Best tires money can buy?

[b55er]

2009 Mazda5 - stock 17-inchers

Requirements: ultra-high performance, all weather, M+S rated

Contenders
Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3

Or

Conti Extreme Contact DWS

Any suggestions?

 

[torquelover]

You need an all-season, so I am assuming you are in a 4-season location. If money really is no object, go with two sets of tires/wheels. Proper summer compounds in stock size and a -1 16" snow tire.

If only one set, I vote Michelin.

 

[90210]

Michelins.

 

[Silentnoise713]

You need an all-season, so I am assuming you are in a 4-season location. If money really is no object, go with two sets of tires/wheels. Proper summer compounds in stock size and a -1 16" snow tire.

If only one set, I vote Michelin.

yes to this if fiances AND space is allowed (folks tend to overlook storage and true need for dedicated winter tire).

I'be have both but the non "S" version and the Michelins all the way!

 

[bubuski]

I know it is an all season tire but I got the Michelin AS3 earlier this year for my "summer tire" since I have dedicated snows. It is usually mounted March to November and the temperature ideal for summer tires lasts maybe 3 months here.

Anyway, reviews have been good for this tire...long lasting, ultra performance not compromised even when 50% worn, very quiet through out its thread life

 

[b55er]

I have a Porsche as my garage queen with Michelin Pilot Sport N3 rated tires. The Mazda5 is my daily driver.

I live in Northern California. I perhaps *may* see snow once or twice a year. Sometimes treacherous rain on a dangerous mountain highway (Highway 17), so I want sure footing with good aquaplane resistance. I certainly don't want to be stuck or slip because I have summer tires in snow.

The car is relatively stock. I don't want to store another set of tires.

The car has 120k on it, and still is in mint condition. Bought new in 2009.

Tires I've had on since new:

1- Toyo stock - sucked, wore out at 20k
2- Bridgestone Potenza - very loud, excellent wear. All weather, ultra-high performance. I got 60k from them and could have gone more.
3- Conti Extreme DWS - good when wet, never squeals in tight turns, nice rim protection.

Key to good tire life on the Mazda5... Firestone lifetime alignments every year or so. And that's all Firestone does on my car.

I may give the Michelins a try. Else another set of Conti DWS.


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[m5pa]

I have Cooper RS-3A that I'm happy with, on my second set. But they are Made in China( I don't think they were originally) so I'll look elsewhere. If that doesn't bother you, they are pretty decent tires for 3 seasons and the price.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

2009 Mazda5 - stock 17-inchers

Requirements: ultra-high performance, all weather, M+S rated

Contenders
Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3

Or

Conti Extreme Contact DWS

Any suggestions?

I'll go with the Conti's when my Toyo's wear out. The DWS is a great all season tire. Maybe it is the rain performance that sways me given where I live. I have some Michelin MXV4's on my '07 G35x and not that impressed.

 

[socialcarpet]

You need an all-season, so I am assuming you are in a 4-season location. If money really is no object, go with two sets of tires/wheels. Proper summer compounds in stock size and a -1 16" snow tire.

If only one set, I vote Michelin.

This.

The best tires money can buy are not all-season radials.

I would check Tire Rack surveys, that's what I go off of, they've never failed me.

I live in Florida, so I'll be getting ultra high performance summer tires, the ones I like best right now are Continental ExtremeContact DW. They get rave reviews and high scores in the survey there.

As was mentioned, if money is no object and you really want the best performance but you live somewhere where it snows, get two sets. A set of steel wheels or stock alloys with snow tires and a nice set of alloy rims for better weather with your summer ultra high/max performance tires on them.

 

[socialcarpet]

I have a Porsche as my garage queen with Michelin Pilot Sport N3 rated tires. The Mazda5 is my daily driver.

I live in Northern California. I perhaps *may* see snow once or twice a year. Sometimes treacherous rain on a dangerous mountain highway (Highway 17), so I want sure footing with good aquaplane resistance. I certainly don't want to be stuck or slip because I have summer tires in snow.

The car is relatively stock. I don't want to store another set of tires.

The car has 120k on it, and still is in mint condition. Bought new in 2009.

Tires I've had on since new:

1- Toyo stock - sucked, wore out at 20k
2- Bridgestone Potenza - very loud, excellent wear. All weather, ultra-high performance. I got 60k from them and could have gone more.
3- Conti Extreme DWS - good when wet, never squeals in tight turns, nice rim protection.

Key to good tire life on the Mazda5... Firestone lifetime alignments every year or so. And that's all Firestone does on my car.

