You asked a while back about Yokahama Aegis tires - I had a set of Aegis LS4's put on my Nissan NX1600 last fall.
The good points - They are absolutely great in dry, wet, and snow traction. Unbelievable how much better they are than the Michelin Radial X's they replaced (yeah, they were worn out, but even compared to how I remember them as new). They could pass for actual snow tires they are so good. The cornering and steering feel are good.
The bad points - They are noisy. They have quite a pronounced whine on asphalt or concrete. Not quite as bad as snow tires, but sometimes that's what they remind me of. Also, they follow grooves or cracks pretty noticably.
I really don't know if I would buy them again. I love them when it rains or snows, the rest of the time they kind of bug me. Hope this helps.
I had these put on my Maxima and love them. They are the quietest tires I have ever heard (or not heard in this case). I have about 3k miles on them so far and will be rotating them for the first time soon.
lee1nyc, I should also mention that the one who told me to go with the front-rear same side rotation was also a district manager for Autozone for a good while before switching to the computer software industry. He definitely is well informed car-wise. I've heard Disney is not the best company to work for any more. A shame as they say that under Walt, it was the best treatment-wise at least. But as a possible retirement job, they pay little enough to keep one under the SS cap, which doesn't exactly sound like something great. But, the benefits of a fun job and getting in the parks free .... can't beat that part.
I put a set of these on my E320 Mercedes a couple of months ago and I am very impressed with them. Very quiet, very smooth, excellent dry and wet traction, no cornering squeal, etc. Excellent tires..
After researching Tirerack.com for recommended tires for over a week, I've narrowed the choices down to Yokohama Avid T4, BF Goodrich Control T/A M65, Goodyear Aquatred 3, Michelin RainForce MX4,and Yokohama Aegis LS4. I need an all season tire that will get me through heavy snow, but I also need a long distance highway traveler the rest of the year.
I also read two reviews there by Forester owners and was interested in what they had to say about the Bridgestone Blizzack WS-50 and the Michelin Arctic Alpin. Will those two be okay year round, or are they winter only?
Any experience with any of these? Any other recommendations. The consensus on Tirerack seems to be (and I agree) that the Bridgestone Dueler H/T D684 need replacing too soon. Ours has less than 30,000 miles.
There have been quite a few posts in here discussing tires for this very vehicle. You should scroll back and read them. Might be 100+ posts but you'll learn alot.
What do all the folks over in the Subaru forums say? They're a pretty vocal bunch.
I should point out that the Avid's I put on my E320 were the Avid V4, not the T4. So I can't vouch for the performance of the T4. The V4 is a higher speed rating and may be a better performer.
A while back there was a discussion on tire care products such as Wet Tire, Meguiars Endurance and others. On the Michelin home page they do not recommend using any tire care products saying "...There are components built into Michelin tires that help maintain the color, and counteract the harsh effects of sunlight and ozone. Some waxes, solvents, and tire dressing products may damage these special components." Has anyone used these products (Endurance mainly) on Michelin tires with bad results? Getting ready to buy a set of Michelin CT's and on my tires in the past I would put on a coat of Endurance every month or so. Thanks
I think one reason Michelin and others make this statement (I know for a fact Dunlop says almost the same thing) is that there are so many bad tire dressings on the market that contain silicone oils (Dimethylsilicone) that can eat into the rubber and affect the tire. Silicone oils also magnify UV rays which accelerate rubber fade and dry rot. If the shiny tire stuff makes your tires really glossy, chances are the product contains silicone oils. Michelin should not have to process a warranty claim just because some no-taste goofball wants his tires to look like mirrors.
Tires go thru a process called "blooming" where waxes impregnated into the tires during construction come to the surface as the tire rolls and heats up. This is on purpose and its to protect the tire from dry rotting. Carbon black is added to tire to protect from UV rays and help dissipate heat.
As ozone and UV rays affect the tire the rubber gradually turns grey. Apparently what Michelin has done is improved their carbon black formula to help offset these issues and they don't want silicone oils to affect this.
I recommend rubber protectants that are water-based and include some kind of UV blocker. I like Vinylex, 303 Aerospace, and Eagle One Satin Finish aka Concours tire dressing. I haven't used Meguiar's but they have excellent customer service so I suggest calling them and asking about this.
Tire manufactureres universally warn against tire dressings. That being said, let us differentiate between "practical" and "actual" experiences.
