What tires do you recommend?

[inthered]

I have a 2005 (A4 I guess) TDI Jetta. Right now I'm at about 54,000 miles and I live in New Jersey so I have half/half highway/city driving. I had a puncture in my tire and I had it repaired this morning. As expected, the guys at the tire store tried to sell me new tires. They said for an H rated tire, mount and balanced it would be $280 and that is with a buy 2 get 2 free sale. I didn't feel the tires needed replacing and they probably have a good 6 months - 1 year left on them. I also felt about $110/tire was a good deal for an H tire as I last ordered tires for my trans am a few years ago and paid $130/tire for some z rated firestone firehawks.

What tires would you recommend to use for an all-year-round tire? I'm willing to pay a little more for the tire if it is worth it, but I was just wondering what everyone here goes with as a replacement. Presently I am using the factory tires. Thanks in advance.

 

[nutdriver]

I still like the Michelin Energy MXV4 series. They claim to be low rolling resistance and I have consistently had good wear and performance. They sometimes seem to get a bad rap but that has not been my experience. I have probably worn out a dozen of these tires over the past years and have yet to have one go bad with tread separation or need rebalancing.

 

[bluesmoker]

Inexpensive AA traction rating, 420 treadwear, A temperature rating

http://www.kumhousa.com/tires/passenger/high-performance/KH16.do

I have them on my car. A great tire.

 

[doc_m]

depending on your needs, but the nokian wr's are a fantastic tire, for all season, and great in the snow, and rain as well.

 

[Pat Dolan]

No tire is good "all around". If you want good stick, you need a sticky (which means higher tread wear) tire. If you are worried about heavy rain (as I would be on or near the coast) you need a good rain tire. If you intend to drive in the snow, you need a snow tire. I find that a good directional, ultra-high perf tire on wider rims does my summer needs, and Bilzzaks or Green Diamonds on the stockers complete my needs. I get two summers from the summers, and at least four winters from the winter tires.

 

[tmophoto]

I just got a set of the new goodyear F1 allseasons and they are amazing. these are my first ultra high perforamnce tires that i have ever had and wow.. what difference. much quieter, dont know about the mileage yet only been on for a few weeks, cornering is solid..i have no complaints.. They have an incredible treadwear (420) rating for an ultra high performance tire. I also have a set of winter only tires, nokian hakka4 with factory installed square studs on the stock rims. (its snowed a few time here already and I have had to scrape my windshiled for that past 4 mornings... ) having an alseason tire on is just great peace of mind for rain sleet snow during months that i dont have my winter studded tires on.

t

mmmm f1's...

 

[jumpn]

Bridgestone Potenza G009's, excellent tire IMHO
Around $70 for 195-65-15's, I don't know what size your A5 requires.
Great wet and snow traction.

 

[TDI_NC]

Take a look at BF Goodrich Traction TAs. I got 205/65/15 at Sam's for $65. I find these better than the stock Michelins.

 

[Intech]

No tire is good "all around". If you want good stick, you need a sticky (which means higher tread wear) tire. If you are worried about heavy rain (as I would be on or near the coast) you need a good rain tire. If you intend to drive in the snow, you need a snow tire. I find that a good directional, ultra-high perf tire on wider rims does my summer needs, and Bilzzaks or Green Diamonds on the stockers complete my needs. I get two summers from the summers, and at least four winters from the winter tires.

My sentiments exactly. I run 16" Bridgestone 'W' rated in the Summer and 15" Blizzaks in the Winter. I've been doing this as long as I can remember. All season tires are a compromise, and not the best of either. This time for Winter, I'm looking at Nokian's. A friend of mine used them in UP of Michigan, and swears by them. I understand that they are better in pure snow, but Blizzaks are hard to beat on ice.....decisions, decisions, decisions.

BTW, what are 'Green Diamonds'? I never heard of them.

