Tire question: buy pricier or more often?

I suppose this can apply to any product but in this case I am thinking
of tires:

(1) I can buy a pricier model which will last a long time, but then I'd
have an old tire most of that time.

(2) I can buy a less expensive model but change it more frequently, so
I'd have a newer tire most of the time.

Which is the better way?

Would you buy a new Lexus every 10-12 years , or a new Corolla/Camry
every 4-5 years?

It isn't quite that straightforward a tradeoff as price vs. treadwear.
Tires operate in a rather more complex parameter space than most
consumer goods. The one thing I can say for sure is that buying really
cheap tires is likely to be a poor bargain in the long run, unless your
wear bars are on the pavement and money is so tight that you can't
afford better.

I've found that it's worthwhile to pay a bit extra for a better tire if
you can. Just what that is, depends on your car and weather and
driving style. Quite often a *lot* of tire parameters can be
simultaneously improved by throwing money at the problem.

Best of luck,
--Joe

Ad absurdum per aspera > wrote:

: It isn't quite that straightforward a tradeoff as price vs. treadwear.
: Tires operate in a rather more complex parameter space than most
: consumer goods.

I realize there are different parameters but within a type and brand,
I'd think a tire rated for 80,000 miles would cost more than one rated
for 40,000 miles, is that not so?

> I realize there are different parameters but within a type and brand,
> I'd think a tire rated for 80,000 miles would cost more than one rated
> for 40,000 miles, is that not so?

Actually, not necessarily true. Many very high performance tires do not have
particularly good tread ratings. Generally the higher the speed rating
(tires are have speed ratings such as S, H, V, etc) the less the tread life.
That is because a tires ability to run at higher speeds depends partly on
using a softer tread compound that wears faster. This is very evident in
motor sports racing, where a very soft, but very high performance tire will
need to be changed several times during a 500 mile race.

Some people think that an S speed rated tire is sufficient because they will
never exceed the 112 mph maximum speed rating for an S rated tire. However,
an H, or V rated tire will almost always have superior handling, breaking,
etc than a S or T rated tire (all other things being equal).

However, there are some newer tread compounds that provide a better balance
between performance and tread life, but they are more costly than
conventional tread compounds. But even these newer compounds will usually
not last 80,000 miles in a high performance V rated tire.

Mark A wrote:

>>I realize there are different parameters but within a type and brand,
>>I'd think a tire rated for 80,000 miles would cost more than one rated
>>for 40,000 miles, is that not so?
>
>
> Actually, not necessarily true. Many very high performance tires do not have
> particularly good tread ratings. Generally the higher the speed rating
> (tires are have speed ratings such as S, H, V, etc) the less the tread life.
> That is because a tires ability to run at higher speeds depends partly on
> using a softer tread compound that wears faster. This is very evident in
> motor sports racing, where a very soft, but very high performance tire will
> need to be changed several times during a 500 mile race.

Actually - how hard a rubber compound is doesn't necessarily affect
how it wears. I was at a Firestone dealer getting an alignment and
looked at their Indy car tire display. They had a real used sprint
car tire and a new one. Those suckers were hard as a rock. I'm told
they have to warm up and soften for optimum grip.

> Some people think that an S speed rated tire is sufficient because they will
> never exceed the 112 mph maximum speed rating for an S rated tire. However,
> an H, or V rated tire will almost always have superior handling, breaking,
> etc than a S or T rated tire (all other things being equal).
>
> However, there are some newer tread compounds that provide a better balance
> between performance and tread life, but they are more costly than
> conventional tread compounds. But even these newer compounds will usually
> not last 80,000 miles in a high performance V rated tire.

Low wearing summer car tires meant for high performance driving are
often harder. I know it sounds counterintuitive. A lot of summer
tires will get way too hard even in dry cold weather conditions to be
safe. During summer conditions, a harder rubber compound (within
reason) will grip/handle better, and won't necesaarily last either.

Mark A wrote:
>>I realize there are different parameters but within a type and brand,
>>I'd think a tire rated for 80,000 miles would cost more than one rated
>>for 40,000 miles, is that not so?
>
>
> Actually, not necessarily true. Many very high performance tires do not have
> particularly good tread ratings. Generally the higher the speed rating
> (tires are have speed ratings such as S, H, V, etc) the less the tread life.
> That is because a tires ability to run at higher speeds depends partly on
> using a softer tread compound that wears faster. This is very evident in
> motor sports racing, where a very soft, but very high performance tire will
> need to be changed several times during a 500 mile race.
>

Actually, higher speed rated tires are usually HARDER to withstand the
heat generated by sustained high speeds. Race tires are a totally
different breed... my drag radials aren't speed rated at all and have a
treadwear rating of ZERO and they're technially street legal... but I
don't bother because they're so "squishy" I don't feel comfortable
driving the car on the street... but they have a ton more grip once
heated up versus any regular street tire.

Oh, but the hi-perf tires have short tread blocks for less squirm, so
they still don't last 40,000 miles ... mine only made it 20,000 miles...

All of which means you can't answer the OP in absolutes. Tires are an
absolute bear to comparison shop... because it's all about the
tradeoff... dry traction, wet traction, tread life, even noise and ease
of balancing from brand to brand....

All I'll say is this: I've decided that BF Goodrich tires for me are
the way to go for my good cars. It's worth the extra $20 per tire.

Ray

"ray" > wrote in message
...
> Actually, higher speed rated tires are usually HARDER to withstand the
> heat generated by sustained high speeds. Race tires are a totally
> different breed... my drag radials aren't speed rated at all and have a
> treadwear rating of ZERO and they're technially street legal... but I
> don't bother because they're so "squishy" I don't feel comfortable driving
> the car on the street... but they have a ton more grip once heated up
> versus any regular street tire.
>
> Oh, but the hi-perf tires have short tread blocks for less squirm, so they
> still don't last 40,000 miles ... mine only made it 20,000 miles...
>
> All of which means you can't answer the OP in absolutes. Tires are an
> absolute bear to comparison shop... because it's all about the tradeoff...
> dry traction, wet traction, tread life, even noise and ease of balancing
> from brand to brand....
>
> All I'll say is this: I've decided that BF Goodrich tires for me are the
> way to go for my good cars. It's worth the extra $20 per tire.
>
> Ray

I believe that it is the sidewalls and belts under the tread that are
harder, not necessarily the tread itself. V and Z rated tires usually don't
last as long as S or T rated tires, because it is the tread that wears.

>>but within a type and brand, I'd think a tire rated for 80,000 miles would cost more than one rated for 40,000 miles, is that not so?

all things equal, of course. But do they cost more per x miles driven?

I've always gone by the theory that, in the long run, the cheapest tire
you can buy is the most expensive. Cheapo tires are cheapo tires, if
you wanna drive around on "made in taiwan" crap, thats your business. I
prefer to buy the good stuff & drive safely for a long time with no
broken belts or $hitty sidewalls or worn shoulders that you see on
bargain stuff. Plus it's your tires, for petes sake, why comprimise
here. Your wife & kids deserve the piece of mind & safety that comes
with a good set of rubber.

"Plus it's your tires, for petes sake, why comprimise
here. Your wife & kids deserve the piece of mind & safety that comes
with a good set of rubber. "

when I hear that time tested classic sales line regurgitated by a
customer I always think "what a great salemen this guy has, I wish I
could hire him!"