# What brand of tires do you recommend? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252 "2012-07-14T21:18:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/21 "2012-07-16T18:47:56Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Goodyear Eagle GT’s were probably the best tires I ever owned. I’ve got Coopers on my car now and they’re not nearly as high performance. > > Goodyear probably has some crap models out there, too. Same as every other maker. I had the opposite experience. Had Eagle GTs on my 1998 Escort ZX2 which was a 2 year lease. At the end of the lease, with about 22,000 miles on it, they said they just BARELY passed inspection to take it back without having to replace them. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/22 "2012-07-16T19:04:39Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > That’s not really due to the brand though, it’s probably the softness of the rubber compound on those particular tires. > VW had that same problem with whatever the Touareg came equipped with, and 15k is pushing your luck with the Porsche Cayenne’s stock Michelins. So who chooses the hardness of the rubber? (Hint the name starts with a P) ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/23 "2012-07-16T19:58:37Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > So who chooses the hardness of the rubber? (Hint the name starts with a P) But it’s not all their tires, different compounds are used for different tires depending on the performance they want that tire to have. You prefer Michelin over Perelli because of the Perellis on the Volvo had a short lifespan, but the Michelin tires on the Porsche have the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/24 "2012-07-16T21:44:24Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > But it’s not all their tires, different compounds are used for different tires depending on the performance they want that tire to have. You prefer Michelin over Perelli because of the Perellis on the Volvo had a short lifespan, but the Michelin tires on the Porsche have the same problem. Every Pirelli I have been around from the late 1960s (Cinturatos) to the present has exhibited the same two characteristics 1. Great grip 2. They wear out in no time flat Michelins on the other hand have given me grip that is maybe 90% of a similar Pirelli but they out last them 2 or 3 to one. As one customer with a C70 told me “I’ve had loves of bread that have lasted longer than these Pirellis.” (he needed 4 tires at 10K) YMMV of course. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/25 "2012-07-16T22:36:48Z")
I’ve had Pirellis last longer than I expected based on previous experience, but the previous tires were a “performance” category tire, meant for racing and autocross. I did not expect those tires to last long. They were awesome in the dry though. FI, what make and model of vehicle are you shodding? Also, what type of driving do you do most often? Freeway? City? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/26 "2012-07-16T22:46:21Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > FI, what make and model of vehicle are you shodding? Also, what type of driving do you do most often? Freeway? City? It’s a Toyota Camry 4-door sedan. Mostly city driving, some highway. New Hampshire, so there is snow and ice in winter; I am looking for an all-weather tire, as the roads are usually plowed and salted soon after snow, so snow tires would be overkill. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/27 "2012-07-16T23:10:23Z")
Look at the General Altimax HP. It’s got excellent test ratings by Road & Track and the price is less than Michelin. Bridgestone Potenza also gets good ratings for passenger cars but I would check out the General brand first. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/28 "2012-07-16T23:21:35Z")
Another nod for Cooper. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/29 "2012-07-17T00:07:29Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I am on my second set of [Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3’s.](http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+F1+GS-D3) They wear fast (you’ll get maybe 30K mile out of them), but they’ve got excellent wet and dry traction, and they run very quiet. The down side is that they’re summer only, so you’ll need a second set of rims with snow tires on them (I use [Dunlop M3’s](http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=SP+Winter+Sport+M3+ROF&partnum=25HR7WSM3ROF&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Nissan&autoYear=2003&autoModel=Maxima%20SE&autoModClar=)). The Eagles that you linked to were the best tire I’ve ever had-lasted 4 years, gave phenomenal grip in the wet or dry (which is important to me for reasons to do with safety and yes some occasional fun). I got some [Dunlop Star Specs](http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Direzza+Sport+Z1+Star+Spec&partnum=145WR7Z1SS&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes) two years ago after Goodyear discontinued the old Eagles in my size (curse them), and while I have no other complaints they are almost worn to the cords now. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/30 "2012-07-18T13:43:59Z")
Welp, finally decided to spring for some [Michelin Pilot Super Sports](http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Super+Sport&partnum=145YR7PSSXL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Honda&autoYear=2006&autoModel=Civic%20SI%20Coupe&autoModClar=)-best rated tire in its class on Tirerack (by both the experts and the buyers)-it apparently has a long wear life too. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/31 "2012-07-18T22:25:36Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Pirelli was original equipment on XC 90 Volvos. The tire wore out so fast (\<15K miles) that Volvo forced Pirelli to buy customers new sets of tires. Until the time Pirelli was buying new tires you try telling a customer with about 10K on their vehicle that they need $1500 worth of tires and see how that goes over. > Do that 15 or 20 times and then see if your opinion of Pirelli changes. 🙂 > On the other hand my first set of Michelins on my V70 lasted 42K miles I replaced then with the same tire. I’m now at 114K and still have tread left. I blame you for this! I just had to pump up my rear tyre in the supermarket car park, getting some very funny looks in the process. Looks like a slow leak, which I don’t have time for this week at all. You hexed my Pirellis! ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/32 "2012-07-18T22:59:26Z")
I had a set of Coopers that gave me about 50,000 miles. I was satisfied with them. I recently replaced them with Hankooks (Cooper model I was using was discontinued). I haven’t gone through a winter with them yet, but they’re performing well on the highway and in the rain. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/33 "2012-07-18T23:43:24Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > I blame you for this! I just had to pump up my rear tyre in the supermarket car park, getting some very funny looks in the process. Looks like a slow leak, which I don’t have time for this week at all. You hexed my Pirellis! You are just like my customers. It’s my fault when they run over something and get a flat. ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/34 "2012-07-18T23:58:17Z")
Personally, unless you are buying speed rated tires for a high end sports car, I think all tires are 100% the same. Even then, if they are speed rated, I question if there is a difference. I drive an SUV, and I buy the cheapest (non-retread) tires I can find which are no-name Japanese and Korean brands like Falken. We have a place in San Diego that specializes in these and they are considerably cheaper than Costco, Discount, or others in town because no one has ever heard of the brand and they don’t waste money advertising, which would then have to be passed on to the customer. The guys at the tire place use them on their own cars and as they told me “all new tires have to pass Government safety inspections, so what’s the difference?”. I agree. To me, asking what brand of tire you should use is like asking what brand of gas you should buy, but I’m sure people have strong opinions on that too. I’m now on my third set of no-name brand tires since making this realization. All of them were 1/3 cheaper than the other brands, have lasted the same length of time, and I have noticed zero differences. That said, I do normal city driving, at normal speeds, with occasional trips out to the desert or mountains where there are temperature extremes - no drag racing, no offroad driving, etc. so YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/35 "2012-07-19T00:03:20Z")
There definitely differences in tire noise. I had a set of Pirellis that drove me crazy for three years. I’m sure all tires meet government specs, but I don’t think there is a federal spec for noise. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252/36 "2012-07-19T03:15:24Z")
There is not a spec for noise - and I know wherefrom you speak on tire noise. My current Michelins (I drive a VW GTI) are very noisy. But the noise is similar to racing tire sounds so I don’t mind it. Yarster, Falkens have a definite following in the Drifting competition crowd. Older and non-racing Americans may not have heard of them but the word has been spreading. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brand-of-tires-do-you-recommend/628252.md?page=1)