 

[eb2143]

Michelin Piliot Exalto A/S

 

[doc_m]

My sentiments exactly. I run 16" Bridgestone 'W' rated in the Summer and 15" Blizzaks in the Winter. I've been doing this as long as I can remember. All season tires are a compromise, and not the best of either. This time for Winter, I'm looking at Nokian's. A friend of mine used them in UP of Michigan, and swears by them. I understand that they are better in pure snow, but Blizzaks are hard to beat on ice.....decisions, decisions, decisions.

Well I bought some nokian wr's just over a year ago and did 25 commutes back and forth from my work to home in 5 months at about 400 km each way on the weekends, and the road conditions are pretty much everything from rain at the coast to icy and slushy roads and compact snow in the winter and never had any problems at all, even driving through the do not travel advisories and had passed many 4 x 4's that flew by me before as they were parked in the ditch waiting for the tow truck to come and get them out. Personally for my car is the best bet and would put nothing elso on it. And great tread wear, they are a proper H rated tire and have a 100,000 km treadwear on them.

 

[Intech]

Well I bought some nokian wr's just over a year ago and did 25 commutes back and forth from my work to home in 5 months at about 400 km each way on the weekends, and the road conditions are pretty much everything from rain at the coast to icy and slushy roads and compact snow in the winter and never had any problems at all, even driving through the do not travel advisories and had passed many 4 x 4's that flew by me before as they were parked in the ditch waiting for the tow truck to come and get them out. Personally for my car is the best bet and would put nothing elso on it. And great tread wear, they are a proper H rated tire and have a 100,000 km treadwear on them.

Thanks for the good words on the Nokian's, it's making my decision a little easier. What you descibed as your commute, is basically the same for me, and that was one of the reasons I'd stayed with Blizzaks all these years. However, for some reason or another, this last set is actually very noisy, and I couldn't wait to get them off this Spring. I don't relish putting them back on, and may just bite the bullet and get the Nokians. Driving as many miles every day that I do, tire noise can get very aggravating.

 

[WifesTDI_Bug]

For Winter tires, I highly recommend Dunlop Winter Sport M3s. Simply amazing in rain, mud, slush and snow. H Rated and perform well on dry pavement. Not so great on ice but good enough.

 

[squebel]

Yokohama AVID TRZ's. Just put a full set on my 04 Golf. Absolutely love them. Great price, comfortable, quiet, plenty of traction dry and wet. Highest rated tire in their class at TireRack. Not disappointed. Blows the stock Goodyears out of the water.

 

[T-Y]

Yokohama YK520s

excellent wear, quiet, comfortable, very good handling

 

[droppedjet]

ever since I started racing I go thru tires like toilet paper so all I get is used tires and save myself a lot of money instead of paying 100-150 per tire i pay 35 dollars for a used tire that last the same amount of time with just a little less tread than new

 

[doc_m]

Thanks for the good words on the Nokian's, it's making my decision a little easier. What you descibed as your commute, is basically the same for me, and that was one of the reasons I'd stayed with Blizzaks all these years. However, for some reason or another, this last set is actually very noisy, and I couldn't wait to get them off this Spring. I don't relish putting them back on, and may just bite the bullet and get the Nokians. Driving as many miles every day that I do, tire noise can get very aggravating.

or if your looking for a stricly winter tire the nokian happaka i think they call it has been good, mind you with the experience with the wr's I would never put anything else on my car.

 

[Steve-o]

or if your looking for a stricly winter tire the nokian happaka i think they call it has been good

[SIZE=-1]Hakkapeliitta. Many people (me included) shorten it to "Hakka" and I had one tire store (that sold them) affectionately call them "Hockey Pucks". But, agreed, my first choice for a "nothin'-but-winter" tire.

BTW (history lesson; avoid if it's the weekend ), the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Hakkapeliittas were an elite group of Finnish soldiers. They got their name from their battle cry -- hakkaa päälle -- which means "strike them down" in Finnish. [/SIZE]
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