Tire Feedback Between Finalists

For Best value and good performance.

Michelin Energy Saver A/S (assuming you get the $70 rebate): maximum mpg, great tread life, comfort etc. Handling is just ok and snow traction is not great.

Yokohama AVID Ascend (T): fantastic tread life, OE-like mpg, great handling but semi-noisy

Bridgestone Ecopia EP422: Great mpg, great tread life, ok for everything else

Continental ProContact with EcoPlus: Lower mpg than OE but great treadlife and traction

Michelin Defender: Fantastic treadlife but unknown fuel efficiency and traction/handling

I'm my estimation the lowest cost per mile tire is the Energy Saver A/S. The Ascend and EP422 follow closely. The ProContact is a good value but the lower than OE mpg hurts it unless you need a more sporty tire. The Nokian enTYRE is likely a great tire but the high purchase price kinda kills it when compared to the Energy Saver A/S and the others. I wouldn't even consider the other tires in your list.

You can read my reviews on the Energy Saver A/S and the AVID Ascend in the GenIII fuel economy forum.

 

Check your sizes again. The Energy Saver A/S is $113 in a 195/65/15. The Defender is $118. All Michelin tires qualify for the $70 rebate. The Energy Saver A/S will give you a minimum of 3mpg more than the Defender.

Aha you were looking at the Energy Saver and not the Energy Saver A/S. You don,t want the summer tire.

 

Are you sure, $153? I just checked their site and it is listed at $119. But, they are backordered.

 

Just got off the phone with Discount Tire. The Michelin Energy Saver A/S in on national back order. Rep. told me it would take over 90 days to get. $70 rebate will not apply if we buy it now because discount only applies to stock tires...damn! Anyone know where we can find these tires. Thanks.

 

TireRack.com has them at $105/ea. but they charge shipping. The shipping is usually the price difference between tirerack and Discount Tire. Check your local America's Tire Company sand see if they have them. That is where got mine earlier in the month. They price matched what I could have got them for fromTireRack and Costco.

 

I got my Energy Saver A/S from America's Tire also, but they had a really hard time finding them. I was lucky to get them at all, and had to spend a week on the summer version because they put the wrong ones on first.

I sure like them, though! It was worth the hassle.

 

Not yet. Most places don't have them in stock yet so reviews are scarce. TireRack.com shows both the Energy Saver A/S and Defender in stock in the 195/65/15 size.

 

I wouldn't consider it a tough call. The Nokian isn't going to be much better in fuel economy than the other tires and the high price makes them unattractive IMO. They are sure to be good tires but they are not the most economical choice. For some reason the $70 Michelin rebate is not offered at TireRack so right now the Yokohama AVID Ascend ($332 before shipping) is the most economical choice followed by the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 ($356 before shipping). I was just at Costco and they still had the Michelin rebate offered so you might call them to see if they have the Defender in stock yet. Personally I wouldn't buy the Michelin's without the rebate.

 

With the $70 rebate the Ecopia EP422s are very nice. I still prefer the Energy Saver A/S but if I were forced to choose something else I would go with the EP422 for efficiency/comfort and the Ascend for performance/longevity.

 

NP, my friend.

 

America's Tire has the Energy Saver A/S at $123/tire or about $610 installed OTD. Costco has them for $113/tire and about $550 installed, but they cannot seem to order them.

Right now, Costco has the Ecopia EP422 at $100.99/tire + $15/tire install and disposal fee. With the $100 off, you are at exactly $400 installed. That is a $210 dollar difference between the next "sure choice" for the Michelins.

Since both of these tires deliver equal or better than OE tire fuel economy, the difference is likely under 5%, at best. Sure, on a base case scenario, if the Energy Savers give you 5% more than the Ep422, you will break even. But chances are, this is unlikely and you will come out ahead with the EP422, though not by much.

 

I had the stock Bridgestones - they lasted 45K miles. I went with the Kumo Eco (LRR) @ around $90/ea installed. They are *noticeably* more quiet - and if they last the rated 100K miles, are a pretty good value too (my mileage hasn't changed).

 

I have just over 63,000 on my original Bridgestone Ecopia EP20's. They probably have a couple of months left on the tread, but with Costco's sale on Bridgestones ($100 off a set of 4 with installation - today through August 5, 2012), I went ahead and ordered a set of the Ecopia EP422(eco)'s this morning. The total with installation and tax (Wisconsin) came out to $387.62. (The $100 discount came off automatically when I checked out without the need for a coupon code.) Costco also fills the tires with nitrogen (for whatever that is worth) and will rotate the tires for free for the life of the tires as long as I remain a Costco member.