Tires are the only part of your car touching the road, and even then the surface area regularly connecting to the pavement could fit on a piece of printer paper. And, yet, many of us just look for the cheapest tire. For certain cars that’s maybe ok, but even our staff is split between people who don’t care that much about their tires and those who spend way too much time tire-shopping.
Matt Hardigree
The tires are the only part of my Subaru that do not let me down. I have Michelin CrossClimate 2s and I think they’re the best all-around tire for people who drive a non-performance vehicle/live in cold climates and might have to drive in snow irregularly.
Thomas Hundal
When I bought my Boxster, I knew it needed new tires, and there aren’t many choices in this particular fitment. Instead of the Porsche N-Spec Pirelli P Zeros, which I haven’t been impressed with, or the ancient and expensive Porsche N-Spec Michelin PS2s, I went with the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02. It’s a 340-treadwear summer tire competing with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, except it’s exclusively an aftermarket fitment. While grip and resistance to flat-spotting has been excellent, the big surprise was road manners. These are incredibly quiet tires that are still sticky enough to throw pebbles, they’re hushed over expansion joints, have a great sense of dead-ahead, and I find the steering more linear than on most Michelin tires. So far, I’m extremely happy. After all, a good car requires good tires, right?
Peter Vieira
I am a discerning consumer, which means I wear out the counter guy at my Local Firestone Tire Center with a litany of questions including “What do you have for a 2015 RAV4” and “What is the cheapest tire for a 2015 RAV4,” followed by “can I keep this pen” and exactly no other questions. I’m an unashamed cheap-tire buyer, but I won’t get the cheapest of the cheap – it’s gotta be a legit name brand, it can’t be something like, “Mile King, a Division of Abakumov Rubber & Sausage.” At present, I’m happy with my [goes out to garage to check] Firestone All-Seasons. They’re the perfect combination of “was on sale” and “seems fine” that I require in a tire. And if anyone’s wondering why I get my tires from a Firestone shop, it’s because it’s close enough for me to ride my bicycle back home after I drop off the RAV4. I can’t be hanging out in no tire store all day, I’m busy.
Mercedes Streeter
My only tire loyalty is to Vredestein. Otherwise, cheapest tire from a recognizable brand.
Top image by Pete, via Twitter (sigh … “X.”)
I’ve been really impressed with every set of Coopers I’ve purchased. The high tread truck tires especially, shockingly quiet for the aggressive tread they have. Seem long-wearing too.
We have Douglas and General tires from Wal-Mart on 3 of our 6 vehicles. We pay the $10 per tire charge for the lifetime roadhazard warranty and get free rotation as well.
Say what you will about Wal-Mart, but with all the crap people have fall off their uncovered trailers that ends up on the road, we end up bringing our daily drivers in to get slow leaks and screws/nails/staples/wrenches(!) removed from tires 3 or 4 times every year. The same people usually end up working on the vehicles and they seem to do a decent job there. Plus, the roadhazard warranty is good nationwide at any Wal-Mart so if a tires goes low while we’re travelling, all we have to do is find a Wal-Mart and we can get it fixed for free.
We’ve been going there for tires for the past 10 years or so. Most likely we’ll continue.
We have Douglas and General tires from Wal-Mart on 3 of our 6 vehicles. We pay the $10 per tire charge for the lifetime roadhazard warranty and get free rotation as well.
Say what you will about Wal-Mart, but with all the crap people have fall off their uncovered trailers that ends up on the road, we end up bringing our daily drivers in to get slow leaks and screws/nails/staples/wrenches(!) removed from tires 3 or 4 times every year. The same people usually end up working on the vehicles and they seem to do a decent job there. Plus, the roadhazard warranty is good nationwide at any Wal-Mart so if a tires goes low while we’re travelling, all we have to do is find a Wal-Mart and we can get it fixed for free.
We’ve been going there for tires for the past 10 years or so. Most likely we’ll continue.
Bridgestone RE-71RS is my go to summer tire. It’s noisier than most DOT tires and very heavy rain can be problematic, but the tradeoff is laser precision handling, best in braking performance, and one of the fastest options for light track work. In my opinion it’s the most performance you can get with rain grooves.
When the temp gets below 40 it’s time to switch to the winter set. Pirelli Sotozero 3, three peak mountain certified for heavy snow. For heavy tread blocks and deep grooves the tread-squirm really isn’t too bad. A solid performance winter tire that can comfortably be run to May/June.
Bridgestone RE-71RS is my go to summer tire. It’s noisier than most DOT tires and very heavy rain can be problematic, but the tradeoff is laser precision handling, best in braking performance, and one of the fastest options for light track work. In my opinion it’s the most performance you can get with rain grooves.
When the temp gets below 40 it’s time to switch to the winter set. Pirelli Sotozero 3, three peak mountain certified for heavy snow. For heavy tread blocks and deep grooves the tread-squirm really isn’t too bad. A solid performance winter tire that can comfortably be run to May/June.
Kia: Motomaster SE3 that came with it. Probably were on sale at the Canadian Tire across the street from the Kia dealer when it was traded in. They are fine. No issues, would buy them (or their nearest replacement) on a daily driver. Especially if they were on sale which they often are.
Mustang: Falken FK510 I think. Grippy, seem to be holding up fine. Decently quiet. Were on sale at the tire place near my work.