I have used Mequiars Endurance (Satin Finish) tire dressing for the last eight years. I used Meguiars on Michelin MXV-4's that I owned for 40,000 miles. Those tires were driven in a four season climate and there was never any adverse reaction. I used Meguiars on Goodyear Eagle's for 60,000 with no problems. Now I own Dunlop SP Sports A2's, and I am using the Meguiars Satin Finish Endurance on them too.
One of the pitfalls of living in a fast-growing urban area is the threat to your tires from careless home builders who spew all types of dangerous debris over our residential streets. I'd really like to put the SMACKDOWN on these idiots who keep making me dig into my wallet for tire repair and new tires! Last night while driving home I ran over a large screw AND a nail, both of which decided to become squatters in my rear drivers' MXV4+. So, I have two questions .... #1. Is patching a tire acceptable, especially from a safety standpoint? I'd really hate to have a blow-out at >80mph due to a patch giving up the ghost. #2. Can I put a pair of larger size X-ones on the rear of my Accord? The oem's are 195R15. Tire Kingdom here in FL says they (meaning Michelin) do not make this size, however when I check Tire Rack, they have them. I wanted to go with a little wider tire when the time came to replace, which may be now at least for the back pair. Thanks ....
I'm an architect for a design/build company and have had more than my share of screws and nails in tires of my vehicles. I've never had any problems with the repairs that they've done on my tires. Some tire manufacturers even make self healing tires. The patches haven't had any ill effects on tire rotations or balancing either.
If you are getting these from one specific developer/contractor give them a call. They may offer to partially compensate you or at least appreciate knowing that they need to clean up their act. If you are having this problem in a residential subdivision where you're dealing with homebuilders that seem to multiply exponentially, you may not be able to do anything. Sorry.
By the way, my company has perfectly clean job sites and NEVER spills nails or screws.
Porknbeans
Grand High Poobah The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
A qualified maybe! While most folks know this, don't ever let someone or yourself do a ream or a plug on your radial tire! The best procedure is a vulcanizing patch!
I have had it done on Goodyear Eagle Super Car F1 295/35/18 and it can go far in excess of 80 mph.
ruking1 is absolutely right, never use a ream through plug. It must be repaired from the inside out with a vulcanizing patch. But remember, if the holes are too close to the sidewall of the tire they are not fixable. That part of the tire flexes too much to make it safe. In regards to your second question you should keep in mind that you should never mix sizes on cars that weren't designed that way. You also need to remember that your honda accord came with 'H' rated tires, if you have a 4 cylinder and 'v'if a 6, and the X-ones you are looking at are going to be 'T' rated. It is also not recommended to mix speed ratings. If your going to change the speed rating and size, thats fine, but do to all of the tires at the same time. You should also be able to switch to a 205/60 or205/65r15 with no problem for your car if your original size was 195/65r15. If it was only a 195/60r15 I wouldn't go any larger than a 205/60r15. And yes, michelin makes the x-one in all of these sizes.
Road hazard insurance is available when buying new tires through tire dealer. I bought the insurance with Firehawk SH-30 tires for my Malibu (215-65R15?) 1.5 years ago. If I remember it right, it cost $9 per tire, i.e. about 10% of total price.
Got a nail in my tire last fall, and Firestone dealer fixed it under the insurance. Otherwise the repair costs about $25(not sure). However, the insurance also cover replacement if it is impossible to repair the tire: hole in sidewall, etc.
Read the fine print on some of those contracts. Just like the warranty of some tire manufacturers the coverage is prorated to how much tread life is left on the tire. I had some Cooper tires that the steel belt plys came separated on. Cooper only covered the replacement cost of what was left on the treads. When I had tires put on my car a few years back they offered me the tire warranty. After I asked about the coverage they told me that it was prorated to the remainder of tread life.
Porknbeans
Grand High Poobah The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
I just got around to reading the posts you recommended--they start around 1100 or so--and it was very interesting. I have just about narrowed my choices down the the Yoko Avid T4s and the Michelin X-ones--and I didn't know that the X-Radial Plus Costco sells was the same as the X-one, so thanks, whoever mentioned that. $46 vx. $85 (at Tirerack)? I don't know. 60,000 vx. 80,000 treadwear warranty? I don't know. How will I decide. Traction in snow is important. So is long distance traction year round.
P.S. I have discovered Sears will match any price you find anywhere including online--one way to get the lifetime rotation and balancing, etc.
I drive my minivan to the local ski resort a dozen or so times a winter on my X-Radial Plus (X-Ones). They do ok for an all-season tire, but I'd want snow tires or studs if I lived in the stuff. Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Glad you took them time to read the posts. So many people don't bother and miss out on a lot of pertinent info.
