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Maintenance & Repair Tires, tires, tires
7006 messages, Last post on Oct 29, 2009 at 11:24 AM
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| Dad's 2003 Beetle GL TDI needs new tires. He has 105,000 miles on the OEM Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus tires. One tire was effectively replaced at 20,000 miles when we put the spare wheel on due to a bent rim (steel rims). Almost all highway driving accounts for the long life. He wants another low rolling resistance tire, as TDI owners have reported a loss of (gasp!) 1-3 MPG with conventional tires. The Beetle TDI specifies 205/55 R16 tires with a weight rating of 91 and speed rating of H. What other low rolling resistance tires should he consider? Thanks. | |
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TDI owner here. The 105k miles figure is nearer the higher end if posters are to be believed. Most peole seem to get 40-50k. As you know there are three oem tires, in addition; Continental and the GY LS-H. I have the GY LS-H. at 49,000 miles it is on projected target to go to 130-140k. Actually I would be more than thrilled to get 100k. Most owners would rank order the oem tires Michelin, Continental, GY's. If cost effective is a criteria then run the cost per mile for rubber. If you are considering a tire that will probably get 1-3 mpg less, work that factor in also. The other thing to consider is NONE of the oem tires (including aftermarket oem replacements) have a mileage warranty. If you contrast that with, say a BFG Traction TA, it is cheaper and has a 60k mileage warranty and performs better. You almost literally have a plethora of choices. It is even more staggering that that if you want to go to higher performance tires or even go down to a T rating!! My top picks in the H rating 1 BFG Traction TA 2 Toyo TPT 3 Yokohama Avid H4S 4 Bridgestone RE 950.
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Replying to: ruking1 (Mar 12, 2005 12:24 pm)
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dealer, NTB, about my problem, but their answer doesn't make me feel any better...on my new Dodge Ram, the tires, Michelin LTX A/S P245/70R17, have the maximum pressure molded into the tire (like they all do) and the max pressure is 35 psi...the laebl on my truck says that Dodge recommends that the air pressure in the tire should be 35 psi cold...the tire guy just told me that the "P" at the beginning of my tire size does not mean "passenger" but the P means a shorthand that says that it is a 35 psi tire...why would Dodge recommend a tire that their safe minimum recommended pressure coincides with the tire's maximum safe pressure???...I usually keep my tires 1-2 psi OVER the minimum rec pressure, to allow for 1-2 psi leakage and still be safe...someone on these boards a few months ago said something about 2 different standards of psi and the way they measure it, but the tire dealer said that was bunk, 35 psi means 35 psi...does this not seem like the tire is not properly made for this truck, since Dodge certainly knows how they designed their truck and to what psi they recommend on the tires it rides on...yes, these tires were on factory wheels...what gives???
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Replying to: marsha7 (Mar 12, 2005 2:49 pm) |
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And you were informed wrong, Marsha. (BTW, welcome to my world!!) Just a bit of clarification. The "P" only sort of stands for "passenger". It's on a truck, right? That means there is more to than that. The tire dealer was sort of right when he said that the "P" means 35 psi. That's true for Standard Load tires, but there are Extra Load tires, too, and those are 41 psi. However, the dealer is totally wrong if he thinks that 35 psi means 35 psi is the absolute maximum pressure. You see, the folks that make tire standards say that the load curve for P metric standard load tires ends at 35 psi and that's where the maximum load carrying capacity occurs. But the standards folks also say it is permissible (and they even hint at desirable) to use higher inflation pressures for certain circumstances. Those circumstances are generally higher speeds as experienced in Europe, but I think they are applicable any time someone exceeds 80 mph or the ambient temperature exceeds 100F. Those other "maximum's" are 44 psi and 51 psi for both P metric and Euro metric tires (without the "P".) LT metric tires are a whole different kettle of fish and in some respects have this same problem. For some reason Michelin seems to be the only tire manufacturer that doesn't put this higher inflation pressure on the sidewall, even though the standards say it is permitted. I can somewhat see that if the load curve ends at 35 psi, then putting 44 psi on the sidewall confuses people into thinking that the load curve ends at 44 psi (I can't tell you how many discussions I've had on that subject!!) On the other hand, there is your question. BTW, P metric tires have a static burst pressure over 100 psi. Now don't be thinking you can actually use 100 psi (or even 50!), but the point is that 44 psi is certainly well within the "safe" zone. I just wonder.......How does Michelin write this on the sidewall? If they say "Maximum XXXX pounds at 35 psi", then they aren't saying 35 psi is the maximum inflation pressure.......and all is right with the world! Hope this helps.
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Replying to: corvette (Mar 12, 2005 1:03 pm) However the fact that it is an OEM product with back up marketing hype is (unfortunately) the surest sign. The reason why is pretty simple. One real world measure is they want to be able to get the highest fuel mileage to publish with a straight face. Or more importantly not to get sued!! ") (:. So it behooves them to put in the LEAST rolling resistant tires as possible!! So for example on a VW Jetta TDI three "lower resistant" tires come oem. In rank order by poll of actual owners in the real world 1. Michelin MXV4 plus 2 Continental ContiContact Touring CH95 3 Goodyear Eagle LS-H.
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Replying to: ruking1 (Mar 13, 2005 8:03 am)
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Hello All, I am in the market for new set of tires for my car and have narrowed it down to BF Goodrich precept and Goodyear Allegra tires, both of them are available in Canada through Canadian Tire. I am confused on which one to buy, I am having tough time to figure out which one is more quieter and has better traction than the other one. I asked the service advisor at Canadian tire and he is saying Goodyear (reason they sell more of those and the tread pattern). I also did a quick search at Edmunds and found GoodYear Allegra tire referred in discussion forums a lot more than BF Goodrich Precept. I would like to know if anybody has Goodyear Allegra or BF Goodrich Precept tires on there car and what there experience has been like? Also from anybody else who has heard any good or bad things about these two tires? Thanks for all of your help. |
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