The Bridgestone Turanza EL-400-02's that came with my Civic just got their last rotation. The front tires that were moved to the rear have 3/32" of tread remaining (state min.), and the ones moved to the front have 5/32" left. There's no cupping or uneven wear; they just wore VERY FAST. I'm a really laid-back driver when there's an open road, but put me in rush hour traffic and I do my part to keep up--accelerating at a green light, taking turns a bit fast, and braking quickly. I do most of my miles in traffic. That's probably why I'm looking for new tires at 16,000 miles.
Anyone get long life from tires on a compact car? What tires might be a good match for me and my city driving? Here's how I rank what I'm looking for, in descending order of importance.
1. Treadlife. This is the most important characteristic for me. I don't expect to get 100,000 miles out of new tires, but 60K would be wonderful.
2. Handling. Something that doesn't wander on the highway too much or squish into turns. Good dry traction is a must; decent wet traction is a plus. I'll sacrifice a bit of ride comfort to have something that corners decently.
3. Mechanical Soundness. A tire that doesn't fall out of round, doesn't throw belts, doesn't need to be rebalanced every 1,000 miles, and doesn't need to be replaced because I brushed a curb.
4. Price. Of course price is a concern, but since I want a high-quality tire I suppose I'll have to pay for it.
5. Ride Comfort. I prefer a stiffer ride, actually. Road noise can be rough in a Civic, but it doesn't bother me too much as I'm usually listening to the radio.
6. Fuel Economy. Not a concern. I wonder what tune I'll be whistling in 2010.
So what's doable for me? I've looked around a bit and really like the following:
Michelin HydroEdge: 800AB, 90,000 mile treadlife warranty, and impressive performance according to user reviews. I was surprised to see people complimenting the ride quality and lack of road noise. Currently a $70 MIR on a set of 4. Honda says the T speed rating is a no-no. OTOH, I can probably restrain myself from exceeding 118mph between stoplights.
Goodyear Assurance TripleTred: I've had these before and never liked a tire better. I got more than 80,000 miles out of a set on my previous car. Traction and handling were great on wet and dry roads, and they were as good in winter as any non-snow tire I've tried. Currently offering a $40 rebate on a set of 4.
Suggestions are most welcome!
Anyone get long life from tires on a compact car? What tires might be a good match for me and my city driving? Here's how I rank what I'm looking for, in descending order of importance.
1. Treadlife. This is the most important characteristic for me. I don't expect to get 100,000 miles out of new tires, but 60K would be wonderful.
2. Handling. Something that doesn't wander on the highway too much or squish into turns. Good dry traction is a must; decent wet traction is a plus. I'll sacrifice a bit of ride comfort to have something that corners decently.
3. Mechanical Soundness. A tire that doesn't fall out of round, doesn't throw belts, doesn't need to be rebalanced every 1,000 miles, and doesn't need to be replaced because I brushed a curb.
4. Price. Of course price is a concern, but since I want a high-quality tire I suppose I'll have to pay for it.
5. Ride Comfort. I prefer a stiffer ride, actually. Road noise can be rough in a Civic, but it doesn't bother me too much as I'm usually listening to the radio.
6. Fuel Economy. Not a concern. I wonder what tune I'll be whistling in 2010.
So what's doable for me? I've looked around a bit and really like the following:
Michelin HydroEdge: 800AB, 90,000 mile treadlife warranty, and impressive performance according to user reviews. I was surprised to see people complimenting the ride quality and lack of road noise. Currently a $70 MIR on a set of 4. Honda says the T speed rating is a no-no. OTOH, I can probably restrain myself from exceeding 118mph between stoplights.
Goodyear Assurance TripleTred: I've had these before and never liked a tire better. I got more than 80,000 miles out of a set on my previous car. Traction and handling were great on wet and dry roads, and they were as good in winter as any non-snow tire I've tried. Currently offering a $40 rebate on a set of 4.
Suggestions are most welcome!