car tires needing soon

[cookiedough]

basic 4 door sedan 16" tires commuter vehicle.

Got a screw in one and almost to the wear bars anyways after 40K miles, so time to replace not worth spending 25 bucks for a plug/patch when the tire tops has 10K miles left in them, if that, before past the wear bars. 

Seen locally the Cooper CS5 ultra touring tire has a rebate of 70 bucks plus 70K (supposedly) mileage warranty which I do not hold much faith in more like 55K tops for mileage but that is fine with me.  buy 3 get 1 free local deal as well bringing tire down to 81 bucks each plus mounting plus rebate off down to 350 installed for a set of 4 not getting 16 dollar per tire free replacement extra on them though since only get a screw into the tire once every 4-5 years (knock on wood) 

The Michelin Defenders looking at them in 205-65-16 size definitely have a better tread pattern (more grip in winter/rain driving) with 80K warranty plus but is 16 bucks more per tire basically with no mail in rebate.  Pretty sure though not worth over 130 bucks more in price vs. the cooper ultra cs5 tourings.   

do not want to go cheap again for the crappy stock Kumho Solus's on the car were crap to begin with from factory.  NOt a fan of Kumho, but others out there are Uniroyal tiger paw's, etc. but doubt they will last any longer than the Cooper''s especially since the 70 dollar mail in rebate makes them cheaper as well. 

Any suggestions since the rebates end Oct. 31st on the Coopers and so does the local deal of buy 3 get 1 tire free.  Hard to pass up saving 150 bucks on a set of 4 tires. 

Tires Plus locally has a set of Firestone all season's for around 81 bucks as well with 60K warranty so about same price as the Cooper's but no good or bad reviews on them much online.  Seems Tires Plus brick and mortar store only has a few selections to get vs. say other online places.

Always have thought Michelin's and to some degree Continental tires are the best out there, but also the priciest and not a sports car, just a basic 4 door sedan. 

[da prez]

  I put the general altimax on the VW. We love them. A little hard riding , but the best traction we could want. Ask my brother . When I took him back to Missouri last Feb, bad weather most all the way. Freezing rain , snow and ice. The car handled great. If I was to do it over again , I would use the same tire. You can check application ratings for your vehicle.

                                          da prez 

[Bighead]

$25 for a plug?  Plug it your self for $.25. Just sayin.

[cookiedough]

$25 for a plug?  Plug it your self for $.25. Just sayin.

Is a plug/patch combo for I think last time was 22 bucks from local tire shop downtown having to take the tire off the rim, ream out the hole if need be, scuff inside, and put the patch on it on the inside of tire, cutting off the excess rubber sticking outside.  I do have the long sticky plugs with rubber cement to insert in from the outside with the insert metal tool cannot hurt to try that first for basically no cost but I carry them around for my ATV tires just in case in middle of nowhere needing a quick fix.  Not so sure those type of patches are LONG term although might get me buy until next summer another 6-9K miles or so until down past the wear bars.  Cannot hurt to try for if does not hold air,  no harm done, then install on rear of vehicle just in case it blows out. 

[Bighead]

If you get a tight seal with the plug it will last as long as the rest of the tire.

[f6john]

I’m needing tires for the wifes Camry and I will buy Michelin. Just have to figure out which one to get as they offer numerous options in the 215-55-17 size. I find cheaper tires are good for a while and then turn to crap.

[Jersey mike]

I’ve been using Coopers for quite a few years now, from passenger cars, Honda Element and our work trucks and have nothing but positive feedback. Keep the tires pressures where they’re suppose to be and front end aligned and they’ll last. They’re excellent wet,dry or snow. Also made in USA.

[Pappy!]

If you get a tight seal with the plug it will last as long as the rest of the tire.

.......have heard there's nothing quite like a tight seal !

[DGS65]

I have used Coopers on several cars and been very happy great value!
If you are looking for performance tires that is another story (I wouldn't put Coopers on my Vette)
I have put Coopers on work trucks and been very happy with those as well.

[Hooter]

If you get a tight seal with the plug it will last as long as the rest of the tire.

.......have heard there's nothing quite like a tight seal !

Ask any walrus!  Coopers, I have run for ever. I drive a ton of miles and they wear well. Most people don't keep track of air pressure, but that and rotation will let a tire live a long time.

[cookiedough]

If you get a tight seal with the plug it will last as long as the rest of the tire.

.......have heard there's nothing quite like a tight seal !

Ask any walrus!  Coopers, I have run for ever. I drive a ton of miles and they wear well. Most people don't keep track of air pressure, but that and rotation will let a tire live a long time.

Probably going to go with the Cooper CS5 touring since hard to beat locally in stock 81 per tire plus 70 dollar mail in rebate got good reviews overall but the tread pattern looks very odd being asymmetrical with a different left vs. right side tread pattern, way different on each side. 

