All-season tires for a Corolla, good NVH?

[riker1384]

I've asked this in a Corolla forum but I'm gonna do it here too. I need some 175/65 or 185/65 all-season tires for my 2000 Toyota Corolla. Right now I have General tires. One thing I'd like is if I can get tires that make less noise or maybe also less vibration than the Generals. Of course I still want decent traction and life. The Michelin Harmony seem to be oriented towards that, but they're $80+.

Is there anything cheaper? I;ve been recommended the Goodyear Triple Tred and Comfort Tred, and BF Goodrich Traction TA. Are these good, and are there other good quiet ones for maybe $65 or less apiece?

 

[Brogy]

I was actually looking at tires for the #@$%! of it for my corolla. I wanted the exact same thing as you, quiet, smooth good tread and traction. Also came across those choices too, the comfortreds, the harmonys, and the tripletreads. All look too expencive for me.

Reason I was looking was just to know, maybe my tire blows out and I need to buy a new pair, don't want to be at the mercy of a recommendation.

So, if I needed new tires today, i'd probally go with these:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?...yes&place=2

They're rated at around 70k, but people get no more than 50k on them (from what i'v read with the reviews). And while people arent raving about how quiet or soft they ride, they tested very well for a $57 tire, better than some $90+ tires. And i'd rather have a harsh and safe tire than a soft and dangerous tire.

 

[PandaBear]

I am in the same boat but I am willing to sacrifice ride comfort/noise for handling and traction. One tire I have tried that have very good traction and good NVH is the Kumho Solus KH16, it is literally the quietest tire I have ever had and H rated traction.

There aren't too many good tires in the 175 size, so I would up it to 185 at least, if not 195 60 14. Currently I am looking at the Sumitomo HTR 200, but that may not last very long.

 

[mormit]

Bridgestone Turanzas are great and get very good reviews on tirerack.com. They still may be as much as the Michellin Harmonies in your size but check them out.

I replaced Michellin Energy MXVs with the Turanzas and have been ver pleased with these tires. The Michellins were very good in dry wether but poor in wet or snow conditions. The Turanzas match or slightly exceed the Michellins in handeling, comfort, dry traction, and noise. Far better in rain, snow, and ice. Wearing longer as well.

 

[csandste]

Energies came with my '01 Elantra. One of the worst OEM tires I've ever had. Michelin must sell them to the manufacturer for $10 then hope customers are stupid enough to stay with the same brand or rip one up and have to replace for the big bucks. I replaced with Uniroyal Tiger Paw H's special ordered from Wally World and found them to be far superior for less than half the bucks.

 

[Pluto5]

Kumho now has the Solus SR21, very smooth and quiet. Very good value IMO.

 

[benjamming]

Quote:

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One tire I have tried that have very good traction and good NVH is the Kumho Solus KH16, it is literally the quietest tire I have ever had and H rated traction.

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Do you mean H speed-rated & A traction?

 

[PandaBear]

Quote:

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Do you mean H speed-rated & A traction?

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Yes.

 

[ewetho]

Quote:

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Energies came with my '01 Elantra. One of the worst OEM tires I've ever had. Michelin must sell them to the manufacturer for $10 then hope customers are stupid enough to stay with the same brand or rip one up and have to replace for the big bucks. I replaced with Uniroyal Tiger Paw H's special ordered from Wally World and found them to be far superior for less than half the bucks.

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Just a note of Irony, Uniroyal a Michelin Brand.

Heck I chose Traction T/A's for my car and love them. Some of their other choices generally have technology bleed down at lesser prices and make wonderful choices. So not trying to start nothing just a point of minor humor.

 

[smokey1]

We have a 2000 Chevy Prizm ( Corolla ) and have used COOPER Trendsetter SEs for awhile . Just replaced our studded Cooper Weathermaster ST-2 snow tires w/ spanking brand new TRENDSETTERS at $57 each not including mount and balance . I try to keep the SEs at 32 p.s.i. and they are rather quiet , very good in rain , take a beating ( potholes ) , good rolling resistance ( affects m.p.g. ) , and never got a defective tire as of yet . Other words , you get more than what you pay for . Good Luck in your tire hunt , too many to choose from .

 

[smokey1]

they're an S-speed rating as well . If curious , www.coopertires.com for details and a picture . Take Care

 

[Vaca]

Riker, have you looked at the Yokahama AVID Touring? It's a good quiet, long-wearing tire and a great deal.

 

[Brogy]

Actually i've changed my mind, when I need tires next ill go to #@$%!'s, thats where my dad always goes.

I was there the other day, they have michelin x radials, an all season tire rated at 80,000 miles, for 75$ each. That includes mounting and balancing.

 

[riker1384]

Quote:

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Riker, have you looked at the Yokahama AVID Touring? It's a good quiet, long-wearing tire and a great deal.

