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854t TIRES!!!--Need help quick, Please.[ALL/1988] posted by Bear Files on
Monday, 23 February 1998, at 1:46 p.m.
I need to replace 2-4 tires on my 96 854t. Came with Michelin Pilot hx/mxm 205/50 ZR 16s. I bought the car with 15k miles, have 40k now, so the Michelins seem to have held up for a long time. I love the tires, but they are $250+/per here in San Diego.
What tires should I buy? I don't think that I absolutely "need" a V or Z rated tire, since I don't think I can get up to the 149+ mph speeds of those ratings...
Also, is the "Wear Factor" an important guage (a higher # is better, I think)? Discount Tire Co. is a great local store, and they and a few other stores have given me pricing on a few tires to fit my car:
Nitto - VR rated (300 wear factor) $109 per
Yokahama - Z rated (160 wear factor) $140 per
Eagle HP - H rated (Unkown wear #) $150 per
Pirelli p7000 SuperSport - Z rated (Unkown wear #) $170 per
Pirelli P7000 Summer - Z rated (160 wear factor) $190 per
Michelin Pilot hx/mxm - ZR rated (poor wear #, I've been told) $250+ per
Thanks for ANY ideas!
- Bear Files, San Diego, CA
Re: 854t TIRES!!!--Need help quick, Please.[ALL/1988] posted by Paul Elliott on
Monday, 23 February 1998, at 2:04 p.m.
I hear only good things about the Nittos, and the price is certainly right. Both the 450 Extreme, and the 500Z ( the former v rated; the latter z rated) come in your size. The fact that they are both all season rated certainly is not a factor in your area, but nevertheless they are supposed to give very good grip in both the wet and the dry...good luck.
Re: 854t TIRES!!!--Need help quick, Please.[ALL/1988] posted by Han Chung on
Monday, 23 February 1998, at 2:49 p.m.
Bear,
since, michelins don't fall in your budget, i'd recomment the nittos. i wen't from michelins to nittos 450. according the guy who sold me the nittos, the 450 will give you a bit more comfortable ride compared to the 500. personally don't think it matters too much nor makes such a difference. if you want better/softer ride, go with a 55 series. i like the nitto 450 very much based on performance/price ratio. not bad on snow, rain, or dry.
wear factor is high too so for me driving in busy downtown los angeles, acceleration, braking, cornering .... lots of abuse... works for me. the michelins lasted about 25K miles only. too much tire, too much money, and too little life.
good luck.
han
97 855TWagon...
Re: 854t TIRES!!!--Need help quick, Please.[ALL/1988] posted by Paul Elliott on
Tuesday, 24 February 1998, at 10:47 a.m.
Han, I think I'll use the Nitto 450 Extremes to replace my Michelin XGTV4 s , which are a 205/55-16 tire...I'll buy the Nittos in the 50 series. Because I live in NY metro area, this snowless winter not withstanding, I want a tire which is OK in the Snow. The tread on the 450 doesnt exactly feature large sipes which are characteristic of many all seasons, and since there hasnt been much snow I'll take my chances...my current XGTV4s are pretty decent on snow, although there are others who dont agree with this...
But I'm curious...living in LA, how is it that you know that they are: "...not bad on snow..."?
Re: 854t TIRES!!!--Need help quick, Please.[ALL/1988] posted by Han Chung on
Tuesday, 24 February 1998, at 11:12 a.m.
Paul, just after installing the new nittos, i think the next day went up to Mammoth (hope you know where this is... about 7,000 elev.) for a few days in the snow skiing. stormed a couple of times, although i had chains, tires seems to perform well in my opinion.
so here in california, we get the best of both worlds.
good luck.
han.
Re: 854t TIRES!!!--Need help quick, Please.[ALL/1988] posted by Terence Lui on
Monday, 23 February 1998, at 3:45 p.m.
You can also look into the Yokohama A509. They are VR rated and they cost about $100 ea. My parents have the A509 on their 855T and they seem to hold up pretty well.
By the way, anybody tried the BF Goodrich Comp T/A ZR? I am considering getting 215/45/17 when my 205/45/17 P-zeros wear out.
Terence Lui
'95 854T with 17X8 TSW Hockenheim R and 205/45/17 P-zeros
Re: 854t TIRES!!!--Need help quick, Please.[ALL/1988] posted by Vincent Eng on
Monday, 23 February 1998, at 7:16 p.m.
I agree with the responses. Out of the choices you listed I would go with the Nittos. In fact one of the service advisors at my local volvo dealership recommended replacing with Nittos. I replaced the tires on my wife's 854T with Falken Ziex all season V rated tires ($125). She's had no problems with them. However, had we had the choice of Nittos when we replaced them, we would have purchased them. I wouldn't, however, replace the tires with a tire rated below a V.
Re: 854t TIRES!!!--Need help quick, Please.[ALL/1988] posted by Paul Elliott on
Tuesday, 24 February 1998, at 10:56 a.m.
Vincent, I've been dying to talk to someone who has first had experience with the Falkan Zekes tires! These tires have gotten rave reviews from a number of sources, including Road and Track and European Car. If you want an all season tire for the 850 turbos, and want it in a 205/50-16 size, your pretty much limited to: Nittos (450 and 500), Falkan Zekes, and Bridgestone RE92. I discount the Bridgestone out of hand becaue of its low treadwear rating. But both the Nittos and the Falkans sound like they would be more than satisfactory. In fact, the tread is quite similar in their asymetrical design. The only thing about the Nitto 450s I was concerned about was the fact that they carry a Max Inflation Pressure of just 35 psi. Most tires carry a 44 lb psi rating, and I routinely run my current Michelins at about 36 to 38 lbs. I dont believe the Falkans have this limitation. But, after speaking to others, they say its not a factor. To me, the choice between the two is pretty much a toss up: same treadwear rating, same intended audience, similar price, etc, etc.
Re: 854t TIRES!!!--Need help quick, Please.[ALL/1988] posted by Vincent Eng on
Tuesday, 24 February 1998, at 11:36 a.m.
I think the Falkens are great. The only reason I said in my last e-mail that I would have purchased the Nittos if I could, is because many people have recommended them. The Falkens are inflated to 38 PSI. Since this is my wife's car, I have not had much driving experience with them. However, I do notice great improvements in icy weather. When I first got my 855T5R in 1995, I got stuck (could not climb up the upslope of the road) in a rural valley-type part of the road (Michelins Z rated). I thought - so much for front wheel drive as the BMW passed me. Recently, I was driving the Falkens on the same road with similar conditions (actually I purposely drove on the icy road to see the capabilities of the tires) and I had no problem going up the slope of the road. The Falkens also have a rim protector built into the tire -- great for parallel parking. The ride isn't noisy and the treadwear is 300+. The ride seems a little higher or softer, but I'm not sure because my car has a different suspension than her 854T. She complains it grips too much! When I asked her to explain, I didn't understand what she was referring to. However, I offered to swap the tires on her car with mine. Regardless, definately a best buy at $120 installed at the National Tire and Battery store.