2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid just getting to 30k miles and already needing a tire replacement. The OEM tires were Continental Contact LX Sport.

OEM tire size is 245/50 R20. There aren't that many tired available in that size. Many other options have better tread warranties, but reviews read the performance isn't good (options are Michelen Primacy or Defender in that size). We spent the money on the SH to actually use the sport.

So am thinking of just going back with the OEM tires due to lack of options in that size.

What I really like is the Continental Extreme Contact DWS 6 Plus. That is not available in 245/50 R20, closest size is 255/50R20.

What would you do? Just keep the OEM tires or get something else? While we do care about performance, also do not want increase road noise or decreased comfort/ride quality from the OEM tires.

ideally would at least retain grip/handling performance of OEM and at least or improve road noise, comfort, and rain. Do not want a lower performing or less safe tire. Thanks.

 

I'm exactly in the same boat with my 19 MDX hybrid with +38,000 miles on the OEM tires and need to replace before the 1st snow. I really love the Conti DWS 06+ and used the DWS on my previous 06 TSX, 08 RDX, and 11 MDX. Another MDX hybrid owner went with the 255/50/20 size and was very happy with the switch. The only issue is the speedo will read around 1 mph lower compared to actual speed at 70 mph.

https://tiresize.com/calculator/

I've still haven't decided to upgrade my OEM 20X8 rims to 20X8.5 aftermarket. I can then go with the 265/45/20 or 275/45/20 Conti DWS 06+ and get a much wider tire for a sportier look (similar size and sporty look like my 11 MDX with 255/45/20).

 

I got stock replacements 6 months ago because my dealer had a place to telework while they swapped the tires out and my Costco still had their food court closed last winter.

I don't drive my car hard enough to know the difference between tire brands so the dealer convenience sealed the deal.

One thing I didn't expect: after I got a nail near the sidewall a few months after the tire replacement, found out stock Conti's have a road hazard warranty, so my dealer swapped to a new tire for free with 15min labor only.

 

We've used the Conti DWS tires for over a decade now, ever since they came out, Now it's the DWS-06 or DWS-06+ they keep upgrading them. IMHO they are a perfect tire for climates that have occasional snow, ice, lots of rain and dry season. All our kids use them on their cars as well. They are quiet, much better handling than the OEM Conti LX on the hybrid, and will give decent tread life. A great all season tire.
Downside: limited tire size availability, so you may need to deviate from the OEM size, and on the hybrid be careful since the 8" rim is to narrow for some tire sizes that have the same diameter as stock. Tread life is good but not great, I tend to get 35K or so miles out of a set, then off to discount tire and get prorated warranty coverage on the next set. Now I will admit we are not easy on tires, others can get longer tread life. If you want max performance there are better summer only performance tires, if you want extremely long tread life, there are better tires.

As for the hybrid we have the DWS-06 (plus came out later) in 255/45/20 on ours and spedo reads a few mph low at 60 or so, In the rain the DWS-06 is head and shoulders above the LX, likewise on dry pavement handling. noise, road harshness etc. comparable.

 

correction to my above post. The spedo reads high 60mph indicated is about 57 actual.

 

My 08 RDX would eat conti DWS 06 tires and I would get 32,000 to 38,000 miles out of them depending when the "S" wore off before or after winter. I seemed to get the full +45,000 miles on my 06 TSX and 11 MDX with Conti DWS 06. I wasn't sure how the MDX hybrid would do on treadwear with the DWS? I was thinking about converting my full size spare also to Conti DWS 06+ and doing a 5 tire rotation if the hybrid eats DWS tires like my 08 RDX.

 

The 2019 Hybrid I just purchased is riding on Michelin Cross Climate 2 245/50 R20. My 2013 ZDX is riding on Michelin Latitude HP 275/40R20s. All my vehicles ride on Michelins and I love them. My 2007 MDX rode on Michelin Latitude Tour HP 255/55 R. Never had an issue with ride quality. So, it will be interesting to see how these Cross Climate 2 ride and hold up. So far, so good I’m liking them.

 

i remember back in the 60's when i felt lucky to get 10K miles out of a set of tires, then by the 80's I was getting 20K, tires now (usually performance oriented) I usually get 30-35K at most regardless of mileage warranty. On the DWS and varients used on my Mercedes E420, A honda Accord V6, and the MDX I get in the 30-35K range at best. Now, our DIL is getting close to 45K out of DWS-06 on a Mazda and our daughters car similar 45K or so on her Ford Escape.

