Time for new tires, opinions needed
cone junkie
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Let's try this again....
Treadwear numbers are arbitrary. They are defined by each brand. They mean NOTHING when compared between brands. For example, the Bridgestone RE720s are a 140 treadwear tire. The Falken Azenis sport is a 200 treadwear rating. The Azenis uses a far softer compound and will wear down quite a bit faster than the 720s, while giving more traction the entire time.
Do you guys GET THAT?
Repeat after me... "treadwear means nothing." *repeat*
Treadwear numbers are arbitrary. They are defined by each brand. They mean NOTHING when compared between brands. For example, the Bridgestone RE720s are a 140 treadwear tire. The Falken Azenis sport is a 200 treadwear rating. The Azenis uses a far softer compound and will wear down quite a bit faster than the 720s, while giving more traction the entire time.
Do you guys GET THAT?
Repeat after me... "treadwear means nothing." *repeat*
__________________
-93 MR2, #129 ES
-93 MR2, #129 ES
:Jack Daniels Addict:
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
Originally posted by PseudoRealityX
Here's an example of what I'm talking about. People who don't know what they're talking about, because they've never driven on anything else. No offense to this guy, because I'm sure they are a lot better than whatever he WAS using previous to the FZ4's, but they are by no means a performance tire. And they are FAR too expensive for what you get.
I can comment on these because I actually had a set on the Protege about 4 years ago.
These tires don't grip for crap. They are quite similar to the Nittos in tread compound, something quite close to all seasons. They are relatively loud at the limit, and the limit comes quick. What they are, is predictable. But they don't have half the traction of the ES100s and even the 712s have better performance. They did last a long time, but that lends itself directly to the fact that they suck as performance tires.
Durable? sure
Traction? where?
Here's an example of what I'm talking about. People who don't know what they're talking about, because they've never driven on anything else. No offense to this guy, because I'm sure they are a lot better than whatever he WAS using previous to the FZ4's, but they are by no means a performance tire. And they are FAR too expensive for what you get.
I can comment on these because I actually had a set on the Protege about 4 years ago.
These tires don't grip for crap. They are quite similar to the Nittos in tread compound, something quite close to all seasons. They are relatively loud at the limit, and the limit comes quick. What they are, is predictable. But they don't have half the traction of the ES100s and even the 712s have better performance. They did last a long time, but that lends itself directly to the fact that they suck as performance tires.
Durable? sure
Traction? where?
TR Balla Donor Supreme
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 0
Just passing it along:
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
To help consumers compare a passenger car tire's treadwear rate, traction performance, and temperature resistance, the federal government requires tire manufacturers to grade tires in these three areas. This grading system, known as the Uniform Tire Quality Grading System, provides guidelines for making relative comparisons when purchasing new tires. You also can use this information to inquire about the quality of tires placed on new vehicles.
Although this rating system is very helpful when buying new tires, it is not a safety rating or guarantee of how well a tire will perform or how long it will last. Other factors such as personal driving style, type of car, quality of the roads, and tire maintenance habits have a significant influence on your tire's performance and longevity.
Treadwear grades are an indication of a tire's relative wear rate. The higher the treadwear number is, the longer it should take for the tread to wear down. For example, a tire grade of 400 should wear twice as long as a tire grade of 200.
Traction grades are an indication of a tire's ability to stop on wet pavement. A higher graded tire should allow you to stop your car on wet roads in a shorter distance than a tire with a lower grade. Traction is graded from highest to lowest as "AA", "A", "B", and "C".
Temperature grades are an indication of a tire's resistance to heat. Sustained high temperature (for example, driving long distances in hot weather), can cause a tire to deteriorate, leading to blowouts and tread separation. From highest to lowest, a tire's resistance to heat is graded as "A", "B", or "C".
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Your mileage may vary...
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
To help consumers compare a passenger car tire's treadwear rate, traction performance, and temperature resistance, the federal government requires tire manufacturers to grade tires in these three areas. This grading system, known as the Uniform Tire Quality Grading System, provides guidelines for making relative comparisons when purchasing new tires. You also can use this information to inquire about the quality of tires placed on new vehicles.
Although this rating system is very helpful when buying new tires, it is not a safety rating or guarantee of how well a tire will perform or how long it will last. Other factors such as personal driving style, type of car, quality of the roads, and tire maintenance habits have a significant influence on your tire's performance and longevity.
Treadwear grades are an indication of a tire's relative wear rate. The higher the treadwear number is, the longer it should take for the tread to wear down. For example, a tire grade of 400 should wear twice as long as a tire grade of 200.
Traction grades are an indication of a tire's ability to stop on wet pavement. A higher graded tire should allow you to stop your car on wet roads in a shorter distance than a tire with a lower grade. Traction is graded from highest to lowest as "AA", "A", "B", and "C".
Temperature grades are an indication of a tire's resistance to heat. Sustained high temperature (for example, driving long distances in hot weather), can cause a tire to deteriorate, leading to blowouts and tread separation. From highest to lowest, a tire's resistance to heat is graded as "A", "B", or "C".
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Your mileage may vary...
Guest
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Originally posted by PseudoRealityX
Treadwear numbers are arbitrary. They are defined by each brand. They mean NOTHING when compared between brands. For example, the Bridgestone RE720s are a 140 treadwear tire. The Falken Azenis sport is a 200 treadwear rating. The Azenis uses a far softer compound and will wear down quite a bit faster than the 720s, while giving more traction the entire time.
Do you guys GET THAT?
Repeat after me... "treadwear means nothing." *repeat*
Treadwear numbers are arbitrary. They are defined by each brand. They mean NOTHING when compared between brands. For example, the Bridgestone RE720s are a 140 treadwear tire. The Falken Azenis sport is a 200 treadwear rating. The Azenis uses a far softer compound and will wear down quite a bit faster than the 720s, while giving more traction the entire time.
Do you guys GET THAT?
Repeat after me... "treadwear means nothing." *repeat*
If one tire has a TWR of 50 and another 200 its pretty safe to assume that the 50 is stickier than the 200.
If I remember correctly there is supposed to be a common multiplier that will convert TWR to a mileage that a conservative driver can get out the tires.
Since this number relates to wear and not grip its the reason why I agree with your statement in general but wear and grip goes hand in hand so don't try to convince people that tires with wear ratings that are hundreds of points apart may somehow have the same grip.
This is the way I look at TWR
0-100 - Competition Worthy Track Tires
100-200 - Sticky Street Tires
200-300 - OK Sports Car Tires
300+ - They may last a while, but don't expect to track those wheels or overtake an interstate ramp with them.