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Cooper&tireModel=CS5+Ultra+Touring&partnum=065HR6CS5UT&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

Those general altimax's as suggested also got very good reviews similarly priced and seem to be a better traction tire as well in wet/snowy weather plus I like the tread pattern better.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=AltiMAX+RT43+%28H-+or+V-Speed+Rated%29&partnum=065HR6AMRT43&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

I also like the Continental's listed as well but tad bit more.  Hard to beat a 70 dollar mail in rebate though almost the price of one tire on sale locally.

One thing for sure the Kumho Solus tires suck for traction in any driving conditions, especially winter, NO good, even if they wear well.  Same goes for my other vehicle in Kumho Crugen's they last a long time,  winter snowy traction is horrible.  I have guessing 50K on those Crugen's (spelling?) and still look like they can go another 15-20K miles easily.

[matt]

If it is the general rt43 that is a very good tire,  price point on them is also very nice. Over the years have sold many of them and do not remember anyone that was not happy with the rt43.  Also as stated they do have good reviews.  I believe if you rotate them every 5 -6 thousand keep pressure good and alignment tgey will do you well. Some tires tough do all the above care and still dont last or wear like crap

[scooperhsd]

My last couple sets of tires for both of my cars have been Firestones. Granted - I don't need to buy winter tires, so your pick may vary.

[cookiedough]

If you get a tight seal with the plug it will last as long as the rest of the tire.

Well, took a look tonight at the flat tire airing it back up.  The screw inside was hissing out as expected bubbling with soapy water, but 1 inch away from that screw was another metal fragment embedded down in that I was hoping was not all the way thru as well.  It was, very slight bubbling of soapy water as well coming out.  So,  having 2 plugs only one inch apart is probably not a good idea.  Too bad, after further inspection pretty sure these tires would have gone 10K more miles (or most of next summer) before down to the wear bars.  They did though this summer off the line spin the tires easily just taking off in a 4 cylinder 190hp 4 door sedan on dry pavement.

For giggles, I have a new never opened plug kit I got for my ATV's in case of a flat tire in the middle of nowhere just sitting there the past 7+ years.  I might just put 2 wormy rubber plugs with rubber cement in those 2 spots only one inch apart and see how they work to see if will hold air or not.  But, being only one inch apart,  I fear is too close together weakening the steel belted carcass of the 4 year old tires. 

Oh well, if I go with the Cooper CS5's touring after rebate will be only 65 bucks per tire that includes install/mount/balance - hard to beat that and having peace of mind on tires lasting another 4 more years hopefully, baring any further holes in them.

[Jersey mike]

For what it’s worth, I routinely run about 5psi over manufacturers tire specs and have never had an issue with poor wear, to be honest I think it has extended the life of the tires nor does it have any negative feel on the ride or handling in any weather.

[3fan4life]

You cant go wrong with the Coopers.

I have used Cooper or Falls Mastercraft (owned by Cooper) for years and have never had a bad experience.

I replaced the Michelins on the wife's Camry with the Cooper CS5 and it's a much better tire.

[J.Mencalice]

November 10th @Sams Club is a one day sale with discounts of up to $80 on a set of four tires with $60 off of installation.  Got a flyer in the mail yesterday from them.  Might be worth a look on their website.  Says selected brands (Pirelli, Goodyear, BF Goodrich, and Michelin) for passenger and light trucks.

[Jersey mike]

You cant go wrong with the Coopers.

I have used Cooper or Falls Mastercraft (owned by Cooper) for years and have never had a bad experience.

I replaced the Michelins on the wife's Camry with the Cooper CS5 and it's a much better tire.

+1

[cookiedough]

For what it’s worth, I routinely run about 5psi over manufacturers tire specs and have never had an issue with poor wear, to be honest I think it has extended the life of the tires nor does it have any negative feel on the ride or handling in any weather.

I also do, I run 38 psi on  my truck vs. 33 recommended way too much tire squeal around low speed corners if too low psi in them and does not affect ride much and wears tires just fine.  now my suv and cars I run 36 psi vs. 32-33 since too much psi and rides way too choppy/firm/harsh.

However,  I had ONE set of Yokohama geolanders on my rav4 I owned once ran same 38 psi and had HORRIBLE results after 20K miles NOT checking tire wear (my fault for sure) and low and behold at only mid 20K range for miles,  my center tread was near down to wearbars in the middle ONLY and the outside edges had tons of tread left due to overinflation.  So, to outrule saying 3-5 more PSI works well for longevity, some mfg. tires do not, but most will increase tire tread life.

Also, had bad issue running 36-37 psi on my 2014 sonata over last winter thinking my bridgestone blizzak snow tires on the car in REALLY good shape would last longer.  I NEVER checked treadwear after say 8K miles and darn it,  the center of the tread on front tires were worn down horribly more so than the outside tread, so lowered it down to 33 psi as recommended.

Morale:  check treadwear every few 1000 miles not ruining a perfectly good set of tires due to over or under inflation.