closest to sidewall) are worn to the point that they can't push water away from the tire.

Living in Oregon, this is a problem...

was looking at Michelin MXV4 or Nokian eNtyre, and of course the dealer is trying to push the Nokian, but it's been a challenge to find enough consumer feedback on this tire.

This is a commuter car, and I want quiet, but I also like to occasionally fling it around a bit, so I want good handling too.

Dealer wants STUPID money for he Michelins($200 each!) and $155 each for the Nokians.

Any other tires I should look at? I won't buy the Yokohama again. they got WAY loud at 20K

texases

I'd see if tirerack has a local shop they can ship to, you might save some $$.

slorenzen

Tire Rack doesn't carry the Nokian.

I really wanted to support the local store(small town), but I may end up at Costco for the Michelins.

Costo is "only" $160 each installed.

Tires have really gone nuts with the pricing.

newcool13

I have an 08 Honda Accord LX-P. I purchaed "Kumho LX-Platinum" on tirerack.com. One of the best sellers tires on tirerack.com. I mounted and balanced those tires at one of the recommended installers. I also have wheel alignment done.

Somehow I am sensing something is wrong with the ride quality. I am not an expert on car stuff so, please help me.

1) On the highway, when I am driving straight, the ride is not smooth. Car keeps shifting left and right (both) little bit and I have to hold the sterring wheel grip tight to steer straight. It's not extreme but, you don't feel the safe and car just doesn't stay straight.

2) When I make turns or change lanes, it feels like tires are sliding.

3) When car rides on road patches or big cracks, it shifts the direction and I have to hold tight to keep the straight direction.

I talked to the installer and they said, they have balanced and aligned everything properly. What are my options ?

dudleyr

The tire will feel better when the nubs wear down and the oil coating on the rubber wears off. 500 to 1000 miles should do it.

This should make the tires much better, though I don't have much experience with the Kuhmo. I put the Michelin Primacy MXV4 on my Accord.

texases

I would have the shop swap the front and rear tires and see if that changes anything. If it does, then one of the tires may be defective, it happens. I'd also have them take a close look at your suspension (front and rear) for any worn/damaged components. I'd also make sure the tires aren't over-inflated, some shops do that.

Mr_Shiftright

Also from what I'm reading it's more of a comfort tire, not a handling tire.

newcool13

Thanks. According to Tirerack surveys, this tire scores good in mostly all categories. Where do you read that handling is not good ?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Ecsta+LX+Platin- um&partnum=16VR6ELX&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Honda&autoYear=- 2008&autoModel=Accord%20Sedan&autoModClar=LX-P%204cyl&tab=Survey

newcool13

I first thought of putting MXV4 but, those are really expensive. Kumho LX-Platinums has got great reviews on rack so, thought of saving some money. I read at least 10 Accord positive reviews for this tire. Now, I hate driving this car...

newcool13

Thank you. I will try this. As far as suspension issues concerned, there were no issues at all with previous OEM tires, everything was smooth.

Mr_Shiftright

some of the reviews--they are interesting. The ratings overall are good but even when someone rates the tire as very good, they sometimes mention that the handling suggests a rather flexible sidewall. This observation (if true) isn't a "defect" by any means---I myself switched from an extremely rigid low profile tire to a slightly more flexible one and I'm quite pleased with the compromise.

You could always try 2-3 lbs more air in each and see how that feels.

srs_49

Where do you read that handling is not good ?

Just from the category - Grand Touring All-Season, would be my guess. That doesn't necessarily mean that the handling is bad, just that it is probably not as good as a UHP summer tire.

slorenzen

I ended up getting the Nokians I mentioned earlier, and for the first 5-600 miles, I thought I had made a terrible mistake, as my '06 Civic was acting like your Accrord, not tracking straight, transitions felt squirrely, and they rode hard.

I even went back to the dealer, intending on changing to the Michelin MXV4, but their price was STUPID high!. I decided to give them more time, and I have to say, now, with 5k on them, they are a very good tire, and MUCH quieter than the Michelin.

I have never seen a tire that required as long a breakin as these Nokians, but i'm pretyt happy with them now. I also found out they're really good in snow!

dudleyr

A new tire has tread squirm - tendacy of the tread blocks to roll over. A well worn tire has almost none of this. The worn tire also has more rubber on the road.

A tire handles dry roads better the more wear it has - slick being the best. So comparing a new tire (worst on dry roads) to a worn tire (best on dry roads) can make the new tire look bad.

newcool13

Thank you for sharing your experience. you have definitely helped me feel better. I have already put 500 miles in 1 week (mostly highways). Going back to the mechanic this week to see if he can do.

newcool13

Thank you. I am also wondering why mostly everyone on tirerack has positive reviews on this tire and why I am hating this. But, then the question is why we don't feel the same when we buy a new car ? New car also has the new tire right ? or not

capriracer

I would suggest doing the basics first. Check the inflation pressure. It still amazes me that some folks at tire shops don't know it's supposed to be what the vehicle tire placard says.

corvette

Capriracer (or anyone else who might know),

Does the new Michelin Defender have a cap ply? Michelin's website doesn't mention it, which make me think it may not. If it doesn't, that's surprising, given Michelin's premium image and pricing. I would have thought all Michelins had them.

