Which tires?

[phoneman10000]

I have 15" (195/65R15 91H in full) wheels so most of the performance tires I would be interested in are not available. I want a good tire that performs truly well in all four seasons. The Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position and the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S are the two contenders at this point. Out of these two which would you recommend or would you go for a different tire completely? I was almost sold on the Exalto's but then discovered that their UTQG traction rating was A rather than AA. Should this concern me?

 

[Fahrfuwerfuelen]

phoneman:

I put on a set of the BS Potenza G009s and I love them. The OEM Michelins I had were a POS. 5 flats in 30,000 miles. Regular road driving, no construction sites, etc. to pick up nails. Had BS on onther vehicles and got exceptional mileage out of them.

 

[maverick06]

I have just come to the end of the life on my dunlop sport sp (i think thats them, dunlop sport something or other). They worked well and really gripped nicely. I dont think I quite got the rated life (i never do). I am looking for a new set of tires and am open to other reccomendations as well...

btw, consumer reports rated the dunlop sport as best or second best a couple years ago...

rick

edit: they were dunlop sp sport a2

 

[NorthernMage]

I would second the Bridgestone Potenza G009, only $64.00 each from Tire Rack; http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+G+009&partnum=965HR5G009&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&place=17&speed_rating=S&speed_rating=T&speed_rating=U&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)&minSpeedRating=S
I am leaning towards the General Altimax HP which looks good and is reviewed well, still a new tire though so not much history, only $58 each;
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Altimax+HP&partnum=965HR5AMAXHP&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&place=8&speed_rating=S&speed_rating=T&speed_rating=U&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)&minSpeedRating=S

 

[Little Jack]

Without a doubt, the Nokian WRs are the best all season tires on the market. Its tough to truly be an all season because of the extreme demands placed on such a tire, but somehow these guys accomplish the task. I bought a set four years ago and now I'm ready to replace them with a new set. They run great in the summer and I have yet to get stuck in the snow.

 

[flyinbrian]

I went with the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S due to the good reviews I read on wet traction. I lived in South Florida where we had downpours like nowhere else in the summer. The stock tires would get sketchy at highway speeds and less even when new. The Michelins stayed stuck and still do. I have yet to have the tires in snow or ice, so I cannot tell you how they do there.

I drive extremely aggressive and never waste time on the highway. When in Florida I would run 80-95 mph every day on my commute. The exit ramps were always treated as a chicane on a race course.

 

[Joe_Meehan]

I assume you are an urban driver or stick to the interstate roads in winter. If not and if you drive in serious snow where they don't plow or if you do a lot of snow driving, do yourself a favor and get a new set of steel wheels and a set of real winter tyres.

 

[Nocky]

Is the Michelin MXVZ at $107 better than the General Altimax HP at $58
Right now my car came with Uniroyal Tiger paw touring which are smooth and fairly quiet. But would like to get something new for next spring.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.
jsp?type=GTAS&width=195%2F&ratio=65&diameter=
15&tireSearch=true&autoMake=Volkswagen&autoYear=2003&autoModel=
Jetta%20GL%20Wagon%20Tdi&autoModClar=&minSpeedRating=S&speed_
rating=S&speed_rating=T&speed_rating=U&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=
V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)

 

[cowboyjack]

I gotta say I LOVE my Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S's. I live on a dirt road and after 30,000 miles more or less, they have held up fine. I run up to 90 mph on a nearly daily basis, hit the off ramp at almost double the rated speed and drive it like I stole it. 1998 A3.

 

[ccvdubs]

had the exaltos, nice tire,esp. at high speed. but short lived

 

[Brian.Burress]

I have the Goodyear Assurance Triple Treads on my 04 Jetta and I love them. They are 85000 mile tires, they have the best traction when I'm driving in the rain of any tire I have ever owned, but I heard they are not all that great in the snow. I don't know how much snow you get in Virginia. They have much better traction on dry pavement of most other tires I've owned for that matter, except for some Pirelli's that I owned at one point on a different car. I don't know if it matters much to you, but the tread pattern looks pretty sporty, too.

-Brian

 

[TornadoRed]

Regarding the Potenza G009 tires... I liked them well enough for the first 40k miles, then not so much as the ride became harsh and noisy, and finally got rid of them even though there was still quite a lot of tread remaining. I also lost a couple MPG and that was another reason why I got rid of them early... I saved more on fuel by throwing away the BS than I would have saved by running the BS another 10k miles.