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You need to step up to high performance summer tires like Dunlop SP 9000, Goodyear Eagle F1 GS D3 or high performance all season like Dunlop SP5000, Michelin Pilot A/S, Bridgestone Potenza RE960 A/S to get better wet grip.
What were YOU doing to claim that they are unsafe in rain?
Maybe you need to change driving to match conditions?
Krzys
PS RE960A/S is available in your size 195/60R15 for 77.00 from tirerack.com
conservative. The tires just do not feel safe and securely
planted to the road on wet surfaces.
Please go to Tire Rack and you can see this MXV4 plus rated
every close to the bottom of their catagory. I am certainly
not the only gentleman who feels this way!
I would think the Bridgestone Potenza G009 who be much
better wet traction, while still providing a quiet, smooth
ride! Or the Kumho Solus KH16!
My '03 Camry XLE with only 38,000 km. has the original Michelin MXV4's with lots of tread left. The tires were lousy in ANY kind of snow from day one, and have been scary in the rain in the past few months. Sliding half way into an intersection at a light last week (with the ABS working like hell), made my mind up to change.
I have been very pleased with the Bridgestone Turanza LS-H tires on our '05 Subaru Outback, but the Bridgestone dealer suggested the Potenza G009...equally good for less money. The Tirerack website confirmed it was the way to go for me. The G009's are ordered and will be installed on the Camry next week.
Doug
I replaced my MXV4 at 30000 miles with Bridgestone Potenza RE950. It was winter and I had problems getting up steep driveway (when it was covered with snow).
Krzys
If you have another look at my posting, you will see my concern about driving with the Michelin MXV4's in the rain.
When I slid into the intersection last week, the temperature was about 90F....rain...not snow.
The bottom line is that these tires are poor in any kind of "wet". Tirerack surveys say it best.
Doug
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=st&width=185/- - &ratio=65&diameter=14&tiresearch=true
Then click on "standard touring all season"
I think I'll be going with the Kuhmo 795. It's ranked 4th overall, and at $37, it's the second least expensive tire of the group. I have a set of these on my daughter's car (which used to be mine) and I loved them. Most people who have posted reviews for this tire on the tire rack rant and rave about how good they are. I don't think they can be beat for the price.
My decision was based on Tirerack reviews and surveys. The Michelin's were very poor in rain or snow.
So far I love the Bridgestone's....have only had them for a few days, but have driven in heavy rain....very confident with them!
Doug
Problem with most customer surveys is that they compare their old tires with new ones. Almost all the time new tires are better.
Krzys
So far I love the Bridgestone's....have only had them for a few days, but have driven in heavy rain....very confident with them!
Think how much better the Michelins would have been compared to the old Michelins. People always feel much better with our new tires and think that brand is better than the old brand, but reality is that new tires always are better than a partly worn set. The shorted ridge for the tread and the aging of the rubber with hardening makes a drastic difference in quiet and feel.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
So, I got the spiel from the townfair guys about TOYO instead of Bridgestone Potenza G009(Quoted $99 and was willing to pricematch to tirerack!)...I found tirerack doesnt sell them and the TOYO spectrum(promised 65k miles) was being quoted $89 and they were willing to sell it for $78.
Any thoughts about TOYO and durability?
There is a special going for Coopers, $46...I am tempted due to the low price...if it is halfway good...I will bite the bullet.
My point is and remains....the Michelin's were poor in snow and less than satisfactory in the rain from DAY ONE. They became just plain dangerous lately although there was lots of tread left.
The Bridgestone Potenza G0009's are rated as being far superior compared to the Michelin MXV4's. End of story.
The Sandman
Im about to change the OEM Michelin MXV4 plus tire on my
2005 Hyundai Elantra GLS with 19000 miles. These tire are
mediocore at best.
Between these two tires, which one will prove to be the
most smoothest and comfortable...Kumho Solus KH16 or the
Cooper Lifeliner SLE?
Thank you!
The Coopers have a higher treadwear rating so they'll last longer. Don't know about the ride. The Kumhos' ride is rated at 8.8 in the tirerack customer reviews, but they don't carry Cooper so you can't compare.
Wrong generalization. Performance tires not necessary handle better in rain, and they usually do not handle well in snow. The big tread blocks typical for performance tires, generally, are more slippery in snow and on ice than smaller blocks with many grooves. Winter tires have a lot of sipes in addition to grooves.
For example, Bridgestone Potenza 950 performance tires, while specially designed for rain and great on wet surfaces, are bad in snow.
G009 is a good exception in this respect.
I have also heard good things about Avon. I don't think that he is completely set on the brand, just need something with a V rating and the right size and good overall quality.
