BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???

Subject: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: Bobert
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 05:14 PM

Well, you can see that I haven't had to buy any tires for awhile so...

I've always liked Dunlops... I run 'um (SP 40's) on my old Karmann Ghia... I reckon these were the l;ast tires I bought but now the P-Vine's car (Honda CRV) has a set of Bridgestone Duealers on it (P205/70/14) that need to be replaced before too long and she, ahhhhh, fir some reason hates Dunlops and I don't want to have any battles over tires with her so...

...what tires are decent these days for a reasonable price??? I know that Bridgestones have had a good reputation over the years but with so many companies changing ownership and product quality I don't jus' want to go out and buy somethin' that I really don't know much about so...

...suggestions, por favor???

Thanks...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: Leadbelly
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 05:37 PM

I believe, that all are really good. So take the best by price porque el precio es importante.

De nada, Manfred

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 05:38 PM

Bobert, I'd check Consumers' Reports. Tires are varying so much in quality I think it's hard to say anymore.

PM me for more info if you want.

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 06:09 PM

Bobert, I bought tires a couple of months ago and when deciding what type to get I compared the heat ratings and miles they are projected to run. I upgraded from the type I had on the truck from last time to the next higher grade. There are lots of ways they can make the price turn out the way you want, and you can get good quality even if it isn't a household name, but you may want to ask a few questions at the shop. I found they were very frank about the quality and helpful in making the choice.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 06:26 PM

The best tyre around here must be the one that has the best song.

I have never managed to forget the Firestone jingle in more than 40 years since I hear it on New Zealand radio:

The name that's known is Firestone
Where the rubber meets the road.

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 06:50 PM

If you do a lot of traveling, it's probably a good idea to stick with a major brand like Goodyear that has stores almost everywhere. Then, if you should have a blowout 700 miles from home you'll have a better chance of getting a replacement that matches what's on the car. You and I know it doesn't matter if all the tires are the same brand, but P-Vine will probably insist on it bein' that way, so make it easy on yourself.

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 08:35 PM

Jack -

That little jingle is the reason that every town in the US used to have a little back road or two known as "Firestone Alley" - -

- - "Where the rubber meets the road."

I'm afraid the tradition is dying, however, as the "new generation" of hot and lusty children think that if Daddy doesn't spend a lot of money on it, it isn't entertainment. It seems they'd rather play a video game.(?)

John

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 10:28 PM

You may recall that Firestone had a few problems some years back.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: GUEST,MarkS
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 10:36 PM

Best bet is to get a set of Michelins - and get them from Sears.
The Michelins last forever and stand up great to road hazards, and, Sears is everywhere. Any problem, anywhere, you can find a Sears and they will honor the warrantee.
Had nothing but good luck with this.
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: Slag
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 10:39 PM

Coopers

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 11:48 PM

A problem with basing a choice on a brand name is that most of the "brands" trade off manufacturing capacity, and a tire of a given brand can pretty much be made in any factory, by any crew. Different "brands" may in fact be made on the same production line(s).

Most product recalls for "observed defects" are in single lots, usually made on only one (or few) production line(s). The production line may be only one of many at a given plant, and a given brand may come from any of several plants, not all of which are necessarily owned by the distributor who "owns" the brand name. That brand name is molded into the outer decorative skin, but for the most part is "only skin deep."

Some manufacturers have their own "copyrights" on particular tread designs, and there are people who favor a particular feature of this kind. There is no "perfect" all-around tread, however. The one with best road adhesion in wet weather may make more noise on dry pavement. The one that bites best in snow may hold too much of the mud on warm wet ground. Such choices are most appropriate if you do almost exclusively a specific kind of driving under fairly consistent conditions, as in oval track racing vs road circuit racing, or use your vehicle almost exclusively for highway travel, vs getting around almost entirely on local streets.

Tires are consistently "sized" and any tire, of any brand, that's labelled as being of a certain size will have closely controlled dimensions and will fit the proper wheel.

