jfeino

I have a 2004 TL M/T. I have been driving on my second set of Bridgestone Turanza Serenity. I love them! They have an incredibly smooth ride, but handle like high performance sport tires. I need a new set of tires, and TireRack.com now has Michelin Primacy MXM4's ranked ahead of the Bridgestones, and they are less expensive. I would consider a high-performance sport tire, but they are usually louder, less comfortable, and don't last as long. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Also, I have the OEM 17" rims, and would like to know if I have to use the 235/45 size tires that are specified. Will any other size work? How do other sizes look?

callahan

I use 255/40/17 continental dws, you can can get them for 130ish. They have great reviews from everyone, great tread life, decent handling and are quite. You just can't go wrong with them.

jfeino

You can get 255/40's on the OEM rims? What does that look like?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

I'm running a max super summer tire.

255/40/17 Nitto NT05.






Just mounted. They dont look like that any more

callahan

just like justnspace pics look lol, it gives it a nice aggressive look.

sleeper22

I had the Serenity on a G35. Not a bad tire but in my opinion waaaay overpriced now. Recently put on a set of Primacy MXM4 on my TL. LOVE these tires so far. I think they are better than the Serenity for sure. Excellent in the rain and quiet and priced better.

jfeino

That is exactly what I am thinking. I have already ordered a set of the Primacy MXM4's, but they are on national backorder. I placed my order back on 11/13/2011, but just found out that the place I ordered them from never placed the order. It will take 6-8 more weeks if I wait for them, and my current tires won't make it if it snows. The alternative that I am considering, and are in stock, are the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S or Potenza RE970. I'm just not sure if I want to switch to sport tires because the usually don't have the smooth ride that I like.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

I also have the MXM4's. So far they have been great. Comfortable, quiet and grips very well in dry and wet. I used them in the snow once and they did very well.

I also owned the DWS. The DWS was better on wet traction and I assume they will be better in the snow. I had a lot of problems with them with regards to balance and noise. I was in the minority with that though. A lot of people love the DWS.

floorit

I got a set of Cooper RS3-A from treadepot.com a few months ago and so far they've been great. They also received great reviews in Consumer Reports for UHP all-season tires. Time will tell of course, but for $104 ea. and a $75 rebate I figured it was worth a try.

Jackass

I have the Pilots on my '05 now. Not as quiet as the OEM EL42, but still a fairly nice ride and overall happy with the tires. I can tell the ride is a bit more choppy over small imperfections in the road.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

I would try the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S. Michelin, as well as most other tire manufacturer has a customer satisfaction guarantee. Both Michelin and Bridgestone guarantee is 30 days. I do not believe mileage is part of it. If you don't like them, call them back and they will get you another option. It's usually a very easy process.

I used Continental's ride satisfaction guarantee with the DWS. Their's is 60 days with the DWS. I had them for about 45 days and could not get pass the noise.

The only issue with these is that you have to stick with the same manufacturer. I was able to get out of that with Continental because I tried all the options that they had available and eventually they just issued a credit to the tire shop and I put that towards the Michelins.

sleeper22

I still say the DWS is going to be one noisy tire when it wears. The tread pattern just begs for it too.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

I felt the same way but a lot of folks disagree. Maybe I just don't turn up the volume on the radio enough.

jfeino

What about mounting and balancing charges. Is that included in the replacement warranty, or do you have to pay for that again for the replacement set?

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

I'm not sure how that works. I purchased mine from an authorized dealer and they did all the mounting and balancing. I also purchased my tires with a plan that included lifetime balancing, etc.

finebead

I just put a set of Conti DWS on my 07 TL, had them 1 week, mostly city, little interstate, love them so far. I am not an aggressive driver.

6 MT

This.

revel_one

just had continental DWS installed Saturday. So far, loving the smooth ride and noise isn't that much of a difference from the stock tires, i believe michelin, that were installed when i purchased my 07 type s.. handing is great! waiting for more snow to see how they do and hoping that my friends and other users here are right about them.

Elegant TYPE S

iTrader: (2)

The DWS IMO is overrated. Won't be buying it again. If they didn't market it as a UHP tire I wouldn't be so critical. But it's definitely not UHP.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

I have Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 (UHP Summer) on the summer rims and Michellin Pilot Excalto A/S on my winter rims....

love both tires....

both are placed in the top 3 in their category in Tirerack....even thow you can go wrong with the continental DWS

Elegant TYPE S

iTrader: (2)

Those Firehawks are made by Firestone right? What size do you have?

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

^^^

235/40/18

if only they had the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval AS available when i got my tires, i would have been all over it....

Blooze

UGH! Hate to hear that the Primacy's are on back-order. I am pretty much set on ordering them. I think I am good for a couple more months barring snow. Might have to put in my order ahead of time to make sure.

avs007

Are you comparing it with other UHP All Season tires, and not summer tires?
I'm curious why you think they aren't UHP?
I found them to be fine. They handled better than the Bridgestone RE960AS, which are also UHP A/S tires.

avs007

If you get your tires from America's Tire / Discount Tire, they offer a 30 day guarantee on every tire they sell, regardless of manufacturer.

millarduck

For touring all seasons the Toyo Versado's are a tire to consider. All season rated, quiet, nice ride, good tread wear (40K Warranty on W rated). I have them with no complaints. I have over 40,000 miles with them, and I did not replace them this winter. They are not high performance in the handling, but they have the W rating and are an excellent highway tire. I get 29-31 MPG on highway with them still.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

^^^ look into Michellin Pilot Exaclto A/S....they are all season, high performance with 45K miles warranty quite and comfy

Lonewhitestar620

To me it really depends on where you live the DWS are good tires no doubt, when your living in an area that snows and rains a lot that is a good choice to go with, but for me here in california, its always dry or wet only. So I choose the Bridgestone RE970 with very good and stable feel of the car when I respond on the highway and on turns. Good comfy feel.

woow14623

you are not alone. I am on the same boat. DWS sux for me

woow14623

what are the other conti's you tried?

NetGnome

I have 10,00 miles on my Michelin Primacy MXM4's. they are OK, but not great tires. I consider my self an aggresive driver.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

No other Conti. They did not make one for the TL other than the DW. Continental also owns General Tire so I tried the UHP's for a week (about 1000 miles). IMO the General UHP was a better tire for noise and dry/wet traction was about the same as the DWS.