What Kind of Tires Do You Recommend?

[jseklund]

The real question is - how many of us thought we'd get such a good education about tires and interesting discussion about tire dynamics on a woodworking site dedicated to an affordable table saw?

This site has always rocked.

[durango dude]

Here in the Colorado mountains, tires are something we don't cut corners on.

4 tires with all the fixins will run me about $800 for the Sequoia --- and about $700 for the 4Runner (when I wait for the sales).

That said - Discount Tires has ALWAYS done good by me. We had a cut sidewall a few years ago, and their road hazard policy covered all 4 tires.

I've been impressed with them, since.

[phrog]

The real question is - how many of us thought we'd get such a good education about tires and interesting discussion about tire dynamics on a woodworking site dedicated to an affordable table saw?

This site has always rocked.

+1 on that.

[phrog]

The car is more difficult to control if the flat happens to one or both of the rear wheels.

Of course, this doesn't apply to vehicles that steer with the rear wheels.

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I would have thought it more difficult to control if the flat were on the front due to steering problems. Wow!

[phrog]

There are only a handful of tire manufacturers and they make tires under a range of brand names. The local tire shop I use can get any of them, but also knows which brands are made by which makers, and which "no name" tires are relabeled brand name tires, at a fraction of the cost.

I have had mixed success with Walmart. Turns out the auto and tire department that some but not all stores have is a concession - they hire a local company to provide that service, they are not Walmart employees. As a result, quality of service as well as prices vary between Walmarts, so it pays to shop around.

Interesting info regarding only a few tire manufacturers - didn't know that.
RE: Wal-Mart - I was kinda forced into using them due to the situation.

[cabinetman]

A few more tidbits. Tread depths are referred to in 32nds of an inch. Tires have a wear indicator built into the tire, that shows wear across the tread when the tread is down to 2/32". You can use this to determine when the tire should be considered for replacing, or pick up a tread depth gauge (also available as digital).

If you don't want a gauge, you can use a penny. If you place the penny edge down between the tread, and the top of Lincoln's head is covered, there is at least 2/32". But, if you can see the top of his head...time to consider replacing the tire. Here is a simple coin test.

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[JimD]

It depends a lot on your criteria. I just put four tires on my bimmer. I like to drive in an occasional autocross with it so I wanted a high performance tire. Michelin Pilot Super Sport were recently top rted by Car and Driver after they tested several tires including the Continentl Extreme performance tire I was considering. This is a summer tire. Contrary to what some say, you can esily use summer tires in the winter but they have poor traction on snow and ice. My bimmer is for nice days. ON my SUV I went with an all season tire with a good treadwear rating at as low a price as possible. IF you are not hyper bout performance, I would seriously consider the Conti extreme performance all season. IT has a good treat wear rating (I think it is 380) and is highly rated by users on Tire Rack. 380 is not real high, I think my SUV tires are around 700, but it is high for a high performance tire. MY michelons are 300.

[cabinetman]

To get the most out of your tires, for both traction, handling, safety, optimal wear characteristics and longevity, is with proper care. Check for the suggested tire pressures, and their rotation as per manufacturers recommendations, along with regular visual inspections would be my advice.

When visually inspecting the tires, keep on the lookout for nails, screws, or other objects that can damage or puncture the tread. If you find a nail or screw, and the tire appears to be holding air, don't remove it, and take it to a repair facility. If you remove the object, it's possible that the tire could go flat.

Tires will pick up several pounds of pressure in hot weather, and after driving a few miles which builds up heat. In cold weather, they will lose a few pounds. When checking tire pressures, do it when they are cold, or after 2 hours from driving. Adding air to a hot tire will over pressurize it. If you don't drive very much, or your tires might be old, check the sidewalls for tiny cracks. If they are evident, they should be replaced.

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