I need new tires.

[edro]

I have always got the cheapest Cooper tires they make or recommended. (local tire shop)

Well, my tread is at about 3/32" on all tires, evenly wore. I will be needing some new ones here soon.

This is for a 1997 Accord EX, stock. I'm not interested in low profile or anything special.

Should I just go with the cheapest they make again, or go for something "higher class" like Goodyear or Michelin?

Can you "feel" a difference when driving on good tires? How about something that would let me go around corners faster, or stick better to wet pavement?

Wal-mart seems to have great prices, does anyone have a reason not to get tires from them?

Edit: 195/60/15 is the current (stock) size.

 

[NutBucket]

Yes, there is a difference. Hell, I had Goodyear Regatta 2's on my Accord at one point. They were simply horrible. Bad wet traction, bad dry traction, etc. Buying a name brand tire DOES NOT mean you'll get a good tire.

My suggestion: BFG Traction T/A's. Should be about $300 for a whole set mounted/balanced from Costco.

 

[JEDI]

Walmart:

heard goodyear viva2 doesnt stop that great in the rain. i had the original viva, and they were LOUSY! i skidded in rain lots of times

then i got the good year viva touring. Stop in rain GREAT! as if the ground was dry. (note: tires do slip a little in rain when you're at a stop then gun it.)

 

[SpazzyChicken]

 

[mugs]

I like BF Goodrich Traction T/A.

How much do the cheap tires cost?

 

[tranceport]

I recently got new tires on the wife's car. The little punk kid wouldn't warrenty one of them because it was less than 6/32's of an inch worth of tread. I asked what he measured it with.. I saw him measure it using his finger nail as a depth guide. He claimed it was 3/32 of an inch left. I guess he does it alot but I doubt the eye can measure 3/32 using a finger nail as a guide...


Moral of the story. Don't let anyone rip you off.

 

[lozina]

tires make a huge difference in driving. it's the only part of the car that is in contact with the road. if you watch any races, especially somethign like rally car races where they have to deal with rain, snow, mud, sand etc... the choice of tire is their most important decision

poor tires are noisier, lose grip in rain or snow easier, wear quicker, reduce mielage, etc...

 

[PHiuR]

yes, a good set of tires can make the ride muchhhhh nicer.

 

[edro]

195/60-15 @ Discount Tire

Same size @ Walmart

Same size @ Nation Tire and Battery

Looks like the BF Goodrich Traction T/A is about $75 each.

 

[Zenmervolt]

I've always had a preference for Bridgestones. Their wet traction is pretty much un-matched.

ZV

 

[Queasy]

Yeah...huge difference. When I first bought my Mustang it came with stock Goodyears on it. When backwash from a tractor trailer during a rainstorm caused me to hydroplane and do a 180 into the median (thank God it was a wide grassy median), I went out and put the best all-weather tires on my car I could afford (Bridgestone Potenzas).

Huuuuuge difference in ride quality and handling on wet roads.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I've always had a preference for Bridgestones. Their wet traction is pretty much un-matched.

ZV

Unless you've got Potenza RE-92's which are OEM on a sh!tload of cars. They're terrible and considered a "high performance all-season". BS. They don't even work well in the dry AND the final insult is they're about $170 each for a 215/45 17. Boy was I glad to dump those.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: edro
195/60-15 @ Discount Tire

Same size @ Walmart

Same size @ Nation Tire and Battery

Looks like the BF Goodrich Traction T/A is about $75 each.

Like I said, about $300 a set

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I've always had a preference for Bridgestones. Their wet traction is pretty much un-matched.

ZV

Unless you've got Potenza RE-92's which are OEM on a sh!tload of cars. They're terrible and considered a "high performance all-season". BS. They don't even work well in the dry AND the final insult is they're about $170 each for a 215/45 17. Boy was I glad to dump those.

Never buy OE tires...

RE950's are good, and the RE 750's I have on my 951 kick butt. The Potenza G009 was a good all-around tire too.

