Sometime in the not too distant future, my RLX PAWS will need to be re-shod. Replace with the OEM Michelin tires or something different? What have our fellow high mileage owners put on their RLXs?

 

I replaced the tires on my PAWS with the OEM Michelin Primacy MXM4s after my unabated search and reviews. For AS, speed rated tires this was my best choice. The video of the tested tires on Tire Rack helped to make my decision.

 

Miner, how many miles did you get out of the original OEM tires?

 

I changed at 24xxx because of a road hazard issue. I had one tire replaced @ 4xxx miles due to a road hazrd and then another @ 24xxx due to a road hazard. I did not want two new tires and two with 24xxx on them at the same time. I had plenty of tread left on the used tires though but once rotated the front (new) would have gone to the back (old) and vic e versa - I opted to just start with 4 fresh tires.

 

I will add that both times i had tire replaced I had to replace the wheel too - too much damage to be able to repair. On the second occurrance I had to replace the TPMS sensor in the wheel too.

 

Miner, thanks for your responses. Sorry to hear about your rim and sensor issues. I've got 26k miles on my OEM set and they still have life. Two issues: 1) there is a wavy pattern (cupping on the outer edge) from the original owner not rotating the tires (Acura mechanic told me PAWS cars should get regular tire rotations for that reason) and 2) I've got a thing about having good wet weather traction from seeing too many accidents in my travels. I have not yet felt a wet traction issue and probably will go another 5K+ miles or so before new tires and will be racking up those miles and more in the next two months. Doing the tire decision making now ahead of time.

 

When mine need replacing I will go with the Continental DWS as I have had those previously and they were the quietest tire I have ever used. Traction is fantastic and they have a slightly softer sidewall so I expect that might soften the SH ride slightly without sacrificing performance.

 

Here is the video from Tire Rack of their testing of Touring All season tires

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ge#testResults

Tire racks results

September 17, 2010


Tires Tested
Bridgestone Turanza Serenity (Grand Touring All-Season 205/55R16 91H)
•What We Liked: Comfortable ride
•What We'd Improve: Wet traction
•Conclusion: A good Grand Touring All-Season tire that's beginning to show its age
•Latest Test Rank: 4th
•Previous Test Rank: 2nd (August '08), 2nd (July '05)

Continental ContiProContact (Grand Touring All-Season P205/55R16 89H)
•What We Liked: Impressive dry traction
•What We'd Improve: Road manners and wet grip
•Conclusion: Still a good all-around option
•Latest Test Rank: 2nd
•Previous Test Rank: 4th (July '07), 2nd (July '05)

Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring (Grand Touring All-Season 205/55R16 91H)
•What We Liked: Responsive steering
•What We'd Improve: Wet traction
•Conclusion: A good choice for drivers wanting to blend responsive handling with good road manners
•Latest Test Rank: 3rd
•Previous Test Rank: Not previously tested

Michelin Primacy MXM4 (Grand Touring All-Season 205/55R16 91H)
•What We Liked: Excellent wet traction and good road manners
•What We'd Improve: There's not much that needs improvement
•Conclusion: A very capable Grand Touring All-Season tire
•Latest Test Rank: 1st
•Previous Test Rank: Not previously tested

 

After attending the 2005 USGP, I do not plan on purchasing a Michelin tire. That being said, with stock tires at 21,000 miles in damp conditions, the car stepped out and over steered through an intersection. In addition, the traction control engages in the dry. This never happened with the RL running Bridgestone S-04s (made in Japan).

I'm planning on installing the new Continental DWS 06 before the winter. Bonus that they are made in Germany for this size 245/40ZR19.

 

Im at 47k miles still running on my original OEM Michelins. Apparently I've got about another 5-10k before tread depth starts becming an issue.

 

That would be my plan to install those when the SH shoes need replacing.

 

My 2014 PAWS is getting 245/40/R19 Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 put on later this week. The car was purchased with 15K miles and now has 34K miles. Two of the Michelin Primacy tires are at 3/32" and the other two are at 6/32 - 7/32". The relative wear difference was apparent when the car was bought. Am keeping the two with good remaining tread just in case I get two used Primacy tires with similar wear and elect to use the tires as summer tires. The Michelins are sweet tires during warm weather but not as happy when the temperature drops and are somewhat stop sign/light spin happy during cold, wet mornings. Will let the group know how they ride and if the wheel spinning is less.