Did you see the posts from Noelle? She was shopping for Forester tires back in Nov '01. IIRC, she bought Cooper Lifeliner SLE Tourings. Maybe not the most stylish brand but Cooper tends to get high marks for snow traction in Consumer Reports. Certainly worth a look-see.
Also consider Nokian if snow traction is a really big priority. One model they offer, the NRW, is an all-season tire that provides excellent snow traction. I think Nokian makes the best snow tires in the world but they are virtually unknown in the US.
brick22 said deep snow. So I interpret this to mean high priority. Here is some real life info with X-one/X-plus in snow (on 2 different front wheel drive vehicles) to help you decide.
I think the X-Plus/X-ones become marginal with more than 6 inches of snow on unplowed roads. What I mean by marginal is that you will find that the car will not be able to make steady forward progress on grades (the slipping and sliding will start)and gets worse as the grade increases or the snow gets deeper.
6 inches of unplowed snow is about my cutoff for the front drivers with the X-ones as I found I can get stuck on grades. Sometimes with less than 6 inches depending on how greasy the white stuff is. Of course your 4WD Sub will definitely push the limit up for you. And of course if you live where there are no hills the snow driving is easier too.
So I agree with Steve_Host that if deep snow is the priority then you should consider other tires. I previously suggested not a dedicated snow but one with a more agressive tread as an all year compromise leaning toward deep snow capability and considering you have a 4WD.
These would be for a 2000 Maxima GLE, driving in Texas (mostly country roads and freeways, mostly dry but when it does rain it rains in buckets). I want something that handles well but ride noise is as important. They will replaces the original Toyo Proxes tires that were kinda noisy and only lasted 25K miles. Thanks in advance!
The plaque says this car takes 185/60R14 or 195/60R14 tires as stock.
Currently have 195/60R14 snow tires on there.
Have 195/55R14 tires mounted on Borbet rims from my old Civic. These tires have a little life left in them. What do you think? I think it is time to take off the snows finally.
1996 VW Jetta GL 4 cylinder.
(P.S. Both tires look great, round and black like tires should! ;-)
195/55/14 is a bigger difference from 195/60/14 than it is from 185/60/14. There is a 3.3% difference between 195/60/14 and 195/55/14. Check the weight ratings before you switch them.
Put em on. They'll be a little bit shorter but no big deal for the most part.
Those calculators are not gospel as they assume all tires of the same size are dimensionally identical. They're not.
The real question is how much tread is left? 2/32" is legally worn out. 4/32" and they can be considered wasted but legal. And while we are all acutely aware of your disdain for tire appearances, you might want to look at your tires for signs of dry rot, flat spots, bulges, or uneven wear from their previous use. You don't have to post a description of their appearance; we'll pass on the public ridicule, thank you. We just don't want you to put a dangerous tire on your car.
I put the Dunlop A2 on my 01 Maxima. Gave them the edge over RE950 because of cost and feedback on Tire Rack. They have a good ride, but not the quiet ride I was expecting. Incredible traction, almost a "tacky" feel to the traction. The only negative I can say is that they seem to have a slight howelling sound especially at low speeds, which I attribute to their aggressive tread. Still, better than the Toyo Proxies they replaced. My size was 215/55R16, very limited selection in that size with any manufacturer.
What is good replacement tire for 95-99 series Maxima SE? I have OEM Toyo Proxes A05 215x55x16 (all-season) and these have been decent with regard to low noise, good ride and responsiveness (turn-in). I would prefer summer tires as opposed to all-season.
I too like the Dunlop SP Sport A2's. The traction is superior to any tire I have owned. I did not find a problem with noise or howelling. I have a 2nd gen Dodge Intrepid ES, and the combo of fine handling and sticky tires works great.
go with the Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, those tires are an excellent match for that car. They're a great performance touring tire, they handle nicely, work well in rain, and give an excellent ride. I think in your size they run around $130 per tire. Don't let the price scare you though you won't be sorry.
The tires I got for my Forester S were the Nokian NRWs, not the Coopers, although folks around here swear by Coopers. I was out in that mess we had here this weekend; I did not slide even once and there were a lot of accidents. Those NRWs seem to be really good on that slushy, sleety mess we get when its raining/snowing/sleeting/hailing and the temperature is fluctuating within 5-10 degrees on both sides of freezing. I'd recommend them.
Glad to hear the good report on the Nokian NRWs--as I said on the Subaru Forester board a few minutes ago, I'm going to save those for my next car. Thanks for all of the information, everyone.
