good site for tire research?

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RichardS

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Jan 14, 2017
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Location
Melbourne, Florida
It's tire time for the Caliber, which currently has Michelin hydraedge 215/60r17. While we have no major complaints, the driver side has worn down a significant amount father than the passenger side, and we're still thousands of miles away from the 90k tread life, so I'd like something that isn't directional.

I'd like to get a basic understanding of touring, grand touring, tire rating, difference in sizes, etc.

Hoping to get enough of a grasp to find the best compromise of tread life, wet weather performance, and stopping abilities as we regularly have heavy rain in the summer, and some stretches of 95 will sometimes have standing water when it really pours down.

Thank you in advance,
Richard
 
Your search will be very easy. There are very few tires in that size. If you want to go up or down a size, that is one alternative. The other alternative is to buy General RT 43's that come in that size. It meets all your criteria.

You need to address the problem of uneven tread wear. The early Calibers are notorious for have front end parts that wear out early. Check your suspension and alignment.

Edit: I was just going to comment about 16" size....you beat me to it. I "think" some models did come with 17", so you might want to confirm wheel size.
 
The OE size, according to everything online, is actually 205/70r15. Of which, there are even less brand name options I could find. It's an SE, so it shouldn't have 17" rims, which really threw me through a loop trying to size out.
 
I do recommend the General RT43 as well but with the H or V speed rating. That way the temperature rating is an A compared to the T rated version that comes with a B rating. The psi in the tires do vary quite a bit via the onboard computer in the Camry since I have the T rated one. Also Consumer Reports recommends it and it does well in all their performance categories.
 
Originally Posted By: RichardS
*of course* it was that easy. I promise I did try google before stumbling in here like a lost drunk.


A proper Google search requires some skill. I know everyone thinks they know how to use a search engine ... it seems simple enough on the surface, but I am constantly amazed when I watch people use Google at the search terms they seem to think are appropriate, and once you use a proper set of terms, how people click the first few links, which are usually the worst examples since they are the result of the liberal application of money, not expertise or relevance. A lot of people don't even read the three line summaries, which tell you a great deal about what the linked site is likely to result in.

I often don't find useful links until the third or even tenth page of results.
 
Satin,
Thank you for the advice, but what I need help with is understanding what any of that means. Speed rating, temperature rating. Can they overheat? I mean surely it can't mean what I think it means.

It was far easier in 2009 when she just went in and said "give me a long lasting wet weather tire, and make it snappy!"
 
Speed rating is the "Speed you cannot exceed" while driving. It's not a hard-and-fast rule as it is closely related to the temperature rating, but the short answer is if you exceed the speed rating long enough to heat the tire (which isn't a very long time) you will overheat the tires and tread separation or sidewall damage is the likely result.
 
Grand touring summer tires will most likely suit your needs best
smile.gif


Bridgestone Turanza ER300

ContiPremiumContact 5

Falken Ziex ZE914 Ecorun

Vredestein Sportrac 5

Did you buy the car used? Because sometimes the original/previous owner may change out the rims. Many people like bigger wheels, and upgrading to a larger optional size is common.
 
Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Grand touring summer tires will most likely suit your needs best
smile.gif


Bridgestone Turanza ER300

ContiPremiumContact 5

Falken Ziex ZE914 Ecorun

Vredestein Sportrac 5

Did you buy the car used? Because sometimes the original/previous owner may change out the rims. Many people like bigger wheels, and upgrading to a larger optional size is common.


From the little I had read, summer tires seemed where I wanted to go as well, but then it got into all of the numbers behind it and I wanted to throw my iPad.

We got it as a retired rental in 2009, so I don't think they would have changed anything. She's the first private owner.

Unrelated, I thought of you yesterday when I saw a redesigned bottle of ST DexVI at WallyWorld. The new bottles here now carry a Dexos approval. So strange.
 
RichardS, you really should change the tire size. The size you are running is about 1" larger than what it's supposed to have. If you go with 215/55-17 instead of the 215/60-17 you currently have, the tire diameter is identical to what your car is supposed to have.

Also. 215/55-17 is an extremely common tire size. It comes stock currently on VWs, Toyota Avalon, Hyundai Sonatas, Honda Accords, and a whole lot of others.
 
