Input on Replacement Tire Choices for '02 EXV6

[benjamming]

I will be replacing all 4 tires on our '02 EX V6 at around 45,000 miles. We are a few hundred from that now. The car is all stock. I have rotated the tires in a cross pattern every 7500 miles. The rear 2 have 2-3/32" of tread left. The front 2 have 3/32" of tread left with one groove at 2/32" of tread. OEM tires are Michelin MXV4 Plus 205/65-15 VR. I will stay with the same size but not the same tire. I'm not decided on the speed rating yet. I started out with 33 choices on Tire Rack and have narrowed it down to 11, 2 of which are V-rated. I would like input on the following tires that I have put in my current preference.

1) Bridgestone Turanza LS-V 92V
2) Bridgestone Turanza LS-H 92H
3) Dunlop SP Sport A2 Plus 92H
4) Firestone Affinity LH30
5) Fuzion HRi 94H
6) Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Symmetrical 92V
7) Kumho Solus KH16 92H
8) Continental ContiProContact 94H
9) Sumitomo HTR H4 92H
10) Hankook Optima H417 92H
11) Bridgestone Turanza EL400 92H

#7-11 are there to make sure I don't leave out a "sleeper" tire. I don't think I will get those. I'm not real sure how the Fuzion tires will perform & look as I haven't seen them before. The Dunlop SP Sport A2 Plus, Firestone Affinity LH30, and Fuzion HRi all seem like real good buys, but I'm not sure.

[hermann]

I had the Firestone's on my 2000 Focus and loved them. Soft ride with really decent handling and wore real well.. Just one caveat is that they work better with lower pressures. Might cost you a MPG or two. Real reasonably priced also. Also real quiet on all surfaces..

I am considering Yokohama's Avids or BF Goodrich Traction TA's also, when my income tax refund comes around in Feburary.

[ericrwalker]

the Pirelli PZero System Asimmetrico tires look good, go for them :thmsup: I would if I had the money. I think I would go for the Dunlop SP Sport A2 Plus 92H out of those choices, but I don't have any experience with them. I would see if they have them on www.tirerack.com and see if they have user reviews on each of them.

I will be replacing all 4 tires on our '02 EX V6 at around 45,000 miles. We are a few hundred from that now. The car is all stock. I have rotated the tires in a cross pattern every 7500 miles. The rear 2 have 2-3/32" of tread left. The front 2 have 3/32" of tread left with one groove at 2/32" of tread. OEM tires are Michelin MXV4 Plus 205/65-15 VR. I will stay with the same size but not the same tire. I'm not decided on the speed rating yet. I started out with 33 choices on Tire Rack and have narrowed it down to 11, 2 of which are V-rated. I would like input on the following tires that I have put in my current preference.

1) Bridgestone Turanza LS-V 92V
2) Bridgestone Turanza LS-H 92H
3) Dunlop SP Sport A2 Plus 92H
4) Firestone Affinity LH30
5) Fuzion HRi 94H
6) Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Symmetrical 92V
7) Kumho Solus KH16 92H
8) Continental ContiProContact 94H
9) Sumitomo HTR H4 92H
10) Hankook Optima H417 92H
11) Bridgestone Turanza EL400 92H

#7-11 are there to make sure I don't leave out a "sleeper" tire. I don't think I will get those. I'm not real sure how the Fuzion tires will perform & look as I haven't seen them before. The Dunlop SP Sport A2 Plus, Firestone Affinity LH30, and Fuzion HRi all seem like real good buys, but I'm not sure.

[MasTRE]

Interestingly enough, the Energy MXV4s were stock on the Passat too. It's unlikely you'll get the same gas mileage with any other tire, as that specific Michelin is specifically engineered for low rolling resistance. But I do agree, the performance leaves a lot to be desired. I only ran them for a few thousand miles on my Passat, and I liked nothing about them other than the gas mileage (+2-4 MPG compared to 225/45R17 Potenza G009s -- which, btw, is a great tire).

I'm replacing my stock tires on the Accord soon myself, and what's on there now is pretty worn, so I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. I'm actually thinking of going with 16s..

[Pairallel]

Just 3 comments:

1. Had the Dunlop Sport A2's - very noisy tire. I was disappointed since they were top-rated by Consumer's.

2. Be careful not to buy tires that cannot be easily replaced if you get a flat (e.g. Sumitomo, Kumho, Pirelli...)

3. You should at least take a look at the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred or ComforTred? These are amazing tires...

[benjamming]

Thanks for everyone's comments. I've been calling a lot of places & looking at the actual tires the past week or so.

