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Based on our common experience with TRX, we should know first-hand that tire technology advances very fast at inflection points. Propretary tires simply can not keep up with standard-sized tires in terms of traction and safety, in a very short time span, even if you don't care one wit about price.
By the way, the 97 A6 got 5 star safety results from the feds doing head on crash testing. Maybe IIHS downgraded them, I don't know.
You are correct, I don't have something bigger than an Ody sitting in my garage, but size doesn't always equate with safety, as seen by the crash results of any number of big iron cars.
However, I do have an A8, which has an excellent safety record, 5 star ratings. Historically very impressive crash results, though I luckily haven't experienced the results first hand. You will find that the IIHS gives it low marks for loss claims as the repair costs are very high because the aluminum frame is expensive to repair.
I would expect you would also think I am loony for buying the A8, what with it's Aluminum Space Frame, which means you have to have specialized equipment to repair in case of accidents. However, it is lightweight, and strong as heck, therefore, I get great gas mileage out of a 310 horsepower V8, and splendid crashtest results. Again, decent tradeoff from my perspective.
Besides our joint experience with TRX, since you bought a BMW, you also get to share with me the joys and cost associated with maintaining a German car.
Honestly, doesn't the technology associated with PAX, the "donut" if you will, seem much more solid and failsafe than simply a rigid sidewall? Again, maybe the future holds PAX in standard sizes. Neither you or I know that.
I still say during my 3 to 4 yrs of ownership, I will have no worries regarding the effectiveness of my tires. I'm happy, and the Ody is an awesome van.
By the way, how do you like your Toyota? Seemed like a very comfortable ride.
I've owned a number of Toyota products, including a 1971 Corolla with a 1.2 liter engine and a 71 or 72 Corona with an engine that wouldn't die. It is amazing how far Toyota has come since then!
>PAX offers no unique advantage over conventional
>run-flats but, at least as of now, has a couple
>of distinct disadvantages:
Your point is incorrect. Distinct advantages are:
1) Lower possibility that bead will go off rim on a flat tire. Current rim design is badly flawed - it uses air pressure to hold the tire to the bead. It is an artifact of pre-radial tire design and it is time to change it. PAX bead is safer for an underinflated tire, runflat, or not.
2) Much lower weight and much lower rolling resistance then thick-sidewall runflats and even conventional tires.
That improves gas mileage, handling and noise.
I think PAX is a brilliant technical solution and I wish it to do well. Though many good solutions failed to displace entrenched technology.
The best thing Michelin can do is to license this technology broadly and cheaply. PAX are actually cheaper to produce, and they do simplify car design (no need for a spare). Manufacturers will be able to charge a premium for a cheaper to make product, sounds like a good idea.
And another thing that can help PAX - mandatory tire pressure monitoring.
But, personally - I would not be a guinea pig for the new technology introduction.
I, too, hope that PAX (or one its developmental offshoots) is a great success.
I've had several sets of Blizzaks on other vehicles I've owned. These are my first RFT's, and I've noticed no difference between the two. I was going to buy non-RFT's, but they were only a few dollars cheaper.
If you want sportier handling, I'd recommend the Dunlop Wintersports. I have them on my Volvo S80 T-6, and they're much better handling on dry pavement. But you'll have to buy a slightly different size.
Look for some 17" rims on the TireRack website, or check Ebay's listing of non-OEM 17" rims.
I'd really recommend an extra set of rims, as the RFTs cost more to mount.
Ask Connor at The Tire Rack
Steve, Host
Still, I'm not worried. I check my tire pressure often; I'll be checking it more often now.
And I wouldn't let this stop you from buying your Blizzaks w/rims from the TireRack. The snow & ice performance is worth it.
I guess the TireRack advisor (it was not Connor) was misinformed about the need for a sensor in the Sienna wheel.
Cheap, ingenious means to detect a low tire. The downside is the system CAN'T detect a problem if ALL tires are underinflated (or overinflated) since it only measures inflation DIFFERENCES rather than the actual pressure.
Also, did you keep track of the positions of the conventional tires you took off to put the winter tires on. In other words, when you replace the winter tires with the conventional tires at the end of the snow season, will you put the conventional tires in the same previous positions?
I just ordered the winter Blizzaks and wheels from TireRack. I hope your glowing reports about these tires are true. It was 65 degrees in Northern VA today, but God only knows what February will bring?
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/03/automobiles/03cars.html
And, yes, I did mark the summer RFT's when I removed them, but only because I intend to rotate them when I re-mount.
You will love the Blizzaks. I bought my first set for my (then new) '93 Camry V-6, because they received rave reviews in a 'Car and Driver' test on the same vehicle. I've had four sets since. I honestly don't understand why more people don't buy snow tires. They're cheap insurance, and a set lasts for several seasons--even with the soft rubber compound.
I'm considering purchasing snow tires for a Sienna LTD that I will be picking up later this month. Would it be possible to purchase 16" wheels and tires? What would be the consequences? I ask this simply because there are a lot more options available for the 16" size. Excuse my idiocy. I've really very little experience with this stuff.
Thanks, LH
To figure (roughly) the outside diameter of a tire, take the tire width (in mm) x the aspect ratio, convert to inches, double the answer and add it to the rim diameter.
Example: your Sienna LTD. has 225/60R17 tires. Take the width (225mm) x the aspect ratio (60%) = 135mm. Convert to inches (divide by 25.4) = 5.3" Double the answer (2x5.3" = 10.6") and add to rim diameter (17") = rough outside tire dimension of 27.6".
Standard Siennas have a 215/65R16 tire. This equates to roughly a 27.0" outside diameter. Close enough.
