'94 Q45a Tires

[Brad-Man]

Currently have Michelin Pilot XGT H4's in 235/60/15.

Am considering either Michelin Exalto A/S in 215/65/15 - 96H or Firestore Firehawk Indy 500 in 235/60/15 - 98S.

I read that directional tires can be a problem - a plus for the Firestone as would be the load rating.

This car is for around town only - little expressway use.

Comments?

[qship96]

get the exaltos in 225/60/15 as they are V rated,while the 215/65/15 exalto is H rated-I have been using these for 23k miles so far-wearing very well,expect to last 45-50k by the looks of them-was a xgt v & h customer for over 100k on the q- the exalto is better than the xgt all around.

[Brad-Man]

unfortuinately, I don't have an extra $200 to put into tires, which is how much more the exalto 225/60's are over the other choices....

[maxnix]

If you can wait, then save. Costco and TR have $60 off a set of 4 sales.

$50/tire is a minor consideration over the life of the tire.

[Q45tech]

One of the problems is the speed rating tells you more than just maximum speed before explosive failure.

It's all about strength and quality of materials..................you can have a flat or blowout around town just as well as on an expressway.

Since V rated were oem dropping down to H rated is already a stretch but going to T rated or way down to S rated is just asking for problems.

To me S rated are not even suitable for Atlanta Expressway use where the speeds exceed 80 mph routinely........Summer is a double whammy!

Wet braking distances have been shown to decline with V rated tires vs H rated tires.................S rated are the bottom of the barrel........many of these have a B temperature rating.

Up to you and your insurance company when you MODIFY a cars suspension with INFERIOR than oem speed rated tires.

[szh]

Currently have Michelin Pilot XGT H4's in 235/60/15.

Am considering either Michelin Exalto A/S in 215/65/15 - 96H or Firestore Firehawk Indy 500 in 235/60/15 - 98S.

S-rated tires are not recommended for the Q ... so, I would definitely pick the Exalto in this particular situation. Even though it is a 96 load index (much more believably accurate from Michelin) which is less than the 98 of the Firestone.

Z

[maxnix]

The Firestone Wide Oval is a cut rate version of the SZ50-EP which was an excellent tire. The RE050A probably isn't made in a 15" diameter.

Michelin would have to be the preferred default considering safety and performance.
Modified by maxnix at 12:15 PM 2/4/2007

[Brad-Man]

Discount Tires said they could get the 235/60/15 Pilot XGT H4's, but that would put them over one year old, wouldn't it?

I am getting the exaltos in 215/65/15b-H rated, same as the XGT's. I have a coupon for $30 off on those.

Costco didn't want to sell me the 225/60/15 exaltos. Not the right diameter.

They would have sold me the Michelin Winter tires, but who wants those in Atlanta?

[maxnix]

Discount Tires said they could get the 235/60/15 Pilot XGT H4's, but that would put them over one year old, wouldn't it?

I am getting the exaltos in 215/65/15b-H rated, same as the XGT's. I have a coupon for $30 off on those.

Costco didn't want to sell me the 225/60/15 exaltos. Not the right diameter.

They would have sold me the Michelin Winter tires, but who wants those in Atlanta?

Yeah, maybe that is why they are discount. If you put a lot of miles on the car each year, I would be inclined to take a chance if they were well stored and still wrapped per inspection.

I once got kicked out of a Costco tire center when I explained why I needed my tires (225/60-15) inflated to 35 psi rather than 30 psi because of the load on the front tires.

[szh]

The Firestone Wide Oval is a cut rate version of the SZ50-EP which was an excellent tire.

True. But, the Firestone Wide Oval is different from the Firestone Indy 500 that Brad-Man asked about originally.

So, I'd pick the Exalto over the Indy 500 (if those were my only two choices) ... the S-rating on the Indy 500 does not cut it!

Z

[szh]

I once got kicked out of a Costco tire center when I explained why I needed my tires (225/60-15) inflated to 35 psi rather than 30 psi because of the load on the front tires.

I usually check (and if needed, adjust) my tire pressure anyway after visiting any tire place or the Infiniti dealer 9for any regular service), even the dealer has learned to put my tires at the correct pressure that I ask for.

Z

[szh]

Discount Tires said they could get the 235/60/15 Pilot XGT H4's, but that would put them over one year old, wouldn't it?

Probably, but they are good tires, and maybe might be okay up to 18 months of storage, if kept carefully.

Costco didn't want to sell me the 225/60/15 exaltos. Not the right diameter.

That is ridiculous! You could get them from Tire Rack and do the mounting at some tire place, although the total price (tire+shipping+mounting) might not be enough to match that coupon-based price at Costco.

The 215/65-15 may be sufficient for your needs though ... so, don't worry!

Z

[bretfraz]

Currently have Michelin Pilot XGT H4's in 235/60/15.

Am considering either Michelin Exalto A/S in 215/65/15 - 96H or Firestore Firehawk Indy 500 in 235/60/15 - 98S.

I read that directional tires can be a problem - a plus for the Firestone as would be the load rating.

This car is for around town only - little expressway use.

Comments?

I have both tires, on different vehicles, of course.

