Tire Recommendations

[HBomb1114]

My Vehicle is a 1995 Grand Am SE Performance Package, which mean it has 16 inch tires on it compared to the regular 14 inch tires. What's the best place for the best tires and installation for your money at? If anyone is near Memphis, that would help a great deal, as I'm new to the area.

[Knifeblade]

Well, first, what is the general driving you intend to do? Performance [Z-rated], an all-season, a rain-tire? A general tire for every-day commute?

[HBomb1114]

Any and all really. I'm going back to college this fall, so there will be some back and forth driving (under 15 miles a trip). I've done some checking, and yeah, 16 inch tires seem to not be cheap.

[Knifeblade]

Ayep, 16's fall into premuim $$$$, sigh. Check the yellow pages for like Discount Tire, Pep Boys, one of the tire-chains. Surf the yellow pages for the local boneyards, too, ya can, with careful looking usually find a set for much off the retail$$ the chains ask, but fair warn, it buyer beware off a boneyard. I would expect around 3-4 bills all around for a good, but not premium set.

[shyguy5885]

You said it about the tires not being cheap. I replaced mine (225/50R16) with the cheapest I could get, which was like $105 per tire, Road Hugger. I wouldn't go with the same ones in the future cuz these make noise on the highway and kinda shake, kinda scary on the highway. I'll try a better known brand in the future, but hopefully I wont have to go with the expensive Eagle RSA's. And it's pretty hard to get a tire that's good for everything you listed. I just try to stick with an all-season one since I can't be speeding and racing around anymore. SR-22's suck man!

[Knifeblade]

I with shy, get an all-season, then, so many decent brands to choose from, hard to point one out, so if the $$ is a hassle, stay with Bridgestone, or pennsylvania, they medium-range tires.

[Hoags]

HBomb,
For what it is worth, I have been getting my tires at Sears Automotive Center for the last few years. I go there because they do carry brand names, I can usually get a 16" tire for my 96 Grand Am GT at a good SALE price, I always purchase the road hazard protection, I have used the road hazard several times for about $10.00 extra per tire, I or my wife have hit pot holes ( living in western PA, we have pot holes like Calif. has Sunshine), we have damaged tires, I take the car back to Sears and they prorate the tire and I just have to pay the prorated amount for something that was my fault. It can pay for itself in one shot sometimes. Another good thing about getting the tires at Sears is that I can go yo any Sears across the country and get a tire taken care of, Sears also offers FREE tire rotation every 5,000 miles.

You can take this info for what ever it's worth.

Good luck at school,

[somethingkat]

Yes they are expensive, I always bought Vipers from Sears, but a 15,000 mile warranty and 450.00, that's horrible. My last set I bought online from the Tire Rack, brand new,shipping was reasonable, all said and done 325.00 plus a 35,000 mile warrnaty. Check them out, they offer any type of tire you want from cheap to the most expensive.

[skibum1111]

try, of all places, walmart. i did mine online, had them shipped there, installed with warranty free rotation free lifetime balancing, free flat repair, for $370... bfgoodrich excentia gth handles really nice around 100mph, good in wet, not sure about snow as i run snow tires in the winter... something about 16" low profile tires on a car that sits 4" off the ground and more than 6" snowfall at a time....

[JonJailer]

I've got BF Goodrich Traction T/As . Wow. Well balanced, no shimmy, no shake up to and beyond 100 mph

[muzzy1maniac]

Take a look at Goodyear Assurance - they have a performance version too but I for get the tag. I have them on my Subaru and they are unreal - great traction wet or dry, great handling and a great ride. I'm going to say they are tops when it comes to winter too but the great tires and the AWD combo are the reason. I get them for $115-125 and they have 80,000 mile warranties. Try to get that from a performance tire.

[muzzy1maniac]

Oh, and a good place to check out tires and customer ratings is Tirerack.com

[skibum1111]

Personally, my favorite was the bfgoodrich gforce ta kdw couldn't get that tire to slide at all, but they are expensive, around $150 each, and they are HORRIBLE in the snow. good luck

[CaporalQc]

I got Yokohama ES-100 on mine...a lot of grip a little bit expensive but for me a very good buy

[psychobuff]

I would recommend, using Tires Plus if theres one by you. They usually have good deals.

As for tires, I own a 01 grand am gt and recently got a set of Yokohama Avid V4s for about $92 per tire. These tires are great. Check tirerack.com and see the reviews they got there. Much better than the stock goodyear rs-a. Handles well in wet/snow and excellent on dry pavement and quiet too. I've put about 10000 miles on them and they look pretty new still. Most i've taken them to was 110mph on the highway and they handled perfectly but i was only driving straight. No wobbling or uneasy feeling. My 2 cents.