What tires for a DD?

Car in question is 2006 Acura TSX. Stock tire size is 215/50/17, but I think 225/45/17 was an option as well. We could also consider 16's, but would prefer to avoid it unless we can find cheap, good looking wheels since our snows are frankly butt ugly steel wheels.

We're concerned about the following, in this order:
Comfort: The most pillow-like ride is desired. Anything that can mask the bumps and potholes is what we want.
Noise: Hand in hand with the comfort
Price/longevity: Obviously these two go hand in hand
Emergency wet/dry stopping: Cause yeah.

What we're not concerned with:
Performance (although it would be nice if I could autocross it, I don't care)
Brand, as long as it isn't cheap 3rd world special

mtn wrote: Emergency wet/dry stopping. Performance

In my mind, those tend to go hand-in-hand.

I'd maintain the higher aspect ratio if comfort is at the top of your list, though 50 to 45 isn't huge.

Looking for all-seasons or summer only rubber?

215/50 wsa the only size offered by Honda for that car. It's a 17x7" wheel, so the 225 will be a bit pinched on them.

I'd run either the Kumho TA71 (replaement for the really good Platinum LX) or the PA31 that I have of the Forte.

But honestly, if it were my car I'd push for a set of Michelins. They were really the best on those. Sold thousands of tires for them over the years and the only tires we never received a complaint about were the michelins.

Toyo RA1's or 888's nop I am totally Kidding. On my two road cars I run Michelin Defender's and I am very happy with them, and Toyo proxes but I ouwld have to go out and check exactly which ones they are. I am very happy with both for the above reasons ie. potholes and noise.

We've been running Nitto Motivos on the wife's maz6 for about 6 months. Really impressed so far - good quiet ride, good grip, long wear rating, and low price. They're an AS not a summer tire FWIW.

I put Continental DWSs on my wife's 2004 TSX. I love them without reservation on this car. Quiet, good ride AND handling for a touring tire, and they handle rain and even mid-Atlantic snow like crazy. Some people talk about "no season" tires, but the DWS is about the best all-rounder I've ever driven.

Plus, at 6 years and 30,000 miles, they're aging out, but not wearing out. I'll definitely be replacing them with the same thing.

Duke wrote: I put Continental DWSs on my wife's 2004 TSX. I love them without reservation on this car. Quiet, good ride AND handling for a touring tire, and they handle rain and even mid-Atlantic snow like crazy. Some people talk about "no season" tires, but the DWS is about the best all-rounder I've ever driven. Plus, at 6 years and 30,000 miles, they're aging out, but not wearing out. I'll definitely be replacing them with the same thing.

We sold a bunch of those too, but started getting complaints of high road noise as they wore down. Most were over 35k that we were hearing complaints about.

Bobzilla wrote: But honestly, if it were my car I'd push for a set of Michelins. They were really the best on those. Sold thousands of tires for them over the years and the only tires we never received a complaint about were the michelins.

Any particular model?

I recommend Michelins also. If cheaper is important, I've had excellent luck with the last several sets of Continentals/Generals, especially in light of the price.

mtn wrote:

Bobzilla wrote: But honestly, if it were my car I'd push for a set of Michelins. They were really the best on those. Sold thousands of tires for them over the years and the only tires we never received a complaint about were the michelins.

Any particular model?

It was the model that replacedthe MXV4 michelin. Premiere A/S maybe?

I second conti dws if you can float them, they are a bit pricy. We put a set on my girlfriends honda, they have great wet and dry traction, soft sidewalls for comfort but not too soft to not be able to have some fun. Cant say much for snow (i know thats what the s stands for) we have only had one snow (2in, yeah it doesnt snow much in the deep south) but i wasnt as impressed with their snow capability as I thought i would be when the time actually came. But better than the dryrotted crap in the snow thats for sure.

Kumho TA71

Nokian WRG3

Cooper CS5

I've had good luck with Maxxis and Sumitomos.

Stuck the Cooper CS5 Ultras on my car after a few recommendations here, and reading some other reviews. Tire store guy wanted to sell me the Toruing, they have 10K more mile warranty, but I wanted the Ultras because, reasons.

Anywho, the CS5 Touring might be worth giving a shot.

The CS5 Ultras made mine drive like a new car, but in all fairness, compared to what I was replacing, just about anything round, that balanced, and didn't have wire sticking out would have been an improvement.

BFG Comp-2 A/S. I run them on SWMBO's Focus. Super-crisp handling wothout being harsh, astonishing wet grip; better than the Conti DWS and a good bit less $$$.

WildScotsRacing wrote: BFG Comp-2 A/S. I run them on SWMBO's Focus. Super-crisp handling wothout being harsh, astonishing wet grip; better than the Conti DWS and a good bit less $$$.

Not meant as harassment, but you like better than Conti DWS? Those (DWS) are currently the best all-around tars I've driven. Been really happy with them on our 350z that is purely driven as a street vehicle.

Bobzilla wrote: 215/50 wsa the only size offered by Honda for that car. It's a 17x7" wheel, so the 225 will be a bit pinched on them. I'd run either the Kumho TA71 (replaement for the really good Platinum LX) or the PA31 that I have of the Forte. But honestly, if it were my car I'd push for a set of Michelins. They were really the best on those. Sold thousands of tires for them over the years and the only tires we never received a complaint about were the michelins.

Here's another vote for the Kumho Ecsta PA31's. They're fantastic for the price. Mine arrived via free 2-day shipping via Amazon prime.

Coming from a set of Kumho Ecsta PA31's right now at the end of their life. I got about 35k out of them on my Mazda 3 in a 205-50-17. They were decent tires at first, but they did get noisy after a while. Also, not sure if it's the tire or the car, but they wore unevenly. They are so bad that they shake pretty bad at highway speeds. They were pretty cheap at the time, but have gotten more expensive since I bought them.

I have a set of Nitto Motivos waiting to get mounted. They have gotten decent reviews and were cheap. I went +1 size this time around (225-45-17) so that should be interesting...

In the past, my favorite all-around tire was the Continental Extreme Contact DWS. I had a set on my WRX and they were fantastic. They handled well in all types of weather, and they wore like iron. They are not cheap though.

secretariata wrote:

WildScotsRacing wrote: BFG Comp-2 A/S. I run them on SWMBO's Focus. Super-crisp handling wothout being harsh, astonishing wet grip; better than the Conti DWS and a good bit less $$$.

Not meant as harassment, but you like better than Conti DWS? Those (DWS) are currently the best all-around tars I've driven. Been really happy with them on our 350z that is purely driven as a street vehicle.

I do, actually. SWMBO's Focus had a set DWS when we got it, two year old tires with about 6/32 remaining. They were pretty good in the wet, but just meh in the dry. The new DWS-06 is supposed to have sharper steering response from a stiffened sidewall, but all the reviews still rate the Comp-2 A/S as better at everything except snow (and they are still extremely impressive in snow). And I have to concur. Dry and wet traction and hydroplaning resistance are the best I have ever had from an all-season, ever. And the steering response is just fabulous. In warmer weather they are still not as sticky as the Sport Comp-2s I have on the NB Miata and Escort Sedan, but they have 90% of it and ALL of the hydroplaning resistence.