 

interesting observation - thanks for sharing. I'm curious, why did you go with the 255/45/20 instead of the 255/50/20?

Stock tire is 245/50/20. If I do the math, I think the second number is a ratio. 245 × 0.50 is 122.5. 255 x 0.45 is 114.75 and 255 x 0.5 is 127.5. Although those are arbitrary calcs just for comparison, I'm thinking the 255/50/20 size would be closer to the stock 245/50/20 than the 255/45/20?

Am I looking at this right or am I missing something? Would 255/50/20 be possible with this vehicle? If not, I'll probably just go back with the stock Conti LX Sports as I really need new tires (ours are almost bald in spots), and don't want to downgrade performance for Michelin Defenders or Primacys. Thanks.

 

Not missing anything and a good question. either is a good choice, which one depends on what you want.

I picked the 255/45/20 since I wanted lower profile and was willing to live with the diameter mismatch compared to the 255/50. Same load capacity as stock. yes, 255/50/20 comes out closer on diameter. The other issue is the minimum rim width spec'd by Conti. 255/45 has a 8 inch min rim width. 255/50 is 7-9 inches so it works as well. 265/45 is the ideal replacement but it has a minimum rim width spec if 8.5" and the hybrid has 8" rims. Is there much real world difference between the two in performance??? I'd like to say yes in favor of the 255/45 but in reality I doubt there is going to be much difference. probably would take an expert to see where each excelled in a comparison.

And in the end the 255/45/20 was way less expensive. I just checked discount tire again and 255/45/20 DWS-06 plus is $245 while the 255/50/20 is $320 almost $80 more per tire and I couldn't see what the 255/50/20 was buying me for the $80.

BTW I had Michelin Primacy's on a Mercedes sedan. I hated them, glad when I finally got rid of them. noisy, terrible in the rain, not all that great dry traction and wore out quickly. DWS-06 on the same sedan was a vast improvement in virtually every respect.

 

Thanks. Yes, the stock Continental LX Sport are much better than the Michelin Primacy or Defender, other than maybe tread life.

This link really seemed to illustrate what I was trying to accomplish:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc...0r20-255-50r20

The 255/50/20 do seem closer to stock than the 255/45/20. I don't want to lower the vehicle, so leaning toward the 255/50/20.

Do you think Continental DWS 06 Plus at 255/50/20 would be worth the upgrade over just staying stock Conti LX Sport 245/50/20?

Yes the DWS 06 is expensive as you state. Is it worth getting the Tire replacement certificates at Discount Tire, or is that mostly a way to inflate the price, and not worth it? Just getting stock replacement tires is relatively inexpensive, almost half the price of the DWS 06 Plus in 255/50/20, and cheaper than the Michelins which I'd hate.

 

the "tire size calculator" sites ASSUME that the mfg quoted dimensions are exact..... They seldom are, and in fact even with the same mfg different tires of the same size may have different diameters. The best way to actually determine the difference is to go to the tire mfg site and use the tire mfg data, Look at the conti data for the stock Lx, then the dws-06 in the different tire sizes and do the calculations. Then when your done remember that the diameter of a new tire is going to be larger than the diameter of a new vs worn tire will be different by a noticeable amount.

Personally I'd go with either of the DWS-06 options before I'd go back to the LX. Basically I picked the DWS-06 255/45/20 over the DWS-06 255/50/20 because it was $80/TIRE less expensive, but that was a personal choice. Not sure why the big price difference both have the same speed rating, treadwear warranty. And the difference is one reads 1-2 mph low at 60 the other reads 1-2 mph high at 60

Discount tire/America's tire has always been good to me, no questions asked on tread wear warranty, no issues on the few times I've had a non repairable puncture and new free replacement tire with tire replacement certificate.

 

Thanks. I actually checked the Continental website directly for the tire specs. Indeed the 255/50 R20 is a closer fit than the 255/45 R20. The OEM tire is 29.6" diameter, the DWS 06 Plus 255/50 R20 is 30" diameter, and the 255/45 R20 is 29" diameter. The "45" has an approved rim width of 8-9.5", while the "50" has an approved rim width for 7-9", which the 8" is right in the middle.

I emailed Continental technical support directly, and they recommended the 255/50 ZR 20 as the best fitment for my vehicle.