 

The Continentals were installed last Saturday using 34 psi front, 32 psi rear pressures. The tires handle well on dry. Today is cool and rainy. The front tires have noticeably less wheel spin when accelerating and turning at an uphill stop sign in my neighborhood (my daily critical point for entering onto a high traffic road). Of course, to anyone considering new tires, please keep in mind how all new tires always do better than the previous worn tires.

 

It was a rainy day and we drove about two hours in the rain today with outside temps in the low 60s. The Continental tires never gave a moment's slippage accelerating from a dead stop or when traveling a moderately track worn Interstate at 75 mph. Furthermore, have not experienced any tram lining relating to driving on the aforementioned track worn Interstate.

 

Update: Averaged 31.5 mpg on a three hour trip of mixed Interstate (running 75 mph) and non-Interstate four lane (running 65 mph) last evening. It is November so the fuel mix is likely already switched over to winter blend. On similar trips last summer with the Michelin tires the mileage was usually in the 32 - 33 range. Continental does not give these a Green or Ecolo rating as the Michelin Primacy tires have, so I am pleased with the 31.5 mpg seen on the trip.

 

Launching the car from a stoplight on a rain slicked road a few days ago, I was able to get the car into a 4 wheel spin. I could feel the VSA pulsing the rear brakes, preventing the car from stepping out, as the front wheels engaged to continue the car moving forward. It simply was the car overpowering the Michelins (and I experienced similar with my former RL). But I must say it was very impressive how all the systems (VSA, SHAWD) kept the car relatively straight and progressive as the Michelins struggled to gain traction.

 

2014 PAWS owner here reporting 4000 miles experience with Continental tires. Simply put, it is an appreciably better vehicle with these tires. The ride is a wee bit softer, wheel spin in the rain is significantly less and the handling is better, too. I came back from a business trip and really enjoyed the the 1.5 hour trip home from the airport tonight. It is a great car.

 

That is how I usually end up feeling about OEM American Honda Michelins.

I end up thinking there isn't a lot that I can improve just by changing the tires.

With my 4G TL, the tires went 65,000 miles and I went out of the way to get a Honda dealer to order the exact same compound instead of running the risk that the retail label did not represent the same compound that Michelin developed for Honda.

This happens sometimes, that just because a tire is labelled the same doesn't mean it's the same exact compound that was developed for OEM.

It was more expensive but they did well enough that I wasn't going to take the chance.

 

Looking at my previous posts, it looks like I am a homer for Continental. My feeling is the original Michelins are better for spring, summer and fall than the Continentals. It is the wintertime wetness and coldness conditions where the Continentals are doing a better job for me than the OEM Michelins. Two of the Michelins taken off have 7/32 and my plan is to find two more with the same rating and put back on the car next spring so to keep the Continentals going for winter duty for hopefully two more winters.

Hey, its what us non-AWD RLX PAWS owners have to do with our low brow FWD vehicles! Actually, that humorous comment is the reason I researched and got the Contis. Having been used to driving a no wheel spin 2006 SH-AWD over many winters with standard tires, the winter of 2014 I had to get used to experiencing and managing wheel spin from wet, uphill stop and go intersections with my RLX. The Continentals have significantly attenuated the wheel spin from what the RLX with Michelins was doing last winter at those same intersections and ambient temperatures (the temperature thing appears to be a major factor).

 

I agree with George's comment. I believe the OEM tires are manufactured with harder compounds, which last longer, but also because of lower rolling resistance afford better EPA MPG ratings. Honda traditionally leans for efficiency and durability even if it compromises performance a bit. And all manufacturers are being pressed to raise their fleet avg EPA ratings.

And I agree that OEM Michelins have less wet traction. Even with AWD, I was able to launch my SH into a 4 wheel spin on wet roads. The car did move forward progressively, straight and true. But the torque shifting and VSA were all obviously working to do so (I was impressed how these all work to keep the car in control).

That said, I have had good luck with Michelins. But as I did with my RL, about half life I will change them in favor of quieter, smoother and better wet traction (over max performance or longterm wear). The tires I am monitoring right now show very favorable ratings. The Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus. The ratings on Tire rack are significantly higher than the OEM Michelins in the attributes I stated above.