Need new all-season tires, help me choose between 3

Don M

Don M

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My BFG T/A Specs have come to the end of their life ... not enough tread left to make it through the winter (or even into winter!).


Getting another set of BFG's is out of the question at over $1,100 mounted/balanced/taxes/out the door. I have looked for some decent all seasons, and I think I've narrowed it down to 3 tires.


Number 1: Cooper RS3-G1




Number 2: FALKEN ZIEX ZE950 A/S




Number 3: General GMAX A/S-05




I know a true winter tire would be best for the season we're entering now, but there's no way I can swing two different sets of tires and snows have a short lifespan in the summer months and talking the wife into ANOTHER set of tires in a year isn't a pleasant thought. The tire shop recommends the T/A's if I don't want a snow tire, but again, over $1,100 for the set ... I got a price on the FALKENS ($673 out the door) and to me, they look like they have the best tread pattern for the snow, but the shop said since they are W speed rated (even though they are listed as "performance all-season", just like the T/A) they won't do well because the rubber in the tire is meant to handle higher temps without failing.


I figure I have less than a month to make the decision ...


PLEASE HELP!
 
The Falkens. It's going to have a better ride, better handling, and quieter. Have you priced at Didcount Tire??
 
I always really liked the set of Falcon ZE912's I had. They are a little more performance oriented than the 950's by design but always did great in the snow as well.

I wouldn't let the speed rating put you off, they should make a good all around tire, even in cold temps.
 
This is my field of expertise. Choice is yours...
 
DaveT435 said:
The Falkens. It's going to have a better ride, better handling, and quieter. Have you priced at Didcount Tire??
Click to expand...

I had the ZIEX 502's in the past and they were awesome in the snow (deep) and the wet. I priced out the Falkens at a quality IMO local shop. the price they gave is OTD, minus only an alignment ($65) and road hazard warranty ($15 per tire, good for 3 years)

FUNX650 said:
IMO, (out of the three you listed),
This one:



Just as an FYI:
1.) General Tire (GT) is now part of the
(international) Continental Tire Group.

2.) GT currently has a $70 rebate program:
http://generaltire.com/promotions


Bob
Click to expand...

I had the G MAX AS-03's on my last car and they were impressive

Mantilgh said:
I always really liked the set of Falcon ZE912's I had. They are a little more performance oriented than the 950's by design but always did great in the snow as well.

I wouldn't let the speed rating put you off, they should make a good all around tire, even in cold temps.
Click to expand...

Again, I've had good experiences with FALKEN and while the ZIEX 502's were listed as an all season, they had the tread pattern of an UHP rain tire. The 950's definitely have a more "all season" look to the tread pattern.

DaveT435 said:
This is my field of expertise. Choice is yours...
Click to expand...

So you're saying that any of the 3 would be a safe choice?
 
I believe he said the falkens.

If you can’t get the tires you really want might as well get the cheapest of those. I don’t think those tires will ever be tested head to head by a magazine or company to give a real world analysis

Those are all just second tier tires IMO. That being said one could be amazing on your car. It’s funny how some tires work better on some cars than others. That’s why the reviews are always all over one guy says they are great in snow the next three reviews say the car is undrivable

Biggest thing is ask if the tires you choose are terrible like so noisy and or squirmy or something you don’t like about them if they will take them back after a short couple days or weeks and give you full credit towards one of the other sets. Some places will do that


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Something you can ask the owner or manager of this tire shop you are dealing with is which one would you put on your car or your kids car, moms car, wife’s car etc. they have to have some sort of feedback


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I don't have experience with any of the tires nor any of those tire brands, but Tire Rack recently did a test on similar tires. The General you've selected came in second place to a BFG tire.

Before pulling the trigger, I'd read through the reviews on Tire Rack. Like any other place they have to be taken with a grain of salt, but if you read the reviews from vehicles of similar size/weight patterns start to form.
 
MattPersman said:
Something you can ask the owner or manager of this tire shop you are dealing with is which one would you put on your car or your kids car, moms car, wife’s car etc. they have to have some sort of feedback


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Click to expand...

The shop I have been dealing with so far is trying to push me into getting a full snow tire (not practical since I would have to run them all year or buy TWO sets of tires and I'm lucky the wife is agreeing to one) or if not that, getting new BFG T/A spec's (over $1,100 out the door - ain't happening) and they won't give me an opinion on which of the three I picked would be best.
 
You try any other shops. Smaller ones or bigger ones ? Or even the dealer maybe they have some take offs


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Have you looked at the Continental DWS 06?