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I'm looking at it now on the Tire Rack. It's $45, and rated well in all areas, especially dry traction, noise and ride, but not so great in snow (about a 6 out of 10 there). Still rated a bit better than mine in snow. Where I live it snows a handful of times a year. Of course, I take online reviews with a grain of salt because they could always be manipulated by the manufacturer, or even the site itself for their own ends.

My current tires are General Ameri-G4S, size 175/65/14. Tire Rack indicates my wheels can either take that or 185/65.

I'm hoping for a smoother, quieter ride if that's possible. I also want decent traction. I'd like to drive fast and all, but the Corolla has a soft suspension, not good for sporty driving, so that's not a top priority. My friend has a VW and it's better than my Corolla on the highway, smoother, quieter and more stable, so you can cruise at 75 and it seems slow. I know a lot of that is in the suspension and the body, but I'd like to get mine more like that if it all possible. Also I'd like it quieter, to hear music and all. I don't have a lot of money to spend, though.

I see local Tire Rack installers charge $18-25 per tire for installation. I haven't talked to anybody yet, to see what things buying locally.

By the way, my tires haven't worn evenly, one in front is down to like 2/32" while the other is more like 3 or 4. I don't remember exactly, I measured it in mm anyway. The low one is lower on the outside than the inside; should I worry about my alignment, or about hurting the differential by running the old tires?

 

[riker1384]

BTW, should I call around and find a shop that has one of them road-force balancers I hear about? Are those common and are they really good, or important?

 

[Brogy]

Quote:

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Actually i've changed my mind, when I need tires next ill go to #@$%!'s, thats where my dad always goes.

I was there the other day, they have michelin x radials, an all season tire rated at 80,000 miles, for 75$ each. That includes mounting and balancing.

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Whoops, B J ' S wholesale club

 

[riker1384]

The Triple Treds aren't available in my sizes. The Comfort Tred is, in 185/65/14. I think it's expensive though, and I worry that might be a little too on the soft side.

If I go with Yokohama I'll get the TRZ, probably worth it over the Touring. I've called the places that sell Yoko here and they want to sell me the Harmony though, they say it is smoother and quieter. It's $100 more, though. Is the quality control and such as good on the Yokohamas as with Michelin? I might have to order the TRZ.

I might be able to get the Michelin X-radials for around the same price as the TRZs, not sure though.

I'm fretting about this because I've never bought new tires before, I don't know how different it will be if I buy better ones. I do want it quieter, and I was hoping that premium all-seasons such as these would also give an improvement in handling over my Generals, even if I don't go for performance tires.

Some places are telling me not to switch to 185, but the dealer said it's fine. The sticker inside the car just says 175 though.

 

[sxg6]

I love my kumho solus kh16's if they sell them in your size.

 

[DrinkDuff77]

+1 on the kumho solus kh16's. I just had them installed on my wifes Volvo S40 in size 195/60/15. They are very quiet and smooth. Can't comment on treadwear but so far very pleased. Also, for $270 installed they are a great value.

 

[Brogy]

Quote:

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The Triple Treds aren't available in my sizes. The Comfort Tred is, in 185/65/14. I think it's expensive though, and I worry that might be a little too on the soft side.

If I go with Yokohama I'll get the TRZ, probably worth it over the Touring. I've called the places that sell Yoko here and they want to sell me the Harmony though, they say it is smoother and quieter. It's $100 more, though. Is the quality control and such as good on the Yokohamas as with Michelin? I might have to order the TRZ.

I might be able to get the Michelin X-radials for around the same price as the TRZs, not sure though.

I'm fretting about this because I've never bought new tires before, I don't know how different it will be if I buy better ones. I do want it quieter, and I was hoping that premium all-seasons such as these would also give an improvement in handling over my Generals, even if I don't go for performance tires.

Some places are telling me not to switch to 185, but the dealer said it's fine. The sticker inside the car just says 175 though.

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I wouldnt waste my time with the triple treads or comfortreads. The X-Radials are rated just as well as the tripletreads/hydroedges. Plus I hear with the comfortreads you'll take a 2-3 mpg hit because they have high rolling resistance.

If your dealership is telling you it's ok, then I'd say trust them on it. Most tire places, expecially places like walmart, B Js, sears, and costco, wont install a tire on your car unless it's an exact OEM fit, and meets OEM speed rating. They don't mess around, they dont want any liability.

If you can get the avid TRZs cheaper than you can find x-radials, get them, if not, get the michelins. The great thing with the x-radials is that they're very available and cheap, and a very good tire. Last time me and my dad went to get them for my sisters car at B J's, we were in and out in 45 minutes, they were $65 each installed + tax, and they are great riding and handling tires.

Almost any tire, however, will give you a smoother ride than a worn out tire. You might take a small MPG hit, just because of the higher tread, but it's worth it for the confidence your car will gain in it's handling/braking.