|
|
Post by kbpickle on Feb 21, 2005 20:34:44 GMT -6
I'm seeking advice, on replacing my OEM 235/55-17 Michelin Energy MXV4Plus tires on my Final 500. They only have 28,000 miles, but....
About a month ago we had a very minor snow in Raleigh, NC that turned into a major traffic snafu. What worries me is that in a relatively light snow, and with traction control engaged, and with very cautious driving, and with considerable tread left on the Michelins, I was still slipping. So, I've determined to replace the Michelins. Any good experience or suggestions? I'm interested in tires that are better all weather tires, but are still quiet and comfortable. What I'm willing to trade off is maximum dry traction and maximum responsiveness. I favor the luxury part of "sport-luxury" more than the sport part, I guess.
I've looked at Tire Rack's ratings of the Continental ContiPremierContact, and if I just look at their ratings, that seems like the tire. But I'm cautious about so many reports there of out-of-round tires, and tires that couldn't be balanced, and Continental only replacing them with other Continental models, etc. Given the Aurora's special sensitivity to (wheel + tire) imbalance at 65-70 mph, a tire that couldn't be balanced would seem a nightmare, I think.
Has anyone else addressed this problem?
|
|
|
|
Post by kobalt on Feb 22, 2005 14:08:19 GMT -6
The Aurora is based on GM's g-body platform, which is by nature of design extremly sensitive to improper tire balance. I would avoid any tire that has a out-of-round/difficult balance history, no matter how good it looks form a price/performance standpoint.
|
|
scottydl
Super Moderator 
There's nothin' like an American V-8...
Posts: 7,373
Staff Member
|
Post by scottydl on Feb 23, 2005 12:35:52 GMT -6
If you've got the money, look at the Bridgestone Turanza series. I have 235/60R16's on my '99, excellent traction in wet/snow, very quiet and comfortable ride! I have had mine on for about 8000 miles and have had no balance problems whatsoever.
|
|
|
|
Post by JimW on Feb 23, 2005 13:45:34 GMT -6
Definitely senstive to any out of balance as kobalt mentioned. I had 235/55/17's for a while last summer for my 17's and I went with Goodyear Eagle RS/A. They are expensive like the Energys but offer a much softer ride. Owners with torquey SC'd 3800's dont like the Goodyears because they wear to fast.
However they would be well suited for the Aurora and its DOHC performance.
That being said, there isnt a lot of choices for 235/55/17, consider 255/50/17 as an option. I can imagine in NC, snow is not a major issue.
As an aside, I have Energy (backs) Symmetry (front) 235/60/16s on my OEM alloys for the winter and they work better in deep snow then a dusting of snow/ice etc. I bet in your climate, deep snow is not a really big issue and mabye a softer tire with deeper grooves might work better for you.
I honestly suggest a 255/50/17 tire with a deeper tread/softer tire compound.
|
|
|
|
Post by kbpickle on Feb 23, 2005 19:40:06 GMT -6
Thanks, all. My attention has wandered to the Pirelli PZeroNero M+S. Has anybody tried these tires? The complaint I see about them is that they follow the rain grooves, or any other grooves, in the pavement. For now, I'm just going to let the decision cook a while before acting. I'd appreciate any other feed back, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by rocketman on Feb 23, 2005 20:44:53 GMT -6
Don't forget to get any replacement tire force balanced (you can search for threads on this topic for parameters) to help with the vibration problem. Here is a link to help you with locating a tire supplier in your area with the proper equipment. 209.176.154.132/Don't forget to let us know what you decide and the result on ride and vibration. I need a pair for my '01 and was thinking Continental as well. Michelins ride too hard for my liking. |
|
|
|
Post by kbpickle on Mar 14, 2005 19:51:48 GMT -6
2003 Aurora new shoes:
This past Saturday the Discount Tire store installed four Pirelli PZeroNero M+S 235-55/17s to replace the OEM Michelin Energy MXV4Plus. I was looking for a tire that might perform better in wet and snow conditions, but that would still preserve the comfortable ride of the Aurora.
