Tires, tires, tires

ruking1 · February 2006

YES!! Or ask them to locate "those types"?

Yes since the Toyo Proxes T1's were my first Toyo products, I felt better about "taking a chance" with the 45 day and 3k guarantee. But I had done a lot of research and had a good idea of the probabilities and differences from the oem tires GY Eagle F1 Supercars.

So I made a jump to the Toyo TPT's for another model. I have yet to mount them so can give no actual report.

stickguy · February 2006

yup, the tire shop by my office that I used when I had the older cars had a rack up front where they kept the take-offs. I think they indicated mileage (not sure though) but they were clearly marked with the discounted price. made it real easy to compare vs. new.

Only real downside was they only had what they had, so it was a crapshoot to find something you liked in the right size.

I did this once. Got convinced to try something different on my Maxima (generals maybe?) that were cheaper. hated the things immediately, and ended up taking them back a week later and swapping for the Dunlops that I had planned to get in the first place.

iwantws6 · February 2006

I just bought a '96 Sebring JX. It has stock 205/65 15 tires. I want to upgrade to a wider/ lower profile size but keep the 15" wheel. I am considering 225/60 15 tires. Does anyone know if they'll fit w/o rubbing? They should because the V6 coems with 215 tires stock.
Any opinions? I want to upgrade for better handling. I live in New England and dont like using snow tires in case you have any recommendations.

Joe

wlbrown9 · February 2006

I don't have any owners manual in the office with me, but if I recall correctly, the maximum recommend distance to drive on the 'donuts' is about 50 miles. And I think the max speed recommendation is 45-50 MPH. They are to be used to get to a repair place, not continue your trip...good enough reason to invest in a full size spare.

Speaking of that, I have one on my Trooper, but it has a standard steel wheel that does not match the 4 on the ground all the time. So, to include this one in the rotation would require purchasing a 5th matching wheel or having 2 dismounted and remounted...not worth the effort. Only drawback is that now I have a 5 year old spare, never used, that is a different brand (same size though) that the other 4 on the ground.

ruking1 · February 2006

I would also agree. If one looks up the cost of their oem replacement donut, almost in every case, it is more than a like FULL replacement tire. So I guess if one keeps a car a max of say 5/6 years (7.5 to 8 years being the average age of the AVG passenger vehicle fleet, then not much to consider, as you have a "reset" when you buy another car.

However if one tends to keep the car for longer periods or in fact puts more miles in shorter/longer times, etc, then putting a spare in the rotation makes all the sense. Or buy a full sized spare, traveling with the donut in the truck for emergencies. The concept would be if 4 tires gave you say 100% or say 100,000 miles, how many more miles (over 100,000) would you get? Math would indicate a min of app 20% more (all things being equal, but of course they never are)

wlbrown9 · February 2006

Yep. I'm glad I did not rotate in my 5th tire on the Trooper. I had some vibration issues with the tires (dealer not much help) from the time it was new until I put the Michelin Select LTs on it at about 42,000. I still had tread on the Bridgestones that came on it, but was sick of them. Now, 53,000 miles later, the Michelins are still riding smoother than the Bridgestones ever did. So, unless you are satisfied with the OEM tires, don't go to the expense. I would recommend getting rid of the donut and getting a real tire and rim if you can. I did that in a '84 Grand Prix years ago. Bought a white spoke truck rim of the correct size for about $15 and bought another tire to mount (or maybe I used the best one when I changed out a set, been too long to remember all the details :-) ) The Grand Prix had an indention in the trunk that would accomodate the full size spare, some vehicles don't.

Bill

ruking1 · February 2006

Gee you almost have to be a "handicapper" to do the best thing here, given ones' situations

In contrast, I have a 1994 Toyota Landcruiser 135,000 miles, oem with Michelin LTX's. the LTX model has absolutely been a trooper and I normally used to get 75,000 to 90,000 from a set. (But this is a digression in that my daughter drives it mostly and gets 50,000 miles.)

So what I did was to run all five oem tires till they gave up the ghost. So when that set needed to be replaced, I kept one of the best ones and just bought 4 tires. So in her 5 year tenure we needed new tires and again the (the now 10 year old ) spare developed leaks and so again I selected the "best of the worn and now use it as a spare, letting me buy only 4 tires.

