Tire Recommendations

E

ErikD

Joined
Dec 5, 2000
Messages
1,875
I am looking to replace the tires on my 1994 Acura Integra soon. The front driver's side tire has a cut on the sidewall, and I would rather replace it before it blows. These are the tires that came with the car when I bought it used last year. I know that they still have a lot more left in them, but I want a matched set of tires, and am not all that happy with the ones currently on the car.

Anyone have any idea what a good replacement would be? I would put performance as my first concern, and I tend to drive somewhat aggresively. What I really need is a tire that performs well on dry pavement, and in the rain. Snow is a secondary thought for me, as I can always get snow tires, and we don't usually get all that much snow in NYC. Thanks in advance for the help.
 
If your tire has a cut on the sidewall, you're living on borrowed time already! Get new tires now. Because, Murphy's Law will most definitely apply when that tire blows. You will be driving through some bad neighborhood, in pouring rain, without your cell phone when that tire blows. Guaranteed.

Notice that I did not use any smilies, as I am pretty much being serious(aside from the smart aleckiness). Michelin tires are always good, but some people feel they are too expensive. Tires are NOT something to scrimp on, however.
 
There are many tire choices out there, and what you decide on really depends on what you are looking for and how much you're willing to pay for it.

For someone looking for the best dry and wet performance, "summer tires" offer the maximum. However, since you are in NYC, I would actually recommend performance all-seasons. Snow usually doesn't get that bad here, and all you really need are tires that won't become brittle in the cold months.

From your description, the sub categories you should be looking at are Ultra High Performance All-Season, High Performance All-Season, and perhaps Performance All-Season. What you can find depends greatly on the size of tire that you need. UHPAS tend to come only in "larger" sizes, while you may find more PAS tires for "smaller" sizes.

In the UHPAS category, you might look at the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (best A/S tire, hands down), BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDWS, Sumitomo HTR+, Yokohama AVS dB S2, Continental ContiExtremeContact, and Pirelli PZero Nero M&S.

If you can't find your size in the UHPAS category, or don't want to spend the money, you can try something in the HPAS category.

I recommend visiting www.tirerack.com and checking out the reviews and ratings. I purchased my Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires (and wheels) from The Tire Rack and I highly recommend them.
 
I am in NYC and have used Dunlop SP5000s and Continental Contiextremecontacts.

The SP5000s have a more aggressive sidewall for better highspeed slaloming performance in the dry and wet and cost about $111/tire shipped.

The Continentals are new to the market and I just got them a few months ago. The sidewall is not as agressive so maniacle driving is curtailed a bit. However, these tires have exception rain traction much more than the Dunlops and supposedly has 80% the traction of a dedicated snow tire.
These were a little cheaper running $85/tire shipped.

Both these tires are all-season high performance tires, and both were purchased from the tirerack.

I choose the continentals for the added winter performance in exchange for some summer performance. The thing is that NYC whether changes so erradicaly, that the car should be geared up to always be prepared.

I miss the cornering stability of the dunlops but like the added adverse condition performance of the continentals.
 
I agree with Danbo about sidewall cuts and I'm not going to use a smiley either -- a sidewall cut is nothing to smile about.

High-performance tires are made of soft grippy rubber that gives you great traction but doesn't wear well. I think it's worth it. Even if you don' t habitually drive like a lunatic you might have to pull off a racing move sometime to save your life. Long-wearing tires are made of hard rubber that doesn't grip the road as well. Look for a high speed rating rather than a high mileage warranty.

I like Pirelli as well as Michelin.

If you're $hort of buck$ you can often pick up barely used premium tires for less money than new retreads. Ask around places that sell tires and salvage yards. You'll probably have to ask at several places before you find what you want, though, so you have to consider what your time is worth.

Good tires and shocks are more important to safety than good brakes. If you don't have good tires and shocks you can't stop quick no matter how good your brakes are, and you also can't corner or accelerate well.
 
Originally posted by Sundsvall
I am in NYC and have used Dunlop SP5000s and Continental Contiextremecontacts.
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Whoa, I totally forgot about the Dunlop SP5000s as well. Good to read about your experiences with them. :D
 
Originally posted by Skyline
Whoa, I totally forgot about the Dunlop SP5000s as well. Good to read about your experiences with them. :D
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They are pretty decent. They aren't spectacular in any one area, but do give you a bit of high-performance handling in dry and wet. Snow traction is "okay".
Everything goes down hill about 25-30K, UTOG rating is 340AA.

