[samwichse]

Looks like with the US introduction of the Mitsubishi Mirage, there's a new eco-tire in town. It takes the same 165/65 r14 as the Insight. In fact, this is the same model tire that Mitsubishi puts stock on their iMiEV (although that one is a 145/65 r15) so one would assume this is a pretty good eco tire. Wish they sold them in in 185/70 r14 for my HCH... I'd definitely give them a whirl.

Listed on Tire Rack, but currently under backorder :-/.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...tireModel=Enasave+01+A/S&partnum=665SR4ES01AS

Sam

 

[5631]

Looks like with the US introduction of the Mitsubishi Mirage, there's a new eco-tire in town. It takes the same 165/65 r14 as the Insight. In fact, this is the same model tire that Mitsubishi puts stock on their iMiEV (although that one is a 145/65 r15) so one would assume this is a pretty good eco tire.

The rear tires on the i-MiEV are 175/60R15, so a variety of sizes is available.

As the owner of both an i-MiEV and an Insight, the Insight definitely rolls more easily. But the comparison is difficult because the i-MiEV is about 600 pounds heavier and is much less aerodynamic.

Several i-MiEV owners have complained about how fast the Enasaves are wearing out, so they might not be the equal of an RE-92.

 

[Rick Reece]

I wonder why Tirerack doesn't have it listed as a LRR tire? Seams like it was designed to be one. In regards to the wear the 1st Gen Prius had the same complaint on the Potenza's. I think it had more to do with the weight vs the tire. Have fun, RIck

 

[5631]

I wonder why Tirerack doesn't have it listed as a LRR tire? Seams like it was designed to be one.

The two sizes that are listed as LRR are the front and rear sizes of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, an EV that needs LRR tires. Maybe it's like the Potenza RE-92 line in which only the 165/65R14 size was LRR.

 

[minispeed]

I've been thinking of maybe getting a set in the spring, but I'd only be replacing 2 at a time. Since they are cheaper than the RE92s, with a higher load rating and higher wear rating if they come very close in MPG it may be the same over all or even better cost. But the potential pay off if they beat the re92s......

Considering the re92 wear rating and what some owners have reported they get out of them I don't think our light weight car will wear the same as a heavier electric.

 

[Mountain driver]

Anyone put some on a G1 yet?

..Bob

 

[Slippery]

Dunlop's

It'd be nice to read any reviews @ Tirerack. I just noticed that the 145/65R15's are selling for $126ea. I hope they can keep the 14's at $88 for a while

 

[eq1]

I think there's another thread or two running around here where one person has bought and tried them, said they seemed as good as the RE92s in terms of mpg but with a smoother ride. I emailed tirerack last week to ask about the non-LRR designation for the 165-14 size versus the other two sizes - which are LRR. Haven't heard back yet...

 

[Eli]

Watching with interest.....

 

[Mountain driver]

Also watching. eq's note about smoother ride AND mpg is interesting.

 

[rmay635703]

I'm still wondering what snow tire offerings are going to come out for the Mitsu Mirage since my snow handling characteristics are pretty terrible with 2 snow tires up front and 2 worn oversized all season energy savers in the rear, will be flopping to the RE92s on the rear soon, will see if ditching the oversized tires help but couldn't locate another pair of snows, maybe the 13" studded tires go back on?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...5TR4SPWR&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

Hmm, dunlops again, never cared for dunlop, ah well we will see how well they work, usually not as well as blizzaks.

Also the mirage and the insight are roughly the same weight so they should wear OK if they aren't overloaded like the Miev.

 

[eq1]

Here's a link to that thread where dude reviews the dunlop enasaves on his CVT:
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum...sion/31961-put-dunlop-enasave-my-insight.html

Just emailed tire rack again, to a direct contact, with my question about LRR...

 

[Mountain driver]

Thanks for the link eq. Thats good info.

 

[eq1]

....Just emailed tire rack again, to a direct contact, with my question about LRR...

Here's the perfunctory reply and my reply to that:

"I believe that is a typo on our part. I'm having it checked by Hardware Support. I think the 165 size is LRR. I'll let you know tomorrow."

My response:
"I hope so. But one thing that makes me think there may be a difference is that the recommended inflation pressures are different as well - 44 psi for the 165-14 size and 51 psi for the others - unless there's an error there as well... Let me know what you find."

 

[Thursday]

Some weird info.

This tire that fits our Insight is made in Thailand.
The other two Enasave 15" tires are made in Japan.

The 15" tires cost over 126 dollars each.
The 14" cost 88 dollars.

 

[eq1]

I noticed the made in Thailand, too. Didn't notice the price difference. Certainly that's too much of a difference simply due to the larger 15" size (larger tires usually cost more, but not by that much)...

 

[rmay635703]

I noticed the made in Thailand, too. Didn't notice the price difference. Certainly that's too much of a difference simply due to the larger 15" size (larger tires usually cost more, but not by that much)...

Not necessarily, tire costs used to pertain to brand, construction and the commodity cost of materials, anymore not at all.

Just think about all the real low profile $300ea tires in the market, some of the low profile 19's use half the rubber of a standard 15" tire but cost 3x as much.

So some of the big tires are cheaper than smaller ones, cost isn't based on materials or size, mainly on perception and demand.

 

[5631]

The 15" sizes might be more expensive than the 14" sizes because the 15" sizes seem to be the only LRR tires available for the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. So Dunlop might be charging us i-MiEV owners a premium price "because they can."

 

[eq1]

Heard back from tire rack. Here's the response:

"Fortunately your email brought it to our attention that we omitted identifying the 165/65R14 79S-sized Dunlop Enasave 01 A/S as a Low Rolling Resistance tire when we first received it. We've corrected that error and it should be properly represented tomorrow on the website. Low Rolling Resistance tires feature rubber compounds, internal constructions and tread patterns designed to reduce the energy consumed by the tire to go down the road. While I would suspect evolving technology might give the latest tires an edge, we won't have rolling resistance comparisons until NHTSA tire labeling is finally implemented."

I guess they ARE LRR. Hope the price stays low... Hopefully some others will give them a try; I won't need new tires for a while...

 

[daver277]

Dunlop may be trying to recover the marketing and development costs that it spent at Mitsu getting the tire on the Mirage...