Tire recommendations

[szh]

I was skeptic at the beginning about the comments made by others about this brand but from now on I'll use Hankook tires until their quality drops. This South Korean tires really are what they promise...and at a very affordable price. I bought these tires for my truck and sedan vehicles, and these tires have responded very well in dry and wet conditions. The set that promised to last 70,000 miles have run 15,000 already and still looking like new, my expectations are that they will last long.

Clearly, different people have different requirements in tires.

Longevity is nice, but for me, it cannot come at the expense of handling and wet weather braking (my particular driving condition fears).

So, I almost always go for tires that demonstrate excellent wet weather characteristics. Note that is not necessarily All-Season ... in fact, the best tires in rain tend to be outstanding summer tires.

My wife's new Acura TSX has Michelin MXM4 tires, and discovered some months back why I had disliked them in the past ... so-so braking in rain. Eek!

Z

[frapjap]

I was skeptic at the beginning about the comments made by others about this brand but from now on I'll use Hankook tires until their quality drops. This South Korean tires really are what they promise...and at a very affordable price. I bought these tires for my truck and sedan vehicles, and these tires have responded very well in dry and wet conditions. The set that promised to last 70,000 miles have run 15,000 already and still looking like new, my expectations are that they will last long.

Clearly, different people have different requirements in tires.

Longevity is nice, but for me, it cannot come at the expense of handling and wet weather braking (my particular driving condition fears).

So, I almost always go for tires that demonstrate excellent wet weather characteristics. Note that is not necessarily All-Season ... in fact, the best tires in rain tend to be outstanding summer tires.

My wife's new Acura TSX has Michelin MXM4 tires, and discovered some months back why I had disliked them in the past ... so-so braking in rain. Eek!

Z

This post is all the more reason that I want to make a case for the Bridgestones RE series.
I have similar tastes and concerns and I'll be damned if this set of rubber didn't fit the bill perfectly.

[szh]

Agreed. Since my guess would be that the Bridgestone RE970 is probably very similar to the Continental DWS and Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ... in terms of handling, performance, tread longevity, etc.

Can't go wrong with any of these three really, even if they are not the best in all possible categories.

Z

[szh]

Here is a good test comparison of these three tires (along with one more): http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/cha ... p?ttid=147

Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position (Ultra High Performance All-Season)
Continental ExtremeContact DWS (Ultra High Performance All-Season)
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus (Ultra High Performance All-Season)
Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season (Ultra High Performance All-Season)

Z

[szh]

But, I miss having a good summer tire (both the above are "All-Seasons"), so I plan to go back to something else this next time around ... in fact, the current DWS's on my car are at 3/32", so time to start the search!

Okay, I am hooked: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/cha ... p?ttid=148

Time to see if I can try the Michelin Pilot Sport ... cost be damned.

Continental DW: $182 per tire. I don't know why they are on close-out at Tire Rack ... has Continental decided to stop making this model?
Michelin Pilot Sport: $254 per tire

Z

[MinisterofDOOM]

I was skeptic at the beginning about the comments made by others about this brand but from now on I'll use Hankook tires until their quality drops. This South Korean tires really are what they promise...and at a very affordable price. I bought these tires for my truck and sedan vehicles, and these tires have responded very well in dry and wet conditions. The set that promised to last 70,000 miles have run 15,000 already and still looking like new, my expectations are that they will last long.

I've had some very good Hankooks, and very bad Hankooks. It's not the brand; it's the tire. V12s and iPikes are excellent. V4s are terrible.

My wife's new Acura TSX has Michelin MXM4 tires, and discovered some months back why I had disliked them in the past ... so-so braking in rain. Eek! Z

I just picked up a pair of barely-used MXM4s for dirt-dirt-dirt cheap to replace the Bridgestone Grids I had on the back of the LS a few days ago. One of the Grids was down to the cords so I decided I should get rid of it ASAP, so I called around for cheap used tires. The MXM's ride quite nice, but they're definitely not a performance tire.

