Primewell's on a cheap SUV?

[MNL]

Primewell tires are made by GITI tire. A "Singapore headquartered" Chinese tire company.
http://www.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=368&language=1

I'll give you my two experiences with Primewell tire. First to be clear, Bridgestone/Firestone DOES NOT make these tires. They just sell them at the stores. They are budget tires but I will say they are better than brand like "Triangle" and "Westlake".

I had a set of PS850 on a van. It has a max cold psi of 35 so my pressure was always at the limit on the van. The ride was fine, somewhat okay in the rain. I got about 30K miles with light driving but the sidewall had small dry-rot cracking within a year.

Fast forward to my Camry and I had a set of Primewell PS830 a while back. A month after install, I almost crash into a tree during a very light mist at an intersection. The rear tires just lost traction during the turn. Most tires you can feel when you're at the limit but the Primewell just give up and slip. I swap them out for some Bridgestone and realized how noisy the Primewell was.

Primewell are fine for normal day use. However, if you're ever in an emergency situation, they might not get you out of it.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
The Focus I bought in August came on a new set of Primewells.
These are fine tires in terms of ride and handling.
They are great in the rain.
They may as well be at 2/32nds when dealing with ice and snow, which we got really early this year.
These tires are so bad that for the moment, I've left my Cali native DIL, the intended driver of this Focus in my wife's '09 Forester, have my wife driving my '12 Accord and I've been driving the Focus.
Directional stability is fine on a slick road and turn in seems okay. Braking is awful as is starting from a standing stop. Starting out uphill is an exercise in wheelspin, throttle feathering and hope.
These tires, although virtually new, will have to go.
I have never driven on tires less well suited to winter use.
Friends don't let friends buy Primewells for use in any area that experiences real winter.

Wow, these sound like a real winner.
Which model Primewells?

 

[exranger06]

My fiancee's father has a set of Primewell Valeras on his 05 Pathfinder. He doesn't have any complaints, although he knows a little less than nothing about cars. He undoubtedly chose those because they were the cheapest tires the Firestone store had to offer.

 

[Jimmy9190]

Well my wife's Honda must be some kind of anomaly because the prime well tires on her car are doing fine. We have had no problems at all with traction in the rain and we get a lot of rain here in Florida. No problems at all with dry traction or braking or emergency stops either. Tires are very quiet too for a cheap tire. Not the very best but good tires at a decent price.

 

[threeputtpar]

The Fleet Farm idea is a good one if there's one nearby your friend. The sell Dean tires and Coopers there too, so I would advise against the Road Runners.

Or if Walmart is an option, General Grabbers STX is a really good tire. Put a set on my SIL's Escape and all is well. They might be more than the $300 he's looking at now, though.

Edit: Looks like the Grabber STX doesn't come in any 15" sizes.

 

[fdcg27]

They're PS 830s in 205/55/16.
The tread design looks like it should be pretty decent in snow so I'm guessing that the problem must be with the compound.
Since they grip like iron they may wear that way as well.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27

Since they grip like iron they may wear that way as well.

That's what I found with the OEM uniroyals on the Tracker, 80000 miles and not quite half way to the bars... I'm surprised they don't advertise them that way. Lifetime Tires! Never need to be changed!

 

[leeharvey418]

Do you remember the Goodyear Infinitred?

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
The Focus I bought in August came on a new set of Primewells.
These are fine tires in terms of ride and handling.
They are great in the rain.
They may as well be at 2/32nds when dealing with ice and snow, which we got really early this year.
These tires are so bad that for the moment, I've left my Cali native DIL, the intended driver of this Focus in my wife's '09 Forester, have my wife driving my '12 Accord and I've been driving the Focus.
Directional stability is fine on a slick road and turn in seems okay. Braking is awful as is starting from a standing stop. Starting out uphill is an exercise in wheelspin, throttle feathering and hope.
These tires, although virtually new, will have to go.
I have never driven on tires less well suited to winter use.
Friends don't let friends buy Primewells for use in any area that experiences real winter.


In other words: fine, as long as you don't use them on snow.

 

[fdcg27]

You've got it.
If you never drove on snow with these tires, you'd probably be very happy with them, especially considering the bottom dollar price.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Sounds like the GY Assurances on my Magnum...

 

[SilverC6]

Keep good tires on the SUV for safety.

Not Primewells.

Move up to a Firestone Destination LE2.

Just installed a set on a work truck and they are very comfortable and do well in the rain.

Paid $450 in a P225/75-15.

Probably $425 for the set in the smaller size.

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: renegade_987
I happened to find 4 Kumho Solus KR21 for $63.00 each for a total of $252.00 from treaddepot.com. Are these any good? They carry an 85K warrenty!


Those in my circle(family/friends) that used the KR-21's on an SUV were disapointed in them after about 25K-30K miles. The KR-21's started out OK but, turned sour by 30K+ miles.

Those with sedans/coupes(lighter vehicles) did better!

I used to be an advocate of the KR-21's but, not any more unless I was selling a vehicle OR, I only needed a tire for a year/two. Because, the Solus KR-21's do well when new(quiet impressive actually) and they're cheap. AND, I would buy the KR-21's before I'd buy alot of private label brand tires.

Can't fine anyone in our circle that has gotten past 40K mile with the KR-21's. Too bad also because they rate quite high with customers and professional testing when they're new and balance quite well with few weights.

Finaly, if short life is good enough for your work friend and cost is most important...Jump all over the KR-21's but, get a larger size than the 215-75-15. I 2nd the...225-235/70/15