I promised him I would find something comparable below $600.
The turanza and response edge are grand touring tires. Is that what he would want to stay with?
The V-rated Turanza is listed twice at Tirerack. Once for $186 and then for $123. Seems odd. In your size, the treadwear is only 260 so you'll be lucky to get 30k miles out of them. The Goodyear should last significantly longer as its treadwear rating is 440.
I wonder why the grand touring tires cost more than the high performance tires.
I avoid the Tire stores like the plague now because they all seem to have adopted the Jiffy Lube model. They don't just do tires, they want to flush your tranny, change your oil etc. It's fine that they have these services available, but I resent them pushing them on me.
Well, not exactly.
I don't want to throw mud at the big box discounters, but it is quite possible to have different,lower quality tires at these locations. Besides, they treat tires like they treat - oh say,- toilet paper. They really don't know or understand what's involved and can't help you if there is a problem. Besides, any warranty work has to be done by them. It can't be done at another retailer.
Personally, I think its better to use a local tire dealer. Tires are his business and his livelihood depends on repeat business. He's "Been there, Done that" and his expertise can help you select the tire that's right for your application. And if you buy a name brand from him, you'll be able to do warranty work anywhere (except at the big box stores).
If a national brand is bought at Sam's is it serviced under warranty by any of the national brand stores? I.e., Michelin.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I can't speak for Sam's or WalMart, but I don't think that is either of their policy.
In fact, my experience is that it can sometimes be difficult to get warranty assistance at any location other than where the tire was purchased. And this seems to be doubled if the tires are unique to some mass retailer such as WalMart, even if the name on the sidewall is a name brand - it's the design name that matters.
The car is OEM with S tires, so that makes me think it is better to go up to H's instead of down to Q tires. It's hard to locate the H's; most dealers carry Q's. That makes me think that most people must buy the Q's and I must be crazy to think H. Thoughts?
I had a set of Goodyear Eagle Ultra-Grip, and they were V-rated.. (225/45-17).
What kind of car is it? Chances are, if it comes with S-rated tires, the Q-rated winter tires would handle similarly, and would also give much superior traction in winter conditions.. The superior handling of the H-rated winter tires might be wasted on a car like that, and at the expense of snow traction.
regards,
kyfdx
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Stick with the Q's.
For the particular size I am looking at, 205/65-15 both the H rated GW3 and Q rated Ultra Grip Ice are available.
Our area has pretty mild winters (snow tire temperatures Dec, Jan, Feb) and these tires are going to be on dry pavement most of the time. Our street is steep and can be icy, especially in the morning when she gets off. I have generally not bothered with snow tires myself, but want to give my daughter (and my insurance bill
I'd still stick with the Q-rated. I'd also recommend getting all four tires, especially with a FWD vehicle. H-rated tires are overkill with a Malibu, especially when you sacrifice ultimate winter traction for a little better dry-pavement performance, compared to the Q-rated tires. If it was my daughter, I'd take every advantage as well.
I read this on http://www.consumersearch.com/www/automotive/snow-tires/fullstory.html
"Consumer Reports says that more expensive H-rated tires generally get better performance at lower speeds in ice and snow. Q-rated winter tires are usually less expensive."
Do you think CR was misquoted, or confused? I am not a CR subscriber although maybe I should look this up at the library.
Jim
H or higher winter tires are usually winter snow tires with better dry traction (still cold but dry - like plowed road).
High speed rated winter tires should outlast lower speed rated ones because of compound. High speed compound wears better (especially on dry roads). This is exactly oposite with all seasons or summer where performance tires usually have lower treadwear that is traded for grip.
Krzys
PS How icy can it get? Have you had problems with all seasons on your street?
"What Makes the Blizzak LM-18, LM-22 and LM-25 Tires Different?
These studless winter tires are performance winter tires developed for use in Europe and around the world. In order to accommodate high-speed European driving, they trade some snow and ice traction for handling and high-speed capability by featuring a winter driving tread compound able to support its H-speed rating..."
Just more food for thought.
So, it all comes down to your driving preferences.. Like you, we have dry roads for 95% of the time in the winter, so there is some credence in getting the best road tires that you can, while having just enough winter capability to get through...
But, if the car is basic transportation, and the main driver wouldn't know an S-rated tire from a Z-rated tire, then you probably shouldn't spend extra to get those H-rated Goodyears.
I'd get the H-rated tires, but I don't consider myself exactly normal... :surprise:
regards,
kyfdx
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I'll report back in March, but I've never read anything bad about these GW3's so I think I'm going to like them.
Jim
Krzys
PS I did it a few times myself.