I have Michelin Energy MXV4's on my car and like them alot. More luxury than sport, but smooth, quiet, good traction in all weather conditions, and top quality. When balanced right they are silky smooth and rock solid to 125MPH.
Not a performance tire but will work well in almost any other condition. Highly recommended.
The Nokian NRW's dry grip is terrific, with good "road feel". I no longer get that "tippy" feeling on steep cloverleafs. Depending on the pavement, they can get quite noisy, however. There's a stretch of 35W North that they redid with that wavy concrete -- whooo, what a racket. If I have talk radio on, like MPR, I can't hear the program. Doesn't seem to bother me when I have music on, though. NRWs are nice in the rain, good grip, nice stopping distance. I was kinda disappointed in the performance on regular ice or black ice. One time I was turning into the underground ramp at the place I was working at the time, the abs started going, but I didn't stop. The car just gently kept going. Fortunately, I didn't hit anything. Folks in the area told me "what did you expect? Nothing works well on ice." The only one I've heard of that's excellent on Minnesota ice are Blizzaks.
I have had several variations of this tire on several different cars and while I agree that they are a smooth riding, quiet, touring tire with good wet and dry grip, be aware that their transient response ("turn-in") is NOT good. A comfortable but unresponsive tire.
not just about tires either ;-) Anyway, I posted last week about getting a nail and a screw in my left rear MXV4+ and I wanted to thank all who responded! I had Honda look at the tire yesterday because I was in for other service. They said there's a third screw in that tire (oops! forgot about that one from last year!), so I definitely think that tire needs replaced. My question now is regarding tire sizes. Here's my facts: '00 Honda Accord, 26K miles, front MXV4s are in great shape (rotated them off the back at 20K), back tires need replaced, and I won't use anything but Michelin (closed-minded !).
While I agree that the MXV4+ is a great tire for that glass-lake ride, I really don't want to use them again. I think they wear out too fast and the rain traction is not that impressive. I had them on my old '99 Accord and didn't get beyond 40K miles; the ones on my current Accord are wearing out just as fast. They skip around too much and hydro on the freeway. I recently put X-Ones on my Mazda MPV and I was very impressed with the way they handle in the rain, plus they have a high tread wear rating. We get ALOT of rain in S FL, so this is important. The problem is that Tire Kingdom (which is the only decent place here for tires unfortunately) doesn't stock 195/65TR15 in X-ones. I'd have to get them from Tire Rack, which I also don't want to do. T.K. does have 205/60TR15 in X-Ones and the guys there tell me that it won't be a problem running them on the back with the 195/65HR15 MXV4s on the front. So, I'm confused. Yukon posted that I should never do this. The guys at my office here say it'll look funny, yet T.K. says it's won't. ???
Another Michelin possibility is the Pilot XGT H4. They run the same price at T.K. as the MXV4. I don’t know anything about this tire, though, like how fast it wears, and wet and dry handling. Again, rain performance is high on my list of priorities. The Rainforce could be another choice, but it looks like the X-One has better wet performance ratings on Tire Rack, and as I said before, I know the X-Ones are great in the rain. So, what do you guys *really* think about the size issue, and if anyone has experiences with the Pilot, I’d greatly appreciate any feedback. Sorry for the long post .
Well, it sounds like you've sold yourself on X-One's. They're a nice tire so you might as well stick with them.
As for availability, I find it hard to believe that TK won't special order them for you. Have you asked them? What about other TK stores? Heck, what about any other Michelin dealer? I know you can order them at Sam's Club and Costco, and I think even WalMart can order them for you. It's an easy tire to get; don't take "no" for an answer.
As for differing sizes on a vehicle, I don't like it. If the mfr thought that alternate sizes are OK they'd say so in the owners manual. Your suspension, steering, and braking systems are designed to operate with a specific tire size. If you're gonna change sizes then change all the tires at once.
I also don't like different brands/models on a vehicle. I think that invites a level of problems. Differing tires allow for odd wear and handling characteristics. Each tire handles wet and dry conditions differently. They respond to steering and braking inputs differently. In normal driving you probably wouldn't notice anything...........until an emergency situation came up and you're dependent on consistent tire performance to avoid an accident. I just think that different tires on the same vehicle is inviting a problem that you don't need. My two cents................
Oh, and one little comment on Energy MXV4's. While I agree they don't last as long as other tires, realize that they weren't designed to last a long time. About 40K is as long as one can expect from that tire. Tread life isn't everything. I've been studying tires for that past couple years and the more I learn about them, the less I care about tread life. 30-40K is more than enough mileage for me. Even if the tire has tread left on it, IMO it's wasted and I'm gonna toss them. The heat cycling alone over the 30-40K is enough to kill a tire. Forget about tread life; it doesn't matter.
