Tire help/advice please...

[Perry Mason]

I know some of you have expertise and there were some threads on tires not that long ago, but I can't find them.

I need new all season tires for my 2005 Acura TL... any help or suggestions?

OEM were Michelin Pilot HX MXM4's but I was never really satisfied with them... I am looking at Bridgestone Turanza Serenity's... but few reviews on the 'Net with this car...

Price is important, but performance is much more so. I do mostly city and parking lot driving... meaning 401/404/DVP, etc.

Thanks in advance.

Perry

 

[Perry Mason]

It would really help if you indicated the size of tire your car took. that would eliminate 90% of the tire selection and help with the answer.

Ooops! Thanks.

Forgot, there were tire/wheel options available. But I chose the standard: 235/45/17.

Perry

 

[JD75]

Toyo Tires!
Don't know much about them aside from the fact they sponsor alot of UFC fighters, so they must be good.

 

[jaycam]

Many performance tires can be purchased online from the USA at a fraction of the price they sell for in Canada

Local tire shops wanted to charge my buddy $1100 per tire for his Vette & he got the same tires through a performance shop which ordered them online (from USA) for $350 per tire.

I wish I could remember the name of the website

Thats correct Tirerack.com now ships to Canada and has a flat rate brokerage agreement. So you will not get and surprises from customs

 

[goodtime]

Why would you recommend this tire?

It's rated 15- 20% below the AVERAGE of all the tires rated. Certainly wouldn't be my choice.

I too like handling of Goodyear especially during the GT to GT+4 era. For price/performance Toyo & Yokohama are great value.

 

[train]

OEM were Michelin Pilot HX MXM4's but I was never really satisfied with them... I am looking at Bridgestone Turanza Serenity's... but few reviews on the 'Net with this car...


Perry

What didn't you like about them ?

You should talk to a dealer. The important things to consider are:

1) Speed rating (marked on tire) - the higher the speed rating the more stable the handling at highway speed.

2) Traction/wear - a combo of tread design and compound . The more aggressive the design and the softer the compound the better traction you will get in wet and dry conditions but the softer the compound the faster they will wear, so there is a trade-off. Most companies offer choices.

3) Do you plan to put on winter tires? If not you should get an all season tire with a fairly aggresive tread. Look for one with snowflake symbol on the side. This means it meets an old Transport Canada definition of winter tire performance ( these are now being revised and toughened). Not as good as a winter tire but better than an all-season that doesn't have it.

4) Profile - not much choice here unless you want to buy new wheels. These wide , low profile tire have some drawbacks. While they look cool and are great in dry conditions they aren't that great in snow because of the width. Also the low profile is bad during pothole season. I've had two flats in the last two years due to running over potholes. The low profile means the wheel bottoms out faster breaking the seal and before you know it your tire is shredded.

From your description of your driving all the major tire companies should have something that fits your needs.

 

[cali]

Try
Tire World Inc
4 Melanie Dr
Brampton ON, L6T 4L1

Phone: 905-677-8473

 

[On_the_side]

http://www.1010tires.com/

Check out reviews ... I've never ordered from them but the reviews have been instrumental in helping me purchase the tires I have for myself, friends and family.

 

[Perry Mason]

Many thanks, all.

The 1010 and Tire Rack websites and Consumer's Report as well as your comments helped me decide to stick with the tires the car came with... the Michelin Pilot HX MXM4's.

I guess there is no tire "better than" the others... each of them has strengths and weaknesses and it is a matter of deciding what "fits" for me... now, where have I heard something similar before?

Ultimately, I figured that a few automotive engineers at Honda went through this same exercise of choosing tires (is that a rim job?) but with much greater expertise and with even greater knowledge of both their car and tires... so, since I like what they did with the car design, I will defer to their choice of tires.

But it is confusing... especially because there is so much to choose from and because most of the standards for comparisons between tires are not very "scientific" or objective.

Perry

 

[Perry Mason]

If you are going to keep the car for any amout of time, you really might want to consider a set of summer tires and winter tires...

Thanks. I know. And I agree.

But this is not my "go to" vehicle for the winter. I have winter tires and summer tires for our other car.

Perry

 

[to-guy69]

Is there a natural shelf life to tires even if you haven't reached the max tread wear (i.e. 5-6 years due to the rubber decomposing)?

