Swap tires - Goodyear Eagle LS2s to Michelin Primacy MXM4s vs Conti PureContact

[pers69]

Looking at Michelin Primacy MXM4 Grand Touring All-Season vs Conti PureContact with EcoPlus Technology (Grand Touring All-Season) tires in place of the stock Goodyear Eagle LS2s.

 

Any opinions out there on these LRR Michelin or Conti tires?

 

Still torn on swapping the stock rims (have I mentioned yet how I dislike the busy starburst, bicycle wheel set?).

 

I can somewhat rationionalize the tires (they will pay for themselves!! [in, say, 20 years :-)], but not so much the rims.

 

Perhaps I can get ~ 1000 on eBay for the Ti stock set. Though, I fear, there may be a glut of such sets on offer across the interwebz soon.

 

Downside: cost (much more so for Michelin), hassle, +1lb per tire (Michelin).

 

Upside: tire rack survey data much better (for Michelin - Conti is apparently too new), actual LRR tires for my hybrid, better UTQG ratings, -1lb per tire (Continentals)

 

Recent testing of the two LRR tires: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=166

 

Leaning toward the Conti's given the $400 cheaper price, better warranty, higher UTQG rating, lighter weight and better wet handling (I live in Florida).

 

Thoughts? I appreciate any comments/contributions.

[acdii]

One other member on this forum has the Conti's and is getting good MPG. You wont recoup the cost of the Primacy though.

 

If you go with a rim set, you can get 17's and Michelin Energy Saver A/S which are the best LRR for the Hybrids. They gain as much as 3 MPG over the others. Those are lined up as my next set for my 2010.

 

As far as the LS-2, the verdict is still out on them, as I am seeing others with those tires achieving decent MPG returns. I gave it a lot of thought and decided it wont be worth the cost of replacing the tires, even for a 10 MPG return, wouldn't pay off before they wear out, but when the OE tires wear out, then its more cost effective.

[pers69]

Appreciate the thoughts, acdii. Hope you get your car back soon ... but not before they fix what sounds like the rich run issue with the ICE (or whatever is retarding your car's efficiency).

 

I haven't driven the Goodyears but what I have read of them online isn't terribly complimentary.

[acdii]

They handle well in snow and rain and give the car a nice stable ride, so not sure what the negatives are yet. According to Goodyear, they are LRR tires. Time will tell.

 

 

I got blocked from posting comments on the Ford Fusion FB page, I guess I hit a nerve, or was having an affect.

[pers69]

My guess is that with the CR/EPA issue out there it was the former.

 

Yea - think I caught one of those FB comments.

Edited January 4, 2013 by pers69

[acdii]

I wasn't being rude or anything, just telling the truth and presenting facts so others can be aware of the Hybrid issue. It was more to get CS involved than anything, but then they ticked me off telling me the car is fine, when I know it isn't.

[pers69]

No, not rude. Just frustrated - well within your rights given your experience with the '10 and the avail '13 press.

[GrySql]

I haven't driven the Goodyears but what I have read of them online isn't terribly complimentary.

My '13 FFH came with Goodtear LS2's and the cars handling felt spongy at first.

I checked the tire pressure and they were all different and below 34psi.

While doing that I noticed these are 51psi tires and filled them all to 44psi.

I like the ride and handling much better now, in the rain they seem decent. I'll check pressure every month to see how things are holding.

 

TireRack has a lot of test info on the overall MPG effect of LRR tires.

My take from reading some of it made me decide to just wear these out and get a better tire at that time.

[acdii]

So far from what other owners are reporting, these tires have little impact on MPG, so it does appear they do have low rolling resistance as claimed by Goodyear. That is a relief to me, and considering the fouled plugs, pretty much confirms it was not the tires giving me poor MPG.

[CrawDaddy]

I haven't driven the Goodyears.

[acdii]

I have to admit, the LS2 tires are pretty darn good. They handle well, and snow and ice traction has been very good. It was icy today and the car handled very well. It slid a bit but with careful manipulation it still had enough traction to keep from going off the road.

[SalvadorAssumpcao]

I have to admit, the LS2 tires are pretty darn good. They handle well, and snow and ice traction has been very good. It was icy today and the car handled very well. It slid a bit but with careful manipulation it still had enough traction to keep from going off the road.

I agree. They have been a pleasant surprise, after what I read in the forums while I waited for the car.

 

No ice/snow here, but lots of rain. The '13 FFH handles substantially better/tighter than the '11 FFH in those (and any) conditions.

With the '11 FFH, I actually avoided going out in snow/ice if I could (easy to be picky when it snows 0-2 times a year).

I haven't yet driven the '13 FFH in ice/snow, but I am sure it will be much better.

 

I think a fair amount of it are tires - the '13 FFH I test drove had the regular 17" wheels/tires and I remember thinking handling wasn't at all different than the '11 FFH.

 

I am happy with the decision of ordering the luxury wheels. I bought it for the looks, apparently got improved handling in the process.

Sure, maybe there is some mpg penalty.

But my mpg is fine as it is (and for me better than the '11 FFH).

 

[acdii]

I will gladly trade a 1-2 MPG penalty for handling, and giving it serious consideration as the next tire on my 10 FFH.