ZV

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I've always had a preference for Bridgestones. Their wet traction is pretty much un-matched.

ZV

Unless you've got Potenza RE-92's which are OEM on a sh!tload of cars. They're terrible and considered a "high performance all-season". BS. They don't even work well in the dry AND the final insult is they're about $170 each for a 215/45 17. Boy was I glad to dump those.

Never buy OE tires...

RE950's are good, and the RE 750's I have on my 951 kick butt. The Potenza G009 was a good all-around tire too.

ZV

Uh, you don't have a choice to upgrade when buying the car Luckily I had one blow out at 6k so I got a set of FAR superior Yokohamas.

At any rate, the ones you listed are definitely their better tires. I just can't understand why you'd use those horrible RE-92s on sport cars (WRXs for example).

 

[Scarpozzi]

Go to a tire site on the web and read reviews. Some tires just don't feel the same as others. My parents just recently got some new tires on their altima. My mother hated the way the car handled after they were put on, so they took them back and got the next step up.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I've always had a preference for Bridgestones. Their wet traction is pretty much un-matched.

ZV

Unless you've got Potenza RE-92's which are OEM on a sh!tload of cars. They're terrible and considered a "high performance all-season". BS. They don't even work well in the dry AND the final insult is they're about $170 each for a 215/45 17. Boy was I glad to dump those.

Never buy OE tires...

RE950's are good, and the RE 750's I have on my 951 kick butt. The Potenza G009 was a good all-around tire too.

ZV

yes, I like my Bridgestone Turanza LS-Hs way better than the crappy Potenza RE-92s that the dealer puts on...youd think for a luxury brand they would give you better...

 

[thirdeye]

I'm pretty firm believer in tires are definitely a "get what you pay for" item. I wouldn't go too cheap check tirerack.com for reviews of tires that you may consider. Then you can at least get a feel for what you're looking at or have a specific Brand/Model in mind if you go to a local shop.

 

[Reggae4k]

i use Bridgestone Turanza LS-T from Tirerack.com. 80,000 mile rating and great in wet weather. 72 bucks each in your case and i do suggest the road hazard program. they will refund you the price of the same new tire if anything happens to it. check the site for terms but all i know is that i punctured the tire, ordered a new one and they sent me a check for the new tire + shipping.

 

[frankie38]

Originally posted by: Eghck
yes, I like my Bridgestone Turanza LS-Hs way better than the crappy Potenza RE-92s that the dealer puts on...youd think for a luxury brand they would give you better...

ditto

 

[Vic]

Hell yeah it makes a difference. IMO tires are about the most important thing on a car.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: thirdeye
I'm pretty firm believer in tires are definitely a "get what you pay for" item. I wouldn't go too cheap check tirerack.com for reviews of tires that you may consider. Then you can at least get a feel for what you're looking at or have a specific Brand/Model in mind if you go to a local shop.

That's not ENTIRELY true...there are a few expensive tires that suck (see NutBucket's post above), and some cheap tires are surprisingly good.

I put Yokohama Avid T4's on my Golf back when I had it. They're only $41 per tire, and yet they gave pretty good traction, wet or dry. Obviously not high-performance, but more than a lot of economy car tires.

The other thing is treadwear. Sometimes you can buy a tire with a lot of grip for fairly cheap, because it's soft rubber and you won't get much life out of it. An example is the Falken Azeni.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: Reggae4k
i use Bridgestone Turanza LS-T from Tirerack.com. 80,000 mile rating and great in wet weather. 72 bucks each in your case and i do suggest the road hazard program. they will refund you the price of the same new tire if anything happens to it. check the site for terms but all i know is that i punctured the tire, ordered a new one and they sent me a check for the new tire + shipping.

They are $100 ea from TireRack.com from what I see. NTB, Walmart and DIscount Tires all do not sell Bridgestone.

Who sells Bridgestone?

 

[Reggae4k]

the LS-T not LS-H.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: Reggae4k
the LS-T not LS-H.

Ah. Thank you.