Michelin Tires at Costco for Mazda 5

[hagow_boy]

Hi,

Has anyone bought Michelin tires at Costco for their Mazda 5 ? In Canada, they offer the 205/50/17 Michelin Pilot Exalto for $211 Cdn each and the Michelin Pilot MXM4 for $226 Cdn each. Both are V rated. $20 for mount and balance, $60 off for a set til mid-Nov.

Question 1 : Has anyone successfully gotten Costco to install 215/50/17's or 215/45/17's for their Mazda 5 ? I read somewhere that Costco will only install the OEM tire size.

Question 2 : Does anyone have these tires for their Mazda 5 and driven them in the snow ? If yes, how are they ? 1010tires ranks them as a 4.0 out of 5.0 in the snow. That rating is better than some snow tires.

Question 3 : Do you think the Michelin Pilot Exaltos 205/50/17 are worth $1030 Cdn for the set ?

Thanks.

 

[morethan5]

Hi,

Has anyone bought Michelin tires at Costco for their Mazda 5 ? In Canada, they offer the 205/50/17 Michelin Pilot Exalto for $211 Cdn each and the Michelin Pilot MXM4 for $226 Cdn each. Both are V rated. $20 for mount and balance, $60 off for a set til mid-Nov.

Question 1 : Has anyone successfully gotten Costco to install 215/50/17's or 215/45/17's for their Mazda 5 ? I read somewhere that Costco will only install the OEM tire size.

Question 2 : Does anyone have these tires for their Mazda 5 and driven them in the snow ? If yes, how are they ? 1010tires ranks them as a 4.0 out of 5.0 in the snow. That rating is better than some snow tires.

Question 3 : Do you think the Michelin Pilot Exaltos 205/50/17 are worth $1030 Cdn for the set ?

Thanks.

I can't help with your exact questions, because there are no Costco stores near me, but I did buy Michelin Pilot Alpine PA2 snows (205/50-17) from Sam's Club recently. ( Sam's only installs OEM spec tires.) They had to be ordered (~4 day delay, no shipping charge)

I haven't had the tires in the snow yet, but they are surprisingly good on dry pavement, quieter that the Toyo were (so far), and are very good in heavy rain. They are also a noticeably wider than the Toyos.

I bought from Sams, instead of Tire Rack, because the cost difference was <$15 (for the set of four tires) after Tire Rack's shipping was factored in. That $15 bought me free balancing and rotation for the life of the tires, along with a pretty pain free road hazard warranty (at least when I've used it in the past).

 

[SuperWanda]

I am really considering the Exalto's - may put them on this week as you save $60 before Nov. 15.

 

[DKaz]

Consider that those who ranked the Pilot Exaltos so well on snow probably compared them to other all-season tires and not snow tires.

CR ranked the Pilot Exaltos as good on snow. That's good, but consider that the Nokian WR G2s were also just ranked good on snow and I hated them, just mildly better than another all-season tire I had. The Yokohama iG20s that the retail store exchange the WRG2s with were ranked Very Good on CR and were miles ahead in snow traction, even though I felt it could've had even better snow traction. This year I'm going with Toyo Observe G-02 Plus which was ranked Excellent on CR, so I look forward to running circles around you in the snow.

 

[hagow_boy]

I ended up picking up a used set of OEM 17" rims for $240 and then went for the Nexen Winterguards 215/50/17 for $83 per tire + $15 balancing + $5 envirotax, totalling $445 for the tires. The complete set (rims + tires) cost $685.

I haven't put the tires on the car yet, will probably wait til end of November.

My Toyos are almost bare with no tread at 46,000 Kms. I hope I can get another spring and summer out of them.

Next year I'll decide on the Michelins or the Sumo Firenza ST-08. There are a few places in Vancouver selling the 225/45/17's for $100 + tax with free balancing and install.

 

[SuperWanda]

I don't do a lot of highway driving and rarely drive in conditions that warrant the application of snow tires. Here in Winterpeg we have bad winter weather, but we also spend a lot on snow removal and sand and salt the heck out of everything. I'd rather put my money into a set of all-seasons that have a very good rating for snow and ice. In CR's, the Michelin Pilot Exalto's won in the V-rated all season category so that's good enough for me. If I did decide to go with winter tires, I'd pick the The Michelin X-Ice XI 2 which also topped CR's ratings.

 

[DKaz]

Snow removal is non-existent in Vancouver, we need to fend for ourselves. lol.

 

[SuperWanda]

I can see why you would be looking to get them in Vancouver. At least we don't have any icy slopes - it's flat as a pancake here!

I think about 50% of people get snow tires here. I'm sure there will be times when I'll wish I had them but I figure for the majority of the time it won't be necessary. I just really want to get rid of the Toyos which I've found to be pretty terrible with the slightest bit of snow.

I'll try the Michelins for this upcoming season and see how it goes.

 

[DKaz]

The best winter driving derby videos come from Vancouver and Seattle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGnOHg8KU_I

 

[skyhawk]

In our case, the streets are white during winter. Frozen snow on the road. We have 'snow plows' to level them off few inches above the asphalt, and push the excess snow/ice to the sides. Without winter tires, traction can be as good as that stone in curling.

With winter tires, another problem arises -- the car following behind can hit you
if you brake too suddenly and they are not on winters.

 

[skyhawk]

The best winter driving derby videos come from Vancouver and Seattle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGnOHg8KU_I

Must be the TCS in action. Taking over operation of the vehicle.

 

[dandan2]

thank god i live in texas! lol my winter setup and summer setup are the same!

 

[DKaz]

IWith winter tires, another problem arises -- the car following behind can hit you
if you brake too suddenly and they are not on winters.

I hope someone (lightly) hits my driver side fender so I can fix up a mix up with a concrete column I encountered earlier this year lol.

thank god i live in texas! lol my winter setup and summer setup are the same!

I bet you can't go snowboarding in Texas either.

 

[Dyx]

In our case, the streets are white during winter. Frozen snow on the road. We have 'snow plows' to level them off few inches above the asphalt, and push the excess snow/ice to the sides. Without winter tires, traction can be as good as that stone in curling.

With winter tires, another problem arises -- the car following behind can hit you
if you brake too suddenly and they are not on winters.

I brake earlier than usual when I approach an intersection and put more than usual space between the car in front and myself.

 

[DKaz]

I drive 20 to 30km/h on the left lane even if the speed limit is 80km/h, and I make sure I ride side by side with another person therefore no one can pass us endangering their own lives and other drivers on the road. Winter tires are a waste of money, just use all-seasons and deal with it like all do. Oh yea, repeal the seatbelt law!

/endsarcasm

 

[KBrian]

So that was you!

 

[wmzda5]

So that was you!

Have you been driving in Toronto last winter? J/k