Now on a VW TDI, I am at 70k with the oem tires 5 tire rotation. Projected wear from the oem tires is 125-135k and will replace with another 5 tire set.

stever · February 2006

Anyone with suggestions for this member and mismatched tires, please visit this post and help out. Thanks!

msexpxlt, "Ford Explorer: Problems & Solutions" #4829, 4 Feb 2006 6:22 pm

Steve, Host

motoringmama · February 2006

I've got a Dodge Grand Caravan 2001 with Michelin MX4s on it. Well, these tires really stink in the snow and I want to replace them with something that will get me good traction in snow as well as rain.I have done a little research, and I'm leaning towards Michelin HydroEdge.I need 215/60/17 which seems like they need to be special ordered most of the time.Does anyone have any feedback as to the best tires for a minivan that is driven in midwest winters? Thanks

ruking1 · February 2006

Dedicated winter tires are the best. But the GY Triple Treads are very well rated for an A/S tire in the snow ice and rain and are wonderful in the dry.

micweb · February 2006

The two top rated (by Consumer Reports in a report from a couple months ago) all season tires, in the snow and ice category of all-seaon performance, are the Michelin X, available ONLY at Costco and Sams Club, and the Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread, widely available. Similar prices.

A friend has the Michelin X on a Buick Regal and this combination works fine at Lake Tahoe in the snow. This is the regular Michelin X, not the X Ice which is an altogether different tire for winter use only. The warehouse store Michelin X is a great summer and rain tire, as well as being decent for winter use if you don't want to hassle with dedicated snow tires.

The Hydroedge was way down on the CR report list, and didn't do well in snow or ice.

Of course dedicated snow tires are the best, if you have storage space for your regular wheel/tire set. Tirerack.com has very economical steel wheel/snow tire sets available, just try "building" a set for yourself online to see what they cost.

snarks · February 2006

I would highly recommend the Nokian WR tires. These are the only all-seasons available that are also winter tire rated (eg snow tires). They are better than any all-season in winter conditions, superior in wet and pretty quiet. You have to hunt a little to find them but you will be happy. I am on my fourth set over two cars.

micweb · February 2006

My advice was based on being in an "occasional snow" condition, like driving to the mountains, or being in an area where snow is infrequent and quickly cleared from the roads.

If you are in the midwest, snow tires are the best thing going for the winter. Your "all season" tires might as well have a good snow and ice rating (as do the Michelin X's I mentioned) but you are still going to do a lot better on dedicated snow tires.

In addition to the Nokians recommended by the previous poster, Bridgestone Blizzaks are highly regarded by people who write user reviews at tirerack.com .

In terms of actual difference, in my current issue of Road and Track, they have a sidebar on snow tires in an article on AWD vehicles. They sidebar indicates snow tires improve traction by about 28%, much more than the negligible increase in traction from AWD (AWD will assure you don't just spin a wheel if one of them is in mud or slush, and increases handling "balance").

I also recollect an article from Consumer Reports - it concluded that snow tires on any vehicle (including RWD) was better than "all season" tires on AWD. Snow tires on FWD (like on your minivan) are pretty darn good.

Keep in mind that snow tires are noisy on highways and wear a lot faster than regular tires, so you will have to balance those factors against the amount of time you spend on the snow.

pathstar1 · February 2006

Except the Nokians seem to last. Perhaps living in a country where they experience "real" winter helped them learn how to make "proper" snow capable tires that last on dry warm roads? Mine are now 1 1/2 years old (around 15,000 km) and not showing signs of premature wear or hardness. I have them on my 2001 Pathfinder, a similar use to a minivan (similar weight and size). Note when sized for these larger vehicles they are labled Nokian WR SUV, whereas for smaller cars they are just called Nokian WR.

Best tires I've ever bought (in -um- 40 years of driving - boy I'm getting old).

They are quiet too.

wai · February 2006

Will this Nokian WR tires has the same traction as the all season passenger touring tire (e.g. Michelen Energy MX)on warm weather driving?

pathstar1 · February 2006

They are called "all season performance tires" by Nokian. I haven't noticed a loss in dry road traction compared to the tires the Pathfinder came with - they were Dunlop "Grandtrek" with passenger car type tread. They were rather useless in snow and on ice, and not very good on wet roads (I used automatic 4WD when it rained to stop them from spinning when I took off). The Nokian tires don't let me spin the tires on wet roads - I can just use 2WD (there is a fuel saving with 2WD so that's why it's tempting).

