That private tire feeling...

[daves87rs]

Okay, I'm getting tired of this.

It looks like the 3rd car it going to need tires..not because of milage, but because of of rot.

And since I just replaced TWO full sets of tires already (big $$), I've had to look at my options...

While I'm not usually a fan of private tires...I looked at a set of National Finalist (60 bucks each, mounted on all)

I was actually impressed by them...they reminded me of Cooper tires...50k warranty...

I've heard all the horror stories of those "cheap" tires....but my coworkers are running Republic, and Sunny tires, with no issues at all.....

And I take good care of my tires, and because of my wide size ( 195/70/14), there really is that much of a difference...(maybe more sporty..)

I'm considering them....

(Depending on what I can spend, the other choices- Cooper CS4, Tiger Paw Touring, Traction TAs...)

Opinions? Pros? Cons?

Edited March 25, 2009 by daves87rs

[daves87rs]

Wow, I must have pissed somebody off...or bored them to death!

[SAmadei]

Okay, I'm getting tired of this.

It looks like the 3rd car it going to need tires..not because of milage, but because of of rot.

And since I just replaced TWO full sets of tires already (big $$), I've had to look at my options...

I'm done with cheap tires, for the most part. So I would at least stick to the main brands... like Cooper.

Perhaps, since these tires are rotting, you need to perform "cheap tire maintenance". I don't know exactly, but some kind of moisturizer or something, to keep the tires from coming apart.

[daves87rs]

As it turns out, I only needed to replace one tire. ( Got lucky, same brand, just a few miles more than mine.)

And some friends and I were able to clean up the others nicely, so no replacing tires now.

They should hold up now, so maybe next year she'll get some Coopers...

Whew!

[SAmadei]

As it turns out, I only needed to replace one tire. ( Got lucky, same brand, just a few miles more than mine.)

What exactly is happening to your tires?

I was futzing in my backyard, where I seem to have an infinite supply of old, cheap tires... and while quite a few look like hell, they still hold are and are very usable. Some of these tires are well into their second decade of life.

[Robert Hall]

Wierd that you are getting so much tire rot, Michigan is not exactly a dry, sunny place...I thought tire rot was more of a desert thing...

[daves87rs]

What exactly is happening to your tires?

I was futzing in my backyard, where I seem to have an infinite supply of old, cheap tires... and while quite a few look like hell, they still hold are and are very usable. Some of these tires are well into their second decade of life.

Well, I'm guessing that it could have even been the crazy weather....

The tires themselves are five years old (they came with thr car), and they don't have a bunch of miles on them. This car is the 3rd car, so it does not get driven as much as our other two. As a matter of fact, it sat most of the winter. (Due to the weather and new baby).

I noticed they were getting brown ( not normally a huge deal), but in the past month, they were not holding air either. My big worry was that they might be going soft (not a good thing in a state of potholes).

It just looks like I got one bad tire (It just was falling apart from the inside), but we were able to clean them up nicely, and they seem to be holding air fine now.

I've never had a problem like that before....

[capriceman]

Thats cool that you didn't need to replace all the tires.

but I had Republics on the caprice and the 2 complaints were wear and traction. if it was raining or snowing i and crazy slippage. also hydroplaning. and the tires only lasted 20,000 miles.

[daves87rs]

Thats cool that you didn't need to replace all the tires.

but I had Republics on the caprice and the 2 complaints were wear and traction. if it was raining or snowing i and crazy slippage. also hydroplaning. and the tires only lasted 20,000 miles.

Yep, and we get a lot of snow and rain here, don't we?

Someone today was just telling a horror story with the Sunnys (popped on 696), and though the Nationals did look fine, you just never know....

Which is good, beacuse I have to put brakes and rotors on the wife's car..