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"Fuel efficient" tires?

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alkalinetaupehat

Senior member
Mar 3, 2008
839
0
0
I have to disagree with you here.

I recently changed the tires on my commuter (Prius). I went from Goodyear Integrity to Michellin Energy Savers and the difference is night and day. Not only am I getting a better ride and better handling than the OEM's ever did, my gas mileage has increased by approx. 5 MPG. From the research I did, they have better wet braking and stopping power, as well.

That's the difference right there. I still wonder why Goodyear keeps those tires on the market.
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
126
I'm just going to re-state my firm opinion based on my personal experience :

I don't know about other brands of LRR tires, but the stock ones on my '08 Focus S Coupe were the Hankook 15" model, and they were a DEATH HAZARD. I've never seen such horrendous traction problems in any kind of inclement weather. Simple damp roads felt like driving on black ice.
 

fleabag

Banned
Oct 1, 2007
2,450
1
0
I bought some Good Year Fuel Max tires for my mom's car, and on wet pavement they seemed to handle just fine.. So no, LRR tires do not HAVE TO have lower traction than non LRR tires.. I bought the fuel max tires after reading a review by TireRack.com on them.
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
126
I bought some Good Year Fuel Max tires for my mom's car, and on wet pavement they seemed to handle just fine.. So no, LRR tires do not HAVE TO have lower traction than non LRR tires.. I bought the fuel max tires after reading a review by TireRack.com on them.

That's a genuine relief to hear. The Hankooks were disastrously, dangerously bad. I might have chalked it up to a bum set, but my GF's Kia came with the 14" version, and they were just as atrocious. I think under any circumstances Goodyear >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hankook though. I believe Hankook is a Korean outfit.

As an aside, I'm now using some cheapo Discount Tire Chinese-made tires, and they are hands-down better than the Hankooks, although not nearly as nice as the Falkens I had previously.
 

fleabag

Banned
Oct 1, 2007
2,450
1
0
The goodyear integrity are suppose to be crap and they're fitted to most OEM vehicles. They compared the fuel max and the integrity and despite having the same rolling resistance, the fuel max tires were much better all around in comparison to the integrity. I think the integrity are an old AND cheap tire so it's no surprise that there are other tires out there that are similar to it in terms of poor grip.
 

Pantoot

Golden Member
Jun 6, 2002
1,764
30
91
I bought some Good Year Fuel Max tires for my mom's car, and on wet pavement they seemed to handle just fine.. So no, LRR tires do not HAVE TO have lower traction than non LRR tires.. I bought the fuel max tires after reading a review by TireRack.com on them.

I second. We have the fuel max on the wife's van and we are both happy with them.