The Nokian WR tires have a lot of siping and that causes a "hissing" noise when you corner hard on dry pavement at highway speeds - not loud but a sound I never heard from the original tires (I tend to drive "fast" on winding mountain roads - because it's fun - and yes, an SUV can go fast in those conditions when driven properly). No noticably excessive noise when travelling straight.

smokey75 · February 2006

Time for new tires again on my 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. I'm looking at the Goodyear Fortera SilentArmor or Tripletred. Anyone have any experience with these or thoughts?

micweb · February 2006

Don't know anything about the SilentArmor - it is a new technology/marketing approach by Goodyear - but the TripleTreads are one of the top rated all-season tires on the ConsumerReports.org website.

jipster · February 2006

...The Yokohama Avid T4!! Well, after more than 4 months of research and twiddling my thumbs, I finally pulled the trigger today and bought the T4's for my Buick Regal LS. The on the rim and out the door price at TirePlus for 4 tires was $309(were on sale...$60 less than their regular price),which includes lifetime rotation. The T4 is a touring tire, which I wanted, but with much better performance characteristics than the standard touring tire...which is a plus. I'm sacrificing about 20,000 miles in treadwear with choosing the T4 over the Yokohama Avid Touring, but I only put 6 or 7k miles on my vehilce a year.

Anything would be better than the Firestone FR680 and FR440 which were on the front, and the Goodyear Integrity's on the rear. But,the T4's were significantly more comfortable and quieter. The ride was very good and controled.It was raining on my way home from tire store, and they handled quite well. Very pleased with them in a little over 12 miles of driving thus far. Will report back every 12 miles for the next 10,000.

snarks · February 2006

Yes roughly the same in warm weather. However the wet traction will be superior.

Google Nokian WR for a review of them.

lunarmist · February 2006

I have a 2005 Camry LE with 15" tires. I was able to find 16" 8 spoke alloy wheels from a 2002 Camry. Any suggestions on touring tires with long tread life? I wanted to get the Michelin X radial, but BJs wont sell it to me since they are "S" rated. Which size will provide a smooth, comfortable ride; P205/60R16 or P215/60R16, both "H" rated ?

capriracer · February 2006

First, you should use a P215/60R16. The other tire has a lower load carrying capacity. Overloaded tire failures can have tragic results.

Second, it appears you went the wrong direction. Going larger in rim diameter (and therefore lower in aspect ratio) is the direction towards worse ride and less tread life. However, you made a small step so the consequences shouldn't be very noticeable - certainly a good tire selection can compensate.

mrbizness1 · February 2006

I put the Yoko's on my Chrysler minivan 6 months ago and found them excellent in wet weather, good in snow, very quiet riding, improved the handling and I was very impressed with how smooth riding they were. Cost me $320 out the door for the 16' size. They were also rated near the top on Consumer's list.

micweb · February 2006

Thanks for that post. I have been thinking about the TRZ's for my own minivan. They have one additional advantage - they are much lighter than either of the two toprated Consumer Report tires (the GY Triple Tread and Michelin X).

mrbizness1 · February 2006

"Thanks for that post. I have been thinking about the TRZ's for my own minivan. They have one additional advantage - they are much lighter than either of the two toprated Consumer Report tires (the GY Triple Tread and Michelin X)."

Curious, how do find out how much a tire weighs?

micweb · February 2006

go to www.tirerack.com , then find your tire and look up the specs for that size.

focus · March 2006

Thinking of replacing my stock tires with 235-55-16, this is slightly wider and lower than the stock size of 225-60-16; do you think i'll notice any improvment at all?

capriracer · March 2006

"....do you think i'll notice any improvment at all?"

There is so much potential differences from tire to tire that you don't even need to change sizes to notice improvements. These differences are greater than what can occur with just a change in size.