 

[train]

Is there a natural shelf life to tires even if you haven't reached the max tread wear (i.e. 5-6 years due to the rubber decomposing)?

All compounds used for tires have some anti-oxidants in them but cured rubber eventually "dries out" and cracks. Depends on how much sun, salt etc your tires have seen. It should last at least 6 years but you should be able to tell by just looking at them for cracks.

 

[AZN_LOVER]

I guess there is no tire "better than" the others... each of them has strengths and weaknesses and it is a matter of deciding what "fits" for me... now, where have I heard something similar before?

...
But it is confusing... especially because there is so much to choose from and because most of the standards for comparisons between tires are not very "scientific" or objective.

I went through the same problem as yourself last fall. My Miata came with summer performance TOYO tires. They're fantastic in the spring, winter & fall, but treacherous below 5C. There's no warning when they start to lose grip.

Alot of the Miata enthusiast sites had tire recommendations for track days and the like, but nothing really practical...

SIDENOTE: I think a fair percentage of Miata's are garage queens that guys brag about and don't drive much.

Anyway, I spent a long time trying to come up with alternatives, but eventually decided to keep the TOYO's and alternate with Canadian Tire Nordican's in the winter. They're made by Goodyear and worked like a charm under most scenario's.

IE> they were fine in 10-15CM of snow but during those 30CM storms the car was parked. The Miata is so low NO snow tire would have prevented it from "floating" on top.

Glad things worked out!

 

[blueman]

Toyo

I also purchased new Toyo tires last year and I have been thrilled with their performance. Excellent value for the money.

 

[goodtime]

The 20/20 story was talking about tire expiration date & considering nitrogen to reduce tire problems.

Ultimately, I figured that a few automotive engineers at Honda went through this same exercise of choosing tires (is that a rim job?) but with much greater expertise and with even greater knowledge of both their car and tires... so, since I like what they did with the car design, I will defer to their choice of tires.

But it is confusing... especially because there is so much to choose from and because most of the standards for comparisons between tires are not very "scientific" or objective.

Often overriding decision may be fuel rating for marketing reasons.

And yes, really depends on your driving preference. Just like there's no one best car.

 

[Perry Mason]

So, a follow up...

Went to get those Michelin Pilot HX MXM4's and, to make a long story short, wound up getting a set of Falken Ziex ZE 912's!

First, I liked the sound of "Falken"... as in "them falken tires!"

Second, they were half the price! As explained to me, great Japanese technology (by Sumitomo) + Chinese labour = great value!

Third, rated #1 in its class (UHP all season) by Consumer Reports and highly rated by US Department of Transport's Uniform Tire Quality Grading.

And, most importantly, the car handles like it never has before... even conceding that any new tire would make the car handle better than with the worn out old ones.

I know I may sound like a Falken VP/Sales & Marketing, but since I asked for and got some help, I am just sharing what I learned.

Perry

 

[JD75]

SIDENOTE: I think a fair percentage of Miata's are garage queens that guys brag about and don't drive much.

Actually, you're only half right. Guys don't drive Miata's at all. Queens do, but I'm not sure what a garage has to do with it.

 

[Perry Mason]

Can you give us a price point on them..

Michelin's were quoted at about $275 + tax per tire including installation, tire disposal, etc.

I paid just over $600 for the Falkens, all in.

Yes, I agree: let's see how they feel in about 6 months!

Perry

 

[spraggamuffin]

These were what I was going to suggest and that you get them from Tires23 in sauga which usually gives some of the lowest quotes.

My brother picked up some Falken ziex 912s(replacement for 512s) 2 weeks ago for $590 all in.(not from tire23) These were 17 " 40 series. You could immediately feel the difference compared to the Kumhos Ecsta 712s he had on before in terms of a smoother ride, less noise and most importantly stopping, especially on wet pavement which is something the 712s were extremely poor at.

Not sure how long they will last as the sticker said 40k miles but ratings and reviews for this tire on the internet has been pretty good and although there are better valued tires on the market like the Fusions, I prefer the Falken tyres for good value to performance.

Hope they serve you well.

 

[goodtime]

Had Kumhos on the old Maxima & wet traction border on unsafe imo.