Which tire @ Costco for good wet/snow traction?

[JEDI]

2008 Altima 2.5S @ 16k miles(Parents car)
Tires = 215/60 R16, speed rating= 94T

My parents live in the city and dont drive much.
they dont like the OEM tires (Continential ContiPro Contact). They say it doesnt have enuf traction in rain, and no traction in light snow.

they have a costco membership and want a new set from there.

Costco lists these tires for their car:
1) Michelin Hydro Edge ($153/each, 90k mile warrenty)
2) Michelin X Radial ($138/each, 80k)
3) Michelin Energy Saver A/S ($136/each, 65k)
4) BF Goodrich Premier Touring ($115/each, 70k)

From the name, i'm guessing the HydroEdge has the best wet/snow traction??

Which one would you pick for good wet/light snow traction?


Edit:
Altima 2.5s

 

[bruceb]

Take the Michelin Hydro Edge (your #1 on list)

Tirerack.com had a good review on them

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/TireTestServlet?tireMakeModel=Michelin_HydroEdge_1

Michelin HydroEdge Passenger All-Season 205/55R16

• What We Liked: Responsive handling and good dry traction
• What We'd Improve: Soften the ride and reduce tread noise
• Conclusion: A tire that delivers good road handling and wet and dry traction
• Latest Test Rank: 3rd (June '06)
• Previous Test Rank: 1st (August '03)

 

[mmntech]

Michelins are the best tires you can buy IMO. I have the Harmony all seasons on my car. One model down from the HydroEdge IIRC. Good snow handling and it's like driving on dry pavement when it rains. Great comfort too. Huge difference from the crappy Firestones I had on it before.

 

[Raizinman]

A 2008 Nissan Altima has either the 2.5 (175 hp) or the 3.5 liter engine (270 hp). The 4 cylinder does not have stability control whereas the 6 cylinder could. Likewise, Anti lock brakes were standard on the 3.5 Liter engine but were a $300 option on the 2.5 S model. The curb weight is 3,042 which is on the light side.

My point being, that if your parents purchased this car for economy and bought a simple cheap car, being the 2.5 S, it will NOT have stability control and will likely NOT have anti-lock brakes; making traction, stability, and stopping difficult no matter what tires you plan to get.

 

[mmntech]

A 2008 Nissan Altima has either the 2.5 (175 hp) or the 3.5 liter engine (270 hp). The 4 cylinder does not have stability control whereas the 6 cylinder could. Likewise, Anti lock brakes were standard on the 3.5 Liter engine but were a $300 option on the 2.5 S model. The curb weight is 3,042 which is on the light side.

My point being, that if your parents purchased this car for economy and bought a simple cheap car, being the 2.5 S, it will NOT have stability control and will likely NOT have anti-lock brakes; making traction, stability, and stopping difficult no matter what tires you plan to get.

I've driven a lot of different vehicles and the only issues I've had stopping with light vehicles are only for very light vehicles. Namely things like the Yaris, Smart, and SX4. SX4 is terrible in snow FWIW. Good tires do help a lot. It's what actually contacts the road. Stability control and anti-lock are driver assists. They help in situations where the driver may not be able to react quickly enough. Remember to drive slow in snowy conditions, leave plenty of distance, and pump your breaks on slippery roads. That'll keep you out of a mess of trouble. Take it from someone who's driven many a panel van in bad weather. Those things can be death traps if you don't know what you're doing.

 

[Raizinman]

and pump your breaks on slippery roads. That'll keep you out of a mess of trouble.

I hope this was an error in thought and spelling. Never pump your Anti lock brakes!

If you do not have anti lock brakes, then it is OK to pump your brakes.

The OP stated that their Altima has only 16K miles on the tires. Without knowing which Altima we are talking about, its very likely new tires will not make much to any difference at all, which was the point of my post. Give us good complete information, and we can all try to give the best advice possible.

Are you aware that the Continental ContiPro tire is an All-Season tire. It has a treadwear of 400, Traction rating of AA, Temperature of A and sells for about $110 each. This tire is rated for 80,000 miles. Do you think these tires are worn out now at 16K? Is a Michelins rating really going to make a difference in comparison to this tire? Not really! The problem with this vehicle is NOT the tires.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Michelins are the best tires you can buy IMO. I have the Harmony all seasons on my car. One model down from the HydroEdge IIRC. Good snow handling and it's like driving on dry pavement when it rains. Great comfort too. Huge difference from the crappy Firestones I had on it before.

I agree with Harmony. They are an excellent tire on my Acura 3.5RL.

Not sure if serious about pumping the brake pedal. :hmm:

Pumping the pedal defeats the purpose of Anti Lock brakes. If your car has got them, then why pump the pedal?

