What to look for in tire ratings

[pmh013]

Hey all, the time is definitely here to replace the crappy Conti's. They don't owe me anything: I've put over 70,000 km on them, and they're only rated for 60,000 km.So, I'm looking on the internet, trying to make an informed decision. I don't know what the hell I'm looking at though. I'm trying to make heads & tails out of the UTQG Rating. I think that the number refers to the treadwear. Anything more than 100 is better than some magic baseline right? And the letters refer to traction & temperature respectively, right?Why is a 340AA tire worth more than a 460BA tire? Just because of traction?Thanks!

[MrRich]

You have 70 000Km in your Vibe?WAOW!

[pmh013]

Actually, I have about 70,500 km on it today. 210 more tomorrow, 210 more on Thursday, 210 more on Friday... good thing I don't work weekends!

[aggie_vibe]

The UTQG rating is really only comparable between tires from the same manufacturer. Otherwise it is only a guide, and having the highest number doesn't make a tire better, as traction is typically less. A good range is between 250 and 400, depending on your driving style. As for the letters, they have to do with temperature and wet traction capabilities, and I wouldn't consider any tire without the highest current ratings: A and AA respectively. Check out http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/utqg.htm

[pmh013]

thanks for the info. That is stupid that you can't compare the UTQG from one manufacturer to another. It's definitely not Universal, despite the U.I'm looking for LONG tread life, given my average of 60000 km per year.FYI, I looked up my crappy Conti's... they are rated 360AA.I'm looking at some Firestone's ... they are only $113/per tire (CDN), and are rated 460AA. I forget the name just now ... Alliance?

[NovaResource]

Like aggie_vibe said above, tires with a long tread life are usually made from a harder rubber compound and do not grip as well. That's the tradeoff you make.

[pmh013]

That's a trade off I'm willing to make. I never found that I had any grip problems with the Continentals, and both tires are A rated for traction. Unless a Firestone A = Continental B, then I might not be so happy.BTW, the tires I'm looking at are Firestone Affinity LH-30 with Uni-T. They are 89H, and have a UTQG of 560 AA. Most importantly, they have a 115000 km treadlife warranty (that's 70000 miles).

[pmh013]

quote:Pro-Rated warranty though.. Are there any tires that don't have a pro-rated warranty?I just figured out the timing on the warranty for this particular tire:1. Assume that the tire was manufactured within 12 months of my purchase.2. Assume that I continue to average 60,000 km per year, I will have put 130,000 km on the tires in 26 months.I would be well within the 3 year free-replacement period if I should have any problems with the tires. The pro-rated warranty only comes into effect after 4 years from date of manufacture.

[ragingfish]

I PERSONALLY would never put my life on the reliability of Firestones...but that's just my personal feeling.I hear Yokohamas and Nittos have great reliability and tread life...

[pmh013]

You know, raging, originally I wasn't even considering Firestone's (after all, I did own an Explorer). But, I happened to stumble across these, and they are a really good price for such a long tread-life tire. Really, I'm not driving over 70 mph (ever), and I don't drive like a maniac (ever, OK, most often), so even a Walmart special tire would probably suit me just fine.Aren't the Yokos & Nittos quite a bit more expensive?

[ragingfish]

Expensive yes...but from what i hear, worth every dollar...

[Savoy]

I have replaced my tire's with Daytona Daytons. They were $75 per tire. I am very impressed with them. I've had them on for over 20,000 miles now and they look as though I just purchased them. They are a H rated tire.-Savoy-

[pmh013]

After another week of researching, I think I'm going to go with the Pirelli P3000 tires. They are the least expensive tire I could find with a 135000 km treadlife warranty. I should also be able to swing a deal to have them throw in their "customer plan"... lifetime rotations, balancing, flat repair, etc. These tires have a UTQG of 620 AA.Any last thoughts before I book the appointment?

[pmh013]

Well, I got the Pirells installed this weekend. What a difference!My car seemed to handle just a little differently as I pulled away from the tire shop, but after about 3 blocks it didn't seem different. Maybe it was in my head.Anyway, I spent the rest of the day shopping in the city, and noticed how grippy these tires were as I was navigating into parking spots. I needed just a little extra effort to turn the wheel!My Continentals were completely toasted. They were worn down so much that you could see every treadwear bar. I probably had 1 or 2/32 of tread left.And, because I had neglected my Continentals for the first little bit, they were pretty cupped. If you looked at the outside "section" of tread, it was really jagged. One segment would be high, the next low, etc. Made a hell of a racket on the highway. Now, it's almost whisper quiet. I don't have to turn the radio up as I speed up!!

[aggie_vibe]

Be careful those first few hundred miles - most tires have some oil or releasing compound on the surface