Some or even all of you may consider this to be a stupid question but just want to hear (or read) what you have to say. What makes one tire better than another?
I have had the worst luck with my 03 M45. Read my past posts to get the scoop. Anyway, after several thousand dollars later to get my car back into shape and lookng sexy as ever I found my self in desperate need of tires and very short supply of cash. I will need at least 5 or 6 months to get back to where I need to be financially. I am battling between saving money or getting a tire brand I am familiar with.
Why does it matter what brand of tire you buy as long as it meets all the ratings for the car you have. The minimum requirement for the 03 M45 is 94V load rating. I have seen some tires in the sticky for available tires that have a spped rating as low as H. UTQG, i have seen some tires as low as 140AA.
Well, I was looking on Ebay to see if I could luck up on a set of new tires for a very cheap price and I came across this tire - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...wItem.
The tire on ebay exceeds the ratings of the stock Michellin tire. But what makes the Michellin tire better? Is it the marketing? Is it the brand? Is it the type of rubber the Michellin tire is made of?
Interested to hear your thoughts.
General question about automobile tires
-
auditech10
- Posts: 821
- Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:24 pm
- Car: 03 M45
-
auditech10
- Posts: 821
- Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:24 pm
- Car: 03 M45
Oh for what its worth, in my experience with tires it goes like this:Michelins are overpriced and not worth the money, unless money is no object then go for the top of the line, which are GREAT, I thinkPirelli's wear out faster than most others I have dealt with.Dunlops wear out unevenly.Kumhos are great lasting tire for the money.Bridgestones are my personal favorite since I have never had or heard of one failing.Cheers
-
Q45tech
- Moderator
- Posts: 14296
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
Re: (auditech10)
The problem is that tire specifications are tested brand new not used and abused.
Michelins reputation requires that they exceed minimal test standards whereas most are lucky to just meet them.
My experience is that Michelin has enough extra reserve to actually meet the next higher grade in load index even with 20,000 miles of use.
Study their financials and you will note they don't make a meaningful profit, so either they have too many engineers and test and refine too much or are grossly inefficient. Their use of total robots and xray testing each premium tire is overkill for many .........................just not them.
Up to 8,000 miles most tires are ok, it is the period from 10,000-20,000 miles where cheap materials and cheap engineering begin to show up.
Even Michelin admits that all tires begin an exponential upward rise in failures after 20,000 miles.
Heavy imports with high camber and caster punish tires severely more than US designed vehicles to squeeze out better handling if the tires survive.
A performance enthusiat will spend more on alignments and frequent rotation, and radial force balancing and optimization than the tires cost.Tire maintenance is a significant expense for the professional owner.
Michelin will have the lowest radial force imbalance in the industry and maintain that far into its life .
Kumho will go to hell in 8-12,000 miles on a heavy high caster vehicle or at least that is our experience on Q45 and Lexus.
It all depends on your sensitivity and personal standards, some will tolerate anything to save a few dollars..........even square tires.
Michelins reputation requires that they exceed minimal test standards whereas most are lucky to just meet them.
My experience is that Michelin has enough extra reserve to actually meet the next higher grade in load index even with 20,000 miles of use.
Study their financials and you will note they don't make a meaningful profit, so either they have too many engineers and test and refine too much or are grossly inefficient. Their use of total robots and xray testing each premium tire is overkill for many .........................just not them.
Up to 8,000 miles most tires are ok, it is the period from 10,000-20,000 miles where cheap materials and cheap engineering begin to show up.
Even Michelin admits that all tires begin an exponential upward rise in failures after 20,000 miles.
Heavy imports with high camber and caster punish tires severely more than US designed vehicles to squeeze out better handling if the tires survive.
A performance enthusiat will spend more on alignments and frequent rotation, and radial force balancing and optimization than the tires cost.Tire maintenance is a significant expense for the professional owner.
Michelin will have the lowest radial force imbalance in the industry and maintain that far into its life .
Kumho will go to hell in 8-12,000 miles on a heavy high caster vehicle or at least that is our experience on Q45 and Lexus.
It all depends on your sensitivity and personal standards, some will tolerate anything to save a few dollars..........even square tires.