Stay with the known/trusted or experiment....

[97tbird]

Well sometime in the not too far future, wife's Elantra will need new tires...

The current ones are the highly rated General Altimax HP. We really like them, although they're not the best for tread wear. The trade off in tread wear is small considering how safe these tires have been... They're absolutely great in rain, light snow , and dry pavement, and are also quiet, and smooth, and handle super well for what's being demanded from them...not to mention they also look great...Really no complains to be honest.
The Altimax Arctics that I had on my Tbird this last winter also met/exceeded expectations...

So this means we have found a winner, so to say...
But the urge to experiment/try something different is hard to resist sometimes...The Altmax HP is still #2 in its category @ tirerack, I think...The GY Triple Treads are probably slightly better but a lot more $$$...

So IF you were to suggest/recommend something else to try on her car, what A/S tire would it be? Something comparable in price range and available at tire rack would be important factors...

I am just having a hard time in deciding between "stay with the known/experienced" and "try something different"...
Chances of finding something better for the $$ is slim...BUT what IF?

 

[Astro14]

While life expectancy has yet to be determined, I am very pleased with the Continental Extreme DWS (in 235/45R17 on my volvo) for a higher performing tire.

And the Continental Conti Contacts (in 195/65R15) on the Corolla have been holding up very well...

Not quite as inexpensive as the Generals...but close...

 

[HTSS_TR]

What size for the Elantra ? Why Tirerack only ? Discounttiredirect.com is not acceptable even with lower total price ?

Hankook is on a roll, they have many good reviews lately, their newest all season Ventus V2 Concept H437 seems to be a good tire.

 

[Oregoonian]

Stay with the General Altamax HP's....

I have them on my 03' Ford Focus...and they are the best tires I've ever had (for the same reasons you mentioned). Thats why they are so lhighly rated on the Tire Rack website.

 

[97tbird]

Thanks for all comments..

Size is 195/60/15

I like tirerack because they have always had the tires that I was looking for and most other sites just doesn't seem to have a good selection for our purposes - and so far, I have had very (+) experiences with TR and their CS...

Not ruling others out if I can find a better deal for the tire and size I need, but so far it was never the case - either the tire and/or the size I need was not in stock on other sites...

What happened to GY Triple tread? don't see it anymore on TR A/S grand touring survey...
EDIT: GY TT is in 'passenger' all season category, not 'GT a/s'

and they're still hellishly expensive!

 

[Hokiefyd]

Though my brand of choice is a different one, I'd recommend sticking with what you know. I usually have done that, and the few times I've strayed, I was sorry about it and often quickly switched back (in as short of a time period as a few weeks).

 

[97tbird]

Yeah...I am leaning towards getting the Altimax HPs again, barring some strange thing happening to change my mind...

In this case, don't fix what's not broken probably applies.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Tire quality (Performance + noise + tread life + ...) is like oil, it is improving every year. The best performance tire in a test 3-4 years ago usually dethrone by a cheaper and longer lasting brand today. Example, Hankook Optimo H727 wasn't available 3 years ago and it is ranked #1 in passenger all-season the last few months, but it will be replaced by another in a year or 2.

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Tire quality (Performance + noise + tread life + ...) is like oil, it is improving every year. The best performance tire in a test 3-4 years ago usually dethrone by a cheaper and longer lasting brand today. Example, Hankook Optimo H727 wasn't available 3 years ago and it is ranked #1 in passenger all-season the last few months, but it will be replaced by another in a year or 2.


Yes, I bought the Hankook H727's and like'em very much thus far although not the handling tire as the General Altimax HP mentioned by the 97tbird. Neither the Altimax HP and RT match the Hankook Optimo H727 overall score on CR Mag testing. But, I'd still stick with what works especially when all criteria was met except for tread life(which is typicle for the "H" rated catigory).

"T" rated tires are what I usually replace my previous tires with. Going up from "S"(rarely equiped with "S" these days) and down from "H" and obviously, staying with "T's" when so equiped.

 

[fdcg27]

It sounds to me like you've found your tire.
The selling dealer had put a set of new Altimax RTs on my e36 before I bought it, and while I would not have bought these tires myself, they seem to be really decent in all ways.
If you have found a tire that isn't wanting in any way in your application, another set of the same would seem to be the obvious choice.
How many miles have you gotten from your current set?

 

[cbear]

I have over 49k miles on my Triple treads on the Cavalier. Overall an excellent tire. My only gripe is they have a soft sidewall. Highway comfort went up, but it rolls more in the corners. They'll have to come off before next winter.

 

[CharBaby]

It would be nice if we as car owner owned the same car that these testing facilities used while testing tires. Then we would know which tires worked best on our ride. But, this is usually not the case.

The Tire rack ususlly uses BMW 3 series w/205-55-16 and a Prius for the "ECO/LRR" tires
IIRC, ConsumerReport Mag used in their last tire test, Chevy Malibu w/215-60-16. Maybe other car/tires too. And trucks!

