New tires NOT IN STICKY... (for 2003 Infiniti M45)

[ProvidenceLeaf]

I am in the process of replacing these awful Michelin tires that came on my 03 M. There are few tires that I am considering, but I am torn between these two that are not on the sticky list...

$150 TOYO Proxes 4 - 245/45ZR18 W 100 300-AA-A

$182 BRIDGESTONE Potenza RE960AS Pole Position - 245/45ZR18 W 100 400-AA-A

I am going with 245s since 235s are tougher size selection wise. I was wondering if anyone on the board had experience with either of these tires yet. They both seem like they would be good. I read some reviews on both, but I can't make up my mind.

Please keep in mind that I need an all season tire like either of these since our winters here in RI are a little stormy sometimes. (Like the wonderful noreaster we got the past couple of days!)

Thoughts anyone? Thanks...

[auditech10]

The bridgestones should last longer, I have also heard alot of good things about Bridgestones(I am a Ferrari lover, lol) and as well good things about the Toyos. I think I would personally go with the Bridgestones but they are $128 more

[ddgsxr504]

I had Proxy 4's on my 240 about 5 years ago and I had Potenza'a (not sure if they are the exact series you are quoting) on my 01 325i Bimmer and both tires are real good. The Potenza's would be my choice but man are they some $$$$$.

From what you say in your post I would go with the Potenza's also because they have a higher tread wear rating meaning they will last a little longer. I don't know what kind of driving you do in your car though. The proxies are a little sticker but the potenza's have less road noise. It's all about give and take at this point, grip vs noise vs longevity ect ect.

[szh]

I am in the process of replacing these awful Michelin tires that came on my 03 M. There are few tires that I am considering, but I am torn between these two that are not on the sticky list...

Ah! I will do some research and add them into the sticky ...

I am going with 245s since 235s are tougher size selection wise.

Yes! Very true about the size issue ...

Please keep in mind that I need an all season tire like either of these since our winters here in RI are a little stormy sometimes. (Like the wonderful noreaster we got the past couple of days!)

Okay, one thing I would comment on: there is really no such thing as an excellent "all-season" tire that does summer and winter (even wet rain) well. You are way better off getting a good rain-handling tire for the summer and putting on some decent, even low-cost, winter tires on cheap steel wheels for the winter. Even in RI.

In most cases, an excellent "Summer" or "Max Performance" tire will do better in rain than "all-season" tires. The Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 that I currently use, and the Firestone Firehawk SZ90EP that I used to have a long time back, are good examples of that. Outstanding wet weather performance, excellent dry weather (summer) performance, but unsafe in cold (freezing) weather or light snow.

The Bridgestone 960's are probably a very good to excellent tire - they do make good stuff! (Although I had one bad experience with one of their older tires ... a RE940 tire failed on me without warning - steel belt came through the tire. I had just left my house and heard the slapping of the belt on the inside of the fender before I got to hihway speeds! This was probably an unusual and rare event, I suspect.)

I have no experience with Toyo or their Proxes line, so I hope that others chime in about that.

Z

[szh]

From what you say in your post I would go with the Potenza's also because they have a higher tread wear rating meaning they will last a little longer.

Actually, this is not necessarily true. Tire manufacturers tread-wear ratings are only useful for comparing within their own lineup. A given mftr's tread wear indicator of 400 may be very different actual wear from another mftr and no indication of how different tires may wear on your car.

But, yes, comparing different models made by the same manufacturers is meaningful, because they use the same test methods. Just an outcome of the way the test for treadwear is designed, unfortunately.

One other [approximate] generalization can be made though: the higher the tread-wear number, the harder the tire material and the less stickier it is. So, the performance, lateral grip, braking, etc., are not as good for them compared to low-mileage tires. A trade-off between cost, performance, and longevity that makes for difficult choices sometimes.

Z

[szh]

Ah! I will do some research and add them into the sticky ...

As it happens, I already had the info on the RE960AS in the spreadsheet, but not the Proxes 4 (although I had the older Toyo Proxes T1-S tire listed).

I will try to get more info about it.

Z

[ProvidenceLeaf]

As it happens, I already had the info on the RE960AS in the spreadsheet, but not the Proxes 4 (although I had the older Toyo Proxes T1-S tire listed).

I will try to get more info about it.

Z

Whoops...missed that. I was thrown off by looking for the "pole position" descirption. Thanks. I hope someone does chime in about the Proxes 4's...I need to make my mind up this week.

[szh]

I went and looked at the tires on the Toyo web site. I think I would pick the Proxes T1R over the Proxes 4 (comparing that Manufacturer only), based on what I read about them.

I have also heard good things in the past (from other drivers and other cars and other sizes, of course) of the Proxes T1S (which has apparently been replaced by the T1R now, so the web site only shows this model).

Of course, I do not have any personal experience with any of these Toyo tires, so please take my suggestions with the appropriate grain of salt! You might also consider asking your question in our Tire and Wheels forum ... there are certainly some Toyo users there.

Z