235/55-19 Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus-->don't

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'16.5 JBM CX-5 AWD GT tech, '19 Veloster N
Hey Guys:
Haven't posted in quite some time but I wanted to share my recent experience and hopefully help someone thinking about upsizing their 19s specifically with this tire. I had nearly 30k on my Toyos (nearing the end of their useful life) when I really stupidly curbed the right rear and sliced through the sidewall like butter-> tire destroyed, so I found myself quickly in the market for 4 new tires. After much deliberation (that included not even using the OE 19s) I decided on the one-up (235/55) Pirelli Scorpion Verde Plus given their very positive reviews and tests for what I deemed quite reasonable @189/tire installed. Versus the OE Toyos I have almost nothing good to say with the exception of possibly somewhat more immediate steering response due to their obviously stiffer sidewalls more on that below...

I knew I was adding ~3lbs per corner and a little over 1% in overall diameter and 4% in width but didn't think either would have a perceivably negative impact- wrong. I really feel the extra weight in the wheel and in acceleration and I'm grabbing not one but two gears when climbing TSP's rolling hills at speed. I don't know if the Toyos were really that good but these tires on this car ride like run flats in comparison at 36psi, even 34 is borderline brutal on broken pavement at speed, noise is also up- not horrible but noticeable. Gas mileage is also taking a pretty big hit- north of 2mpg loss which is pretty huge @7.5%. Luckily (I hope) they have a 30 day trial and I plan on swapping them out for the stock size P7 Cinturato- have to stay w/Pirelli- otherwise I think I should have gone for the Conti True Contacts but that ship, unfortunately has sailed...

I'll post updates if/when that exchange happens but I thought maybe this could help someone who wants to turn up the handling a notch on their CX-5 as I did. My advice- be careful- Mazda chose what they chose for a reason and it really works- shame the Toyos are so damn pricey- but if one of your primary goals is to preserve the ride quality while not making big sacrifices elsewhere, you can certainly do worse. I do however think Mazda should have gone with 18s so a more aggressive tire wouldn't kill the ride and wouldn't cost so much to replace. And in summary I'm not saying these tires are junk- Pirelli makes quality tires and I've run plenty of them in the recent past, but this model/size tire for the CX-5 does it almost no favors IMEO;)
 
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Glad you shared.. I'm looking at the Continental ExtremeContact DWS All-Season Tire ... in a larger size. Anybody else have experience with these as they're rated high too?
 
I have the Conti EXC DWS on my cx-5 & 3. Great tire. Sidewall is a little soft but other then that, I love it.
 
I knew I was adding ~3lbs per corner and a little over 1% in overall diameter and 4% in width but didn't think either would have a perceivably negative impact- wrong. I really feel the extra weight in the wheel and in acceleration and I'm grabbing not one but two gears when climbing TSP's rolling hills at speed.

Thanks for sharing your honest observations. Your experience matches mine. Weight in the tread area really impacts the peppiness of a vehicle. And the 1% higher gearing didn't help matters. Then you have the slightly wider tread area... all changes in the same (but unfavorable) direction for performance reasons. I'm sure those Pirelli's are great in some other application and size but some tires which are brilliant in some applications just don't translate to different sizes and different applications very well.

Luckily (I hope) they have a 30 day trial and I plan on swapping them out for the stock size P7 Cinturato- have to stay w/Pirelli- otherwise I think I should have gone for the Conti True Contacts but that ship, unfortunately has sailed...

That would be awesome if your tire dealer had a 30 day trial and if you are able to swap for the other Pirelli's, please do report back after you've had an opportunity to put them through your normal routine.
 
OK- tires swapped to stock size Cinturato P7 plus at no charge- really I should be getting a bit back because they were 10/tire cheaper but I was going to kick it to him anyway for the hassle...Initial impressions are eh- ride is definitely more compliant than the 235/55 verde (even at +4 psi)- he set them to 37, mpg appears to be returning closer to normal, so too acceleration so worst offenses have been addressed. Handling however doesn't feel as good- bit gooey but I'll experiment w/pressure and report after they scuff in. At this point for 19s I think the Continental (which recently dropped 10/tire for some reason) or the OE Toyo (which may even be worth it for its apparently very well balanced set of attributes) are better options for the CX-5. I guess I'll decide after my 3rd (and probably final) winter on my 17" Dunlop 3Ds if I want to maybe roll those full time on a good A/Ss and slap the 19s back on w/fresh-ish rubber as a selling point when its time to trade it on..
 
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Handling however doesn't feel as good- bit gooey but I'll experiment w/pressure and report after they scuff in.

I wonder if your initial impression here is more to do with the extra tread depth which can make them feel more squirmy than old, worn tires? Because other people on this forum have reported better steering response.

I look forward to your reflections after you've experimented with them a bit.
 
Hope so- I'm planning on taking them up to 40psi to see how that feels- to me sidewalls seem a bit weak- of course I did just come out the XL rated Scorpions so it could be that or just the added tread...17" stock size SL Scorpions with some added sidewall compliance is probably a nice set up..one that I may pursue next year.
 
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...and 40psi doesn't feel at all harsh or excessive, she feels good now...nice and agile again- ride is oddly better, handling way better. Right call to have those scorpions swapped which I was almost questioning. They measured closer to 34 this morning @50F before I jacked them up sooooo much better now. I still think the Scorpion Verde is a higher quality tire it just didn't work on our car in this spec..maybe 235/50-19 SL would be ok. My .02- stay stock and/or don't add weight, extra load rating, or much to overall diameter and you and your cx5 will stay happy together.
 

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