The only possible reason why you wouldn't be able to use a smaller rim would be if there was interference between the brake calipers and the smaller rims (since the brake rotor/caliper fits inside the back of the rim). Since most Siennas with the rear disk brakes (part of the traction/stability control package) use 16" rims, you should also be able to use 16" rims.
Thanks for the thoughtful response.
Best, LH
The low tire pressure warning light has not come on, so as you suggest, I will not bother resetting it. I also put 35 psi tire pressure, the same as I used for the OEM tires. Are you using 35 psi for your Blizzaks? Do you have an opinion regarding these tires resistance to hydroplaning? How many miles should I expect to get out of these tires. I figure I'll leave them on for 4 months (Dec-Mar) per year, about 4-5 thousand miles per year.
Thanks again!
As you can see, the tread pattern is rather aggressive, so no hydroplaning worries-- at least not until they're well-worn. Remember, these tires are great, but they won't defy the laws of physics.
I think I keep my tire pressure on the Sienna around 35 psi, Blizzaks or not. Whatever the label inside the door jamb says...
- No snow tires available, as far as I can tell. Michelin has approved a set of chains for the tire. Since the Touring wheels are made to accept only one specific tire, any snow tire would probably have to be special made to fit by Michelin.
- Warranty is full replacement of WHEEL and TIRE at your Honda dealer for 24 months or 50% of tread life. Prorated up to six years after that period.
- Spoke to Customer Relations at Honda about tire replacement recently. I was specifically asking about cost and service availability once the tires need to be replaced due to wear. I was told that Honda dealers would be able to replace the tires. The rep looked up the tire in the parts catalogue - cost right now is $159/tire. Labor figures to be slightly higher than average. I'm thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of $800 to change all 4 tires.
- Your Honda dealer has the choice of purchasing the equipment to service these tires (or any tires, for that matter). You may find that you have to call around to find a dealership that services the tires. All dealerships can do the warranty replacement.
Maybe the other info in my post is of value, bigmouth.
Of course it was my fault when I had a blow out on my TLC right rear tire while doing 50 mph had a long nail leaking slowly , could not see the nail it was on the inside of the tire ,thank goodness still under warranty at the time got a new tire and a new rim . We wonder , if we had Pax this could not have happened.
Lou
She was driving it near our house recently when she got distracted and managed to run up the curb when the road veered left and she went straight. She managed to puncture the sidewall of the tire and it went flat immediately. The tire pressure warning message was clear and gave her the information she needed to know she messed up the tire. Since she was close to home, she drove it home for me to take a look at. (Plus, I was curious how the van would drive on the tire now.)
I drove it to the nearest Honda dealership, about 5 miles away. It really handled well. No big difference in driving it straight. If you took your hands off the wheel, it slowly veered to the right, but not nearly as bad as I expected. It drove fine around curves where the road bends a bit (I averaged around 40 MPH on the road, but felt confident I could have matched traffic if I wanted. Speed limit was 40, most going around 50)
Turning at the intersections was fine as well. I turned slower than normal, but didn't crawl through the turn. All in all, it was fine. Small amount of vibration at slow speeds, none noticeable at normal speeds.
The dealership was great. They replaced the tire and rim at no charge. I just had to fill out a small form for Michelin, and I was on my way with a new tire and rim in about 30 minutes.
I really wasn't sure about the benefits/cost analysis for PAX tires when we bought the Ody, and quite frankly if I could have gotten the Touring without them, I probably would have. But now that I have experienced them, I feel much more at peace knowing my wife or daughter won't get stranded if this happens again.
Sorry so long winded, but I hope my experience helps.
--Rob
This is a link that I saw a couple of days ago by Road and Track:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=20&article- _id=1691
Steve, Host
Thanks for spelling 'peace' correctly.
Lou
The PAX tires are covered by a PAX System Assurance Plan. Which states in part "No tire, regardless of its quality is indestructible, and even a PAX system tire may be rendered unserviceable by road hazard injury. If this happens, Michelin will replace your tire under the terms and conditions described in HOW REPLACEMENT CHARGES ARE CALCULATED. This PAX System Assurance Plan is not a warranty or protection against all road hazard injuries. It is an added value to the consumer that provides for replacement of tires that come out of service as a result of conditions not covered by the limited warranty."
Basically, the tires are covered for the first 24 months or 50% of tread. I think (and I'm mealy speculating here) that Michelin wanted to take good care of the early adopters to this technology. Think about it. How many times does this really happen outside of an accident, which I take to mean one that damages more than the tire and rim? The actual cost to Michelin is small compared to the good will it will create (as it did in my case and I'm spreading the word to those who have concerns about the tires).
Consider what my post would sound like if I mentioned it cost me $530 to replace the tire and rim? (Hope the wife get's used to the car in another 20 months ;-)
Michelin has posted the warranty info on their website. Here is the link to read the warranty info in full:
http://www.michelinman.com/assets/pdfs/doc_paxwarranty.pdf
--Rob
Would you really have been unhappy if the warranty didn't cover that? I know I would have simply assumed since it was my wife's fault I would naturally pay for a new tire.
I'm glad it worked out so well in your case.
It would be highly unlikely a rim would fail at a later date if this were the case. Damage to the wheel would be apparant when the blown tire is dismounted.
As far as seeing metal fatigue when they dismount the wheel would be impossible unless you have x-ray eyes. I believe that you would have to have the rim magnifluxed to find cracks not visible to the naked eye that could be dangerous.
They recommend replacing your childs safety seat if you have been in an accident. It might look ok, but it might not be safe due to excessive stress during the crash.
Not saying that is going to happen to every rim that hits a curb,it's just food for thought.
One of the million things that "could" happen.
sherbert
"I could care less!"
prostrate surgery
The media is.....