Tire Recommendations

[kgb_Maine]

Pardon if this has been covered (nothing in search results)

But I am looking for new tires for my 03 Murano. I have run through two sets of the OEM Goodyears, about 50k each set. All around not bad performance...

But being the miser that I am I have a hard time dropping close to $600. on rubber. Anyone had any experience with other brands? Kuhmo KR21?

I do a lot of highway driving 80mph... I HATE hydroplaning, so good wet traction is a must, and decent snow ability. I have been reasonably happy with the LS...

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance

[kgb_Maine]

Either no one reads this or every one is still on the Goodyear Eagles... So I'll answer my own post: I switched to the Kumho (Love that name! ) KR21. So far... I have driven them for about 1k, in snow (heavy, unplowed), rain (downpours) and dry long boring highway.

I would say they are a bit better than the Eagles in snow. I seem to have less sideways drift on rounded road surfaces. Straight traction is about the same, maybe a tad better braking.

Wet: Also about the same as the Eagles. No discernable dif to me. Bottom line, NO hydroplaning.

Dry: My guess is that the KumHo (ha! :-) has a bit softer sidewall. Overall drive is a bit spongier than the Goodyears. The handling is fine, no real negative, just a slight general softness to the over all feel. Though once the sidewalls are engaged, as in a tight turn, they hold well and firm up.

Noise: a slight buzz is audible in the car with the radio off. The Eagles were silent. This was confirmed while driving home New Year's Eve with the rear windows wide open (keeping the Gelato & Sorbetto cold for the long ride home) and it sounded like a police siren way off in the distance from 20 to 40mph... it was the tires whining on the asphalt...

Overall at $80 per tire from Tirerack.com (add $10 for shipping and $10 to have 'em mounted and balanced) a bargain over the OEM.

[shaggyusm]

Thanks for the info. We just bought my wife a new 07 Murano S and I was already looking to see how much tires would be (when the time comes of course). I saw those same Kumho's (lol the jokes are too easy) and wondered about them. Give us an update on how the hold up long term. They have a crazy high treadwear rating! The OEMS are only like 340 or something and the Kumho's are like 600+ treadwear. 70K miles or something like that? Awesome. Keep us posted!

[kgb_Maine]

Update... I drive mostly big bad interslabs... but this week was down in Boston, ziping around on the twisty elevated highways with expansion joints... you know, those 8" wide strips of polished metal every 40' or so...

Well, the Murano become a fabulous two-step dancer with these Kumho sneakers on... i have never felt a car slip so much on those joints. And this was not even as aggressive as I might have been on these curves. Very unnerving.

Interestingly they seem to have good traction on dry and wet roads (asphalt & concrete)

So if you drive in NYC area these would NOT do well on the BQE or the FDR Drive...

kevin

[meliaant]

Cooper Discoverer CTS