My process is see what is on sale, read a review or two and go for it. You can drive yourself crazy comparing tire reviews so I tend to just go whatever combination of price/name/local supply I’m comfortable with that day.
Kia: Motomaster SE3 that came with it. Probably were on sale at the Canadian Tire across the street from the Kia dealer when it was traded in. They are fine. No issues, would buy them (or their nearest replacement) on a daily driver. Especially if they were on sale which they often are.
Mustang: Falken FK510 I think. Grippy, seem to be holding up fine. Decently quiet. Were on sale at the tire place near my work.
My process is see what is on sale, read a review or two and go for it. You can drive yourself crazy comparing tire reviews so I tend to just go whatever combination of price/name/local supply I’m comfortable with that day.
Currently running Conti ExtremeContact Sport, and I too am hugely impressed by the grip and comfort.
I had the Vredestein Quatrac 5 tires on the GTI when it was my only car. All weather tire was the perfect choice for me back then, when I needed a good enough daily tire in LA (60-80deg even in winter) that also had snow grip for ski trips.
Currently running Conti ExtremeContact Sport, and I too am hugely impressed by the grip and comfort.
I had the Vredestein Quatrac 5 tires on the GTI when it was my only car. All weather tire was the perfect choice for me back then, when I needed a good enough daily tire in LA (60-80deg even in winter) that also had snow grip for ski trips.
I just replaced the tires on my 2020 GTI with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s. Before I chose those, I was all over the GTI forums to see what people with Mk 7 GTIs thought worked well for what I need — a tire that is more summer oriented but can also handle some rain. I’ve had them for two weeks now, and I can really tell the difference from the OEM Pirellis. Much better grip on the road. My tire guy was impressed with my choice.
I just replaced the tires on my 2020 GTI with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s. Before I chose those, I was all over the GTI forums to see what people with Mk 7 GTIs thought worked well for what I need — a tire that is more summer oriented but can also handle some rain. I’ve had them for two weeks now, and I can really tell the difference from the OEM Pirellis. Much better grip on the road. My tire guy was impressed with my choice.
I’ve ran BF Goodrich g-Force Comp 2 A/S tires on my 2013 Focus ST and previously on my 2008 Mazdaspeed 3. They are the best-wearing ZR-rated tires I’ve had, do well on curvy roads and in rain/snow.
I’ve ran BF Goodrich g-Force Comp 2 A/S tires on my 2013 Focus ST and previously on my 2008 Mazdaspeed 3. They are the best-wearing ZR-rated tires I’ve had, do well on curvy roads and in rain/snow.
Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus (265-65/17) on the Amarok – great on road and off, and got them for a steal in Black Friday sales!
Galaxy things on the old Falcon, because 14″ tyres are vary rare these days… (225&245/60-14)
Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus (265-65/17) on the Amarok – great on road and off, and got them for a steal in Black Friday sales!
Galaxy things on the old Falcon, because 14″ tyres are vary rare these days… (225&245/60-14)
Wow, people really seem to care about tires. Mine came on the cars. The ones on the sedan are Continental something or others and the ones on the trucklet are round and black – I’d have to go look.
I try to be a functioning adult and replace my tires when the tread gets low or if I can feel a decrease in performance, but I’m not brand loyal and I don’t have special purpose vehicles, so I buy whatever seems like a good value at the time.
Wow, people really seem to care about tires. Mine came on the cars. The ones on the sedan are Continental something or others and the ones on the trucklet are round and black – I’d have to go look.
I try to be a functioning adult and replace my tires when the tread gets low or if I can feel a decrease in performance, but I’m not brand loyal and I don’t have special purpose vehicles, so I buy whatever seems like a good value at the time.
I use Michelin summers and seasonally swap to winters on the Honda. The Subaru gets Bridgestone summers and winters. Like both brands. I find the Michelin noisier than the Bridgestones. Wear and traction is about equal.
I use Michelin summers and seasonally swap to winters on the Honda. The Subaru gets Bridgestone summers and winters. Like both brands. I find the Michelin noisier than the Bridgestones. Wear and traction is about equal.
Michelin PS4S: excellent
General grabber atx (wrangler and Cherokee): solid meh, good off-road but balances for shit. Will go back to bfg at after these wear out
Blizzak something: excellent
Michelin PS4S: excellent
General grabber atx (wrangler and Cherokee): solid meh, good off-road but balances for shit. Will go back to bfg at after these wear out
Blizzak something: excellent
What are these “new tires” that you speak of?
I only buy my tires at a junk yard. Doesn’t everybody do that? (your friend DT)
What are these “new tires” that you speak of?
I only buy my tires at a junk yard. Doesn’t everybody do that? (your friend DT)
’17 Volt: General Altimax 365AW. They’re quiet, haven’t seemed to impact electric range at all, and kick ass in snow
’19 Bolt: Falken Sincera SN250. They came with the car and were brand new. I wouldn’t necessarily have picked them but they have decent ratings on CR and are quiet and don’t seem to impact range. Snow driving remains to be seen.
’17 Volt: General Altimax 365AW. They’re quiet, haven’t seemed to impact electric range at all, and kick ass in snow
’19 Bolt: Falken Sincera SN250. They came with the car and were brand new. I wouldn’t necessarily have picked them but they have decent ratings on CR and are quiet and don’t seem to impact range. Snow driving remains to be seen.