I recently upgraded to a dedicated wheel/tire for summers and these are now my winter tires. I ran them last winter and was really happy. We had very little snow, but they were great in the ice, rain, slush. They might not have razor sharp handling like the Pilot Sport A/S, but they make up for it in great foul weather performance.
 
I know you are against snows, however being from NH, I can state that driving in snow with snows is a night and day experience over all seasons.

I always put the best Michelin’s on my OE rims and Yokohama snows on black steel wheels. Changeover was a breeze.

Also, it saves your tires because the good all seasons aren’t spinning on ice, sand and snow.

Have you looked at the Michelin Pilot Sport series?


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MattPersman said:
You try any other shops. Smaller ones or bigger ones ? Or even the dealer maybe they have some take offs


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Click to expand...

Yes, I've tried other shops even the one my department takes the police cars to, and the shop pushing the snows are far cheaper for the same tires.

Desertnate said:
Have you looked at the Continental DWS 06?

I recently upgraded to a dedicated wheel/tire for summers and these are now my winter tires. I ran them last winter and was really happy. We had very little snow, but they were great in the ice, rain, slush. They might not have razor sharp handling like the Pilot Sport A/S, but they make up for it in great foul weather performance.
Click to expand...

I have the 245/55/18's - not many choices in that size :(



LSNAutoDetailing said:
I know you are against snows, however being from NH, I can state that driving in snow with snows is a night and day experience over all seasons.

I always put the best Michelin’s on my OE rims and Yokohama snows on black steel wheels. Changeover was a breeze.

Also, it saves your tires because the good all seasons aren’t spinning on ice, sand and snow.

Have you looked at the Michelin Pilot Sport series?


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Click to expand...

I'm not AGAINST snows, it's just that I can't afford two sets of tires. Trust me, I would love to get a good set of snow & ice tires then switch out in the summer, but it ain't in the budget.
 
I would find a way to get the snows for a couple of reasons:

1. It doesn't cost any more in the long run. Same number of miles spread across two sets of tires.
2. All season = compromise. The tire that does well in snow, wet, and dry pavement doesn't exist.
3. For winter tires consider Nokian as well.
 
Don, I know you posted 3 but when it comes to tires I don't mess around. I prefer the Continental DWS06. I've had Conti's on her car since it had about 33K on the clock, has 173K now. Her first set, the original DWS, lasted 56K but we're then discontinued. Then it was the Conti Pure Contact and it performed well enough just didn't last as long as the DWS. Right now she has the DWS06 and they are doing GREAT! These tires basically have 3 tread patterns to handle everything and that they do. Absolutely incredible in the snow and rain!

Fellow AG'er Derek0609 has them on his car and he drives 66 miles a day to and from work and he has 33K on them and they were at 8/32nds, these are the DWS06's.

On a sidenote you can check out the Yokahamas that replaced their YK580'S if you wanna save a little bit more. In closing I would have them on my own car but they don't make em' in my odd size or even close (P205/40/17) so I have to run winter tires (Bridgestone Blizzak WS80's) and Michelin AS/3 Pilots for the other 3 seasons.

Hope this helps and didn't hurt

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Klasse Act said:
Don, I know you posted 3 but when it comes to tires I don't mess around. I prefer the Continental DWS06. I've had Conti's on her car since it had about 33K on the clock, has 173K now. Her first set, the original DWS, lasted 56K but we're then discontinued. Then it was the Conti Pure Contact and it performed well enough just didn't last as long as the DWS. Right now she has the DWS06 and they are doing GREAT! These tires basically have 3 tread patterns to handle everything and that they do. Absolutely incredible in the snow and rain!

Fellow AG'er Derek0609 has them on his car and he drives 66 miles a day to and from work and he has 33K on them and they were at 8/32nds, these are the DWS06's.

On a sidenote you can check out the Yokahamas that replaced their YK580'S if you wanna save a little bit more. In closing I would have them on my own car but they don't make em' in my odd size or even close (P205/40/17) so I have to run winter tires (Bridgestone Blizzak WS80's) and Michelin AS/3 Pilots for the other 3 seasons.

Hope this helps and didn't hurt

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


They don't make the Conti's in my size either.
 
RippyD said:
I would find a way to get the snows for a couple of reasons:

1. It doesn't cost any more in the long run. Same number of miles spread across two sets of tires.
2. All season = compromise. The tire that does well in snow, wet, and dry pavement doesn't exist.
3. For winter tires consider Nokian as well.
Click to expand...

Wise man ^^
Any car let alone a RWD in NE Ohio deserves dedicated snows

When I lived in Michigan (drove in 25+ winters) my cars always had snows, my trucks ran an aggressive tread year round.
 
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