Hey guys, I'm from Canada, but my DWS are down to 5-6/32 after < 3 years and 50k KM(31k miles). I got these tires because it was the overall recommended ones, but man I've had so many tire punctures with these. It's not like I'm driving through a construction zone or jungle!

Anyways, looking into getting something else but similar if possible. From an aesthetic pov, I don't like the dry-wall, because tire dressing just doesn't stick well on it!

Alternatively, I thought about maybe getting some winter tires for this winter and then getting summer tires with some future 18" rims! Or, maybe I should rather save up for my wedding..decisions..decisions..but I wanted to open up this thread to see if there some places in the US on where I can pick up tires or have them shipped as I have a road trip planned to Chicago from Toronto. I also want to pick up a few maintenance items that I need for the TL, so wanted to know if there are depots(similar to the buffalo ones($5)) to have AckTL ship me some goods!

Any help on how I can save some $ on getting the above items during my trip, would help! I'm driving a rental so the installation and balancing will be done here. Thanks all!

 

Tirerack.com

 

yea, already familiar with tirerack...and looked them up as they have a distro centre right along my travel in Indiana! So I could order and pick them up on my way back home, which is great!

It seems like winter tire prices are almost as high as UHP All Seasons! The stock Michelins are rated as Grand Touring All Seasons, so is there a good equivalent to those for a price much lower?

I'd like to get something different than the DWS. I hear people get way more mileage than me so maybe it was bad luck.

 

A number of years ago I was in a similar position where I needed new tires going into the Winter months. I was still toying with the idea of getting a second set of rims and having dedicated Summer and Winter set ups.
Long story short I found some inexpensive used Blizzaks on Craig's List and put them on my OEM 17" rims. In the Spring I found my A-Specs for sale here on AZ. I bought a second set of TPMS sensors and Michelin Pilot Super Sports and I am good to go. You do need a place to store the second set and you do have to do the change over, but I like having the dedicated seasonal rubber
Not sure if you have CL or something similar in Canada but it worked for me.

 

Yea, I think the dedicated set idea might be a long shot. Sounds good on paper, but I think I'll be selling the TL-S next year so that the wife can drive too! For a safe bet, I'd go with getting some all seasons, just not sure what's decent or in the same ball park as DWS.

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...jsp?type=UHPAS

 

There are tons of threads out there discussing tires. You obviously don't want dedicated winter tires so your choices are going to be much more limited since you absolutely need decent winter performance. The DWS I think is still the go to tire for true all-season. I am running MXM4 and am quite happy, although you mentioned you didn't like the price of those. Search the forums a bit more as well as read up on tirerack. You may want to not search for UHPAS and instead look for Grand Touring if you want to find other options that were similar to the OE tires.

 

$$ for $$ I think the Extreme Contact is likely your best bet, especially seeing you will definitely be driving in the white stuff. But as Jackass points out there is plenty of research that can be done.

 

Thanks guys, I'll look around more. Everyone preaches those dws hahhaa so I'm trying to find someone who's had something else as well. Plus, would I get screwed for warranty because I'll be buying from the tire rack distro in Indiana?

 

So I'm leaning towards the Hankook Ventus S1 noble 2, as that price is pretty good. Seems like it's a fairly new tire but it's got good reviews.

That comparison link was solid! I'm gonna live chat with TR to see how warranty on these would work.

 

Not sure how you drive daily (like you stole it or Granny) but there are good alternatives in other tire categories as well. Seems like the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 has been met favorably by some members here on AZ.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey....jsp?type=HPAS

I don't have any experience with this tire, but know Michelin in general is a good tire manufacturer.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey....jsp?type=GTAS

We have the Continental PureContact on my wife's Lexus ES350, but haven't had it in the snow yet.

Just some more stuff to look at and research.

I personally don't skimp on tires as they are the only thing keeping you in contact with the ground. You won't find Hankook, Nankang or some of the other brand name tires on my cars, but that's me.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

It's hard to find a tire that lasts and has reasonably good performance for the TL/TL-S. I think it has to do with the camber being slightly aggressive compared to other run-of-mill sedans and being heavier than more sport oriented cars. IOW, you've got a pretty heavy sedan with a sportier suspension geometry.

Regardless of which you choose, consider going up to a 245/45-17. Two reasons:

1.) Section width. Looks better, wider contact patch.

2.) The original all season TL-S tire was a Michelin 235/45-17 HXMX4 Pilot Sport. That tire was taller than a normal 235/45-17 tire by about a 1/4". A 245/45-17 is closer to the radius/diameter of the original OE tire.


Some have gone to 255/40-17 (iirc). Very wide, but quite a bit shorter radius/diameter than the A/S tire the car shipped with.

 

Yea, I was going to get the 245s last time but they were out of stock. I guess I'll be losing mileage too though right? Plus, they're pricier so I might end up with the 235s. It looks like I'm only saving ~$100 if I pick them up down south vs here.

Those Michelin ones are pricey too . Maybe I might end up with the same contis .

 

If you are truly considering selling your TL-S next year, maybe you are over thinking this? Like I said $$ for $$ the Conti's are probably your best bet and you have had these in the past - so you know what you are getting.

 

I'm just annoyed by the fact that I had to replace a tire puncture almost every month on these contis! Plus, one of them got punctured too close to the sidewall so that tire had to be tossed. Luckily, I had found a similarly used conti online.

I feel like I spent a lot of money on these tires and then it comes to haunt me more .

 

I understand. Maybe you can find a good set of used tires on line? Or even just inexpensive snow tires just to bridge you to the Spring

 

I'm comfortable buying a lot of my other things used for online, but not for a full set of tires, as I'm no expert in them. Decisions...but it looks like TireRack US prices for the Conti isn't that big of a discount so I could just buy and install here, so nothing to rush into on my trip next week!

 

So long as the tires have low miles with lots of tread and no signs of uneven wear, you would be fine. Again this would be a "bridge set" of tires. I have purchased two sets of used snow tires and paid $300 and $200 respectively. So it's a relatively short money investment assuming you can find something similar. What I have found is there are lots of BWM and Audi owners that sell or trade their cars and wind up with leftover snows..........
But again you need to feel comfortable doing so. Also be on the lookout for rebate deals from the manufacturers.