Tires

[Jeff]

I know this has been beaten to death but I find myself having to replace the
tires on my 2004 OBW and am actively considering either the Triple Tread by
Goodyear or the Michelin Hydro edge. I have two requests:

1) If anyone who lives in a similar climate (Minnesota) and uses either of
these tires would be willing to give me their opinion of them on snow I
would greatly appreciate it. I am especially concerned about the Triple
Tread and Turning on slow, I have heard the are susceptible to "plowing."

2) Are there any other tires I should be considering?

Thanks

Jeff
2004 OBW 35th Ann.

 

[Daya]

I just replaced my Geolander with Hydro Edge on my Forester here in Toronto.
I was considering both brands at the same time and eventually selected
Michelin. I was considering Triple Tread as I found good rating from
others and it is cheaper than Michelin. I never had Goodyear tires on my
cars before. So I believe I'd never go wrong with Michelin.

I found them pretty good on both wet and dry road. Definitely better than
Geolander on snow but I never actually try them on a parking lot. However, I
found the side wall is not that stiff compare to Geolander. I feel kind of
sponge when turning corners thus the handling is not that good.

 

[George Bame]

What pressure are you running the Hydroedges? I'm about to replace my
original Geolanders (2003 Forester) and the Hydroedge is the definite front
runner. With the Geolanders I found I had to crank them up to 33-34 psi to
get "non-spongy" handling.

TIA,

George Bame
Norfolk, VA

 

[H]

Data from Tirerack re: TripleTread (TT) vs HydroEdge (HE). Note that Triple
Treads beat the HydroEdge in EVERY CATEGORY. Note especially the difference
in Snow Traction! Also Cornering Stability. You can see the same survey
results at:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=AS

I can't imagine anybody choosing the HydroEdge over the TripleTreads. I've
driven them on my 04 Forester for two months and 5400km now. They are by far
the best all around tire I've driven. Pure winter tires will out corner and
stop them in the snow but then you'll be switching each season. IMO - Buy
the Triple Treads.

Would Buy again? TT - 8.9, HE - 8.6
Rank Within Category. TT -1, HE - 2
% vs best in category. TT - 100%, HE - 95%
Dry Traction. TT-9.4, HE-9.2
Wet Traction. TT-9.5, HE-9.4
Hydro Resistance. TT-9.5, HE-9.4
Snow Traction. TT-9.1, HE-7.6
Cornering Stability. TT-9.1, HE-8.8
Steering Response. TT-9.2, HE-8.9
Ride Comfort. TT-8.9, HE-8.6
Noise Comfort. TT-8.9, HE-8.1
Tread Wear. TT-9.2, HE-9.1

 

[John Rethorst]

I can't imagine anybody choosing the HydroEdge over the TripleTreads. I've
driven them on my 04 Forester for two months and 5400km now. They are by far
the best all around tire I've driven. Pure winter tires will out corner and
stop them in the snow but then you'll be switching each season. IMO - Buy
the Triple Treads.

Would Buy again? TT - 8.9, HE - 8.6
Rank Within Category. TT -1, HE - 2
% vs best in category. TT - 100%, HE - 95%
Dry Traction. TT-9.4, HE-9.2
Wet Traction. TT-9.5, HE-9.4
Hydro Resistance. TT-9.5, HE-9.4
Snow Traction. TT-9.1, HE-7.6
Cornering Stability. TT-9.1, HE-8.8
Steering Response. TT-9.2, HE-8.9
Ride Comfort. TT-8.9, HE-8.6
Noise Comfort. TT-8.9, HE-8.1
Tread Wear. TT-9.2, HE-9.1

I'm starting to look for tires, and these two seem the most interesting. The
Tirerack numbers are persuasive, but I also look at the UTQC:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=Goodyear&model=Assurance+TripleTred,
Goodyear's utqc is 740AB.

Per http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=Michelin&model=HydroEdge,
Michelin's utqc is 760AB for all sizes except 205/65TR16, which is 800AB.

All enlightenment welcome.

 

[El Williams]

I have posted this before, but it is worth repeating...

I have a 1997 Subaru Outback and went looking and researching for a tire
that would really deliver on it all, such as dry and wet braking and
handling, winter driving/traction and a quiet ride. Some leading
recommendations were Michelin HydroEdge, Toyo Spectrum, Goodyear Triple
Tread and BigO Euro Tour. I came close to getting the Michelin HydroEdge,
but the reviews were just too mixed. I read the design and logic behind the
Goodyear Triple Tread and talked to a number of tire shops. When I told
different tires shops what I was looking for, they kept recommending this
tire. Finally, I talked to a person at one tire shop that got a chance to
demo them and loved them. I decided to take the risk and be one of the first
to give the tire a try.

I have put 7,000 miles on them and can sum them up in one word: WOW! What a
difference. With my old tires, I had to turn up the stereo once I got on the
freeway. I don't even touch the dial now. You will not believe how quiet
these tires are. I used to think the reason I felt every crack in a road was
the Outback's stiffer suspension. The difference with these tires is
incredible. I took a tight circle freeway offramp with a 20 mph speed limit
at 40 mph and the car took the turn better than going 20 mph with the old
tires. Where I used to get a side lean in a corner, these tires hold solid
and make cornering effortless. I was driving one day down the freeway going
from dry road to heavy spring showers and could feel no difference - and the
traction was solid.

I have had them up in the mountains a number of times. I have tried these
tires in snow, ice and combo of slush and ice. I have been amazed how well
these tires griped in all these conditions. I have even been deep in the
mountains on logging roads and got a chance to really test these tires. I
was even more amazed that they did great there too.

 

[Daya]

38 psi as I carry a lot of stuffs (heavy load).

What pressure are you running the Hydroedges? I'm about to replace my
original Geolanders (2003 Forester) and the Hydroedge is the definite
front
runner. With the Geolanders I found I had to crank them up to 33-34 psi
to
get "non-spongy" handling.

TIA,

George Bame
Norfolk, VA

 

[Jeff]

I know this has been beaten to death but I find myself having to replace
the tires on my 2004 OBW and am actively considering either the Triple
Tread by Goodyear or the Michelin Hydro edge. I have two requests:

1) If anyone who lives in a similar climate (Minnesota) and uses either of
these tires would be willing to give me their opinion of them on snow I
would greatly appreciate it. I am especially concerned about the Triple
Tread and Turning on slow, I have heard the are susceptible to "plowing."

2) Are there any other tires I should be considering?

Thanks

Jeff
2004 OBW 35th Ann.

Thank you everyone for the valuable input.

 

[MJB]

In my area of CA, I could not get the Michelins because they did not make an
"H" rated version. Here, if a car comes with speed or temperature rated
tires, no reputable shop will install anything less. I went with the
Bridgestone RE950's. Great in both wet and dry.

Mark