Pairallel,
Did you have the Dunlop SP Sport A2 or A2 Plus?

Are the Bridgestone Turanza LS-H & LS-V being phased out? They are sorta pricey as well.
No one around here can supply the Bridgestone Turanza EL400 in H rating, only T rating. So, that pretty much knocks them out. Tirerack has limited stock on these as well.
The directional tires are gone.
I removed the Firestone Affinity LH30 b/c it was at the bottom of Consumer Reports review back in Nov-03.
I don't know anything about the Hankook & Sumitomo & no one has them in stock for me to look at.
The Dunlop SP Sport 5000 seem to wear fast from what I've read.
I was told that the Continental is a directional tire but no one has it in stock for me to look at. Continental & Tire rack haven't gotten back to me yet on this.
So, I'm left with the following (preference by me):

1) Dunlop SP Sport A2 Plus 92H $382.10
2) Continental ContiProContact 94H $464.18
3) Bridgestone Turanza LS-H 92H $628.56
4) Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Symmetrical 92V $485.78
5) Bridgestone Turanza LS-V 92V $702.00
6) Bridgestone Turanza EL400 92H $656.00
7) Sumitomo HTR H4 92H $389.07
8) Hankook Optima H417 92H $347.54

The best prices I have found close to me include install, disposal, valve stems, balance, and tax.
I guess that I'm obsessing over this, but just want to make a wise decision.

[Accord4Life]

Why no Bridgestone Potenzas??? Thats what I am putting on my new rims.

[BenjiBoy650]

Holy cow $628 for a Turanza tire? That's outrageous

[stevencrosbie]

I had the MX4's as factory as well and hated them....the only good thing is they lasted until I brought the car to Colorado (50 K miles). I really enjoy the GoodYear Triple Treads I have now...they are excellent in dry, wet, snow, and ice. I feel they are a very good performer in all of our weather.

[BenjiBoy650]

I had the MX4's as factory as well and hated them....the only good thing is they lasted until I brought the car to Colorado (50 K miles). I really enjoy the GoodYear Triple Treads I have now...they are excellent in dry, wet, snow, and ice. I feel they are a very good performer in all of our weather.

Can you compare the noise levels on the MXV4 and TripleTreds? Maybe even on different surfaces?

[stevencrosbie]

Well, I was never impressed w/ the MXV4's. In Texas, they have a lot of pavement with rather large gravel mixed w/ tar and the MXV4 is very noisy on those types of pavement.

In Colorado, the roads are build with better Asphalt (real dark black stuff). I feel both tires are the same on really good smooth pavement. The largest difference is in the grooved clement. The MXV4s have a really loud whine to them and the Triple Treads are much quieter. Overal, there is a difference in noise levels, but I usually drive w/ the radio on anyways.

You will see the biggest improvement in traction. The MXV4s did not have much stickiness to them. I could floor the car from a stop and lose traction w/ the tires. Try that w/ the Triple Treads. This car doesn't have the torque to break the tires unless you cramp the wheels to the left or right. They are much sticker...but I am still getting a good solid 26-28 average MPG.

Snow is night and day. These tires act like snow tires. They move the slush very well and I have much more confidence in the snow than I ever did before.


Good Luck w/ your choice....just make one you are happy with!

[benjamming]

I chose to not purchase from TireRack b/c they wouldn't return my 3 emails & 1 phone call asking if 3 of the tires were directional or not.

I ordered the Dunlop SP Sport A2 Plus from Quick Lane for $382.10 for mount, balance, valve stems, tire disposal, and tax. They were ~ $18 higher than TireRack after shipping which is about the amount of the tax. Also, I work with a lady whose husband works at Dunlop & will give me a "family & friends" rebate coupon with unknown amount.

I should have them installed within the next week.

[Trip]

Bump

Have you installed the Dunlops? How do you like them?

[benjamming]

They were installed on Jan-28. The shop did a good job balancing them, but scratch the wheel. However, they are paying to have it fixed which will probably be next week.
I do like the tires. They aren't very noisy but a little more than the OE tires. They look quite a bit different - but good. They have good traction in dry. My wife even noticed a dramatic improvement over the stock Michelin tires especially in wet weather. I haven't driven in rain yet. That will probably change this weekend. It may even include a little bit of snow/ice here in northern Alabama.

[MajorDad]

I bought a set of falkens (I'll have to get the model name later) from discount tire direct for both my accord and jetta and I am very pleased. I bought them when they had free shipping as a promotion and they were reasonably priced.

[sneezel]

I had the Dunlap Sport A2's on my '94 Accord. Wore well but a bit noisey.