I'm not actually looking for new tires, just curious.

capriracer

Why not call Michelin?

corvette

I emailed them and got the following response:

The Defender has a nylon cap ply in all sizes.

I wish this type of information was covered in their literature.

marsha7

some of those recommended Michelin tires for wife's 2004 Dodge Ram, LTX/MS2...am hoping they do better than the Goodyear tires we had, only got about 30K out of them...Michelins were expensive, but if they come close to the 70K they say, it will be worth it, 2X as much as the Goodyears...I like Goodyear as made in America, and Michelins are probably not, but I want good tires and if they make them better overseas, then we need to clean our act up and make ours better...

texases

I had good luck with our Michelins. And I am not sure all Goodyears are made in the US, I'd be surprised if the were.

ruking1

You do not state your tire size, but for the 27570/16, the Michelin LTX's are made in the US. (I believe Hanford, CA) For some alternative sizes, CN is the other. Goodyear's country of manufacturer is unknown, as you state neither size nor model.

jipster

...has an H rated (I believe) 16" tire as OEM. Went to Firestone the other day to price tires. They gave me an estimate on a Firehawk Wideoval All season tire of $340 out the door for a set of 4.

In looking on tirerack, this is listed as a high performance V rated tire. Despite a very good price, as the tires are on sale, would you want to put a set of high performance tires on a Kia? I'm looking for good dry and wet performance, not taking a turn at 100mph.

The Firehawk Wideoval is a fairly new tire, so not much feedback/reviews on it. It's suppose to have a 50k mile warranty on the tread.

texases

While no harm in V (they often have the same tread pattern and basic contruction as the corresponding H rated version, just differ in heat dissipation), is there no H version for a few $$ less?

jipster

Yes, the tire comes in a H version. I guess Firestone is wanting to unload their V version. But, what are the pros and cons of putting a high performance tire on a non high performance car?

corvette

The pros are the increased grip of the high-performance tire. The cons are potentially shorter tread life compared to a more conventional touring tire which carries an H-rating.

Also, my personal experience is that many high-performance "all season" tires are primarily optimized for dry and wet conditions and will not be as good as a regular all-season or touring tire in snow or ice.

jojo1962

what is the right tire size for a 1962 chevorlet truck

capriracer

First you need to be more detailed. Chevy trucks came in a variety of different configurations and the tire sizing varies accordingly.

Second, the tire sizing system has changed dramatically since 1962. If you want the exact size as original, then you'll need to get reproductions which are only sold by vintage tire dealers. They tend to be expensive and not the best quality, but they are authentic.

If you want to convert to a modern tire size - then you need to consult with someone who knows how to convert the old system to the new system:

www.BarrysTireTech.com

And lastly, the best place to consult on older trucks are web sites devoted to these vehicles.

windgrace

Hi everyone.

So I am inheriting a 2002 Honda Civic EX with 65k mi on it. I know I'm going to take it to the mechanic and have it checked out and replace what it needs.

However, I'm pretty sure I'll need new tires.

Any tire gurus out there? Mostly need decent comfort, low road noise, and decent tread wear. I was thinking of going with Costco Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 when they have a Bridgestone discount. That or go to Discount Tire and get either the Hankook Mileage Plus II or the Cooper CS4 Touring. Which would be best?

stickguy

partly depends on where you live, and what type of winter/snow performance you need.

Tirerack . com is always a good place to look to compare options, and see how they are rated in side by side comparison.

mechanicrandy

I have a 2000 chevy silverado 1500 4x4 and want to go to a bigger size tire, what size will fit on my factory aluminum wheels. I have 265 75 r16 tires on it now but want to go to eather 285 75 r 16 or 305 70 r16.

capriracer

Unfortunately, you will have to determine the width of the wheel yourself as there were 2 different wheels applied to your vehicle.

The width should be stamped on the back side of the wheel.

widcm

I have a 2000 Jeep Wrangler Sport with 15's. Can I put on 17 tires/wheels from a 2010 Rubicon?

capriracer

According to Tire Guides, the bolt patterns are different - and according to Discount Tire, the tires on the Rubicon are too large in diameter.

stickguy

well, one nice thing about Jeeps, the aftermarket has a dizzying supply of wheel options for one. You should be able to find something else (even if not OEM) in a bigger size.

stickguy

Just talking to my BIL, who has a fairly new BMW 550 (RWD). Which came with performance run flats. At about 25K, they are shot. He said he just ordered new tires for it, and got normal (go-flats?) for it.

He just hated the run flats. Hard ride, short life, and very limited selection. Plus, pricey. He said that the Michelins were going to run about 2K (on a 2 YO car with low miles!), but the normal tires were only going to be 1K or so.

FOr the savings, and performance improvement, he is willing to risk getting a flat and having to sit waiting for a flatbed ride somewhere. Not like the RFT is getting you anywhere better, you just do it on your own power.

I suggested he just get a donut and jack, and put them in the trunk (since he does not usually carry anything back there anyway) as a back up plan. He was considering that.

I do know a guy that has a Mini S, and also hated his RFTs. So he put on normal tires, and got a donut and just put it in a bag, and stored it behind the driver's seat, since he never had 2 people in the back seat anyway. Problem solved!

Sandman6472

Saw these at my tire guy this morning...good looking tire with nice tread design. Anyone heard of these?

The Sandman :sick: :shades: