Change OE tires?

[TJPark01]

My Firestone service person (dealing with him for nearly 15 years) recomended the Turanza from Bridgestone

Total including tax and an alignment here in Fort Lauderdale is $1049.35 including free rotation for life of the tire

Just to be clear, it would help to be a little more specific when you are talking about Bridgestone Turanaza's. There are probably about a dozen models under the Turanza category. It's a little like saying get the Nike running shoes.

 

[danieltoye101@msn.com]

235/50r18 97w bw 6.5-8.5

 

[DanTheMan]

You could probably get something decent for 700-800, that would be better than the Firestones or Falkens.

I'm open to suggestions....any ideas?

I wouldn't be spending more than 150 a tire,100 bucks for install and 60 bucks on tax. You need to shop around more.

State tire fees are inescapable...as are sales taxes @ 9.25%. (The trade-off is we in TN don't have a state income tax....yet. But if Obama-care passes....look out)! Keep in mind that some of the add'l charges inc. road hazard, lifetime rotate/balance, etc.

Thanks for your thoughts--

Dan :>)

 

[Disaster]

I'm open to suggestions (tires)....any ideas?

Dan :>)

IME, most tire shops charge way too much for tires compared to online dealers like TireRack. They have a lot of room to negotiate, but it is on you to do it.

My SOP is to first shop at TireRack...read the reviews...and then pick out a few candidates.

Next, I check out Discount Tire (which is local) to see if they have these tires or something equivalent.

Finally, I call the local tire stores and get their prices and see if they will match or come near the TireRack prices.

Most of the time I end up buying the tires from TireRack and paying to have them installed at one of the local places...the price difference is too big to ignore. Occasionally, the local place will come close enough (say within $50 bucks) so I'll do it all through them. So far, I haven't had luck finding a tire I wanted at Discount...but their prices do seem competitive.

P.S. I find I have to bite my tongue when sitting in one of the local tire places and hearing customers being sold tires. They often will try to sell them just two tires (because those are the badly worn ones...customer didn't rotate) for about twice as much as I am paying for an entire set. This is partly because the people often stick with the expensive OEM tires...and partly because they don't realize they can negotiate the price. I'd love to pull them aside but it wouldn't be the right thing to do in someone else's business.

 

[TJPark01]

I'm open to suggestions....any ideas?
State tire fees are inescapable...as are sales taxes @ 9.25%. (The trade-off is we in TN don't have a state income tax....yet. But if Obama-care passes....look out)! Keep in mind that some of the add'l charges inc. road hazard, lifetime rotate/balance, etc.
Thanks for your thoughts--
Dan :>)

You can go 1 of 3 ways. Stay with high performance all seasons, go to all season touring (softer) or summer performance (stiffer). I'll skip the summer performance since you live in a place that occasionally may get snow, as well as the fact that it will make the car stiffer than it already is, which for most people is enough.
High Performance all Seasons OEM specs (from least to most expensive)-
1.PZero Nero All Season Standard on new Mercedes E class
2.Continental ExtremeContact DWS These are supposedly great in the snow, relatively speaking
3.Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus Michelin's have a cult following, the prices reflect this. Also, if you are a Costco member, $70 bucks off a set of 4.

All Season Touring
1.Continental ContiProContact Very good value for money.
2.Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum Again good value here.
3. Goodyear Eagle ResponsEdge There is a $40 rebate on a set of four for these.

 

[DanTheMan]

So, after all the input (thanks, everyone! I really appreciate the input--all the new info/thought processes caused me to explore more and different avenues), here's what I ordered today from a local tire dealer...and assuming the weather here clears up for the tires to be delivered on Friday morning (it's snowing lightly..but there's ice under the snow on the roads--rather unusual for this area), I will get a set of Nitto 850 Premium tires. Here's a link for those that are interested...

http://www.nittont850.com/tire-technology

I was impressed by the technology, the ratings (better than most of what I've reviewed so far), the mileage warranty (50K miles--without sacrificing a speed rating as suggested by another dealer. These are 101W rated--our Dunlops are 97V) and at a better price point. The set, in total, was $806, which includes tires, lifetime rotate/balance, road hazard, all state tire fees and taxes. The tires have a similar tread pattern as our Dunlops!

I was going to try out the Falken ZE912, but after checking several area delaers, no one in town actually had them! Sears Auto even had a "Buy 3 get one free" sale, (essentially a 25% off sale) but had no stock, and wasn't able to get any until mid to late March! They offered a raincheck so I could get the price, but I didn't want to wait it out.

As I drive them, I'll share whatever useful information that comes from the ride, so that others can buy (or avoid) them!

Dan :>)

 

[PINGGOLF]

Sounds and looks great Dan!

I look forward to your thoughts on the tires. So much so, that I will wait another week before I make my tire purchase!

Waiting on you bud...

 

[DanTheMan]

Sounds and looks great Dan!

I look forward to your thoughts on the tires. So much so, that I will wait another week before I make my tire purchase!

Waiting on you bud...

So...I had the tires installed on Friday. There was about 1-2" snow on the ground (unusual for the hilly terrain in the South), covering 'black ice'. Tough driving conditions! New tires on the car made a HUGE difference!

First impressions:

1. Smooth ride.
2. Exceptional grip/traction--even on ice.
3. Road Noise level: Somewhat greater than OE Dunlops, which were quieter than any other tire I'd experienced--but I think most everything would be. After driving them for a couple of days, the road noise is greater, but not overwhelming by any means. It doesn't overpower radio/stereo, etc., obviously. (My brother had some Michelins on a BMW M3 some years back that did overpower his stereo)! I hear a slight resonance at a low frequency (approx. 250 Hz, @ low dB, guestimate) (with the radio/heater off) that seems to be speed-related (higher pitch @ higher speeds, etc.), but again, not overwhelming. Coming from my audio background, I tend to notice such things. I couldn't tell initially if it was tire/non-tire related, but it appears to be. I've considered going back to the dealer to talk about it, but all they could do is acknowledge it, and possibly suggest alternate products. It's not enough to really concern me in the long run. In fact, considering the ride and particularly the traction (they track like a very soft compound, but w/a 50K mileage warranty). It will be interesting to see how these age over time.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with my purchase. Wish they were quieter? Sure, but at what cost, as in, what other aspect would I 'trade off' to get a more quiet tire. It's not any louder than any other tire I've ever had on other cars in the past, so I think I'll stay w/what I've got. They put nitrogen in the tires, so the ride is sure and firm.

I hope this helps....if you have any specific questions, feel free to leave a message here (on the forum) or send me a direct message and I'll try to respond as best and quickly as I can!

Dan :>)

 

[ctrcbob]

OK, what is the price of these Nitto NT850 tires each?

I checked Tire Rack and they don't carry the Nitto brand. Checked Discount Tire and although they have the NT555 in our size, they don't have the NT850.

Two small tire dealers in a nearby town carry the Nitto brand, but don't know if they have, or can get the NT850.

Just wondering.

 

[PINGGOLF]

Thanks so much Dan!

I have just a few questions for ya when you get the chance.

Did you stay with the stock size or did you get the 245/45's?

Did they rebuild the TPMS sensors (batteries, seals or anything that goes in them)?

Were they "road force" balanced? (This simulates real world driving...factoring in the weight of the car on another barrel shaped wheel and then they roll together while compressed.) if that makes any sense...HA!

Other than that, I am glad your satisfied with them. Now I will have a tougher time making up my mind...Thanks Dan!

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[DanTheMan]

Thanks so much Dan!

I have just a few questions for ya when you get the chance.

Did you stay with the stock size or did you get the 245/45's?

Did they rebuild the TPMS sensors (batteries, seals or anything that goes in them)?

Were they "road force" balanced? (This simulates real world driving...factoring in the weight of the car on another barrel shaped wheel and then they roll together while compressed.) if that makes any sense...HA!

Other than that, I am glad your satisfied with them. Now I will have a tougher time making up my mind...Thanks Dan!

No problem...

I stayed stock...235/50/18s...no need to change, at least in my mind.

I'm not aware of any changes made to the sensors. No new lights on the dash to indicate defective/non-working, etc.

I've been recently made aware of road force balancing...found a website w/a conversation w/one of the guys that wrote some of the software...pretty interesting stuff. I don't think my supplier did that--they didn't advertise it as such, so I don't think so. There was only one other place that advertised the capability--and numerous reasons to believe that maybe they didn't know how to take advantage of it's capability. Interestingly, I'd had the Dunlops re-balanced a couple of times @ the Hyundai dealer I bought from, and I don't think they road-force balanced them, either. I do think that most of them are done that way from the factory, although I've never been to S. Korea...

Your local dealer may have that capacity to balance that way. I don't know if these guys do. They are a well-respected local dealer with four area locations, but not part of a major chain.

Any more questions, just let me know.

See ya--

Dan :>)

 

[DanTheMan]

OK, what is the price of these Nitto NT850 tires each?

I checked Tire Rack and they don't carry the Nitto brand. Checked Discount Tire and although they have the NT555 in our size, they don't have the NT850.