If those of us have any of these exact vehicles, the choice would be easy. The top rated tires used by these testers can't possibly work the exact same on every vehicle(due to many wgt diff's and drive wheels etc.) but, I'm sure it's a great baseline to use for us when buying tires. Reviews from owners with like vehicles/climate is even better.

I think that 97tbird found the tires that works well on their car and shouldn't stray especially since they seem happy. This is a good baseline for other Elantra owners.

I curious 97tbird, how long did the tires last/miles???

 

[sparky123]

I'd personally try Bridgestone Potenza RE-960 Pole Position's. I have these tires on my 10' Focus and my wife has the Altimax HP's on her 05' Focus. Both are great tires, no doubt about it, but IMO I think the Bridgestone's are a better tire. I have this exact same size tire on both cars. Before we had Bridgestone Turanza's on the 05' Focus and when they got discontinued we tried out the HP's. So far very pleased w/these tires. If you decide to try the RE-960's, I believe they have a 30-day test drive period to see if you like them. I'm sure they will exceed your expectations.

 

[97tbird]

Thanks.

Those are UHP A/S tires, right? We're really looking for a touring/grand touring A/S tire (the tire will go on my wife's Elantra, just a normal daily driver, and wet/light snow safety is more imp. than performance; so an UHP a/s tire is really not very practical for the car's use), and the bridgestone's light snow traction seems a lot worse than the altmax HPs, (not surprising for an UHP tire).

But for someone looking for an UHP a/s tire, they seem really good.

 

[sparky123]

Yes. This yr. in Va. we had light snowfall and I got around just fine w/these tires. I will say, I feel very safe w/these tires. Fantastic handling in both wet/dry conditions. I will buy them again on my car. The wife's HP's are really holding up well and new tires are a few miles/yrs. off. The only other tire I would give strong consideration to would be Michelin Exalto's. Last time I looked they were $109 ea. @ Sam's Club w/a Michelin rebte. So, a little more $. I've heard good things about the Hankook H-727's. In my case driving not too miles per yr., I really don't want a super long lasting tire. (Around 400 if perfect. All tires talked about are in this range w/the exception of the Hankook's.) Let us know want you decide. I'll be in the same situation in a few yrs. Look for my a 2114 thread on what tires to buy! Take Care!

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: sparky123
Yes. This yr. in Va. we had light snowfall and I got around just fine w/these tires. I will say, I feel very safe w/these tires. Fantastic handling in both wet/dry conditions. I will buy them again on my car. The wife's HP's are really holding up well and new tires are a few miles/yrs. off. The only other tire I would give strong consideration to would be Michelin Exalto's. Last time I looked they were $109 ea. @ Sam's Club w/a Michelin rebte. So, a little more $. I've heard good things about the Hankook H-727's. In my case driving not too miles per yr., I really don't want a super long lasting tire. (Around 400 if perfect. All tires talked about are in this range w/the exception of the Hankook's.) Let us know want you decide. I'll be in the same situation in a few yrs. Look for my a 2114 thread on what tires to buy! Take Care!


Yeah, the Hankook Optimo H727 are rated to about 100K miles???
I put them on my daughters Mazda3 as she rack up over 22K+ miles/year and the handling is fine/OK/decent even though not really intended for a Mazda3. But the way she drives(responsible), as her job requires a good driving record, the HankO's H727 are perfect!

 

[occupant]

Hankok Optimo (H724 or H727 or the High Mileage H725) would be my first choice and Kumho Solus my second. There's a low rolling resistance Solus out now, Eco Solus? KR22 I think. In the sizes I look for (225/60/16, 235/75/15) tires run $75-$100 for these brands and many comparables for the most part. Not bad at all. Michelins and Goodyears are more, but those versus the Hankook/Kumho, I don't think they're worth the extra dough.

Discount Tire is a good place to find both. I think NTB carries Kumho but not sure if they have Hankook. I'm lucky, the little corner gas station/tire shop in Hubbard (8 miles from me) carries Hankooks and that's what we put on our Durango (H724, 15 inch, $396 for 4 mounted/balanced/road hazard/taxes/valve stems/everything) I'll definitely go to them if I decide to stick with 14" tires on the Torino and get the H725 High Mileage ones. Otherwise I go to 16" wheels and I may hit up Discount Tire for the Eco Solus.

 

[FZ1]

No,man. Stay with tires you like. Keep up with the rotations and get a pro rate if they wear out early. Get your tires at discount tire. They will match the price and you get free rotations,balancing,and air.

 

[Ken2]

I just got rid of a set of GY TripleTreds that still had decent tread remaining. When new it took seven to find four round ones. These were H-rated and rode like bricks. My new Cooper CS4's are much better so far.

 

[FZ1]

Luck of the Draw. 3 of my GYCT Tourings required no weight and 1 required the smallest tire weight I have ever seen.