New Tires - OPPO Recommendations?

"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
10/13/2014 at 16:19 • Filed to: TIRES, ADVICE, RECOMMENDATION

I'm going to have to throw some new tires on the Milan. I got 2 winters out of the random ass "Radar RPX 800's" that the dealership put on it before I bought it used. Seriously had never heard of them, worked like a champ though. 45k miles I put on them and went through the worst snow winter in Metro Detroit History.

Snow tires aren't in the budget so I need a really good all season option. Yes I know you'll hate that I don't have a second set of tires for the winter. Thankfully it's just about as flat as a board out here in Michigan.

So, we need to have good tread life, and be a solid all season performer.

Size: P205/60R16

2007 Mercury Milan V6 FWD Base if you want to look it up.

I'm not stressed over cost for a solid set that'll do what I need them to, that being said the most expensive tire possible is probably not needed. Look how well I've done with RADARS.

What's caught my eye so far:

Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All Season !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (39)

bob and john > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 16:24

if you cant swing a 2 tire set up, id do a full set of winters

my recommendation: the audi dealer sold us these marangonni winter tires for me dads A3. italian brand. we werent all the trusting of them.

BOY were we wrong. best winter tires ever.

sure, they are loud. but we've have then for 4 winters on my dads car, and they still look like they can take another 2. after that we are going to replace them because of age if nothing else.
AND they gripped better then the X-ice 2 that we throw on my moms IS250 AWD

EDIT: the tire was a 4 ICE E+

ly2v8-Brian > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 16:25

black ones, and round at that.

Will with a W8 races an E30 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 16:26

Pirelli Cinturato P7 seems like a solid performer. Haven't used them myself but have been eyeing them for a DD.

mcseanerson > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 16:27

As far as all seasons go I hear nothing but praise for Continental DWS.

fiverguy > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 16:29

I've heard rave things about those tires, not a bad choice.

For a (closer to) bargain price with big performance, consider the General AltiMax RT43. Tire Rack reviews seem very strong and I am probably going to put those on for my summers when it's time. (I run the Altimax Artics in the winter.)

Will with a W8 races an E30 > mcseanerson
10/13/2014 at 16:31

I've had the Conti DWS. They're decent, and great for dry/rain, but once that S wears away they are pretty lousy in the snow.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 16:31

My mom has always had Bridgestone Duelers on her Vue and they've never let her down through six years of winters. I think they changed the name to Ecopia though.

Here's some at Tire Rack.

dogisbadob > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 16:38

The Tripletred is a good tire, but I don't like directional tires because you can't rotate them without remounting. If you go to a place that will remount for free, then they're OK. Walmart is the only place I know of that will do the remounting for free during the rotations.

Other good tires are:
Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum
Falken Ziex ZE950
Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max
Michelin Defender
Cooper CS5 Ultra
Dunlop SP Sport Signature
Dunlop Signature II
General Altimax RT43

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > dogisbadob
10/13/2014 at 16:46

oh good call on the directional issue!

Good list thanks!

What's your top choice on that big list?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/13/2014 at 16:46

Thanks for the tip I think the Dueler line is for SUV/Truck, might be the same tire called Ecopia for cars.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > fiverguy
10/13/2014 at 16:48

Thanks for the tips (and a cheaper option, which is always welcome) I just heard they are directional so you have issues rotating them.... :(

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Will with a W8 races an E30
10/13/2014 at 16:48

RUN AWAY THEN

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Will with a W8 races an E30
10/13/2014 at 16:48

Thanks for the tip!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > ly2v8-Brian
10/13/2014 at 16:49

THE SEARCH IS OVER!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > bob and john
10/13/2014 at 16:49

Interesting.

I never thought to run non-studded winters year round.

Roundbadge > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 17:00

I'm quite happy with my Hankook Optimo H727s.

dogisbadob > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 17:05

I have the SP Sport Signatures on my car, so I guess you could call that my top choice.

They are rated for 60k, but it is considered a high performance tire, and maybe you might want a longer-lasting tire. I have yet to try them in the winter. The Signature II is slightly longer life, slightly less handling.

The Defender will almost definitely last longer (it's rated to 90k), and Michelin makes great tires, but they are expensive. If you can afford them, get the Defenders.