If you prefer the X-One to the MXV4, BUY 4 OF THEM!
Do not mix sizes or tire brand/model. Different tire designs and sizes can have very different characteristics, even from the same manufacturer, and the resulting handling characteristics on a particular car are difficult to predict.
BTW, I replaced MXV4 energy tires on my MPV with XGTH4 (both sets 215/65-15) and I consider them to be an improvement, primarily for the improved transient response.
I definitely stick to what I stated before, do not mix sizes or speed ratings. Your car just won't handle right when its needed.
Don't listen to the guys at tire kingdom, it sounds like they know nothing about what they're selling.
Buy four tires if your switching. And if you do switch size you're better off switching to the 205/65r15 than the 205/60r15. Your current size is approximately 24.8 inches tall. The 205/65 is 25.3 and the 205/60 is 24.6, so you would actually be switching to a smaller tire if you went with the 205/60.
I take it your Accord is a 4 cylinder because the 6 cylinders came with a 205/65VR15, so there should be no problem getting them to fit your car.
And the difference between the MXV4 Plus and Pilot XGTH4 is handling. The Pilot being geared more for performance and MXV4 more for touring, and neither will last past 40K.
Your best chances are to get some other tire shop to special order the tire you want for you if you can't find it in stock. Many places do not charge extra to do this, you just have to wait longer to get them.
"...And if you do switch size you're better off switching to the 205/65r15 than the 205/60r15. Your current size is approximately 24.8 inches tall. The 205/65 is 25.3 and the 205/60 is 24.6, so you would actually be switching to a smaller tire if you went with the 205/60."
Yeah, but there is less difference with the 205/60 (.2" versus .5").
In a conversation with Dunlop reps they told me that the category the SP Sport A2 competes in is very price sensitive and is filled with other excellent products made by most every tire company imaginable.
A few bucks one way or the other can have a measurable impact on sales.
Goodyear is trying to reposition Dunlop in the US as their consumer awareness and market share slipped dramatically over the past few years. Pricing plays a big part in their strategy.
I have a 2000 Honda Accord with Michelin MXV4+ and seem to be having a different experience with these tires than what the rest of you are saying. They have 30K and and have almost zero tread wear. However, I am not concerned about tread wear - I just consider that to be an additional benefit to some tires. They ride very smoothly and are pretty quiet (the road noise I get is more wind than tire - I think) but I think that the wet weather traction sucks. I definitely am considering the Dunlop SP Sport A2 as a replacement tire but don't want to replace the MXV4+ until they wear down to somewhere near 6/32 unless I am going to see a difference. My biggest concern is traction and second is a quiet smooth ride. Treadwear is a distant third. Any recommendations?
I also have a 2002 CRV-EX with the Dueler HT that I absolutely hate. These are scary in the rain and I was considering the Aquatread III or maybe the Yoko Avid T4 even though I only have 9K on the Duelers. Tirerack rated the Yoko Avid as a great value but it appears the Aquatread has much better traction. Should I consider another tire besides these two?
Real world experience and the flaming from the industry insiders and industry groupies on this and the Forester forums last winter, show that something is wrong with these tires. They wear to the treadwear mark at 25,000, even when new are not safe (can't say "dangerous" here according to the perennials on these forums) in any kind of winter conditions, and now a comment about the performance in rain. Whew ! Can real world users be right ? Switched to a real all season tire that has reasonable winter performance also: Michelin Symmetry. Not as good as our Nokian Hakka's, but then they won't wear as quickly as the Nokians on our northern winter roads. No changeover needed.
... more like schizophrenic in my case! Some days I can’t decide whether I hate these tires or love them. I agree with tntitan that they stink in the rain and their dry traction is mediocre, imo. Another problem for me is their cost vs. how much *usable* tread life you get in return. I realize that 40K miles is max for a tire like the MXV4, but my real life experience has been more like 25K-30K. After that, I felt unsafe in the rain. OTOH, they ride very smooth and quiet, more so than any other tires I've ever owned. I read some early posts on this board describing them as “eerily” quiet and I’d concur.
Right now, I’m trying to cook a deal where I take the 5K mile, 205/65TR-15 X-Ones off my Mazda MPV and put them on my Accord, then buy oem alloys (if I can find them at a reasonable price) for the MPV and put 215/65-16 X-Ones on it. Otherwise, I’ll get replacement MXV4s for the back of the Honda.
