Have to buy tires, need opinions.

Z

zebra

Registered
I didn't want to put this in the tires forum because there appears to be nothing there...

I'm considering putting 245/50/16s on my car. It currently has 225/60/16s. I like the wide look but don't want the car to follow every little ripple or joint in the road. I have some Michelin Pilots on it now that I am not happy with. For one thing they only lasted 14k miles. They also tend to follow the seams, etc in the road. The tire guy says that is in part because michelins have a softer sidewall and just do that, but he says a wider tire will also do that. I don't mind it as long as it doesn't get much worse than it is now. I am considering Yokohomas Avid H4s or a similar Goodrich tire. I am getting away from the ultra high performance rated tires because I would like them to last more than 14k.

What do you guys think? I want the look that the wide tires give, but want ride quality and quiet too.

They had a set a 2005 Mustang GT wheels and tires for $900.00 but they didn't fit the car... rats

Thanks.
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

Take a look at all of the good reviews and ratings at www.tirerack.com.

If I were to give you one piece of advice, it's that you can have your cake and eat it too. In other words, there are tires out there that are ultra high performance and that have a 400 (very high) wear rating...and that are reasonably priced.

When I shop for tires, I don't look at performance categories...they are ambiguous and different from brand to brand. The three things I look at are speed rating, wear rating and price. Speed ratings and wear ratings are industry standards that are based on strictly defined testing. You can also look at skid pad ratings, but I have found these to be so close among most tires that I don't consider them. Especially when one considers how g ratings equate to the actual speed that a tire can take a turn. The equation is:

g-pad rating = (vehicle velocity)^2/(turn radius)

so

vehicle velocity = square root of (g-pad rating)*(turn radius)

In essence, a tire with a high rating of 1.00g can only go 5% faster than a tire with an "average" rating of 0.90g.

Sorry for the lecture.
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

I don't know about the G-pad ratings but also keep in mind a higher treadwear rating also means a harder rubber. FWIW Continental tires usually score high for treadwear and Michelin usually scores high for traction.

Of course I already knew that. When I purchased my chrome 10 spoke rims they came with Continental tires. Removing the Michelins to mount the chrome rims with the Continentals was extremely degrading to the ride on my '93. Also, I could easily 'light 'em up' on the Conti's where with the Michelins it was much, much more deliberate to get them to break traction.

I'm thinking of tires in the spring as well and have considered Yokohamas and Sumitomos but am still looking.
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
My most important issue was wet traction. I spun out on the interstate at 80 mph once and with luck I'll never do that again.
[/div]

Wet traction at 80 mph will be a tough find. ::nono::
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

I don't drive the car much in rain, but do want wet traction, too.
I read the reviews in Tire Rack and also like the Yokohamas.

I want the 245/50/16s for the look, but want to make sure that they won't rub or anything.

I may get a harder compound this time since I'm not driving the car as hard as before, and I am disgusted at the lack of longevity of the Michelin Pilots.
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

"Also, I could easily 'light 'em up' on the Conti's where with the Michelins it was much, much more deliberate to get them to break traction"


When I put the Michelin Pilots on the car I was a disappointed because the car no longer "barked" when it hit second gear. I had forgotten about that... Brings back old times!
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

Zebra,

I replaced my original Michelin MXV4's with new "green" MXV4's (V rated)at 58k miles and the replacements still have tread at 104k miles. They still run smooth up to 80mph when the darn drive shaft starts vibrating. They are probably not the best for drag racing, but seem to stick well in the turns and in the wet. They don't tend to squeal when they spin which may be good if you don't want to attract the fuzz.
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
"They don't tend to squeal when they spin which may be good if you don't want to attract the fuzz."....you're right, but they still come running with the FD when all the smoke rises into the air.....[/div]

I do my burnouts on the freeway onramps with the signal lights. They may see it from the road, but there isn't much they can do about it...
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

I've always liked the 245 50 r16 look on the Mark, it makes it look more like a the performance car it is.

I've had a set of Yokos and Bridgestone RE750 in that size. The yokos lasted quite a while and I was very pleased with the all around performance. They lasted about 30K and handled well. The Bridgestones I have now I've had for a year and a half. I'm also very pleased with them, but they are a summer tire. I drove one snow storm in them and never again. I have a set of Blizzaks on right now for the winter. GREAT winter tire, I can actually drive with confidence in the snow.

I've had good experience with the yokos and bridgestone so I would recommend either one of these, but I've had horrible experience with Goodyear. I can not see buying goodyear again.

The RE750 is rated: 245/50R16 W-rated UTQ 340 AA A
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

Manuel,

When you got the RE750's did you lower your car also? And how is the speedo reading on it? Is it worth while to get a correctoin gear? I'd be putting 225/60/16's on in the winter again but would like to go with the 245/50/16's Bridgestone RE750's for summer.
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

i ahve been ahving troulbe with the 245 50 16s wearing out the middle of tire they are to wide for our wheels but they look mean and ill probay do it agin
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
i ahve been ahving troulbe with the 245 50 16s wearing out the middle of tire they are to wide for our wheels but they look mean and ill probay do it agin
[/div]

Yes, you may have under-exceeded the manufacturer's wheel width requirement for that tire.
 
RE: Have to buy tires, need opinions.

it may be the construction of the avs 100s with the super stiff side wall

your nittos are more for drag racing thus have a softer side wall i belive

but no the air presure was varried over 20 pounds with still the same result

but given the choice agin id sitll go with that size
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top