Here's what I've noticed in the first 100 miles:
a) The Pirelli's with 11/32" tread are quieter than the Michelin's with 4/32" - 6/32"(at 28,000 miles).
b) The Pirelli's seem to offer a little more insulation from the small bumps on the road. I'm sure they're quieter, but this second observation feels a little more subjective to me. I'm not sure if I feel a difference, or only imagine that I feel a difference. I really don't know if the extra smoothness is due to the difference in tire construction or rubber compound, or tread design, or if it's just due to the difference in tread depth. (I do know that it's not due to inflation pressure, since they pushed the inflation up to ~38 psi, while I was running 33 - 35 psi on the Michelin's).
c) I haven't had a chance to test for wet or snow performance, but while I expect the Pirelli's to be better based on the Tire Rack survey results, I don't have any first hand observations to offer.
d) Discount Tire was able to road force balance the four tires to 5 lbs., 5 lbs., 7 lbs., and 9 lbs. I usually ask them to try for single digits, because I know they can, but according to one counter man, their typical "within spec" value is around 14 or 15 lbs.
|
|
bufo
Aurora Owner
Beautiful North Carolina
Posts: 555 
|
Post by bufo on Sept 10, 2005 14:23:04 GMT -6
Good info.
Did you ever post pictures of your Final 500?
|
|
|
|
Post by betonthis1 on Sept 11, 2005 15:24:33 GMT -6
wow, im glad i dont have to drive through snow. when i buy tires i just get the cheapies. you guys seem to take into every single consideration possible. im not sure if could tell the difference between some $430 set of tires as opposed to $670 set of tires.
|
|
|
|
Post by flintoid on Dec 15, 2005 22:13:37 GMT -6
About those tires:
I'm at a shop the other day being told that the Pirellis are performance tires and that they only last about 30k. Can anyone put this to rest?
|
|
|
|
Post by 95mushroom on Dec 15, 2005 22:58:12 GMT -6
Are they the Pirelli PZeroNero M+S 235-55/17s? Pirelli makes a lot of tires. The tread rating is 400AA so they should make it to at least 40k miles.
|
|
|
|
Post by flintoid on Dec 17, 2005 23:51:34 GMT -6
Cool, thanks.
I'm in the market so I tried searching for force balance settings and parameters and struck out. Can anyone just nudge me to that thread?
Oh yeah, and beonthis, you at least sprung for the low profile tires IC! Very cool.
|
|
|
|
Post by auroralover on Dec 18, 2005 5:21:19 GMT -6
I just replaced the Energy MXV4's on my 97 (hated those tires), with Cooper Lifeliner SLE's. This is probably the best tire I have ever owned. I had them installed and have had no vibration at all. Great in the snow as well as the rain. Do yourself a favor and at least check them out. Mine were installed for $110 apiece, a very reasonable price for a performance tire  |
|
|
|
Post by Aurora40 on Dec 18, 2005 8:14:17 GMT -6
I'm in the market so I tried searching for force balance settings and parameters and struck out. Can anyone just nudge me to that thread? There's no specific parameter for our cars. But the less imbalance the better. Sometimes they can squeeze out a lower number by unmounting the tire and remounting it rotated or by swapping them around. You might have to pay them a few extra bucks for the effort. |
|
|
|
Post by flintoid on Dec 18, 2005 22:20:31 GMT -6
So force balance lbs = lower is better, aim for single digits.
Sorry to drag down the discussion a bit here, haven't had to buy a set of tires in ten years (I just kept swapping out cars).
|
|
|
|
Post by Aurora40 on Dec 19, 2005 9:40:16 GMT -6
So force balance lbs = lower is better, aim for single digits. Yup, you got it exactly. What tires are you thinking of? |
|
|
|
Post by flintoid on Dec 19, 2005 22:32:45 GMT -6
Yup, you got it exactly. What tires are you thinking of? #aurorah>/shrug as if confused #aurorah>*** flintoid shrugs as if confused*** I've been scouring the forums on this to figure out which one has the most control/ride. I can't just do an OEM replacement because I want to think of it as an upgrade, not maintenance, |
|
|
|
Post by flintoid on Dec 21, 2005 22:59:18 GMT -6
I caved - I couldn't put off the tires through Christmas so I found a deal and got the MXV4 Plus. Force balanced to good numbers, full warranty, etc.