However, any improvement is going to be countered with a degradation in some area. For example, if you shopped for a fuel economy improvement, then you should expect that the wear rating to be lower.

mitsurob · March 2006

I'm thinking about replacing my stock BFGoodrich KDWS tires on my 2005 GTO (245-45-17).
My goal is to get a tire that will provide better all season capability, a guieter ride, and most importantly, a better (more softer) ride over irregular pavement.
Any ideas?

cc72 · March 2006

I'm returning my lease vehicle in 2 months. The other day, my tire blew out, so I need 1 new tire -- 225/55-16. I'd rather not spend upwards of the $150 I've been quoted. Any suggestions?

wai · March 2006

I just put on Dunlop SP9000 in replacement of my stock Goodyear RSA 225/45/17. My Jetta GLI has very stiff sport suspension. I feel very comforable and soft now compared to the stock tire which only has 13,300 miles. It performs pretty good on highway speed especially during heavy rain, but it only has light traction in light snow.

ruking1 · March 2006

I am getting the feeling you can run "Corvette" sizes. There are a LOT of good tires that have come to the fore for that (size) type. I chose the Toyo Proxes T1S's in sizes 295-35 18, 265-40-17 out of 5 top contenders. There is also a newer version in the Toyo T1R's. Either is a good all around tire especially in the wet. They do of course give up a little bit of dry performance. I have been running them for app 16,000 miles. They have been great for higher speed cornering and touring.

http://toyo.com/tires/tire_specsheet.cfm?id=20

mz6greyghost · March 2006

If you're looking for a better all-season performer, I'd avoid the Toyo T1R's, as I believe they're summer tires, and shouldn't be used in below-freezing temperatures and snowy conditions.

Check out Tirerack.com. They've got a bunch of choices for the GTO. The Avon Tech M550 A/S is a solid choice, getting great ratings from customers, and good test scores. From personal experience, the Pirelli PZero Nero M&S is a great choice. They're not winter tires, but they're pretty good in the snow, and outstanding in both dry and wet traction.

ruking1 · March 2006

Well this is really the oxymoron for the "size" but really the "design". Almost "all" of the tires in this design and size are "as a min ultra high performance tires, summer". Only about two are really "excellent" in deep snow and ice. So if one operates in deep snow and ice a lot, the best are dedicated "winter tires." I put Continental ContiExtremeContact on my sister's MB320 (the other one this is excellent in ice and snow besides the scarce (almost non available, locally) Avon 550 A/S) and I see there is a size to fit your GTO. However since there are SOOOO many good to EXCELLENT tires in your size universe, I think it sometimes gets down to the array of quantitative and sometimes subjective areas that are of importance to you. Mine happened to be more wet performance. As you can probably guess the Corvette (sized tires) is really NOT designed to be run in deep snow and ice.

mitsurob · March 2006

Thanks for the comments on GTO replacement tires. I did call Tire Rack and they recommended Continental Pro-Contact. I explained my main goal is a better (softer) and quieter ride, then second goal is good wet/light snow traction. Driving in snow isn't as much a concern since I have a 4WD pickup, but I do want to achieve a smoother ride over poor roads if possible. A local tire dealer said, due to the size of the tire, I won't see any significant benefits with regard to a smoother ride comparing one brand/type over another. But I'm hearing conflicting info on this. So before spending any $ trying to sort all this out.! All suggestions appreciated.
There are some choices considered at this point:
Falken: ZE-512
Yokohama AVID H4S
Continental Touring or Extreme or PROContact
Pirelli P6 four seasons or P-zero Nero M+S.

ruking1 · March 2006

I am not normally a fan of Continental tires, but given the Continental ContiExtremeContact experiences on my sister's MB320, I would say they nailed the product for the "oxymoronic" factors. Evidently according to the ratings on Tirerack, a lot of other folks think so also. I have ridden in a Avon M550 A/S shodded and indeed liked them a whole lot. So with your parameters, I would tend toward Continental ContiExtremeContact, Avon Tech 550 A/S, and the Pirelli PZero Nero M/S. These are the 1,2,3, in terms of your stated parameters.

micweb · March 2006

See if you can get the tire from www.tirerack.com for a lot less, then have Walmart install and balance it for about $10. They cheerfully accept installation of customer walk-in tires.

dsheldon · March 2006

I have a 98 Subaru Outback with Hakk Q's on all four wheels. One tire had a sidewall puncture this week so no fix possible. There are 13/32 tread on a new tire and mine have 8/32 left. I tried replacing just one tire and can feel that the car is fighting itself. Can I replace one more tire or do I have to replace all four? If only one more should they go on the front or the rear?

mrbizness1 · March 2006

You could try a late model car junkie.

kyfdx · March 2006

You can have the new tire shaved to match the other three..

