What Tires?
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SwampYankee
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:59 am
- Car: Maxima 2002 SE
What Tires?
Hi,I have a 2002 SE 6 speed with 60,000 miles. IT looks like I have worn out my 2nd set of tires. The car handled like crap in the snow but I don't want to by dedicated snow tires. I like the sporty feel of the car. What is a good tire choice that balances traction, wear and performance. If I had to compromise the order above is most important: traction, wear, performance. believee or not cost is important, but not as important as those other things.thanks
Re: What Tires? (SwampYankee)
Where do you live and how much snow do you get?
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MinisterofDOOM
- Moderator
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- Car: 1962 Corvair Monza
1961 Corvair Lakewood
1974 Unimog 404
1997 Pathfinder XE
2005 Lincoln LS8
Former:
1995 Q45t
1993 Maxima GXE
1995 Ranger XL 2.3
1984 Coupe DeVille - Location: The middle of nowhere.
Re: What Tires? (SwampYankee)
If you get a lot of snow, are you willing to run two sets of tires (one for summer, one for winter)?
If so, I had a fantastic experience with Hankook iPikes on my Q45. They're amazing in the snow and rain, even without studs, and can be studded for added confidence in bad weather. I looked at them as budget tires when I bought them but was really impressed; the performance is definitely not that of a budget tire.
For stickier summer-focused tires that have good all-weather traction, I have had good luck with both Falken Ziex ZE-512s and my current Toyo Proxes4s. The Falkens wore very fast, though (only about 22k miles before they were bald). The Toyos are impressive wet and dry and a few steps ahead of the 512s in both departments, I think. I haven't had them long at all so I can't comment on treadwear. It snowed last night/this morning (along with freezing rain) and the Toyos impressed on the thin ice/freezing rain and snow. I don't know that I'd want to run them all winter with the iPikes on hand but I wouldn't feel uncomfortable running them in the snow if I had to. On the Maxima, I ran the Falkens year-round, including winter, and we had some VERY harsh conditions (including solid snow-on-ice freeway).
If so, I had a fantastic experience with Hankook iPikes on my Q45. They're amazing in the snow and rain, even without studs, and can be studded for added confidence in bad weather. I looked at them as budget tires when I bought them but was really impressed; the performance is definitely not that of a budget tire.
For stickier summer-focused tires that have good all-weather traction, I have had good luck with both Falken Ziex ZE-512s and my current Toyo Proxes4s. The Falkens wore very fast, though (only about 22k miles before they were bald). The Toyos are impressive wet and dry and a few steps ahead of the 512s in both departments, I think. I haven't had them long at all so I can't comment on treadwear. It snowed last night/this morning (along with freezing rain) and the Toyos impressed on the thin ice/freezing rain and snow. I don't know that I'd want to run them all winter with the iPikes on hand but I wouldn't feel uncomfortable running them in the snow if I had to. On the Maxima, I ran the Falkens year-round, including winter, and we had some VERY harsh conditions (including solid snow-on-ice freeway).
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SwampYankee
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:59 am
- Car: Maxima 2002 SE