PS: A belated thanks to bretfraz, daysailer, yukon, and anonymous for your help!
Comments
The good points - They are absolutely great in dry, wet, and snow traction. Unbelievable how much better they are than the Michelin Radial X's they replaced (yeah, they were worn out, but even compared to how I remember them as new). They could pass for actual snow tires they are so good. The cornering and steering feel are good.
The bad points - They are noisy. They have quite a pronounced whine on asphalt or concrete. Not quite as bad as snow tires, but sometimes that's what they remind me of. Also, they follow grooves or cracks pretty noticably.
I really don't know if I would buy them again. I love them when it rains or snows, the rest of the time they kind of bug me. Hope this helps.
Dave
Thanks
I had these put on my Maxima and love them. They are the quietest tires I have ever heard (or not heard in this case). I have about 3k miles on them so far and will be rotating them for the first time soon.
Check out www.tirerack.com for more reviews.
I also read two reviews there by Forester owners and was interested in what they had to say about the Bridgestone Blizzack WS-50 and the Michelin Arctic Alpin. Will those two be okay year round, or are they winter only?
Any experience with any of these? Any other recommendations. The consensus on Tirerack seems to be (and I agree) that the Bridgestone Dueler H/T D684 need replacing too soon. Ours has less than 30,000 miles.
Thanks!
What do all the folks over in the Subaru forums say? They're a pretty vocal bunch.
Thanks
Tires go thru a process called "blooming" where waxes impregnated into the tires during construction come to the surface as the tire rolls and heats up. This is on purpose and its to protect the tire from dry rotting. Carbon black is added to tire to protect from UV rays and help dissipate heat.
As ozone and UV rays affect the tire the rubber gradually turns grey. Apparently what Michelin has done is improved their carbon black formula to help offset these issues and they don't want silicone oils to affect this.
I recommend rubber protectants that are water-based and include some kind of UV blocker. I like Vinylex, 303 Aerospace, and Eagle One Satin Finish aka Concours tire dressing. I haven't used Meguiar's but they have excellent customer service so I suggest calling them and asking about this.
I have used Mequiars Endurance (Satin Finish) tire dressing for the last eight years. I used Meguiars on Michelin MXV-4's that I owned for 40,000 miles. Those tires were driven in a four season climate and there was never any adverse reaction. I used Meguiars on Goodyear Eagle's for 60,000 with no problems. Now I own Dunlop SP Sports A2's, and I am using the Meguiars Satin Finish Endurance on them too.
#1. Is patching a tire acceptable, especially from a safety standpoint? I'd really hate to have a blow-out at >80mph due to a patch giving up the ghost. #2. Can I put a pair of larger size X-ones on the rear of my Accord? The oem's are 195R15. Tire Kingdom here in FL says they (meaning Michelin) do not make this size, however when I check Tire Rack, they have them. I wanted to go with a little wider tire when the time came to replace, which may be now at least for the back pair. Thanks ....
SC
If you are getting these from one specific developer/contractor give them a call. They may offer to partially compensate you or at least appreciate knowing that they need to clean up their act. If you are having this problem in a residential subdivision where you're dealing with homebuilders that seem to multiply exponentially, you may not be able to do anything. Sorry.
By the way, my company has perfectly clean job sites and NEVER spills nails or screws.
Grand High Poobah
The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
A qualified maybe! While most folks know this, don't ever let someone or yourself do a ream or a plug on your radial tire! The best procedure is a vulcanizing patch!
I have had it done on Goodyear Eagle Super Car F1 295/35/18 and it can go far in excess of 80 mph.
In regards to your second question you should keep in mind that you should never mix sizes on cars that weren't designed that way. You also need to remember that your honda accord came with 'H' rated tires, if you have a 4 cylinder and 'v'if a 6, and the X-ones you are looking at are going to be 'T' rated. It is also not recommended to mix speed ratings.
If your going to change the speed rating and size, thats fine, but do to all of the tires at the same time.
You should also be able to switch to a 205/60 or205/65r15 with no problem for your car if your original size was 195/65r15. If it was only a 195/60r15 I wouldn't go any larger than a 205/60r15. And yes, michelin makes the x-one in all of these sizes.
Got a nail in my tire last fall, and Firestone dealer fixed it under the insurance. Otherwise the repair costs about $25(not sure). However, the insurance also cover replacement if it is impossible to repair the tire: hole in sidewall, etc.
