new tires review

[prbre]

Who have replaced their tires and have at lease 10 thousand miles on them. How do you still like them, how quiet are they. would you buy them again. It's about time for me to replace mine this coming spring and I and thinking about buying michelin tires but just wondering what else is out there.

[2Redbirds57/02]

Re: new tires review

I replaced mine at 40,000 miles with another set of Michelins . Now have 55,000 miles on my bird. No problems and I like the ride and handling. You can find cheaper tires but in my opinion you won't find a better tire.

[FUN X 3]

Re: new tires review

I'm on my third set of Michelins on the Bird. I've always liked Michelin tires, we have them on the Escape also. And we've had them on other vehicles in the past. However, there are other members here on TBN that have had success with other brands of tires on their Birds.

[THHNDR]

Re: new tires review

I put on Michelin Pilot Sort A/S Plus and couldn't be happier. They are quieter, stickier with a more aggressive looking tread than OEM's and have a rim guard to protect against curb rash.

[Eyelawdoc]

Re: new tires review

One of my original Michelins started delaminating at 34,000 miles. I bought my 2003 Tbird used with 33,400, so I don't know what kind of life they led prior to my ownership. They were almost worn down to the wear bars and were well petrified after 7 years.

I replaced the Michelins with a set of Sumitomo HTR ZIII tires in the stock 235-50-17 size. This tire is classified as an ultra high performance summer tire. We don't get much snow here in Palm Desert, CA. At $118 each from Tire Rack + $55 shipping they are a bargain.

I've only put a few miles on them since they were installed last week. So far I'm very happy with my choice!

[Katxoxo]

Re: new tires review

I know you asked for anyone with new tires and 10k miles on them. I don't fit the 10k criteria - only about 3000 miles on my new Pirelli Touring tires over the past twelve months on my 2003 DSB. These tires were highly recommended by a friend of mine who is a mechanic/tire guy.

Would not buy them again. I found my traction light went on a lot more frequently than the Sumitomo tires that were on the car when I bought it in October 2009 (and nearly dry-rotted when I bought the car and get the chance to replace them). These new Pirellis seemed to be a lot more sensitive to side-wall bubble in the front than I would have expected. I don't recall hitting a pothole nor driving in any situation that would have caused it ; just last week I had to replace the front two tires due to side-wall bubble.

Now with my 'new' 2005, the stock Michelin tires are on the car with 12,500 miles on them. - taking the same route to work, and the same driving habits, the traction light has yet to come on and the ride seems a bit more smooth than the Pirellis.


When the time comes to replace the tires on my 2005, I will either go with the whitewall tires or what Gary suggested -- the Michelin Pilot Sort A/S Plus.

[charlie hensley]

Re: new tires review

I have had Michelin on my Birdie since new and really like them. I don't get the mileage out of them that some do...maybe a screech around to many corners. Also, I don't rotate them like I should and buy two at a time and always put the new ones on the front...because I like new front tires better than new back tires...

All that said...you can't beat Michelins, in my opinion....but would like narrow whitewalls sometime.

[bob andersen]

Re: new tires review

I changed my tires on my 02 as they were showing cracks. Why wait for a problem. I upgraded to Michelin Sport A/S Plus. I am happy with them and the improved performance is noticeable.

[prbre]

Re: new tires review

It sounds like the Michelin Sport A/S Plus are the tires to buy. thanks to all for your help.

[XCR440SP]

Re: new tires review

All I've had on the 'Bird are the original tires. With 20K miles, they're still great on tread, but when I get it out this spring new tires are going on. I work at a Ford dealer and we sell a lot of different brands.

I can tell you one that won't be going on and thats Goodyear Eagle F1 All seasons. I've got those on the wife's Fusion and on Dad's Mach 1, and both are having issues with cupping with only a few thousand miles (and car IS in alignment).

I like the Eagle GT's as they look good and the price isn't bad. I don't have a lot of customers with lots of miles yet, but early reports are good.

The others I'm considering are the OE Michelins (for orginality, wear and perform well, just kind of boring tread), the afformentioned Pilot Sport A/S, and the BFG G-Force TA KDW2, I had those on my 91 LX 5.0L as street tires and used them in wet autocrosses (had Hoosier autocross tires for dry autocross), and was extremely happy with them.

I have slight reservations on Both the Pilots and the BFG's as they are a much sportier tire and I do expect some reduction in ride quality over the OE.

Usually I narrow it down to a few choices like this and one of them will show up on a clearance list during the winter making the choice easy, but so far none have.

[Indy225]

Re: new tires review

Michelins....PERIOD! We bought the 55's I believe that came with the car. I guess they are a 1/2" taller than the stock tire. Car rides higher and the wheel wells are filled with more rubber. Car drives awesome so you get what you pay for!!!!!

[Kokomo]

Re: new tires review

I have replaced the original tires on the red Kokomo because one was coming apart and another looked like it might start to. That was at about 35,000 miles. The car had 23k when I got it, so I don't know the tires' history. I replaced with the Michelin sport A/S 55's from Tire Rack. I like the taller profile and more agressive tread. I think handling is the same as original, if not better. The ride is just as smooth as original. I had also used the Michelin Sport A/S as replacements twice before on the Blue Kokomo. I have been happy with them every time.

[Southern]

Re: new tires review

I'll be using Continentals simply because they are the #1 rated tire for the Tbird at the Tire Rack.

1 go to Tire RAck http://www.tirerack.com/index_w.jsp

2- enter the info for your car and select TIRES

3- Select All Tires This Size

4- I selected to show all 37 tires and I went down to
Ultra High Performance all season Tires

5- go to any one of these tires and select "survey"

6- near the bottom of the survey page select
"See a Full List of Survey Results for Ultra High Performance all season Tires"

The top 5 or 6 tires are all good tires.
You pick the parameters that are most important to you and you can't go wrong.

I note that the Conti is the best in snow. I could care less...but I do like best ride comfort and noise on a HighPerf tire....and that is also the Conti.
Now you might be someone who prefers to give up some things in order to get best cornering and traction on dry roads.....Looks like the Mich Pilot Sport or the Potenza or even the Yoko might be the one for you....

[JAB02LHS]

Re: new tires review

[QUOTE=Southern;417634]I'll be using Continentals simply because they are the #1 rated tire for the Tbird at the Tire Rack.

QUOTE]

And another member's opinion

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...7&postcount=12

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: new tires review

I will never go back to Michelin tires. I was never happy with the hard ride even though I drove them with 30# air. However I did get great longevity with more than 65,000 miles before I cut a sidewall on a drainage grate.

I read every tire review on the net and in professional automotive magazines from the US and Europe. Near 100% positive. There were some great articles by professional drivers that I took into account and decided to go with 245-40-19 Continental ExtremeContacts. ( I have several pics in my gallery) Have had them for 8 months and would not trade them for anything. I love the tread and they way they handle.

But tires are like kids. Everyone defends their own kids and can easily find faults in others. It's human nature.

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/membe...cat=500&page=1