They're good tires, ride and noise are good, bonus is that the rear doesn't shake noticably at 60-70 and 30-35mph anymore.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aurora40 on Dec 22, 2005 9:48:57 GMT -6
The MXV4 Plusses would be strong contenders for me too. They are a nice tire. I had thought about more performance rubber, but the car is and will become more of a daily/all-weather driver. If I hadn't bought the Corvette, I'd probably go for more performance, but the Aurora needs to be able to handle it all, and the MXV4's do that pretty well.
|
|
|
|
Post by wutsit4 on Dec 22, 2005 16:05:02 GMT -6
I ran a set of MXV4 tires. They lasted an incredibly long time. One had about 80,000 and one had about 100,000 when I changed them out. (They rode better when they were newer, but rode the whole race). Good Luck with the new shoes.
Keith
|
|
|
|
Post by GlennS87 on Jan 10, 2006 13:25:57 GMT -6
I have been very satisfied so far with my Kumho Ecsta ASX's sized at 255/50/17.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aurora5000 on Jan 16, 2006 10:01:04 GMT -6
Hey Bob, I have been looking at tires and I'm thinking of getting the Continental Conti Premier Contact. Tirerack gives a high rating. The factory Michelins are doing good at 47K.
The Continentals are priced at $160 each and the Michelins are $210 each. The Turanzas would be a good choice also. What do you think?
|
|
|
|
Post by Aurora40 on Jan 16, 2006 10:20:32 GMT -6
Hey Steve, you don't really get any snow, do you? Or do you? Are those prices from a local shop?
The Bridgestones seem like a pretty plain-sedan tire. What are the attributes you want from a tire?
|
|
|
|
Post by Aurora5000 on Jan 16, 2006 12:40:48 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by Aurora5000 on Jan 17, 2006 8:32:09 GMT -6
After reading the reveiws on the Conti. it seems there is a out of balance problem that is systematic. Keep on looking...
|
|
|
|
Post by Aurora40 on Jan 17, 2006 10:02:48 GMT -6
Does the Michelin HydroEdge tire fit the 2nd gen? That sounds like it's about what you are looking for. Better bad-weather handling, they are quiet, and long treadlife. They are decent in the dry but I'm not sure I'd consider them a performance tire (which is true of about any long-treadlife tire).
|
|
|
|
Post by Aurora5000 on Jan 17, 2006 11:21:24 GMT -6
It is a passenger all season tire but none of the passenger all season tires are coming up in the 235-55-17 size so far. Will keep looking.
Thanks Bob.
|
|
BNICOV
Aurora Lover
Posts: 782
|
Post by BNICOV on Jan 17, 2006 17:32:39 GMT -6
There is a fair amount of choice. Michelin, Goodyear, Continental, Pirelli, Dunlop (they look interesting). It all depends on what you are looking for. If you want to corner like an animal.....you need higher performance tires. If you drive normally, the Continentals are probably the best bet, they are relatively inexpensive and wear long. I'm probably going with the Continentals in the spring when my Michelins should be pretty much shot, about 80 000 kms about 50k miles or so.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aurora40 on Jan 17, 2006 21:12:25 GMT -6
Hey Steve, I don't really know that much about the passenger tires. There's a decent chance I'll go with the OEMs when mine need replacing. They work fine, I have been pretty happy with them. I would consider HydroEdges possibly if they make them in that size.
The Dunlop SP Sport A2 is another I'd consider. They seem to be a good all-around tire that isn't too expensive. Only a 50k mile warranty, though.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aurora5000 on Jan 18, 2006 8:22:58 GMT -6
Called local dealer, said closest to my size would be 225-55-17in the Hydroedge. He said it would be 1/2 inch shorter and 1/2 inch slimmer. $691 total. 80K mileage tire. What do you think Bob?
|
|