The Continental Contiextremecontacts has a UTOG rating of 400AA so they should last a bit longer. I can say from experience, that they blow the SP5000 away in the rain, but the soft sidewall is the weakness.

I thought about having a Winter/Summer tire type setup but I don't have the storage for an extra set of rims and tires.

Also, winter tires should not be used in temperatures above 40F. Summer tires are no good below the same temperature, so if we have freakish weather, as we often do, you can find yourself either unable to stop with the summers tires or find that you are wearing your winter tires bald in a week.
 
I have had good success with Goodyear tires. I run the Eagle F1 Supercar tires on my Z06 Corvette. They are very sticky, Z-rated as well as incorporating very wide channels on the inner portion of the tire for rain.
 
Originally posted by DB1
I have had good success with Goodyear tires. I run the Eagle F1 Supercar tires on my Z06 Corvette. They are very sticky, Z-rated as well as incorporating very wide channels on the inner portion of the tire for rain.
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I'm sure they are excellent in SoCal where it never gets cold. However, they would be problematic in NYC's climate, which fluctuates wildly. You'd have to switch to winter tires from Nov-Feb and compromise on dry performance for a good portion of the year.
 
Originally posted by Skyline
I'm sure they are excellent in SoCal where it never gets cold. However, they would be problematic in NYC's climate, which fluctuates wildly. You'd have to switch to winter tires from Nov-Feb and compromise on dry performance for a good portion of the year.
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And just why would he take his Corvette Z06 to New York?





finally time for a smiley :cool:
 
Originally posted by fracmeister
And just why would he take his Corvette Z06 to New York?
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ErikD from NYC is asking for tire recommendations. "They" (GY Eagle F1 Supercar) would not be ideal for ErikD's Integra.
 
I am going to get a Z06 as my "summer" car. That way I don't have to worry about swapping setups.
 
Thanks for all of the reccomendations. I am planning on getting the new tires as soon as I can, only one problem though. I can't buy anything until I get paid next week, but then I will have enough for a decent set (around $400). Luckily for me I don't really need my car, and never really go very far from my house.

I will be considering a set of UHPAS tires then, I have been looking at tirerack and think they sell some that will fit my car. I was considering a summer tire, because as I said I don't really need a car. If we get any real amount of snow I probably wouldn't be doing any driving anyway, but if the cold will have adverse effects on the rubber than forget that idea.

Also I am not concerned about tread wear, as I don't do that much driving. I want a tire that will perform well no matter how hard I push it, and seeing how little I drive they should last me plenty long.
 
Summer rubber will not grip below a certain temperature. I think it is around 35-40F degrees. This will vary with the brand.

I think you can't go wrong with the Dunlop SP5000. If you look on tirerack, you will see that people have reported over 5 million miles on this brand.
 
Originally posted by Danbo
...If your tire has a cut on the sidewall, you're living on borrowed time already!....Tires are NOT something to scrimp on, however.
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I agree 100%!

EVERY used car I have ever purchased (from econos to exotics) went straight to my trusted tire/wheel dealer for new rubber. My Dad always advised me: "Good tires are the cheapest life insurance you can buy."

I've had very good experience with Yokohamas.
 
First thing I did when I bought my last car was change the tires.

I sold the brand new factory tires online and put the cash towards the Dunlop SP5000s.

Acceleration, braking distance, steering response, cornering stability and grip all improved just by upgrading tires.

Just have to stay ontop of tire rotation and monitor the air pressures constantly.

I can tell if my tires lose one pound of air. The handling is noticibly affected.

I check the air every 2 weeks. I have to adjust the air every month, when I know I have been slamming into potholes or when the temperature changes.
 
One tire to consider is the Firestone LH30. 70,000 mile tire with a "H"(130MPH) speed rating. Find your nearest Mastercare Firestone, and give them a call. Ask them when there next $5.00 over sale is going to be. If anything they offer a 30 day test drive. If you don't like them, have Tire Rack ship what you want straight to the Firestone.
Good Luck!!



Blades
 
Whatever tires you get, Road Hazard is a good idea. I just got a $50 tire replaced free. Hit a dropoff in a construction area, and it laid a 3 inch gash in the tire.
 
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