I've chosen the new tire I'm going with

[LoneRanger]

Turns out it's None of The Above in the short list I'd posted last week.

Continental True Contact in 99H


http://www.continentaltire.com/product/truecontact-22560r17-99h



I like how Continental pays attention to rolling resistance i.e. their EcoPlus technology.

Another big factor for me was quiet ride. The Nokians they'll be replacing have always been pretty loud on the highway.

There's a Discount Tire in town and so I'll get it done there. They have Hunter Road Force balancing.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Sounds good. Does your DT do alignments?
I like that Max inflation and the UTQG.

 

[charbaby]

Best of luck and please keep us posted on the longevity results. e.g., how are they wearing, smooth & quiet, ride & handling over the long haul etc. And maybe even the effects on fuel economy.

Thanks,

CB

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
….There's a Discount Tire in town and so I'll get it done there. They have Hunter Road Force balancing.

Saw a comment recently mentioning no Road Force at DT. Locally DTs have a Road Force balancer for extra cost of course. That said, never needed it but asked a manager about the machine once.

A word of advice, research tire sites online for the best price on the tires before going to the store. Then have the information ready so you can get the price match. IME, DT prices posted online are a starting point, kinda like MSRP for a vehicle. Going to the store in person armed with the best price, will get you the best price.

 

[oil_film_movies]

Originally Posted By: Sayjac

A word of advice, research tire sites online for the best price on the tires before going to the store. Then have the information ready so you can get the price match. IME, DT prices posted online are a starting point, kinda like MSRP for a vehicle. Going to the store in person armed with the best price, will get you the best price.
Try discounttiredirect.com as well as discounttire.com as they often have different prices but seem to be from the same company! Continental looks like they are dictating price to walmart, tire rack, discount tires, across the board, same price.

Continental TrueContact is top rated from expert tire testers:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=228

 

[LoneRanger]

Yeah, you guys are correct. I did research tires a bit and oil_film_movies I actually ran across that same review on tirerack.

I spoke with the local store and they told me all their balancing machines are Hunter Road Force and road force balance is included in the price. It's a very new store they just opened here late last year, November I think.

 

[LoneRanger]

P.S. I wasn't sure whether to get the 99T version or 99H, so both being exact same price I chose the higher speed (130 mph) 99H. I'm not sure why anyone would select the 99T (118 mph) when they the same price?

Not that the Forester ever gets driven north of 90 ... a fast car it ain't ...

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
I'm not sure why anyone would select the 99T (118 mph) when they the same price?

Sometimes the lower speed rating translates to softer sidewalls and therefore more comfy/cushy ride, at the expense of poorer steering response.

With some tire models, like General RT43, for example, people also reported better snow performance with the lower speed rated version (T vs H).

Personally, I would have gone with the H-rated one as well since it has a higher temperature index rating, indicating better construction.

 

[Sayjac]

Unless the tires have been purchased, at this point I'd wait till next DT/DTD promo period, that being Labor Day.

As for the DT price match, in the past I've used DTD and DTD@ebay (DT/AT's online companies) to get a price match, including the no tax price in this state. YMMV on that. Tire Rack never one that I've used because once shipping added in, not lower. I suspect same now that shipping included at TR. SimpleTire and Walmart .com also worth a look to compare prices.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: oil_film_movies
Originally Posted By: Sayjac

A word of advice, research tire sites online for the best price on the tires before going to the store. Then have the information ready so you can get the price match. IME, DT prices posted online are a starting point, kinda like MSRP for a vehicle. Going to the store in person armed with the best price, will get you the best price.
Try discounttiredirect.com as well as discounttire.com as they often have different prices but seem to be from the same company! Continental looks like they are dictating price to walmart, tire rack, discount tires, across the board, same price.

Continental TrueContact is top rated from expert tire testers:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=228


Expert tire testers?
LOL!
Tirerack is just another reseller.
I personally trust the tire reviews from CR over those from any company that sells tires.
To the OP, we have the same Forester as you do and I can tell you from having tried that it's governed to 98 mph even though it came on V rated tires.
Lower speed rated tires may offer a better ride, although these Subies are already pretty plush and will offer longer tread life, although that probably doesn't matter with the few miles you put on your car.
I'd suggest checking out Pirellis since I'm very happy with the now 37K P4 All Season Plus tires I have on the '12 Accord and these are probably going to be the third set for our '09 Forester.

 

[LoneRanger]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27

Expert tire testers?
LOL!
Tirerack is just another reseller.
I personally trust the tire reviews from CR over those from any company that sells tires.
To the OP, we have the same Forester as you do and I can tell you from having tried that it's governed to 98 mph even though it came on V rated tires.
Lower speed rated tires may offer a better ride, although these Subies are already pretty plush and will offer longer tread life, although that probably doesn't matter with the few miles you put on your car.
I'd suggest checking out Pirellis since I'm very happy with the now 37K P4 All Season Plus tires I have on the '12 Accord and these are probably going to be the third set for our '09 Forester.


Too late !!

Already ordered the Conti TrueContact's. They came in at #2 in CR's April 2018 tire test:


http://www.continentaltire.com/sites/default/files/consumer-reports/Contintental trueContact.pdf


The Pirelli P4's you have look excellent on the list as well. Only the P4's and the Conti's got top scores for Low Rolling Resistance in the upper tier of the scoreboard.

 

[fdcg27]

I'm sure that the Contis will be very good.
Let us know how you like them on your Forester.
I'm always amenable to a change of plan.

 

[oil_film_movies]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Expert tire testers?LOL!Tirerack is just another reseller.

Sounds like you've never read a Tire Rack test. They are obviously highly skilled people with racing and engineering backgrounds. They criticize many tires freely and don't play favorites at all. Try again fdcg27.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: oil_film_movies
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Expert tire testers?LOL!Tirerack is just another reseller.

Sounds like you've never read a Tire Rack test. They are obviously highly skilled people with racing and engineering backgrounds. They criticize many tires freely and don't play favorites at all. Try again fdcg27.


Sounds like you don't understand the difference between an organization that exists to try to profit from the sale of tires and a non-profit that exists solely to provide unbiased product evaluations.
Those who do the testing at CR have real and verifiable qualifications.
Try again my friend.

 

[LoneRanger]

I think both Tirerack and Consumer Reports' evals gave praise to both the Pirelli P4 Four Season and the Continental TrueContact.

All I know is the Nokian WRG2 SUV's have been okay but always have been 1. loud, and 2. harsh riding. I think they were too heavy duty of a tire for a car of the Forester's weight-- they were V-rated on speed and load rating of 102 XL with reinforced sidewalls.