Replacement Tires for 2000 Lesabre Custom

[sallisonbrown]

I've read many requests for suggestions for replacement tires for our beloved LeSabre so I thought I'd share this.

I recently had to replace the original equipment P215/70R15 Good Year Integrity tires on my 2000 LeSabre Custom with alloy wheels. These good old tires had 78,000 miles on them and deserved to be retired.

In researching replacement tires I wondered into my on line subscription to Consumer Reports and lo and behold, they had just completed research on Performance All-Season Passenger Tires October 2004. To my amazement they selected a $60 Falken Ziex ZE-512 tire as the best of the bunch outperforming much more expensive majors such as Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Good year and Firestone.

I went into the Internet to Falken's website and researched their offerings and found that they did not offer a direct P215/70R15 tire but did have a P215/65R15 (96H) that when placed side by side with my old 70 series was impossible to notice a difference.

To make a long story short, I now have these new beauties on my alloy wheels and I'm now experiencing an excellent ride with supurb handling. If your local tire store doesn't list Falken tires you can go into their website and put in your zip code and it'll show you a local dealer.

Just trying to help!

[Jed Rule]

I replaced the original goodyear 15 inch tires/rims and installed a set of Yokohama Avid Touring using the 16 in wheels. Inexpensive, easily available and a great ride. The 215/65 will make your speedo read a little high as they have a smaller diameter then the 215/70.

[sallisonbrown]

Hey Jedrule,
Thanks for the insight. I've used Yokohama's before with good results but this one you mention is recently discontinued. The Yokohama Avid H4 that was tested came in 13th out of 18 so I figured I'd go with the Number 1 Rated Falken Ziex.

[redly1]

I put the Avid Touring tires on my Silhouette...They've been working great for me for a year now through all types of weather

I got mine from TireRack.com, and would also recommend they're service. Just be sure to call around and price installation for "bring your own in" tires.

[LeBuick]

Originally Posted by sallisonbrown

Hey Jedrule,
Thanks for the insight. I've used Yokohama's before with good results but this one you mention is recently discontinued. The Yokohama Avid H4 that was tested came in 13th out of 18 so I figured I'd go with the Number 1 Rated Falken Ziex.

Thats surprising, when I did my research Avid was was made to be a champagne tire for the beer budget. They compared them to Michellins. I bought a set for my 2K Lesabre and noticed a great improvement over the factory tires. I have no regrets so far...

[sallisonbrown]

Originally Posted by LeBuick

Thats surprising, when I did my research Avid was was made to be a champagne tire for the beer budget. They compared them to Michellins. I bought a set for my 2K Lesabre and noticed a great improvement over the factory tires. I have no regrets so far...

Hey LeBuick,
What is surprising? That they discontinued the Avid or that the Consumer Reports rated them 13th out of 18?

Hey, I didn't knock anybody's tires, I only relayed the CR results and my experience in case anyone else was looking. I'm very satisfied with the Falken's performance and $62 out the door price.

Steve

[avatar307]

When I need new tires, I go down to the local swap meet. There's a couple guys from discount tire companies that come down and sell surplus tires out the back of a box truck. I just get whatever they have new in P205/70R15 (1995 LeSabre).

Let's see... Time before last I paid $25/each for Coopers that were factory stamped with the wrong heat class, so they couldn't retail them. (Had a little white spot on each tire where they ground the letter off.) This last time I paid $35/each for new Leamans.

No, not the best tires by any means. BUT definately the best tires you can get for that kind of money. I have no need for the car to handle well in hard 45 MPH turns, it's rare I ever make any, so I have no need for expensive tires.

[LeBuick]

Originally Posted by sallisonbrown

Hey LeBuick,
What is surprising? That they discontinued the Avid or that the Consumer Reports rated them 13th out of 18?

I'm very satisfied with the Falken's performance and $62 out the door price.

Steve

That the Avid H4 came in 13th out of 18. You got a great price on your Falken's which are not normally $62 out the door. Way to go! I read several consumer reviews on the Avid's and they were mostly favorable. I haven't seen snow since I bought my set but like I said, they seem to be fairly good for the money to me. I don't have access to consumer reports and if I had the money to by more consumer goods I would have the money to subscribe to their reports. But, since I don't have the bucks for many consumer goods I can save the subscription cost and by more beer.

ps... No matter what consumer reports might say, I'm a genuine draft man!

[sallisonbrown]

Originally Posted by LeBuick

That the Avid H4 came in 13th out of 18. You got a great price on your Falken's which are not normally $62 out the door. Way to go! I read several consumer reviews on the Avid's and they were mostly favorable. I haven't seen snow since I bought my set but like I said, they seem to be fairly good for the money to me. I don't have access to consumer reports and if I had the money to by more consumer goods I would have the money to subscribe to their reports. But, since I don't have the bucks for many consumer goods I can save the subscription cost and by more beer.

ps... No matter what consumer reports might say, I'm a genuine draft man!

Hey again LeBuick,
This forum is the way we get around having every one of our members subscribe to resource materials such as Consumer Reports and many, many repair manuals. We benefit from each others experiences and everyone gets to buy more beer. Cool !!

[LeBuick]

Originally Posted by sallisonbrown

Hey again LeBuick,
This forum is the way we get around having every one of our members subscribe to resource materials such as Consumer Reports and many, many repair manuals. We benefit from each others experiences and everyone gets to buy more beer. Cool !!

Sounds good to me, of course, today is wine day since the in laws are over. But notice where I am...