I just installed a set of the Pilot Exalto's on my Q. 215/65-15, H speed rating. Costco did them for $380 installed with their instant $60 rebate. No other tire dealer came within $100 of that price. So far I am very happy with them.

It's getting harder to find a top quality performance tire in our size. Only a small handful of V-rated tires out there (Dunlop SP5000, Yokohama AVSdb & V4s, XGTV4's if you can find them, most everything else is in H).

I have the Indy 500's on my GMC Sierra in 275/60-17. While I love them on the truck I'm not sure I'd put them on the Q45. Like Dennis said, the speed rating isn't there and I don't feel the performance or durability would be either. They are holding up well, though. Got about 25K on them and still plenty of tread left. If I can get 40K+ out of them I'll be happy.

[Q45tech]

Someone gave me 2 new = 215/65/15 Pilot H4 they were made in 2002.

They have become my new rear winter tires..............235 front 215 rear.

Self imposed speed limit of 80 mph and they have been examined for cracks.

Since they are Michelin, 5 years* sitting was not a concern. 5 weeks with Firestone might be too long?

As you can see I'm kicking and screaming into directionals.

Never compare the goodness in one size with the potentail goodness in another size.

One of the fallacies in Tire Rack is they always use small BMW test cars different size and weight...........probably close enough on G35 but pretty worthless on M45/Q.

* Even though Michelin warns that failure rise exponentially with AGE and 20,000 miles.

"Still to be determined is whether tires should have an expiration date. BMW, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota and Volkswagen AG have backed guidelines that tires should only be in service six years, the story said."

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/vrtc/ca/tires.htm

[Brad-Man]

I bit the bullet and decided to get the 225/60/15 Exalto's - the Mrs. (her car) will have to do w/o Valentines day.

I figure I'll tell her that her life is more important to me than taking her out is. Then I'll have to cook for her - although that would belie the earlier reasoning......

[maxnix]

Good choices, Brad man. A little effort in the kitchen can reap benefits in other rooms.

[Fred D.]

Im suprised no ones talking about what he wants out of the tires. Diffrent width of tires is a big factor for cornering, or better gas mileage. The stock tire are P/215/65 R15 95V I like widder tire for cornering, and off the line traction, so I 225/60/15, & since my budget doesnt allow the V rating H is like a 130mph wich is good for me.

[maxnix]

I like widder tire for cornering, and off the line traction.

Tire area on ground the same at an equal pressures. No difference in straight line traction.

[szh]

Im suprised no ones talking about what he wants out of the tires. Diffrent width of tires is a big factor for cornering, or better gas mileage. The stock tire are P/215/65 R15 95V I like widder tire for cornering, and off the line traction, so I 225/60/15, & since my budget doesnt allow the V rating H is like a 130mph wich is good for me.

Hmmm ... a number of things to think about.

1. The original poster sorta described what he wanted out of the car: low cost, minimal to no highway driving, stick with 15" wheels, etc. The responses have been geared to those basic criterion. Otherwise, I (among others) would have recommended that he switch wheels to a larger diameter rim and way better (and more expensive) tires!

2. Wider does not necessarily equal better cornering - particularly not as a big factor! Indeed, it is not a big factor at all when the width difference between 215/65 and 225/60 is so nominal.

Also, depending on the tire make and model, it is even possible for a "wider" tire to have a "narrower" tread width (i.e., the contact width at the ground). In other words, the design of the tire cross-section and the section width, play important roles too.

It is far more likely that the stickiness of the tire, the sidewall stiffness, the aspect ratio, etc., will be a much bigger factor for better cornering and handling than the width of the tires - again particularly true given the nominal difference between the 215/65 and the 225/60!

Specific example: On my 1995 Q45, I used to run Firestone Firehawk SZ50-EP tires, which, at 225/60-15, had a narrower tread width than the previous tires I had: Michelin Pilot XGT V4 215/65-15, but had far superior dry and wet handling (on corners too)! The SZ50-EP had the best wet weather braking and handling I have ever seen in over 30 years of driving ...

3. Yes, for more people the H rating of a tire will be entirely sufficient, while others like the added safety of construction that a V rating might bring to a tire.

So, I would say: true on that comment in your post.

But, I would separately also add that an S or T rating is unsafe for the weight of a Q, almost without regard to what the load index is (like the Firestone Indy 500 mentioned above at 98). I would strongly recommend a lower load index H or V rating over a high load index S rating, as long as the H/V tire load index was not too low (below the minimum of 95 for a Q45)!

Hence, my choice of the Michelin Exalto over the Firestone Indy 500 in my earlier post!

Z

[Fred D.]

Good points, still the more rubber contacting the ground will grip better, depending on how soft the rubber is, (temp. rating) . Q45's are heavy, along with rear wheel drive, & unbalanced weight, they require good grip.If you can afford to buy V, or Z rated performance tire's the stock size would be best, & most all people will be very satisfied. Of course check the date on the tire, to make shure they have'nt been sittng, the newer the longer they last. Many stores sell tires that are more than a year old, & still sell them as new. I have high expectations in the performance departmant, from a four door luxry car! HAHAHAAA