19 replies to this topic

[Draconian Guppy]

So I need to buy new 195/65 R15 tires for a Mazda 3 Sedan.

The options i have available are:

Michelin Energy Saver $488
BFG GGrip $423
Pirelli P7 $416
Kumho KH17 $652
firestone fh 900 $380

The car has some nasty bridgestone that lasted around 18K miles

Those are the ones available where I live ( Honduras, Central America)

[+sc302]

I would personally get the michelin's or the bfg's.

bridgestone and firestone are the same company.
http://www.bfvz.com....ne/firehawk/900 (look at the name at the top)

[Draconian Guppy]

Oh , crappy Firestone!

Forgot to add. The prices are for four tires

[Astra.Xtreme]

My advise is to go on tirerack.com and look at the ratings. And pay close attention to how "loud" the tires are. You'll thank yourself.

[Draconian Guppy]

Astra.Xtreme, on 30 November 2012 - 19:40, said:

My advise is to go on tirerack.com and look at the ratings. And pay close attention to how "loud" the tires are. You'll thank yourself.

Thanks, checked, but they don't have all the models above, the BFG grip isn't there

[Paul Ferson]

TyreReviews.co.uk and TireRack.com together might help you find what you need. TyreReviews has the gGrips listed, and they seem to be getting good enough reviews from users. Feedback seems to vary, but one of the comments from the site is that it's a summer tire. Whether that's a good thing or not is up to you. Hopefully between those two sites you'll be able to find the information you need, but a cursory glance doesn't seem to show anyone else with a Mazda 3.

[Ph1b3r0pt1c]

You sure you cannot get your hands on some Westlake tires? I just checked and they are distributed all over the world. The are cheaper in price, but I have had this same set of 205/40/r17's for a little over 65k miles, and they are still perfect. I travel 70 miles per day also. Check into those if you can

[BGM]

Pirelli

[Spartan Erik]

What's the terrain like over there? Are you driving on smooth roads, roads with potholes, off-roading, etc.? Mix of each?
What's your driving style? Do you aggressively accelerate and brake?

Honestly, I've never had any bad experiences with any particular brand/off-brand tires, but I treat my 2009 RAV4 very well, and make sure the tires are rotated regularly so I can get even tread wear

[Draconian Guppy]

Paul Ferson, on 02 December 2012 - 16:06, said:

TyreReviews.co.uk and TireRack.com together might help you find what you need. TyreReviews has the gGrips listed, and they seem to be getting good enough reviews from users. Feedback seems to vary, but one of the comments from the site is that it's a summer tire. Whether that's a good thing or not is up to you. Hopefully between those two sites you'll be able to find the information you need, but a cursory glance doesn't seem to show anyone else with a Mazda 3.

Well it's mostly summer, but it does rain for 3-4 months a year... So I think I would need something more of a wet-summer mix

Fl3x1bl3, on 02 December 2012 - 16:15, said:

You sure you cannot get your hands on some Westlake tires? I just checked and they are distributed all over the world. The are cheaper in price, but I have had this same set of 205/40/r17's for a little over 65k miles, and they are still perfect. I travel 70 miles per day also. Check into those if you can

Third world hell Honduras Central America? NO. Sadly no

BGM, on 02 December 2012 - 16:22, said:

Pirelli

Spartan Erik, on 02 December 2012 - 16:55, said:

What's the terrain like over there? Are you driving on smooth roads, roads with potholes, off-roading, etc.? Mix of each?
What's your driving style? Do you aggressively accelerate and brake?

Honestly, I've never had any bad experiences with any particular brand/off-brand tires, but I treat my 2009 RAV4 very well, and make sure the tires are rotated regularly so I can get even tread wear

lots of roads with potholes, very badly paved roads, the occasional of roading DUE to the repairing of the bad roads

[Draconian Guppy]

ended up getting the Michelin Energy Savers A/S. I'll post a follow up as soon as I do some serious driving

[Liquidfox]

Fl3x1bl3, on 02 December 2012 - 16:15, said:

but I have had this same set of 205/40/r17's for a little over 65k miles

Are you sure they're actually made of rubber? The grip on those things must be horrendous to last that long! Don't think I've ever had a set of performance tyres last longer than 12K

[Draconian Guppy]

Liquidfox, on 13 December 2012 - 19:38, said:

Are you sure they're actually made of rubber? The grip on those things must be horrendous to last that long! Don't think I've ever had a set of performance tyres last longer than 12K

Yeah doesn't rubber get harder with time?

[Ph1b3r0pt1c]

Pretty sure they are rubber. I smack them with a hammer, and it bounces back, and they still work perfectly. Maybe its because I rotate them when I should and check the pressure in them?

[Draconian Guppy]

LOL, it doesn't get hard as in stone hard, but rather the rubber, "toasts" or "cooks" up due to extreme temperatures (heat, cold), but i'm talking about maybe 5+ years.