- #126 of 160
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Re: looking for new tires [poolman1234]
by coldcranker
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Jan 11, 2009 (7:32 pm)
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Replying to: poolman1234 (Jan 11, 2009 6:10 pm)
Forget the 215/65-17 size and get 225/65-17, Goodyear Fortera TripleTreds or Pirelli Scorpion Ice&Snow. Those are the only high-speed rated tires I know of that both also earn the Snowflake-on-the-Mountain traction test rating. That combination of attributes is rare, and it means you're getting tough tires that also have great traction. ( Maybe someone else can recommend something in the 18" wheel size if that is what you have. )
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- #127 of 160
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Re: looking for new tires [coldcranker]
by poolman1234
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Jan 12, 2009 (7:23 am)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Jan 11, 2009 7:32 pm)
I am looking for 225/60/r18 some one recommend the good year comfort tread.
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- #128 of 160
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Re: looking for new tires [poolman1234]
by coldcranker
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Jan 12, 2009 (2:44 pm)
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Replying to: poolman1234 (Jan 12, 2009 7:23 am)
Check www.tirerack.com and put in your size.
I'd get the BF Goodrich Traction TA -- click here.
Its got a double-A traction rating, bad-ass. H-speed rated. Not bad.
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- #129 of 160
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Re: looking for new tires [coldcranker]
by 01taurussel
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Jan 13, 2009 (7:40 pm)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Jan 12, 2009 2:44 pm)
My dad has Cooper CS4 on his 05 500 Limited w/ 18 inch size.........55k on them and about "half" worn (much better than those stock tires). He claims they are good in everything but ice.
Just my 5 cents......
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- #130 of 160
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Re: Firestone verse Mastercraft by Cooper tires are great!
by finelinevan
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Jan 23, 2009 (9:53 am)
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Replying to: 01taurussel (Jan 04, 2009 8:06 am)
Good tires for a Freestyle.I like everyone has experienced what pure crap the Contis that came with the Freestyle are. I went on for week reading the blogs with who bought what they felt was a good tire ro replace the old Conti which had 30k on them and where shot. I was considering Michelin, Good years as I narrowed them down. But did read cons on everyone of them. Well I called to order the Good years from this tires place which is probably 100 years old in my area and have always trusted the old lady who runs the place. She recommended that all her customers she sold these Mastercraft Touring RS tires to have raved about them. I said I never heard of them before. She said Copper Tires makes them and to go on line and check them out. Which I did and other who have them really liked them a lot. Copper is a American made tire company that is smaller but have a good reputation. They are not cheap at 150 per tire installed balanced etc. But then again so were all the other good brand tires. I wanted tires that were not noisy, held the road well, great in snow and finally lasted. These tires are rated at 80,000 miles. So since the old lady never steered me wrong the years I have been dealing with at her old rundown tire shop. I swallowed the cost of a whole new set.  Well I live in northeaster Pa. Poconos and we just got dumped on with snow this winter. These tires grab and stop me perfectly. I even got up a good head of steam and locked up the breaks to stop, they grabbed and we stopped quickly. Handling ahh they make the Freestyle feel so upright and balanced around tight curves. Quiet really quiet. Its such a pleasure to feel like I am gliding along. last well who knows other then what I read but its an aggressive deep thread pattern that should hold up with proper rotation. Thats something the Contis cant say rotation or not they wore and wore fast. But they wore perfectly even on all four tires. So the Freestyle alignments good. I was averaging locally 20 to 24 Mpg Hwy 24 - 28 with the Freestyle. I dont know if the tires will effect that any but time will tell. If so I safety and comfort they provide may be worth a Mpg. Hope this helps anyone out in the What is the best tire to replace on a Freestyle.
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- #131 of 160
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Re: Firestone verse Mastercraft by Cooper tires are great! [finelinevan]
by bruneau1
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Jan 24, 2009 (1:02 pm)
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Replying to: finelinevan (Jan 23, 2009 9:53 am)
I just had Michelin LX4 225/65/17 put on my Freestyle. Very pleased. Smooth, much quieter and more poised. The Contis were getting pretty noisy and rough.
