Need Tires: What Do You Recommend?

[Carbo]

2003 Acura TL, original tires are gone after 42K miles. 205/60R 16V.
Mix of suburban and interstate driving, southeast location, never snows, frequent summertime wet weather.
Looking at tire reviews online, there never seems to be a consensus. Someone rates a particular model the greatest thing since Henry Ford, next reviewer wants to file a class action lawsuit because the tires were so crappy. :\
I was at my local Sears yesterday and was quoted an out the door price of $582 for a set of Goodyear Eagle GT's. Includes installation, balance, alignment, road hazard agreement, and all taxes and associated BS.
From what I see that's a pretty good deal.
Anyone with these tires care to opine? Any other tires you want to recommend?
Thank you.

 

[Excelsior]

How much are you looking to spend? I know there were some General tires that everyone loved for around $70-80 per tire. They were summer only but that might work for you ok.

 

[Vette73]

How much are you looking to spend? I know there were some General tires that everyone loved for around $70-80 per tire. They were summer only but that might work for you ok.

Yea the General UHP. Good summer tire with a soft sidewall and decent treadwear. I have them on my Corvette. But I don;t see them in that size. They do have them in the 215/55-16
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...5WR6EUHP&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

Or the 215/50-16
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...5VR6EUHP&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes


Now if you want a tire to last longer then get one with a higher tread wear like this...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...R6AMAXRT&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes



And a tire that is in-between the UHP and the all season one is...

http://www.treadepot.com/tire/15484150000.html

 

[lurk3r]

Its always a balancing act, better performing tires are softer and don't last. Use TireRack to compare the traction/treadwear characteristics, then pick the cheapest or prettiest one, whichever you are after. Watch wet and snow performance as well, nothing worse than hydroplaning because you had to have the best summer performance tires out there.

 

[lastig21]

We just put on a set of Continental Extreme Contact DWS. I would definitely recommend them. These replaced a set of Bridgestone RE050A's. We don't drive hard, but I haven't noticed any performance degradation with the swap. Wet weather traction is better, and road noise is greatly reduced.

BTW, if you buy a set of 4 Continentals you get a free TomTom Ease GPS. Ours came in very quickly.

 

[Vette73]

We just put on a set of Continental Extreme Contact DWS. I would definitely recommend them. These replaced a set of Bridgestone RE050A's. We don't drive hard, but I haven't noticed any performance degradation with the swap. Wet weather traction is better, and road noise is greatly reduced.

BTW, if you buy a set of 4 Continentals you get a free TomTom Ease GPS. Ours came in very quickly.

I have the DWS on my CTS. Reason I did not bring them up was that they are a hybrid tires fopr those that get some snow but not enough to have a full time snow tire. Since he said no snow the DWS has a higher price point then the Generals I listed but good wet dry abilities.

But I do love my DWS. 100 year snow, North VA, and my RWD CTS was just fine and never got stuck. Drove by many FWD/4x4's that were stuck. :awe:

 

[franksta]

Yokohama S.drives

 

[MBrown]

Michelin Primacy MXV4 (60k mile warranty)
BFGoodrich Advantage T/A (60k mile warranty)

 

[JulesMaximus]

I had Michelin Pilot Sports on my Maxima but recently replaced them with a much cheaper tire sold at Discount Tire called the Riken Raptor or some equally stupid name. Supposedly they are made by Michelin and they do ride nice and quiet on the freeways, handle well (even in the rain), but they do tend to follow the grooves in the road a bit more than the Pilot Sports did.

 

[thomsbrain]

I have Michelin Primacy MXV4 in the same size as you on my Honda Accord V6. They are an excellent passenger car tire. They are one of most expensive tires you can buy in that size, but you get what you pay for.

Very quiet, very good ride quality, amazing tread life. I have ~40,000 miles on mine, much of which involved relatively high-speed cornering (I commute over a twisty mountain highway), and the tires still have at least 50% of their life left. I expect to get anywhere from 80-90K out of them. Grip levels are not great, but they are fine for an all-season passenger tire. At the limit, they lose grip very progressively and predictably, with decent feedback through the wheel. They work okay in snow.

 

[Carbo]

After some due diligence I went with the Cooper CS4 Touring tires. The ratings I read were very positive. Took a look over at Treadepot.com, (thanks, Marlin!), and they had a great deal. A $40 Easter Weekend instant rebate, and Cooper Tires has a $50 mail in rebate. Having them shipped to a local Tire Kingdom for installation and an alignment.
Thanks for the input, gents. :thumbsup:

 

[T2urtle]

^ how much was your total...

 

[Carbo]

Including their tire protection plan and shipping to the installer, $407.44
That price doesn't factor in the $50 Cooper rebate. So the total cost to me is $357.44

 

[T2urtle]

$407.44 shipped plus $100 or less to install (if thats not included) so its less then what sears quoted you and only an hour of playing around online to save you about $100-200

 

[Carbo]

Tire Kingdom charges $70 for installation and balance, plus $60 for an alignment. My total cost after all is said and done is $487. Around $100 less than Sears and, I think, for a better set of tires. I'm pleased with the results of mucking around the 'net for an hour.

 

[theeedude]

I got Yokohama YK-520 on a Mazda3. Supposed to be harder compound so you may get less grip in exchange for longer life. Mazda3 has grip to spare and is beautifully poised at the limit anyways, so that's not an issue for me in everyday driving. Still throw it into tight corners at high speed and it hangs on for dear life. I believe Discount Tire is the only one that sells it though.