 

[jlee]

I hope this was an error in thought and spelling. Never pump your Anti lock brakes!

If you do not have anti lock brakes, then it is OK to pump your brakes.

The OP stated that their Altima has only 16K miles on the tires. Without knowing which Altima we are talking about, its very likely new tires will not make much to any difference at all, which was the point of my post. Give us good complete information, and we can all try to give the best advice possible.

Are you aware that the Continental ContiPro tire is an All-Season tire. It has a treadwear of 400, Traction rating of AA, Temperature of A and sells for about $110 each. This tire is rated for 80,000 miles. Do you think these tires are worn out now at 16K? Is a Michelins rating really going to make a difference in comparison to this tire? Not really! The problem with this vehicle is NOT the tires.

Tires are the most important part of the car when it comes to having traction. If the OEM tires are shitty, it's no surprise that snow traction is inadequate.

 

[JEDI]

I hope this was an error in thought and spelling. Never pump your Anti lock brakes!

If you do not have anti lock brakes, then it is OK to pump your brakes.

The OP stated that their Altima has only 16K miles on the tires. Without knowing which Altima we are talking about, its very likely new tires will not make much to any difference at all, which was the point of my post. Give us good complete information, and we can all try to give the best advice possible.

Are you aware that the Continental ContiPro tire is an All-Season tire. It has a treadwear of 400, Traction rating of AA, Temperature of A and sells for about $110 each. This tire is rated for 80,000 miles. Do you think these tires are worn out now at 16K? Is a Michelins rating really going to make a difference in comparison to this tire? Not really! The problem with this vehicle is NOT the tires.

ooppps.. left out the model #. it's an altima 2.5 S.
edited the OP.

ContiPro's has AA traction???
doubt it since tirerack gave them bad scroes for light snow traction.

 

[Raizinman]

An Altima 2.5S does not have stability control or anti lock brakes. Nissan has already put on an excellent tire, the Continental ContiPro that has an AA rating for traction. If you don’t believe it, check the Continental site as I did instead of guessing. Likewise, with only 16K on the original tires, they obviously are not worn, as they are 80,000 mile tires. Changing the tires will not make any difference in the traction or light snow. In these days of tight money, I would suggest to your parents to slow down a bit more or trade the vehicle for one with traction/stability control, and anti-lock brakes.

 

[sontakke]

Isn't Altima Nissan's bread and butter vehicle, competing with Camry and Accord? If so, I am shocked that it does not come with ABS as standard. I understand lack of traction control or stability control in the 2.5S model but not having ABS on that family sedan is just incredible. Is it because Nissan has started to cater to rental market? I do see lots Altima at airport rental lots.

For crying out loud, 1999 Camry 4cyl LE came with ABS as standard. What is Nissan thinking??

- Vikas

 

[jlee]

If I was at all concerned about snow traction, I'd get snow tires...

An Altima 2.5S does not have stability control or anti lock brakes. Nissan has already put on an excellent tire, the Continental ContiPro that has an AA rating for traction. If you don’t believe it, check the Continental site as I did instead of guessing. Likewise, with only 16K on the original tires, they obviously are not worn, as they are 80,000 mile tires. Changing the tires will not make any difference in the traction or light snow. In these days of tight money, I would suggest to your parents to slow down a bit more or trade the vehicle for one with traction/stability control, and anti-lock brakes.

His specific tire (94T) is rated A, not AA. Incidentally, that's the same letter rating as my Dunlop Direzza Z1 Sport Star Specs...and I'd put good money down that mine have better wet traction. All the traction ratings mean is that the tire's dragging coefficient of friction exceeds xyz G's when skidding in a straight line on a wet surface.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=48
The Traction Grade is determined by installing properly inflated test tires on the instrumented axle of a "skid trailer." The skid trailer is pulled behind a truck at a constant 40 mph over wet asphalt and wet concrete test surfaces. Its brakes are momentarily locked and the axle sensors measure the tire's coefficient of friction (braking g forces) as it slides. Since this test evaluates a sliding tire at a constant 40 mph, it places more emphasis on the tire's tread compound and less emphasis on its tread design.

Tread design is immensely important when it comes to overall rain and snow traction (i.e. why snow tires have aggressive siping that all seasons do not).

 

[Pariah]

For crying out loud, 1999 Camry 4cyl LE came with ABS as standard. What is Nissan thinking??

- Vikas

They're probably thinking that Raizinman doesn't know what he is talking about. All Altima models in 2008 had ABS, even the base 2.5. Stability control, however, was not available for the 4 cylinder models.


As for the OP. Like JLee said. If you're concerned about snow traction, there are no subsitutes for snow tires. The best place to get opinions on tires is from tirerack.com. Look at the surveys and reviews.