Two small tire dealers in a nearby town carry the Nitto brand, but don't know if they have, or can get the NT850.

Just wondering.

In Knoxville, TN, where I live, the tires were $161.99/ea., plus tax, of course. I had to wait until I got back home to confirm the price for the actual tire. They may be priced differently in your area, but considering you list three different areas you're from, you'll probably have better luck than most! I think the site has a place where you can enter your zip code and get the dealers in the area. You're only a few phone calls and a few questions away at that point. For your reference:

http://www.nittont850.com/tire-technology

While tire shopping, I learned to shop like I do for other package-type items--get the bottom line price. I work in flooring, and have learned that many stores may actually under-quote a price on a given product, only to add it back in somewhere else in the installation, or other additional service. So, I explained to each dealer what services I wanted added to the tires themselves, and asked for a complete 'bottom line' quote. I knew exactly what I wanted, and that with the possible exception of the nitrogen fill, all of the services would be the same. If they didn't offer all of what I wanted, they were marked off the list (nitrogen/compressed air choice being the exception).

Interestingly, the dealers that offered nitrogen really praised it, and the dealers that didn't, didn't really "bash" it, but really attempted to minimize it's apparent value.

I knew that in this package price range (~$800/set) I could get a pretty good product--something I could be pleased with for the type of driving (mostly local, some hwy mix) I do. Since we all know that life itself is it's own 'self-fulfilling' prophecy, it all worked out!

Dan :>)

 

[motorsportsauthority]

Well...if you do plan on purchasing different tires...at least video yourself smoking the old ones! Please!

No worries. I plan on doing this.

 

[motorsportsauthority]

Did they rebuild the TPMS sensors (batteries, seals or anything that goes in them)?

The way TPMS sensors are designed, there's no reason to. As long as the shop's careful to put the wheel back where they took it off and they're careful not to break the sensors when the old tires are dismounted, all will be well.

 

[PINGGOLF]

The way TPMS sensors are designed, there's no reason to. As long as the shop's careful to put the wheel back where they took it off and they're careful not to break the sensors when the old tires are dismounted, all will be well.

Glad to know that!

It seems that every time I get ready to order tires from these websites they always offer TMPS Rebuild Kits for $3.00 a piece. For that price, i figured it would be a seal and a new cap...or something.

Well...Ill save my $12 dollas then!

 

[Disaster]

OK, what is the price of these Nitto NT850 tires each?

I checked Tire Rack and they don't carry the Nitto brand. Checked Discount Tire and although they have the NT555 in our size, they don't have the NT850.

Two small tire dealers in a nearby town carry the Nitto brand, but don't know if they have, or can get the NT850.

Just wondering.

I'm a bit skeptical of Nitto's claims, until I see performance data or some customer reviews coming back. I'm especially concerned with the suggestion that these tires would be the equal of true winter tires on snow and ice. All the decently performing winter tires have two things in common; porosity-thousands of small sipes or slits and a softer compound...usually formulated with silica. I don't see either of those things on the Nitto. The Nitto's might be decent all-seasons...but I doubt they are the equal of winter tires.

http://www.wheels.ca/article/470620

 

[danieltoye101@msn.com]

I'll be putting on the Turanza Serenity from Bridgstone either Thursday or Friday
235/50r18 97w 65 6.5-8.5.

I have 21k miles on my Genesis and I probaly could get an additional 5k more miles but the back ones are more worn than the front. I should get 40-50K out of these as they are warrented up to 45K

 

[TJPark01]

I'll be putting on the Turanza Serenity from Bridgstone either Thursday or Friday
235/50r18 97w 65 6.5-8.5.

I have 21k miles on my Genesis and I probaly could get an additional 5k more miles but the back ones are more worn than the front. I should get 40-50K out of these as they are warrented up to 45K

Keep us updated on your experience with the Serenity tires. I have been looking at those. They seem very expensive, but from the tests, they seem to do very well in the rain, get long tread life, and give a nice touring ride. They look less sport oriented, which is actually fine with me. I don't plan on going to a track or Germany any time soon.

 

[danieltoye101@msn.com]

From what I've read these are designed to keep the cabin quiet from the road noise. If they are better than the Dunlap I'll be happy.

 

[motorsportsauthority]

Glad to know that!

It seems that every time I get ready to order tires from these websites they always offer TMPS Rebuild Kits for $3.00 a piece. For that price, i figured it would be a seal and a new cap...or something.

Well...Ill save my $12 dollas then!

Really? Huh...that's interesting. I can see it with maybe wheels since they have rubber washers when mounted, but we've moved plenty with success and not having to "rebuild them". But you don't remove the sensors when changing tires. So...save on.