Originally Posted By: RichardS
Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Grand touring summer tires will most likely suit your needs best
smile.gif


Bridgestone Turanza ER300

ContiPremiumContact 5

Falken Ziex ZE914 Ecorun

Vredestein Sportrac 5

Did you buy the car used? Because sometimes the original/previous owner may change out the rims. Many people like bigger wheels, and upgrading to a larger optional size is common.


From the little I had read, summer tires seemed where I wanted to go as well, but then it got into all of the numbers behind it and I wanted to throw my iPad.

We got it as a retired rental in 2009, so I don't think they would have changed anything. She's the first private owner.

Unrelated, I thought of you yesterday when I saw a redesigned bottle of ST DexVI at WallyWorld. The new bottles here now carry a Dexos approval. So strange.


Cool! It's possible they were optional back then, and perhaps the rental agency opted for the bigger wheels because they look more attractive/marketable or something.

Not sure whether price is a concern or not, since you have Michelins right now, but the four options I gave you cover a wide range of price categories. Falken being the cheapest, Conti being the most expensive, and Bridgestone and Vredestein in the middle. Please keep us updated with whatever you finally pick!

Glad you're finally getting licensed Dex VI at Walmart
smile.gif



Originally Posted By: RichardS
The OE size, according to everything online, is actually 205/70r15. Of which, there are even less brand name options I could find. It's an SE, so it shouldn't have 17" rims, which really threw me through a loop trying to size out.


Originally Posted By: Nick1994
RichardS, you really should change the tire size. The size you are running is about 1" larger than what it's supposed to have. If you go with 215/55-17 instead of the 215/60-17 you currently have, the tire diameter is identical to what your car is supposed to have.

Also. 215/55-17 is an extremely common tire size. It comes stock currently on VWs, Toyota Avalon, Hyundai Sonatas, Honda Accords, and a whole lot of others.


215/60-17 is indeed a correct tire size for the 2009 Caliber, and was optional on the SE. While this size may not have the most options, I found four good name-brand tires that are excellent for the OP's intended usage
smile.gif
 
slacktide_bitog,
I'll definitely update everyone, and thank you for the options. And especially for the price point spread, while the price on the Michelins wasn't cheap, (mom wants to remember that she paid $200 a tire all said and done) with the idea that they'd run out to 90,000 miles made the price more acceptable. Sadly, being directional, and never having them remounted and moved to the opposite side (assuming that's actually a thing) is very likely why we did them in earlier than expected.

And I'm glad it's licensed, the local Buick dealership wanted $300 for the transmission service that's due, sadly not the most expensive quote I got for the closest 5 dealerships. I'll be much happier to do it myself for $50.

Nick1994,
We've had it since 2009, and driven 86k miles (72k on these particular tires) set up as it is. I don't know if the size difference would change the drive characteristics, but I'll definitely give them a look and see if any of the tread patterns pass the "are they cute?" test that inevitably will be a part of her visual inspection of the tire options. Thank you!

Richard
 
Originally Posted By: doitmyself

You need to address the problem of uneven tread wear. The early Calibers are notorious for have front end parts that wear out early. Check your suspension and alignment.

Edit: I was just going to comment about 16" size....you beat me to it. I "think" some models did come with 17", so you might want to confirm wheel size.


They haven't been inspected by a mechanic since these Michelins were installed, we've always rotated the tires at home when the oil change reminder lit up. The tread wear is on the drivers side, outside of the tire, the passenger side has worn pretty evenly across the entire tire. Honestly, I had thought it was because there was only ever a driver, and the added 200 pounds on one side was enough to cause the excessive wear on that side, so thank you for that tip!
 
Originally Posted By: Johnny2Bad
Originally Posted By: RichardS
*of course* it was that easy. I promise I did try google before stumbling in here like a lost drunk.


A proper Google search requires some skill. I know everyone thinks they know how to use a search engine ... it seems simple enough on the surface, but I am constantly amazed when I watch people use Google at the search terms they seem to think are appropriate, and once you use a proper set of terms, how people click the first few links, which are usually the worst examples since they are the result of the liberal application of money, not expertise or relevance. A lot of people don't even read the three line summaries, which tell you a great deal about what the linked site is likely to result in.

I often don't find useful links until the third or even tenth page of results.


I've never gone past the second page, but certainly know the trick of ignoring the sponsor ads. I worked at an internet company in Cali, so I know some of the basics. I think my failing was linked to the fact that I don't really know what I'm looking for and "best wet weather performance tire" was only getting me so far.

Did you see the story of the English grandma who thought google was a person, and she singed every question with "thank you"?
 
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