They break loose very easily and squeal badly when it happens. I was at a grocery store a couple days ago where the parking lot was freshly paved. I backed out of my spot, put the car in drive, and started pulling forward. The inside Michelin let loose a horrendous, earsplitting squeal. Not just a chirp. The tire broke loose and spun under very light throttle at under 5mph. Every head in the parking lot turned toward me. A woman loading groceries into her minivan stared openly at me as I drove by, so I offered apologetically "Crummy tires" and she laughed. I hate squealy tires. Every decent performance tire I've ever run breaks loose QUIETLY, with little more than a drama-free swooshing. Only cheapass tires squeal.

When they've got traction they're quiet and smooth. And the tread pattern looks like it should manage snow reasonably well (we will find out this winter, as I'll be leaving them on the rear of the Lincoln).
They don't look too water-friendly with squared-off treadblocks, so I'm not surprised by the poor wet braking performance.

They're factory equipment on Accords, which tells you everything you need to know about the tire. But they're also $200 a tire new, which is mindboggling. I don't pay that much for good performance tires!

[Gold Digger]

Continental DW: $182 per tire. I don't know why they are on close-out at Tire Rack ... has Continental decided to stop making this model?
Michelin Pilot Sport: $254 per tire

Z

Where do you see that? I'm seeing $238 per tire in 265/35/18.

But, I'm still on the fence for either the Conti's or the Bridgestones...it's about 55/45 respectively.

According to this,, the Bridgestones are better on paper. But, a lot of people are saying to go with the continentals.

So, I guess it comes down to which tire you, the community, would buy if you were in my shoes.

[szh]

Continental DW: $182 per tire. I don't know why they are on close-out at Tire Rack ... has Continental decided to stop making this model?
Michelin Pilot Sport: $254 per tire

Z

Where do you see that? I'm seeing $238 per tire in 265/35/18.

Ah! I was looking at tire sizes for my car: 245/45-18 ... sorry about that!

Z

[Gold Digger]

No worries, Z.

So, just for kicks since I was comparing an UHP All Season tire to a Max Performance Summer tire, RE970/DW respectively, I decided to run the RE970 against the Extreme Contact DWS, making it an even match between UHP All Season tires.

The Bridgestones still come out a little bit ahead, especially on price. BUT...the Continentals come with road hazard warranty included with the price, where as you have to purchase separately with the Bridgestones.

The Bridgestones are ahead in terms of customer survey data for Hydroplaning Resistance, Wet Traction, Cornering, Stability, Dry Traction and Steering Response.

Then, we get to Light Snow Traction, Deep Snow Traction, Ice Traction, Ride Comfort and Noise Comfort and they are pretty much dead even.

Then Bridgestone scores higher marks for having longer treadlife.

Now, I know these are customer survey data, so I'm taking that with a grain of salt. Both these tires would probably do me quite well, but I'm still undecided where to go...

[Gold Digger]

Ok...

Just got done chatting with a rep from tire rack. I asked about the RE970/DW/DWS and told the rep the criteria I listed in the opening of this thread. Especially the weather issue.

He basically told me that in the snow and rain, the DWS is the best. The RE970 is all around good, and the DW is absolutely useless in the snow. He suggested I put summer tires on my GT-R. But, since I drive my car year round, I need a tire that will work even in light snow. He said the DW doesn't. GRRR...

Now, things just got a bit more complicated.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I dunno man, I never had any issues out of my DWs in light snow. Granted, they were pretty new at the time.

[Gold Digger]

Well, I've decided to go with the Bridgestone RE970s.

Will let ya all know how they go once I get them on.

[audtatious]

I've had some very good Hankooks, and very bad Hankooks. It's not the brand; it's the tire. V12s and iPikes are excellent. V4s are terrible.

I agree 100%. The V12's I had on my coupe were a very good tire. The V4's I had on the sedan was OK as a 3-season tire at best and seemed less than a touring tire.

Hankook V4 Tire Review

[frapjap]

Well, I've decided to go with the Bridgestone RE970s.

Will let ya all know how they go once I get them on.

Awesome choice. Though you couldn't have gone wrong with any of them.
You'll enjoy the hell out of those tires, they keep gripping and gripping, especially in the rain. I drove the T/A in about 5-6" of unplowed snow last year (before the salt hit the ground). The tires didn't even struggle.

[szh]

Well, I've decided to go with the Bridgestone RE970s.

Will let ya all know how they go once I get them on.

Sounds good!

Z