Grand High Poobah
The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
When I am in my suv, I have 10.5 in of ground clearance, I can clear dead bodies with it
With the performance car, hence tires,
Gee, thanks, ruking! I was enjoying my lunch! ;-)
tidester
Host
SUVs
As Jim Carey, the comedian might ask you!
Would you like to try our new product:
Roadkill helper?
P.S. I have discovered Sears will match any price you find anywhere including online--one way to get the lifetime rotation and balancing, etc.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Did you see the posts from Noelle? She was shopping for Forester tires back in Nov '01. IIRC, she bought Cooper Lifeliner SLE Tourings. Maybe not the most stylish brand but Cooper tends to get high marks for snow traction in Consumer Reports. Certainly worth a look-see.
Also consider Nokian if snow traction is a really big priority. One model they offer, the NRW, is an all-season tire that provides excellent snow traction. I think Nokian makes the best snow tires in the world but they are virtually unknown in the US.
Have fun shopping.
I think the X-Plus/X-ones become marginal with more than 6 inches of snow on unplowed roads. What I mean by marginal is that you will find that the car will not be able to make steady forward progress on grades (the slipping and sliding will start)and gets worse as the grade increases or the snow gets deeper.
6 inches of unplowed snow is about my cutoff for the front drivers with the X-ones as I found I can get stuck on grades. Sometimes with less than 6 inches depending on how greasy the white stuff is. Of course your 4WD Sub will definitely push the limit up for you. And of course if you live where there are no hills the snow driving is easier too.
So I agree with Steve_Host that if deep snow is the priority then you should consider other tires. I previously suggested not a dedicated snow but one with a more agressive tread as an all year compromise leaning toward deep snow capability and considering you have a 4WD.
But the choice is yours.
Currently have 195/60R14 snow tires on there.
Have 195/55R14 tires mounted on Borbet rims from my old Civic. These tires have a little life left in them. What do you think? I think it is time to take off the snows finally.
1996 VW Jetta GL 4 cylinder.
(P.S. Both tires look great, round and black like tires should! ;-)
See:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
These tires originally replaced stock 175/70R13 on the Civic. (Civic si rated for 185/60R14).
These are not the queerly fashionable 15, 16, or 17 inch wheels, but rather an improvement in footprint without losing too much in sidewall height.
Those calculators are not gospel as they assume all tires of the same size are dimensionally identical. They're not.
The real question is how much tread is left? 2/32" is legally worn out. 4/32" and they can be considered wasted but legal. And while we are all acutely aware of your disdain for tire appearances, you might want to look at your tires for signs of dry rot, flat spots, bulges, or uneven wear from their previous use. You don't have to post a description of their appearance; we'll pass on the public ridicule, thank you. We just don't want you to put a dangerous tire on your car.
Thank you.
PS: I never owned the Potenza's.
Noelle
How have the Nokians been on dry pavement? I'm sure they grip better than any all-season on snow/ice but I was curious about dry/wet grip.
Ken
Not a performance tire but will work well in almost any other condition. Highly recommended.
The Nokian NRW's dry grip is terrific, with good "road feel". I no longer get that "tippy" feeling on steep cloverleafs. Depending on the pavement, they can get quite noisy, however. There's a stretch of 35W North that they redid with that wavy concrete -- whooo, what a racket. If I have talk radio on, like MPR, I can't hear the program. Doesn't seem to bother me when I have music on, though. NRWs are nice in the rain, good grip, nice stopping distance. I was kinda disappointed in the performance on regular ice or black ice. One time I was turning into the underground ramp at the place I was working at the time, the abs started going, but I didn't stop. The car just gently kept going. Fortunately, I didn't hit anything. Folks in the area told me "what did you expect? Nothing works well on ice." The only one I've heard of that's excellent on Minnesota ice are Blizzaks.
Noelle
While I agree that the MXV4+ is a great tire for that glass-lake ride, I really don't want to use them again. I think they wear out too fast and the rain traction is not that impressive. I had them on my old '99 Accord and didn't get beyond 40K miles; the ones on my current Accord are wearing out just as fast. They skip around too much and hydro on the freeway. I recently put X-Ones on my Mazda MPV and I was very impressed with the way they handle in the rain, plus they have a high tread wear rating. We get ALOT of rain in S FL, so this is important. The problem is that Tire Kingdom (which is the only decent place here for tires unfortunately) doesn't stock 195/65TR15 in X-ones. I'd have to get them from Tire Rack, which I also don't want to do. T.K. does have 205/60TR15 in X-Ones and the guys there tell me that it won't be a problem running them on the back with the 195/65HR15 MXV4s on the front. So, I'm confused. Yukon posted that I should never do this. The guys at my office here say it'll look funny, yet T.K. says it's won't. ???