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- #132 of 160
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Re: Firestone verse Mastercraft by Cooper tires are great! [bruneau1]
by coldcranker
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Jan 24, 2009 (1:27 pm)
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Replying to: bruneau1 (Jan 24, 2009 1:02 pm)
bruneau1 said "I just had Michelin LX4 225/65/17 put on my Freestyle. Very pleased. Smooth, much quieter and more poised."
Not a good choice.
First of all, the max PSI on that tire is 35 PSI, way too close to the Freestyle's placard 34 PSI. That should be 41 or 44 PSI like the Ford engineers specified.
Secondly, the LX4 has a lower speed rating, which means sidewall stiffness and heat resistance strength is below Ford engineer's specs as well. Its an SR tire, and a TR or HR is the recommended.
Many installers will catch those mistakes, although I guess not all are paying attention.
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- #133 of 160
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Re: Firestone verse Mastercraft by Cooper tires are great! [coldcranker]
by bruneau1
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Jan 25, 2009 (9:07 am)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Jan 24, 2009 1:27 pm)
What nonsense about speed ratings. I really doubt that anyone driving a Freestyle will try to exceed the speed rating of an S tire. Secondly, tires with H ratings have stiffer sidewells and generally stiffer rides which I wanted to avoid. What is the speed rating of the Conti 215/65/17 on the majority of Freestyles and Taurus X? Do you really think that tire is superior to the LX4???? And your comments about air pressure make no sense. Where do Ford engineers specify 41 or 44??? At that pressure, the vehicle would have a horrible and noisy ride, erratic handling, and would be dangerously subject to impact damage. I even find the 34 suggested for the rear tires too stiff and thumpy. we rarely carry much weight in the back, so 32-32 produces a more civilized ride and a little less noise from the rear. By the way, S tires have a speed rating of 112 and T 118. Can a a Freestyle even go that fast?
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- #134 of 160
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Re: Firestone verse Mastercraft by Cooper tires are great! [bruneau1]
by tidester HOST
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Jan 25, 2009 (11:52 am)
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Replying to: bruneau1 (Jan 25, 2009 9:07 am)
I really doubt that anyone driving a Freestyle will try to exceed the speed rating of an S tire.
Never underestimate the willingness of people to test safety margins. 
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
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- #135 of 160
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Re: Firestone verse Mastercraft by Cooper tires are great! [bruneau1]
by coldcranker
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Jan 25, 2009 (4:08 pm)
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Replying to: bruneau1 (Jan 25, 2009 9:07 am)
brueneau1, Speed ratings on tires reveal a certain sidewall stiffness and belt strength, so they are important for those parameters. How fast you go is not that relevant. Note the stock OEM Conti tires which Ford engineers chose as the baseline, are TR speed rated and have 44 psi max pressures. The Michelin LX4s you mentioned do not share comparable specs, as the speed rating is too weak, and the 35 psi max pressure is far too close to the Ford engineers pressure recommendations. The safety margin between the placard 34 psi and the max psi rating is the salient spec here, and is strongly suggested to be higher.
Rule Number 1: Never put weaker speed rating tires than OEM on your vehicle.
Rule Number 2: Never put a lower max pressure tire on your vehicle than OEM.
Since some people will put that LX4 on the vehicle, you should be fine as long as you keep no more than 35 psi (and don't go below 32 psi all around, narrow range), don't load the vehicle up with people and/or cargo past around 75% of max payload weight capacity, and when carrying more than just a driver and one passenger, keep your speed below about 70 on a hot day, and 80 on a cold day. Following those guidelines should provide the approximate original amount of safety margin. To me, it would simply be easier to put correct tires on and go right to the limits of the machine as tested and designed for by Ford engineers. Recommended.
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