Help me choose all seasons (Canada)

[nobb]

My stock tires need replacing. I dont drive really fast, nor do I push my car to its limit, so I dont really notice many differences between different tires. However, I do notice the noise, comfort, and how it handles during the winter (no, I dont want winter tires), so those are my top priorities. After doing a bit of reading, I have narrowed the choice down to the Kumho Ecsta ASX and the Falken Ziex-512. I need tires size 195/55R15.

For those who have used these tires...can you comment on how they handle the snow and ice? Also, how noisy are they?

 

[drpootums]

I just got some Kumho 795 touring tires put on my car. The noise level is very nice compared to the old tires, and being you dont drive at your cars limits, touring tires like these will be just fine. And for handling in the ice and snow, i can't comment first hand on this (got the tires today, no snow yet ), but they are rated #4 out of 25 on www.tirerack.com for touring tires, and they are rated in the low 8's out of 10 for handling in the snow/ice (very high compared to others)

My parents have had the 795's on their Grand Prix, and with over 40,000 miles on them they still drive very nice.

Also, on tirerack.com right now, you can get them for $45 a tire!!!! (closeout prices)

 

[nobb]

OMG thats so cheap!@! Too bad tirerack says my tires are 195/55R15, so I am pretty limited in my choices. I dont know much about tires (all my current knowledge is from googleing). Do I have to follow the manufacturer's 195/55R15 exactly or will something else fit? Will I need new rims? QUICK...before those tires get out of stock!!!!!!

 

[desy]

Nokian WR
Best All season for winter driving

http://www.canadiandriver.com/winter/tires/nokian.htm

 

[Tyrant222]

I have bought the ZE-512s for 3 vehicles now. First off they are a great tire, they cut through water easily. Traction is great for the price as well. Downside is that they won't last TOO long. The car that has had them on the longest has 20k on the tires and they may get another 5-10k. Which I guess is not bad when you think about it. Cannot comment on ice and snow but have read comments that they handle well in light snow or ice conditions.

As for the ze-512s, I think the Falken Ziex Ze-912 replaces them. According to edgeracing.com anyway.

 

[jtvang125]

I've own both tires and currently on the Falkens. Here are my thoughts of the two.

Falkens - More aggresive tread so better dry traction but slightly higher noise. Wet traction seems to be good as well.

Kumhos - Less aggressive tread design with less dry traction but much more quiet. Wet traction also seems to be good.

So it comes down to performance in dry traction. If you want a little bit better dry traction go with the falkens. If you want low noise and comfort go with the kumhos. They're pretty much around the same price.

 

[Vetterin]

That is one crummy size tire you have there. What car do you have? You can go to a 185/60/15 and get the Yokohama AVID TRZ (which is rated #1 in it's class) from Tire Rack for $56 each. I put them one my wifes Saturn last year and they are great. I run Yoko's on all three of my cars (Saturn, Subie & Vette).

 

[Vetterin]

Opps....double wammy.....my bad!

 

[nobb]

I dont really care much about dry (or even wet) traction. I can handle those conditions perfectly fine even with my crappy stock tires. As I mentioned before, I am not an aggressive driver and I almost always go the speed limit. I dont take corners very hard or anything. At 18 years old, I realize that one slight mess up is going to bump up my insurance alot. However, traction in the winter matters ALOT to me, so that is basically what it comes down to.

I am still leaning towards the Kumhos. I like how the Falkens have more aggressive tread pattern and might handle the snow and ice better, but I also dont like how people are saying it has bad tread wear. Can someone with experience tell me how the Kumhos handle in snow and ice? I have some Potenza RE92s right now and my car feels like a hockey puck in the winter.

Vetterin: I have a 2002 mazda protege. How do I go for a 185/60/15? How will that fit? Do I need new rims?

 

[jtvang125]

Your 195/55 will be slighly wider I believe but the sidewall height are about the same. There's nothing crummy about your tire size. Just that it's not a very common size so tires in that size might be a little more expensive.

I can't give you any advise on how they handle on snow or ice because I'm in Socal but you can check www.tirerack.com for other people's review.

 

[desy]

Nobb
I'm in Canada and gave you the best winter capable tire since you don't want to go with two sets. Which is what I do and I go studded for winter driving but you don't want the noise.
Go for the best tire in snow and ice and Nokian WR are it.
I sit on a H&S comittee and have studied tire tech for yrs now. Statistically the accidents in Canada are Dec, Jan and Feb, no mystery why. I may compromise on a lot of things when it comes to cars but tires are not it. You have 4 little patches touching the road and that it what is keeping you out of the ditch.
In Sweden they dropped accidents about 50% by having voluntary 80% of people switch over to studded winter tires.
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/ma...s/tires/tiretests.html

 

[Zee]

I asked the very same question for my mazda3. In the end, get whichever is cheaper out of those 2 tires (one from tirerack, and other from discounttiredirect right?)

 

[nobb]

Thanks for the advice so far everyone. In regards to the Nokian WR, I was previously interested in those tires, and they seem like really nice tires, but they dont come in my exact size. I am not sure if other sizes will work, so Ill need to know the definitive answer first.

Also, I couldnt yet find a distributor for those tires. I plan on buying from tiretrends.com because they are canadian and so I wont have to pay customs. Tirerack ships with UPS, so for $500 worth in tires, that would be a very BAD idea. I am planning on getting my tires installed at walmart. They told me it would only cost $70 to get all four wheels done! Other shops charge like $35/tire.

 

[desy]

Where do you live?
In Western Canada , Kal Tire chain carries Nokian, if not flip open the phone book and find out in the yellow pages.

I've always found a local tire shop is just as competative and will compete even in the same chain, by the time you factor in shipping and having to go get installation somewhere cause they never quote in balancing and valves and even road hazard waranty, if you get it all done at the same place, same if not cheaper than all the dickin around.
Then you establish a relationship with a shop and become a person in their eyes and yes you get discounted prices and preferential treatemnt

 

[Vetterin]

Originally posted by: nobb
Vetterin: I have a 2002 mazda protege. How do I go for a 185/60/15? How will that fit? Do I need new rims?

You must have the Protege LX since that is the only Protege with that size tire (the others use the 195/50/16's). Anywho, the 185/60/15 would fit right on the wheels you have without any problems. Even though the sizes are different the circumference of the tire is only .9" larger meaning that while driving at 60 mph your speedometer would be reading 60.8 mph or 1.3% off. As far as the snow situation goes the 185 has a smaller x-section so it would actually be better in snow than a wider tire. As long as you conscience about your driving habits (and it seems as though you are) any of the tires you are considering should do you just fine.
p.s. When I said crummy size I DID mean hard to find cheap tires for. If you think your size is bad, my Vette takes 255/50/vr16. Now that size is teh suck!!!! Good luck!

 

[mitaiwan82]

one vote for the Falken's....great dry/wet traction. I can't speak for icy/snow conditions...