I may give the Michelins a try. Else another set of Conti DWS.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm new here, but I think another good key to tire life on the 5 might just be a set of aftermarket adjustable rear camber arms. My plan is just to cancel out some of that negative camber with those. $190 for a pair and then the tires should wear normally. Seems like a wise investment versus replacing tires twice as often or rotating them with every oil change. We will see. It's my understanding that these cars ship with about a -2 camber. Dialing it back to -1 or -0.5 should solve the wear problem without making much of a sacrifice in handling. Nothing that better tires and a rear sway bar and maybe some other tweaks won't more than compensate for.

 

[sac02]

The DWS is an all season tire, the Conti Extreme Contact DW is the high performance summer version.

IMO when you say "best tires money can buy" this does not mean all season tires. All-season tires are by definition a compromise.

If tire wear is not an issue (I'd plan to get only 15k miles out of a set, my guess), BFG Rivals are the fastest, grippy-est, non-R-comp tire currently on the market. I have the Michelin Pilot Super Sport and feel that for those of us that want a performance tire with better treadwear and road manners than the Rivals, this tire is very hard to beat at any price - it is truly an excellent tire.

FWIW, I have the DW on my M3, and the MPSS on my mz5. When the time comes, I plan to put Rivals on the M3.

 

[FukuokaKid]

I have the Michelin Pilot Sport AS3. Great tire so far. Put on only about 5k miles. Seems to be holding up well. Bought to replace the RE760 that lasted only 20K miles. Performance is very close to the REs. It may be just a tad louder. Also, the Michelin have a huge rim guard. Dont usually buy all seasons here in Hawaii but the reviews along with $70off from costco and almost double the treadwear of the REs made me want to try them.

 

[joe944]

The Michelin is a more durable tire. Better quality.

 

[TX Speed Demon]

I run the Conti DWS on my daily driven Nissan 370Z. I'm pretty happy with them. I previously ran Pilot Super Sports and the difference in road noise is pretty noticeable, the DWS are much better in that regard. May not be as big a deal in a Mazda 5 as it is in a tiny hatchback with no sound deadening. DWSs are not nearly as grippy as the MPSS were, but that is expected going from summer to all season. DWS were also much more comfortable, they eat up small bumps without me feeling it in my back like I did with the MPSS.

I can't compare with the AS3s but I've been happy with the DWS, even on a sports car with some spirited driving. That being said, once my MSP is back up and running I'll switch the Z back to MPSS since I won't be winter driving or daily driving it and maximum performance will be a higher priority over comfort.

 

[sac02]

... May not be as big a deal in a Mazda 5 as it is in a tiny hatchback with no sound deadening. ...

Take a ride in a Mazda5 - it's a tiny van with no sound deadening...

Noise is one of the primary complaints from just about all of us who own one.

 

[Silentnoise713]

I live in Northern California. I perhaps *may* see snow once or twice a year. Sometimes treacherous rain on a dangerous mountain highway (Highway 17), so I want sure footing with good aquaplane resistance. I certainly don't want to be stuck or slip because I have summer tires in snow.

The car is relatively stock. I don't want to store another set of tires.

AS for you. I've never need winter tires here in the mid-Atlantic. AS are fine up to the point where ground clearance becomes the issue. Streets do get plowed around here and you shouldn't be out in a Mz5 during a snow storm.

Keep in mind the "S", while it stand for Snow, does not only mean snow. IMO, the more important factor is the rubbers resistance to freezing when cold (soft summer rubber easily freezes in cold temps). The snow traction part is more on the tread design, not material composition, which obviously helps if it flexes where needed, is where the money is. I don't think you can go wrong with either the DWS or MPS AS. I tried the MPS in the snow - ONCE, scary as HELL (does not turn, does not stop)! I still recall that drive.

 

[Kojack]

I have 2 sets of wheels and tires. I run Toyo garrit winter tires and something for full rain grip in the summer. I am do for new summer tires, and wheels so I am not sure what we will be running.

 

[Kojack]

Take a ride in a Mazda5 - it's a tiny van with no sound deadening...

Noise is one of the primary complaints from just about all of us who own one.

You should drive a micra, our 5 is down right silent compared to it.

 

[twintrbo]

Im out from the shadows after a long hiatus I just got Michelin Premier A/S from Costco, love them so far! WAY quieter/softer/grippier than the OEM toyo. They also stick out a bit more for some rim protection, the rims took a huge beating the past year from my dear beloved and parallel parking.

 

[Nutella]

Continental Extreme Contact DW is what I can vouch for 215/45/17, but on 2010 Civic Si. Grip like mad and great in rain. Should be great on the Mazda5.

Yokohama Avid Envigor is the all season I have on the Mazda5 now. Great on highway, great steering feedback and quiet. Less grip than summer only Conti DW though.