It's a 2004 with 115K. The tires are "Yokohama Super E-spec Decibel" made with orange oil instead of oil from dead dinosaurs ... this doesn't mean much to me but to some it does. The caveat here is that these are summer tires which are much more suitable for our Florida winters and maybe not for other parts of the country. Now the tires: They are SILENT ... noise reduction was the first criteria! Reduced rolling resistance can actually be felt .... when you back off the gas it glides way better than before. Gas mileage has increased from 44.7 avg per tank to 52.0 avg. We couldn't believe the difference in mileage at first but we bot the car used with these cheap (but new) tires already on it and could not justify throwing them out. Ride quality has improved markedly along with easier steering input such as when parking or driving slowly. I guess the message here is that superior quality tires really are night and day when compared to cheap stuff.
Price and quality go together a majority of times but there are certainly many instances that prove otherwise. Consumer Reports is a great asset in this regard. Now to update the first tire report - In my zeal to tell all about these fantastic tires I failed to note that my driving patterns were changed for exactly one tank. After settling back to the routine of day to day driving, (work is only 2.5 miles away) the mileage stats are more like before. There is a small rolling resistance improvement but not the drastic numbers previously reported. Now see an improvement of two miles per gallon in the (all too short) drives to work.
Can you give any more details on what brand/model the old tires were Spartanacus? In any comparisons it's always useful to know what we are comparing with.
All expensive tires are not created equal. Facts prove that price and quality RARELY coincide. Consumer Reports often chooses a mid to low priced product as it's "Best Buy". The least expensive wiper blades were rated highest. Uber expensive Viking and Sub-Zero appliances are notorious for being ranked as worst. Japanese cars have become so popular in the US while Mercedes, Cadillac, BMW, Audi Lincoln and many other high priced car sales, continue to languish. This is why we drive our relatively low priced Prius and share information here. Otherwise, there are MUCH more expensive cars (and car parts) to buy. "You get what you pay for" is the line of con-men and fools. Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) is a much better guide to live by.
[/quote] Can you give any more details on what brand/model the old tires were Spartanacus? In any comparisons it's always useful to know what we are comparing with.[/QUOTE] Sorry for not noting what the old tires were - I never payed much attention to them except to replace as soon as could be justified. Suspect Chinese crap that you pay 40 bucks for ... in this case not a rare coincidence.
