Greetings all!
I am in need of tire recommendations for my wife's 2008 Sienna LE FWD. While we love the van, we are learning (as have many) that the Sienna has quite the appetite for tires. The van came with the Michelin Energy LX4, and I have not been terribly impressed with them. As a result, I'm looking for some alternatives.
It seems as though I just have to accept that no tire is likely to hit its rated mileage on a Sienna, but that's not going to keep me from trying!
My wife drives the van on city streets to and from work, just a few miles each day. I tend to drive a bit more on highways on weekends. It is our workhorse car for driving trips. Here in Oklahoma, we have hot summers, humid, warm, often rainy/stormy springs, and often icy winters - icy moreso than snowy (but we've had our share of snow the last couple of years!). Generally, however, we have one, maybe two industrial snowstorms per year.
My wife's driving style is very conservative and deliberate, and by comparison she makes me look like Mario Andretti.
We are likely to take a long driving trip sometime this summer, loaded up with passengers and cargo, and I think the relatively low rolling resistance of the Energy LX4's have at least been one asset for that tire in terms of gas mileage. I do not necessarily have to have a harder touring tire - a quiet ride is probably more important. The mileage issue is, in my view, probably the lone asset of the Energy's, as they've proven finicky and seemingly prone to irreparable damage. I now have two OEM tires, one replacement, and one off-brand replacement when no Energy's were available and I couldn't wait for one to be ordered - and now I have mismatched treads on one axle (grrr).
Anyway, I've read generally good things about Hankook Optimo H727, and the Michelin Harmony (as an upgrade from the Energy LX4). I've read generally *negative* things about Yokohama' AVID TRZ. I've read nothing but disdain for nearly anything Bridgestone/Firestone. I'm trying to temper those opinions with the fact that most tires just don't last as long on Sienna's in general.
Any recommendations and experience would be greatly welcomed and appreciated.
-SoonerDave
Reply 1 : Tire recommendation needed for 2008 Sienna FWD
Jeez you beat me here with the same question by just a few minutes! We have a 2008 Limited, came with a set of Bridgestone Turanza's which we got 42K out of. Looked long and hard at the Michelin HydroEdge, because of the excellent wet traction and long mileage. But, they are OOS at most online tire places, so I'm still looking.
Paul
Reply 2 : Tire recommendation needed for 2008 Sienna FWD
Well, Paul, I've continued to do a little research and thought I'd post a bit more information here.
I was becoming intrigued by the idea of a set of Michelin Harmony's, and then remembered that Sam's Club sells a private-label version of them under the Michelin Radial X name. What tripped the trigger for me was the fact that I bought a set of Radial X's for my 2004 Buick LeSabre about two years ago and I have been *very* impressed by them.
The Radial X is a higher load tire, going from a 96 to a 98, and bumps from an S-speed rating to a T-rating, which suggests a stronger sidewall over the OEM Energy LX4's. And the Harmony's have consistently good feedback among various reviews I"ve read.
So, I think its down between the Hankook Optimo H727 and the X, and with the $70 off promotion at Sam's, the X's are in the lead at the moment. I think I can get the X's for $114 each, with $70 off, plus $15/tire installation. That's $446 plus tax, meaning I could get a set for under $500 with road hazard included.
Strong, strong contender.
Reply 3 : Tire recommendation needed for 2008 Sienna FWD
Thanks, Dave. Trying to get the best tire for the money since funds are somewhat short right now. I spent a few minutes checking out the Radial X, like you said it seems to be available at Sam's, Costco and the like only. Tread pattern looks different from the Harmony, though.
Being in La., where we have no snow, a good rain tire with high mileage and decent road noise is what I'm after. I really wanted the HydroEdge, but it's not working out. People must be snapping them up with the rebate offer. My second choice was the Hankook Optimo H727 just based on Consumer Reports Best Buy tag.
So I'm looking at $147 each Radial X, at Sam's, plus tax and mounting, minus $70 instant rebate will make it $630ish. Trying to see how you got to the $446 plus tax figure. Unless we have different size tires, our XLE Limited takes 225/60R17's..
On the other hand, the Hankook Optimo H727 I can order from Tirerack for $547 shipped with tax, and have a guy here mount them for $40, still darn near $600.
Reply 4 : Tire recommendation needed for 2008 Sienna FWD
I put the Michelin X from Sams on my 2005 about a year and a half ago, my recollection is that the tire price included install, lifetime balance, rotation , road hazard, I paid $420 after rebate (I have business card - no upcharge) . These tires appear to be wearing less than the original Dunlops , have 18,000 on them now, we don't get much rain here but I would rate them as only average on wet pavement, important to me was noise and these are very quiet! Andy
Reply 5 : Tire recommendation needed for 2008 Sienna FWD
Paul,
My 2008 Sienna is an LE, and takes the 215/65R16 size tire. When I went to my local Sams Club website here in the OKC area, the Radial X came up @ $114 each for that size, plus $15 per tire for installation. Sooo, I figure the size difference may explain the cost delta....
Update;
Just to verify, I went back to the Sam's website, and the 215/65R16 tires are, indeed $114.86, so that's $459.44 for the set, less the $70 discount, plus $60 installation, so that 's $449.44 before local taxes. When I went back and changed the size to 225/60R17, sure enough, the price jumped up to $146.88/tire, so size was definitely the difference.
aanders, as far as the Radial X goes on wet pavement, I'd have to think they'd be no worse than the Energy LX4's I'm getting ready to retire!
No comments:
Post a Comment