Probably the cheapest solution in the long run..

micweb · March 2006

Check your owners manual and with a dealer. One Subaru owner at work told me all his tires must be the same diameter (tread wear) or very close or the AWD system gets messed up - including damaged, which is expensive.

sandman46 · March 2006

Can I go from a 205/55/16 tire to a 195/60/16 tire on this car? I prefer a taller sidewall for the smoother and more controlled ride. Woukld this be considered a +0 change also? I wonder if there would be any rubbing issues with the strts and body with a taller sidewall.
TIA for any help with this matter.

The Sandman :confuse:

krzyss · March 2006

The change would be from 112.75mm of sidewall (205/55) to 117mm (195/60). 5mm make 1/5 of an inch. I am not sure that the size change would be significant enough for you to feel. Changing tire type (all season high performance - my guess - to touring, for example) should give you bigger change. Usually one trades comfort for performance.

Krzys

PS If 15 inch wheels fit on your car then it should give you much more room for sidewall (1/2 inch).

seaside09 · March 2006

Hi - I have a 2002 Ford Escape Sport with the original tires - Goodyear Wrangler All-terrain p235/70R16. I've got 88k miles on them and it's time to get a new set before I sell the car to my sister. She lives on Cape Cod where it snows only a few times a year and she won't be using the car off-road. (although her sons might want to hit the beach) She will probably put at 10k miles per year on the car. It's important that she has a safe, smooth ride and better fuel economy with the new tires than what I'm getting today. Some of the articles I've read suggested that with Fords, you should stick to the same model as originally sold. Others say you can switch from all-terrain to all-season tires to improve the ride and fuel efficiency.

Can anyone make a recommendation on what I should buy? Consumer reports lists very different tires for all-terrain vs. all-season. Thanks.

capriracer · March 2006

"...Others say you can switch from all-terrain to all-season tires to improve the ride and fuel efficiency...."

And since that is what you are trying to accomplish, that's the way to go!!!

"....Consumer reports lists very different tires for all-terrain vs. all-season....."

I'm hoping this means different BRANDS...and I'm also hoping you didn't expect them to come out in the same order.

The decision you have to make is....How bad can the winter traction get before a particular all season tire is not a consideration? And that's a question that can only be answered by someone who lives in your area and knows the weather.

My advice would be to consult with a local tire shop. They will know what works and what doesn't.

ab3 · March 2006

I am returning a 530i BMW from a 36 month lease. During the pre-inspection, I was told that I would have to replace the rear tires since they are worn. He claims that I have to replace them with the identical Pirelli P6 tires.

Now that I am shopping around for them, EVERY single tire place I call has told me that I should not have to replace them with the same brand, they do lease returns on cars from BMW to Mercedes and in their experience, as long as they are the same rating and size etc., BMW can't say anything or charge me.

Does anyone have any advice? Can I settle for putting a cheaper tire as long as they are the right size and rating?

Thanks.

kyfdx · March 2006

You can use other brands... but, the tires all have to match.. Same manufacturer, same model, etc.

So, unless you can get a set of four Continental, Michelin, Bridgestone, etc.. for less than just the two rear tires, I'm afraid you are stuck...

Only having to purchase two tires in the span of a 36 month lease is pretty good..

regards,
kyfdx

gneely1 · March 2006

Can anyone tell me the best and most affordable way to replace all 4 of the tires on my mazda mpv? this car seems to have an unusual size and speed rating which makes tires difficult to find and pay for!

i am looking at the michelin hydroedge 215/60-17 - same size as our factory installed but different speed rating. the van came with H rated tires and these are T rated tires.

is it ok to downgrade speed ratings? are there other options for me?

advice would be appreciated!

gneely1

seaside09 · March 2006

Thanks for the advice. I spoke to a number of local tire shops and ended up going with Toyo Open Country AT's. The ride is so much better now. We haven't had snow since I got the new tires but traction in rain and messy sand/salt covered roads is great.

techman41973 · March 2006

I bought a set of Goodyear Comfortred tires for my 97 Accord at 135K miles, based on good reviews and advice from a local tire shop. They never felt right. The ride can be squishy and harsh at the same time with the ride extremely sensitive to air pressure. In a weird way, I feel every inconsistancy in the road at low speeds. As the tires aged (now 30K on them), the performance is substantially worse. Even though there is life left to the tires, I am considering replacing them. I really would like to try the Tripletreds since they are Consumer Reports top pick, but I am afraid they will perform much like the Comfortreds.
To anyone who has either of these tires on their 94-97 Accord please share your opinions. Thanks

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