Tires come in different "profiles" and generally a "low profile" may be better able to withstand higher sustained speeds than a "high profile" one. Since the profile drastically affects handling, using other than what came on your vehicle is NOT CONSIDERED A SAFE PRACTICE. Changing to a different profile may require using a different sized wheel, among other changes needed.

A ply rating - which DOES NOT INDICATE the number of plies actually used in construction - must be confirmed by tests submitted to the appropriate regulatory agencies, usually for each manufacturing lot from each line.

Tires also are rated, according to established standards, for maximum sustained speed - which is actually pretty much a heat buildup/dissipation test. This spec is probably more often considered - and may actually be significant - e.g. in Texas or Nevada, where it's 150 miles to the grocery store and the ambient temperature is consistently in 3 digits, than in most parts of the world and for most drivers.

Comparison ratings for tread wear-life are also found, but are much more "subjective" than other details. They can be used as a general guideline to relative performance to compare two specific brand/model/style/lot# tires; but so far as I've heard no manufacturer/distributor guarantees that you'll get a specific minimum number of miles with any tire. Warranty replacements are always (according to mfrs I've had experience with) based on remaining tread depth, without regard to miles driven. They don't care what your odometer says.

Even the formerly popular "whitewall vs blackwall" battle is a non-issue. Most tires (that are available in "colors") come in one version. If you want whitewalls they mount them with the white on the outside. If want blackwalls the same tire is mounted with the white stripe on the inside. When the (mostly) decorative skin with the brand name on it starts to peel after you've clipped a few curbings, they'll all have white showing.

If you have a specific performance requirement such as lots of sustained high speed highway use in high (or extremely low) temperatures, or more than minimal off-road use, or intend to drive in a lot of snow/ice/rain, or mostly on sandy beaches, any competent seller can point you to specific models, often within several brand names, that may be better suited to your needs than others that dealer has to offer. If you don't have unusual needs there really is little to gain from insisting on a particular brand or model except if it tickles your ego to be able brag about some mythic perceived snob factor.

Any tire will fail prematurely if not kept properly and consistently inflated, if overloaded, or if driven under conditions vastly different than its intended usage. While everyone likes to believe that their "requirements" are special (and for "special people" they are) most people's "special needs" are really pretty much the same, and "general purpose" tires will "generally suffice."

John

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: gnu
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 02:07 PM

Goodyear fer me. The new (2 years) light truck tires with the kevlar reinforced sidewalls are GREAT in the mud and snow and they are SMOOTHER than the old Wrangler AT's on the highway. No, I didn't believe the guy either, until I drove em. Better in the mud and snow and smoother on the pave... don't make no sense... but, I swear it's true.

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: kendall
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 05:47 PM

Beware those made in China. Apparently their quality is adjustable.

Michlins used to be top of the list, but, alas, they have slipped in the last few years. Over rated and over priced.

I just bought a pair of tires from Snyder's antique auto parts, and didn't know until I opened the packing that they were made in China. I should have guessed by the price. They were $40.00 cheaper than Denmans. They are on our 1930 Ford which only gets driven 500 miles a year, so it shouldn't be a problem. However, in the future I shall make sure they are made in the USA.

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 06:12 PM

Made in Italy is usually OK - remember Pirelli?

But yes, so long as you steer clear of Romanian, Turkish, Chinese, etc, most are OK these days unless you plan on using them on track-days (or drag racing, run what yer brung) - or running at a steady speed of over 120 mph.

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: M.Ted
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 10:27 PM

Surprisingly, or not surprisingly, one of the best places around to buy tires, is on line--I have used "The Tire Rack"--the prices are the lowest you'll find, installation is included, and also including shipping to an installer in your area. The website offers comparative information on all the tire brands that they carry, which is most of the ones you'd be interested in. You'll also find that there are a lot more choices than you thought you had--

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: Stu
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 04:10 AM

Tire?

Tyre shurley.

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: GUEST,Keinstein
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 04:16 AM

Make sure you get the round ones. The square ones don't ride half so well.

Subject: RE: BS: Tire Question....What Brands are good???
From: M.Ted
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 10:32 PM

Tires.