Another Michelin possibility is the Pilot XGT H4. They run the same price at T.K. as the MXV4. I don’t know anything about this tire, though, like how fast it wears, and wet and dry handling. Again, rain performance is high on my list of priorities. The Rainforce could be another choice, but it looks like the X-One has better wet performance ratings on Tire Rack, and as I said before, I know the X-Ones are great in the rain. So, what do you guys *really* think about the size issue, and if anyone has experiences with the Pilot, I’d greatly appreciate any feedback. Sorry for the long post .
SC
As for availability, I find it hard to believe that TK won't special order them for you. Have you asked them? What about other TK stores? Heck, what about any other Michelin dealer? I know you can order them at Sam's Club and Costco, and I think even WalMart can order them for you. It's an easy tire to get; don't take "no" for an answer.
As for differing sizes on a vehicle, I don't like it. If the mfr thought that alternate sizes are OK they'd say so in the owners manual. Your suspension, steering, and braking systems are designed to operate with a specific tire size. If you're gonna change sizes then change all the tires at once.
I also don't like different brands/models on a vehicle. I think that invites a level of problems. Differing tires allow for odd wear and handling characteristics. Each tire handles wet and dry conditions differently. They respond to steering and braking inputs differently. In normal driving you probably wouldn't notice anything...........until an emergency situation came up and you're dependent on consistent tire performance to avoid an accident. I just think that different tires on the same vehicle is inviting a problem that you don't need. My two cents................
Oh, and one little comment on Energy MXV4's. While I agree they don't last as long as other tires, realize that they weren't designed to last a long time. About 40K is as long as one can expect from that tire. Tread life isn't everything. I've been studying tires for that past couple years and the more I learn about them, the less I care about tread life. 30-40K is more than enough mileage for me. Even if the tire has tread left on it, IMO it's wasted and I'm gonna toss them. The heat cycling alone over the 30-40K is enough to kill a tire. Forget about tread life; it doesn't matter.
Do not mix sizes or tire brand/model. Different tire designs and sizes can have very different characteristics, even from the same manufacturer, and the resulting handling characteristics on a particular car are difficult to predict.
BTW, I replaced MXV4 energy tires on my MPV with XGTH4 (both sets 215/65-15) and I consider them to be an improvement, primarily for the improved transient response.
Don't listen to the guys at tire kingdom, it sounds like they know nothing about what they're selling.
Buy four tires if your switching. And if you do switch size you're better off switching to the 205/65r15 than the 205/60r15. Your current size is approximately 24.8 inches tall. The 205/65 is 25.3 and the 205/60 is 24.6, so you would actually be switching to a smaller tire if you went with the 205/60.
I take it your Accord is a 4 cylinder because the 6 cylinders came with a 205/65VR15, so there should be no problem getting them to fit your car.
And the difference between the MXV4 Plus and Pilot XGTH4 is handling. The Pilot being geared more for performance and MXV4 more for touring, and neither will last past 40K.
Your best chances are to get some other tire shop to special order the tire you want for you if you can't find it in stock. Many places do not charge extra to do this, you just have to wait longer to get them.
good luck
Yeah, but there is less difference with the 205/60 (.2" versus .5").
Of course, the taller tire will ride nicer.
A few bucks one way or the other can have a measurable impact on sales.
Goodyear is trying to reposition Dunlop in the US as their consumer awareness and market share slipped dramatically over the past few years. Pricing plays a big part in their strategy.
I also have a 2002 CRV-EX with the Dueler HT that I absolutely hate. These are scary in the rain and I was considering the Aquatread III or maybe the Yoko Avid T4 even though I only have 9K on the Duelers. Tirerack rated the Yoko Avid as a great value but it appears the Aquatread has much better traction. Should I consider another tire besides these two?
Appreciate input from any of you!
Switched to a real all season tire that has reasonable winter performance also: Michelin Symmetry. Not as good as our Nokian Hakka's, but then they won't wear as quickly as the Nokians on our northern winter roads. No changeover needed.
Right now, I’m trying to cook a deal where I take the 5K mile, 205/65TR-15 X-Ones off my Mazda MPV and put them on my Accord, then buy oem alloys (if I can find them at a reasonable price) for the MPV and put 215/65-16 X-Ones on it. Otherwise, I’ll get replacement MXV4s for the back of the Honda.
PS: A belated thanks to bretfraz, daysailer, yukon, and anonymous for your help!
SC