new tire advice needed

T

tommiswizzle

Registered
It's me again, the silly female 1997 MK8 owner that doesn't know much about anything!

I need new tires. Currently on the car are Michelin Pilot tires, please don't ask me anything more specific, I just don't know! I'm wondering if these are original? Car has 72k miles on them, tires are looking pretty bad, so it's possible. I have stock wheels. Do I get a new set of Pilots, or is there something better out there, for the same or lesser price? I can't go much more than $200 per tire, although would be more comfortable in the $150 per tire range.

Any advice would be helpful. I want to get new tires either this weekend or early next week.
 
You can get good tires for around $100.

Go to www.tirerack.com. They have a great filter that let's you find exactly what you require. Speed rating, brand, performance type, etc. Your tire size is 225-60-16. Assuming you're not into spirited driving, you can opt to look at all tires within a given performance type, such as snow, all season, summer, touring, etc. Disregard speed ratings and brands, though you may want to avoid the "off" brands. Sort the results page by cost and look at the 3-5 cheapest tires. Once you find the exact tire you want, write it down and shop locally. You'll get a better price from your local tire shop.

A quick search showed me that you can get Sumitomo HTR H4 tires for $59 each. Good brand, all-season, and high performance.
 
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logres said:
Once you find the exact tire you want, write it down and shop locally. You'll get a better price from your local tire shop.
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That's exactly how I did it when I got my Kumho Ectsa's. They are a good "budget brand" performance tire.

The Falken tires are another good budget performance brand.

Edit... I had Michelin Pilots on my '93. Paid about $600 total.
 
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I got Michelin HydroEdge (Great rain tire) right from my local L/M dealer installed/balanced for right at $150 per wheel. It was the best price in town. I love the tire...it was the end of hydroplaining as was the case of the Goodyear Eagles (new) that were on the car when I bought it.
 
I did call a local tire place, before I read budpytko's reply. The tire man said he didn't believe Michelin made the same tire I have anymore (Pilot umm MGT H4 I think). He mentioned another tire that was similar (I left my notes at work, so don't remember) and rated the same. He quoted 193 each, installed. He also mentioned the HydroEdge ones, said they are great in rain, and since I live in Oregon, that's a good one. He said it was rated lower, 100mph rather than 130, it has a T rating. I asked him how it did in snow, although it doesn't snow here, I'm considering moving back to Michigan next year. He said they would probably do better than the first ones he quoted me. They are also 90k mile tires. Those are 172 each, installed.

Is that a reasonable price? Hubby's insisting I get good, high performance tires on the car (even though he's out of the country for a year and won't even be driving it!).
 
Those prices seem about 20% high but that may be geographical. Usually, installed price is about $20 higher per tire considering mounting, balancing, tire valves and tire disposal fee.

Goodyear makes an excellent all-weather performance tire choice - the Assurance Triple-Tread. I have it's sibling, the Goodyear Assurance Comfort-Tread on my Town Car. It may even be a pricier choice though.
 
I still love my Dunlops for all season (Chicago area), although I haven't shopped for tires in a while, and will need to do so soon (damn those new gears, lol).

But yes, I usually go to tirerack to look at tires, and then shop around locally. A lot of places have low price guarantees, so it does pay to call around once you've picked the tire you want. I was thinking about going with Michelins next, and may see what Costco has to offer.

Wow, I just took a look, and it seems like the tire prices have gone way down from what they used to be. Or I'm senile.
 
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Hate to hijack the thread, but I'm seriously looking at getting the Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position - ultra high performance all seasons. The Firestone place here has them listed for 131.99. They appear to be ranked quite high, and I know people here used to love the Potenzas which were a summer only tire. Anyone have experience with these? They look great for dry and wet.

Bertie, the other thing my husband told me is that these places sometimes send around coupons, buy three get one free - so check on that.
 
I got Continental Extreme Contact tires and have been happy with them. The price is good too.
 
Here's some advice my father gave me, "Buy the best tires you can afford. Those tires will save your life one day." They did.
 
Assurance Triple-Tread was my second choice here in Maryland. Lots more rain than snow....I hate hydroplaning! At the time I bought the Hydro-Edge, they were same price.
 
I ended up with the HydroEdge, they seem really nice. Quiet ride and handle really well for the driving I do. Ended up costing $690, which was within my budget. What was NOT in my budget was new brakes though... I kinda had a feeling I'd need them soon, but the tire guy called me at work and told me they were down to 10% all around, so there went another $400. Ouch!
 
tommiswizzle said:
What was NOT in my budget was new brakes though... I kinda had a feeling I'd need them soon, but the tire guy called me at work and told me they were down to 10% all around, so there went another $400. Ouch!
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I wish I was your brake guy! :D
 
I know, I figured I paid way too much for them, but I don't really have anyone around that can do it. The front was $210, the rear was $185.
 
tommiswizzle said:
I know, I figured I paid way too much for them, but I don't really have anyone around that can do it. The front was $210, the rear was $185.
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Don't worry, I've done the same. I can only nag for so long with no one doing anything before I just go and get something done professionally. :(
 
Personally I would never buy all season tires. They are basically good at nothging

they aim to be ok enough that John Q Driver dosent complain they will never be as good as a winter tire in snow and they will never be as good a summer tire summer and they wont be as quiet at a touring tire for general driving.

just my 2 cents
 
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