[Gobo]

My local Firestone dealer is offering to "special order" the OEM Potenza tires for $64/apiece.

However, Tire Discounters is pushing hard to get me to use their in-house brand (Capitol). They're recommending I use a 185/60 size tire, Capitol N5000, which they say is cheaper, higher-quality, and has no effect on the MPG at all.

Has anyone had any experience with them, or with these tires?

 

[Guillermo]

The difference in size between OEM 165/65R14 and any 185/60R14 tire is about 10%. The increase in width is the most significant factor.
But this increase in width brings with it a noticeable increase in comfort and cornering grip. Braking grip depends on the surface area of the contact patch and the tire compound.

 

[HafNHaf]

anything other than the oem potenzas in the oem size WILL drop your mpgs. they have the lowest rolling resistance out there.

everything is a trade-off. there are lots of threads about tire choices on the board. after a bunch of research i went with the sumitomos. i am getting 5 mpg better than the original owner, who was running the oems. i think driving style has a lot to do with it too.

 

[Valiant118]

I'd advise you to stick with the Potenzas. Reports here have routinely indicated milage on the originals of over 50k. Plus, they're the lowest rollintg resistance tires out there. You can increase tire size, but you'll see an immediate decrease in milage for not much gain in anything else.

I got a set from Tire Rack for $55 each, plus a very reasonable shipping charge. Local dealer mounted them for $5 a tire.

 

[Dougie]

Some tire stores (e.g. Big O) will order them from Tire Rack for you, and mount them.

 

[Gobo]

When I talked to another tire place here in town, they recommended the Toyo Spectrum 175/65 over the Potenzas. His logic: "A larger tire will increase your MPG, since it's larger." He says he put a set of Toyos on a Prius and bumped the car's gas milage by nearly 20 MPG.

So what I'm looking at is either spending close to $400 for a set of Potenzas, versus $300 for a set of Toyos or Capitols in a larger size. And of the tire places I've talked to, they all recommend against using the Potenzas, saying they're mediocre quality, overpriced, and hard to find.

Thoughts?

 

[Insightful Trekker]

With "logic" like that then you should get some monster truck tires. :shock: Should put you over the 1000 MPG mark.

Seriously,

Enough of a difference in circumference and you introduce additional Speedo, Odo and MPG meter errors. "But Officer I _was_ only going 5 MPH over the posted limit, it must be these new tires." Officer replies; "Tell it to the judge." And finshes writing the speeding ticket.

Tires other than the OEM's do give a softer ride and better grip under more demanding conditions. Except for some euro LRR's (low rolling resistance, not sold in the states) all others will _reduce_ MPG. Probably in the 10%+ range. Its your car and choice.

See:

Tire comparison test
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... 38&start=0

HTH!