LRR tires 18"

[Darkside]

So has anyone swapped out their 18' Goodyear (non-low rolling resistance) tires for 18' LRR tires? I see tire rack has a few to choose from. I have read others saying mpg increases because of the 17' LRR tires, so wondering if anyone has installed 18' LRR's?

 

Thanks in advance

[hybridbear]

I'm moving the topic to the "wheels & tires" section of the forum.

[acdii]

Continental Pure Contacts are supposed to be good tires. A few here have already put them on, and have favorable comments. From reviews they also have good traction in snow, so a set will be going on mine, SOON!

 

Just for kicks, I checked Walmart, $179 Each compared to Tire Rack at $160 each plus shipping.

Edited September 8, 2014 by acdii

[GrySql]

I just bought the Continental tires and like them, so far they handle well.

The tread design has a very interesting layout, as far as snow traction I don't know.

I can comment about rain/wet traction though, yesterday we were in a severe cloudburst of rain on a busy multi-lane highway, 20' visibility and inches of water on the road in places, no problems encountered.

(We are in a drought here in CA so the rain was followed 10 miles down the road by a dust storm, crazy.)

 

That is a good price at Walmart. My total for the tires/shipping/taxes/disposal fee and install was about $775.

 

I haven't noticed any mpg differences yet. It's very hot here (between monsoons) so the A/C is always on.

Edited September 8, 2014 by GrySql

[acdii]

$804+tax installed with Road Hazard and lifetime rotate and balance. Take away the road hazard and its $764 +tax

[GrySql]

More info regarding traction in different weather conditions. These Conti's have wear indicators, see below for their statement.

 

PureContact with EcoPlus Technology’s tread pattern features Tuned Performance Indicators — visible letters molded into the outboard shoulder to alert drivers of the tire's potential performance in various weather conditions. A visible "DWS" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry conditions, as well as wet roads and light snow. After the "S" has worn away, the remaining "DW" indicates the tire only has sufficient tread depth for dry and most wet road conditions. And after the "W" and "S" have both worn away, the remaining "D" indicates the tire has appropriate tread depth for dry conditions only.

 

[corncobs]

That's a very cool concept.

[darrelld]

I swapped for the PureContact but its too early to draw any conclusions. I had the PureContact on my previous Passat TDI and they performed well, noticed about a 1-2 mpg increase in the TDI after a few thousand miles. The handling and turn-in response of the PureContact is very good.

[acdii]

Sounds like Continental tires are pretty good, noticed others talking about not these tires, but other models for the Flex that have good traction and ride, their only complaint was a slight loss of handling due to softer sidewalls. Michelin has always been known to be good, though we did have some on a Honda that were horrible in rain. For me, traction is #1 in all weather, ride, noise and handling come second. From all the reviews on these tires, they fit the bill perfectly.

[gkinla]

I just swapped out my Goodyear Eagle LS2's, 235/45R18, for the Conti PureContact, EcoPlus tires. The LS2's were done in 20,000 miles. It's amazing how we let poor handling and bad ride creep up on us. These Conti's handle great, ride quiet. There were probably several thousand miles or more left but I was done with poor handling, unsure tracking. The tires seemed to have a mind of their own on the freeway. Hard to describe but now that the Conti's have been installed, all the unsure handling feeling has gone away, replaced by a rock solid feeling.

[GrySql]

I kept my GY LS2's at 42psi, maybe that was a reason they lasted as long as they did. I didn't like the squirmy handling at lower pressure.

I have the Conti's at 40psi but might try a lower setting just for comparison. I put 200 miles on them today and as mentioned, solid as a rock.

[darrelld]

I kept my GY LS2's at 42psi, maybe that was a reason they lasted as long as they did. I didn't like the squirmy handling at lower pressure.

I have the Conti's at 40psi but might try a lower setting just for comparison. I put 200 miles on them today and as mentioned, solid as a rock.

 

The Contis have stiffer sidewalls which gives them the excellent turn-in response and a stiffer ride. I run mine at 37lbs.

[acdii]

I feel lucky then getting 31K out of mine so far, but they are done. It is raining fairly good today, and wet traction SUCKS! Car is all over the road when wet, and thumping noises when dry.

[darrelld]

I feel lucky then getting 31K out of mine so far, but they are done. It is raining fairly good today, and wet traction SUCKS! Car is all over the road when wet, and thumping noises when dry.

 

The wet traction with the Contis are excellent at least as good or better than the Michelin MXM4s I had on my Passat TDI. The Tire Rack tests for the Contis are excellent.

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=171

[Darkside]

Keep us informed on the MPG status please?

[Hybrider]

... For me, traction is #1 in all weather, ride, noise and handling come second. From all the reviews on these tires, they fit the bill perfectly.

 

For me, it is all about the MPGs now.............

 

Edit: This is not really completely true, seeing as how I have the 5-spoke wheels with the 18" LS2s, and forever, 18" tires I will have on my FFH.

Edited September 12, 2014 by Hybrider

[GrySql]

Keep us informed on the MPG status please?

This is the 1,000 mile update on the 18" Conti PureContact EcoPlus LRR tires.

These tires are said to require a few hundred miles to 'break-in' and I believe it, my mileage went down 2-3 mpg's at first as the tread wore in.

Now, at just over 1k miles the mpg's are back and are even or better than the GY Eagle LS2's I took off.

I get some real nice numbers depending on conditions but 47+ mpg's is often seen on various trips.

My current tank is at 42mpg's but that included some 75mph highway (and one drag race with a irksome Mini-Cooper, I won :) ).

 

During this time I have really liked the handling, road bump/tar strip control, general silence and cornering - these are nice tires and an upgrade from the OEM LS2's.

Their wear rating is much higher that the LS2's as well, so I am expecting a long tire life I have retained the 40 psi settings and have grown used to the ride, my wife is happy too.

I'm hoping for better mpg's in future.

[Texasota]

Their wear rating is much higher that the LS2's as well, so I am expecting a long tire life.

GrySql, to achieve this longer tire life you should probably restrict yourself to only one or two Mini Cooper drag races per month. ;)

[Griswald]

GrySql, to achieve this longer tire life you should probably restrict yourself to only one or two Mini Cooper drag races per month. ;)

Heck, they are small, you could easily handle 4.

[GrySql]

GrySql, to achieve this longer tire life you should probably restrict yourself to only one or two Mini Cooper drag races per month. ;)

Will do... maybe. :)

 

Heck, they are small, you could easily handle 4.

I rationalize this behavior by knowing I'm getting better mpg's than the Mini-Cooper! :hi5:

[acdii]

Going to get the Conti's next week, 808 mounted, balance and road hazard

[tr7driver]

Do the Conti's have the wide rubber ring that protects the wheel from curb rash like the OEM LR?

[GrySql]

The Conti's curb guard is smaller than the LS2's I think, but still seems protective.

 

[acdii]

Whats thing curb thing y'all talk about?

[GrySql]

I should have used the term 'rim guard' because a curb guard is is a band of thick rubber that juts out from the sidewall of a tire to protect it from damage in the instance of the tire hitting or rubbing up against the curb.

This explains the differences:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=149&