Best, relatively-cheap tires?

[yarswiss]

I'm looking to a get some new all-weather tires with good grip and long life. I'm currently running 185/60R15 Bridgestone Potenzas, but they are expensive and quite terrible in any wet wet season. Yes, I'm on a tight budget, so I'm checking into anything around the $50-$60 range. I've found a good place to get them at (thanks, Garm!) but I'd like to get an opinion from anyone who may have owned these before. Here are my choices:

-General Altimax HP
-Kumho Solus KR21
-Yokohama Avid Touring-S
-Yokohama Avid TRZ

Let me know how these hold up if you've had them. Any insight appreciated.

[Morgan]

I'm a fan of General Tires. I have a set of UHP's in 205-50-15 and they have been great. I don't think they are rated for snow/ice and the Altimax HP's are...

According to tirerack.com the Altimax HP's are rated higher than the Kumho Solus KR21's

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=GTAS

[Bob Dog]

I know they aren't on your list, but I have been very happy with my Falken 912s, cheap, sticky, durable. I noticed an improvement in handling at once.

[Tamago]

nitto NeoGen

[why?]

I'm running some type of cheap Yokohama's I got for about $60 a tire, and so far I can't complain. Definitely better than the potenza's, not that that is saying much.

[thebarber]

fuzion hri

[Loren]

I've not owned them, but I've driven on the Fuzion HRi and ZRi, they're dirt cheap and not bad for a generic all-season tire.

[YarisSedan]

get some hankooks

[RedStickHam]

get some hankooks

My last car, a 2003 Hyundai Accent had Hankooks on it and I wasn't impressed. They weren't good on wet pavement, and they seemed to be easily damaged in that they frequently started getting bubbles.

After too many problems, I got rid of them for Dunlops and even though the car did better on wet pavement, those tires frequently needed to be replaced and the shop I got them from stopped carrying them, so they gave me either Allegiance or Federal tires, which seemed to do better.

I have Goodyears on my Yaris right now, the ones it came with out of the factory and they seem to be OK.

RedStickHam

[Tamago]

I've not owned them, but I've driven on the Fuzion HRi and ZRi, they're dirt cheap and not bad for a generic all-season tire.

i've owned both, and on the street i'd say they're just fine. they're no performance tire (either the HRI or ZRI) but they are good in the wet.. far better than falken 512.

but yeah, neogens are cheap these days

[Tamago]

My last car, a 2003 Hyundai Accent had Hankooks on it and I wasn't impressed. They weren't good on wet pavement, and they seemed to be easily damaged in that they frequently started getting bubbles.

After too many problems, I got rid of them for Dunlops and even though the car did better on wet pavement, those tires frequently needed to be replaced and the shop I got them from stopped carrying them, so they gave me either Allegiance or Federal tires, which seemed to do better.

I have Goodyears on my Yaris right now, the ones it came with out of the factory and they seem to be OK.

RedStickHam

hankook what?

how can you say "the hankooks weren't all that good" if you don't qualify which model you had?

Hankook RS2's and RS3's are amazing..

[ROCKLAND TOYOTA]

yoko avid trz's is what i had on NJBOB's wheels. not bad for the price.....

[thebarber]

hankook what?

how can you say "the hankooks weren't all that good" if you don't qualify which model you had?

Hankook RS2's and RS3's are amazing..

i have hankook optimo's on the aveo...oem tire....not a GREAT tire, but i don't expect much from oem rubber

likely going to get some fuzion hri's in 185-60-14 next spring for it

[yarswiss]

Thanks for all the replies. I went and got a set of Yokohama Avid TRZ's as the price was better than the Fuzions. But I'll definitely keep those on my wish list for my next set.

[Kal-El]

Thanks for all the replies. I went and got a set of Yokohama Avid TRZ's as the price was better than the Fuzions. But I'll definitely keep those on my wish list for my next set.

Excellent choice. I'll probably be getting new tires this week as well and these are at the top of my option list. Good for 80,000 miles (tread warranty), cheap, good all around touring tire.

Any first impressions yet?

Other options on the list all under $60 available where I'm buying (town fair tire) include...

Yokohama Avid Touring S (similar)
BF Goodrich Traction T/A T
General Altimax RT

[cdavidhess]

I'm likely to get some new tires soon, as well. I have 25,000 on my original tires. I would probably keep them for another few thousand miles if this were Spring rather than the beginning of Winter.

[thebarber]

I'm likely to get some new tires soon, as well. I have 25,000 on my original tires. I would probably keep them for another few thousand miles if this were Spring rather than the beginning of Winter.

id get dedicated summer and winter sets...

