All Round Tyre Bridgetone/Michelin or other ?

[peecee]

So I just went and bought a Subaru Liberty 08 my08 2.5l still smells like a new car and only 55000 on the clock, Sat nav and full log book and all that stuff for $15800 very happy as i feel i have the deal of the century compared to some of the stuff i have seen with out those ad ons and double the k's for the same price.

Anyways only issue I have seen with it is a slightly damaged trye as its been curbed on the passenger side rear, Im looking at getting 2 or 4 new tyres instead of just a random one to keep the wear levels the same.

Im very happy with the handling the car but would you guys recommend any other tyres or the same brand in a different pattern, I only drive to work around Brisbane during the week so not far at all but weekends ill hit the gold coast or the sunshine coast and I think the misses wants to do a few longer road trips since we have a modern newer car.

I like the bridgestones but i have always had a soft spot for Michelins while riding mx bikes and mountain bikes so had a look at the Pilot sports, does anyone have any experience with these on road, im eager to hear about Perelli, Continental and any other brands.

[Deep Heat]

I can tell you from first hand experience potenza re050A's will still grip after the average person runs out of skill.

[SubMeister]

Hey peecee, congrats on the great find.

I can vouch for Michelin Pilot Sport 3s as a great all round tyre. I went from REO50s to PS3s and found the NVH lower, total grip limit about the same, and the wet weather grip improved. Also, the PS3s ride a bit softer than the REO5Os which is just what I needed for the less than ideal roads in my area. The initial turn in bite is better in these Bridgestones though - they are a more aggressive tyre overall -- but I was happy to give up a little bit of that for everything else. For my 17" rims I was able to find PS3s at $220 per corner.

You can check out Tire Rack in the US for drivers' comments, but I found this http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/ to be better -- less American hyperbole and a bit more realistic descriptions.

Good luck with the hunt.

[jslayz]

I am running Goodyear F1 Asymmetrcal 2s, they are a good allrounder and award winners.
I will probably get them again.

[sjm69]

+1 for the Michelin Pilot Sport 3s great tyre

[Manaz]

I can tell you from first hand experience potenza re050A's will still grip after the average person runs out of skill.

They're also damned expensive. And can be harsh (they have quite a stiff sidewall).

I've been very happy with my last few sets of Bridgestone tyres (RE001s on the Bora), and am seriously considering either the RE002 or the S001 on the Liberty once the current tyres wear out.

The Kumho KU31s I ran for a while were OK when new, but became hard and slippery as they aged. The Pirelli P-Zeros that were on the Liberty before I changed wheels were much better than I expected, having gone off Pirellis for a good few years (I had two bad sets, and heard lots of bad comments from a variety of drivers running them). Michelin PSS (and PS2/PS3) get a good write-up, as do Continental Contact Sport 5s.

My local tyre shop also recommends Sumitomo HZR3s, and they're surprisingly affordable. In general I worry when a shop seems to recommend a single brand most often that they're doing so more because it's financially better for them to offer them than because the tyres are actually better, but I've seen these guys actually turn customers away when they're tried to spend stupidly low amounts of money to put tyres on a family car, and I respect that.

Regarding overseas reviews - be aware that the rubber compounds offered (and even tread patterns sometimes) on a tyre with the same name/model designation can actually vary between countries, so take these reviews with a pinch of salt. Speaking of salt, also realise that in many areas overseas, they run summer vs winter tyres (I say "speaking of salt" because in some countries in the winter they salt icy roads to get the ice to break down), so again you can see variances there.

[Kekotic]

I can tell you from first hand experience potenza re050A's will still grip after the average person runs out of skill.

They stopped making them in 2012. People should stop buying them because they are an old tyre. Also the S001 is the replacement and by all reviews it's a better tyre.

[SileNceR]

I am also picking up an '08 MY08 2.5i Liberty, it looks to need the best part of a full set of tyres as there are a couple mis-matched and the rest are low.

I run Michelin Pilot Sport 3's on my E39 540i and they are an amazing tyre, even in the wet the DSC light in that car barely comes on for all but the slipperiest road.

My question is re: width - can I run 235's on the standard 7" wide wheel or should I buy 215's per the standard spec?

[Brunsy3.0]

I am running Goodyear F1 Asymmetrcal 2s, they are a good allrounder and award winners.
I will probably get them again.

What size tyres are these you are running?
Any feedback on noise handling and wear?
some good reviews but rare to hear from first person perspective

I am going to give these a go once my directional 5's wear out. Possibly some new wheels at the same time

[Manaz]

I am also picking up an '08 MY08 2.5i Liberty, it looks to need the best part of a full set of tyres as there are a couple mis-matched and the rest are low.

I run Michelin Pilot Sport 3's on my E39 540i and they are an amazing tyre, even in the wet the DSC light in that car barely comes on for all but the slipperiest road.

My question is re: width - can I run 235's on the standard 7" wide wheel or should I buy 215's per the standard spec?

225 would be the widest I'd go on a 7" rim. 215 would be better.

[SileNceR]

That's ok, 225 is probably cheaper than 235 anyway.

I'll definitely be sticking with the Michi's again; people I've spoken to who have run them in the past reckon they get between 40 and 60,000kms out of them if looked after. Hard to argue that cheaper tyres make sense if you get that sort of distance out of them.

[Manaz]

That's ok, 225 is probably cheaper than 235 anyway.

That depends what the full tyre spec is - for example, 225/45R17 is generally more expensive than 235/45R17.

I'll definitely be sticking with the Michi's again; people I've spoken to who have run them in the past reckon they get between 40 and 60,000kms out of them if looked after. Hard to argue that cheaper tyres make sense if you get that sort of distance out of them.

Be aware that grip and lifespan is largely a dichotomy - grippy tyres generally won't last, and tyres that last generally won't grip. It's not an absolute rule - but sticky tyres generally wear quicker.

[Brunsy3.0]

by the Australian wheel and tyre standards 235's shouldn't be mounted to a 7" wheel

anywho....different rubber compounds make the tyres grippier/better wear etc. finding the right balance is the key, hard to sacrifice grip for longevity or vise versa especially at the cost of some tyres

[SileNceR]

I've always thought of tyres as a kind of triangle; you know - of three things you can only ever have any two:

Cheap, grippy, durable.

I'll price 215 or 225. I guess since 215 is what the OEM specify, then 215 is probably the best choice for the vehicle.

[Brunsy3.0]

i went 225/45R18 as i found this to be as close to oem spec rolling diameter, plus 10mm more tread