If not, any of the others should serve you well; it would just come down to price.

dogisbadob > bob and john
10/13/2014 at 17:10

They actually have winters specifically designed to be used year-round (better than normal all-seasons tires because the ones I'm talking about actually have the mountain and snowflake symbol that "real" winter tires have): Nokian WRG3 and Vredestein Quatrac 3

jiggawha > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 17:26

Dont bother with the "howl years".

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 17:30

I put General Altimax RT43's on my Malibu a couple thousand miles ago. I've been very happy with them. They were cheap, they ride nicely, and the wet and dry handling has been very good too. Obviously, I haven't had them in the snow yet, but I feel pretty confident about them.

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 17:31

fiverguy > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 17:32

Just rotate front to back. My snows have been directional, and rotating front to back had wore them perfectly even. Shouldn't be a dealbreaker?

shop-teacher > fiverguy
10/13/2014 at 17:32

I put the AltiMax RT 43's on my Malibu a couple thousand miles ago. I've been very happy with them. Wet and dry handling is great, and the ride is nice too.

joey-taps > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 17:58

I had the Defenders on a 2010 Altima, they suck in wet condition and they are harder rubber which makes the ride a little harsher, I ended up returning them under the 30 day return period (yes you can return Michelin tires) I much prefer the Michelin MXv4 but they are being phased out for the Premier A/S which I got. Much better than the Defender

ly2v8-Brian > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 18:01

glad I could help.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 18:25

If you have a Costco membership, try the Michelin Defenders. They're pretty good tires. My aunt had them on her old Toyota Solara. If you don't have a membership, try Tire Rack's selection of Michelin Defenders.

http://tires2.costco.com/product.aspx?I… Costco's Michelins

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.js… Tire Rack's Michelins

eforeal > mcseanerson
10/13/2014 at 21:27

I had these on an 09 GTI. Would have gotten warm weathers but Im in NY so the DWS made sense. They were outstanding!!

M1A1D > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2014 at 21:28

Had the TripleTreds on the '11 Escape last winter. They did pretty good except for that week straight double digit negatives in February. Then again, her truck didn't even want to start which is a whole 'nuther bag of bull.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > M1A1D
10/14/2014 at 09:04

yikes. I think these guys are out though, i heard they are directional and I won't be able to properly rotate them in the driveway, huge negative to me.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > joey-taps
10/14/2014 at 09:10

good advice thanks

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
10/14/2014 at 09:11

you're not the first to recommend those!

I definitely have to get a set before snow. Not having power to all 4 wheels is only saved by good tires.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > jiggawha
10/14/2014 at 09:11

Is that a random knock on all Goodyears?

I've had GREAT experiences with Goodyears on all my old SUV's and trucks.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > dogisbadob
10/14/2014 at 09:13

It seems like the most popular 2 recommendations are the Defenders and the General Altimax RT34

Sounds like I've got an expensive and cheap option lol

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/14/2014 at 09:20

Absolutely, good tires are key! The Malibu came with a set of Goodyear Eagle LS-2's. I've always been happy with Goodyear tires that I had on other vehicles, but these were GARBAGE. They grabbed every single crack and pavement marker and they rode rough too. Dry traction was OK, wet traction was scary, and in snow they were useless. Replacements would've been even cheaper than the General's, but they'd have to pay me to put those things back on my car.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
10/14/2014 at 10:01

hahaha.

Wow that's a heck of a review.

I'm actually leaning towards the Generals, which is a brand I've never bought. Tons of comments saying just what you did about the Altimax though.

I've been riding on these ridiculous Radar's. Seriously, wtf is RADAR tires?! I found out when I did a little digging they are mainly wholesale tires that dealers throw on for dirt cheap. Somehow they did a great job for 2 years.

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/14/2014 at 14:47

Yeah, I've never heard of Radar tires either.

I was a little anxious about trying the Generals. My Sierra came with a set of General Amitracs from the factory that were ... OK, I guess. But the reviews on Tire Rack, which there were a lot of, convinced me to take a shot. I'm glad I didn't spend more money on tires, because I'm totally happy with these.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
10/14/2014 at 14:57

That's really helping.

jiggawha > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/14/2014 at 16:59

If it was a knock on all goodyears ive ever owned they be called flat years. Lol. O can't say I've seen a quiet set of Goodyear car tires. Truck they are alright. But do not push the load rating. max on them means you better pussy foot where your going and have them aired up properly to max rating

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > jiggawha
10/15/2014 at 09:53

interesting, like I said I only have the SUV experience