[Thirty-Nine]

FYI, I'm also a fan of Falken tires. I've got the Ziex 912s and really like them.

[Loren]

Ziex 912's are decent. Some of the other Ziex models are crap! I have 512's on my Spitfire, they're pretty good, and the 912 is the much improved replacement for that model, so they should be more than acceptable... for an all-season street tire. (don't expect much if you're autocrossing or anything)

[yarswiss]

Excellent choice. I'll probably be getting new tires this week as well and these are at the top of my option list. Good for 80,000 miles (tread warranty), cheap, good all around touring tire.

Any first impressions yet?

Other options on the list all under $60 available where I'm buying (town fair tire) include...

Yokohama Avid Touring S (similar)
BF Goodrich Traction T/A T
General Altimax RT

My new tires make a world of difference! I was running Bridgestone potenzas before, and they were loud, hard and squealed in corners. These ones are smooth, very quiet and don't make any sound even when making the car go sideways :biggrin: The greatest difference I have noticed is the steering; since these tires are a bit softer and have deeper treads, steering is practically effortless, and much, much more responsive. For the price, these are awesome! Having a rear sway bar also helps, of course...

I doubt I'll be getting anywhere near 80k miles on them, as reports I have read show the tire wears prematurely.

I was also seriously considering the General Altimax as they are high grade and last quite long, but it didn't quite justify the difference in price for me. Good luck on your next set!

[ozmdd]

I ran a set of very-affordable 214-40-17 Nankang NS-1's on my 17x7's, and they were a really good tire, cheap or not. Surprisingly, they were great in the wet, and pretty good in our limited snow/ice down here in Dallas. Not sure what sizes they come in, but performed well, wore well (20k+) and were about $50/each.

[Kal-El]

My new tires make a world of difference! I was running Bridgestone potenzas before, and they were loud, hard and squealed in corners. These ones are smooth, very quiet and don't make any sound even when making the car go sideways :biggrin: The greatest difference I have noticed is the steering; since these tires are a bit softer and have deeper treads, steering is practically effortless, and much, much more responsive. For the price, these are awesome! Having a rear sway bar also helps, of course...

I doubt I'll be getting anywhere near 80k miles on them, as reports I have read show the tire wears prematurely.

I was also seriously considering the General Altimax as they are high grade and last quite long, but it didn't quite justify the difference in price for me. Good luck on your next set!

Thanks. :thumbsup:

I've since decided that I'm going with a dedicated winter tire and then going with the all-seasons in the spring. I'll certainly keep these in mind.

I'm probably going with the General Altimax Artics. A high rated winter tire at a great price ($60-$70).

[firemachine69]

Good grip, long life, and good wet-weather handling? How about fuel efficiency?


That does NOT exist, regardless what anyone tells you. EVERY single tire is a compromise!

So what is your main desire for these tires?

[Henry G.]

Have to say my V-rated Goodyear Eagle GT's have done well so far. Got about 10k on them and they are about 1/3 worn, thats OK because I run them at 50 psi (51 psi rated) for max traction and MPG, and now they are broken in they handle VERY well. $64 at Tirerack for 195/60-15, just ordered some another set of 195/55-15 to fit on the stocker wheels, 60 profile was too tall for max handling IMO, $72 each now. I bet a milder driver could get 40k out of them. Wet traction is SO superior to those POS stock Goodyear whatevers, they were just plain SCARY in wet conditions. I can drive near full speed on these Eagles in the wet, they are that good.

[Kal-El]

Good grip, long life, and good wet-weather handling? How about fuel efficiency?


That does NOT exist, regardless what anyone tells you. EVERY single tire is a compromise!

So what is your main desire for these tires?

Absolutely right. Compromise is the first rule of tires.

A tire can only be designed to serve one specific purpose at full performance.

All seasons are the biggest compromise as they try to do everything and only succeed partially at each job. And even though they are called "all" seasons, they are only marginally acceptable in winter conditions.

Ideally, everyone in a climate that sees freezing weather should own two sets of tires. Cost shouldn't be an excuse because having two sets extends the life of each set so really it's equivalent to owning only one set.

[mr_eraserhead]

Has anyone tried TRIANGLE TIRES?

I'm using 215/35/18 on my sedan.

So far its doing okay :thumbup:

[thebarber]

Has anyone tried TRIANGLE TIRES?

I'm using 215/35/18 on my sedan.

So far its doing okay :thumbup:

ive heard of them, but don't see them much in north america