Tire decision question :

[Spike]

Need to get a set of 4 -

It seems the OEM tire has been discontinued, and the replacement model has both gone up in price (180ish per) and down in handling quality (according to tire rack's testing)
... I was never thrilled with the Duelers anyway (even though Etlsprt and I were surprised how well we did crawling around Rausch Creek 4x4 park a couple years ago on the stock treads.)

Anyway, I decided that am up-sizing; and I am just about convinced that I am going to go along with the trend here - 285/60 18.

I had a short list but already dumped a few (i.e. Geolander for wear, and Terra Grappler's for cost) and narrowed down to two:

Cooper Zeon LTZ - $135 ea
Fuzion XTi - $118 ea

In the 6.5 years I had my VX, I only truly went off-roading once.
So anything equal to or slightly better than the OEM Bridgestones is sufficient

I am mostly concerned about rain traction; and being near Philadelphia, the occasional heavy snow.

The Coopers look incredible! But how are they in rain? How well do they wear on dry highway? How well do they corner? www.offroaders.com gives them an 9.0 out of 10.

The Fuzion tires are a bit more affordable. And being that they are made by Bridgestone, I expect them to be at least similar and probably better than the OEM. They appear a bit more 'street' friendly by description, but are still considered all terrain/off road by the manufacturer. Tire rack's ratings puts them as 6th out of 21 tires, with a 9.0 rating out of 10 for 'people would buy them again', and 96% ranking against their #1 tire i the class

Any thoughts?

[handeeman]

Spike, I can't help ya, but I know some our resident tire experts will reply as they get on-line.

[VX KAT]

I've had the Cooper Zeon LTZs 285/60-18s on stock/OEM rims, on my stock non-lifted or altered VX for about 2 months now. (You've probably seen my thread on them with lots of pics). I think I'm the only VXer on here to have these so far.
~Haven't been in a torrential rainstorm with them, just a rather heavy one and a lot of mud on my "dirt" road after the Arizona Monsoon rains this summer.
~Did great in/through the mud/muck puddles.
~they have extra siping on the lowest part of tire (recessed part) for extra traction as the tire torques a bit under load, supposed to give more traction.
(there's a pic in my gallery)
~Seem to have low/very good highway noise (but I'm told by pbkid that changes as any A/T tire wears down).
~'Course I put a roof rack on with a fairing shortly after I got these, and that makes noise so I probably can't hear the tires even if they did make some noise.
~even with the fairing, I don't have much noise at all
~they drive really smooth on pavement, much smoother than I expected based on aggressive tread pattern
~Haven't had them long enough to comment on treadlife or wear.
~They have pretty square shoulders and lots of siping and they do handle well in corners.
~They definitely give a beefier/wider look to the VX in this size, they fill up the wheel well much better
~only required a small triangle shape trim off front outer part of cladding.

I'm very pleased with them so far.

Here's the 2 threads so you can see what they look like on a stock VX....and yer killin' me as I paid about $170 each after much searching!

http://vehicross.info/forums/showthr...ooper+zeon+ltz

http://vehicross.info/forums/showthr...ooper+zeon+ltz

[Spike]

Spike, I can't help ya, but I know some our resident tire experts will reply as they get on-line.

Thanks, I was thinking once this thread was spotted it would start to roll...
I just haven't posted in a very long while.

Anyway, If you are referring to Etlsport as one of the experts ... Eric and I hang out a lot, but he doesn't have any experience with either of those two specific models

So I guess I am mostly asking people who have/had either of them and can answer by experience

[Spike]

Here's the 2 threads so you can see what they look like on a stock VX....and yer killin' me as I paid about $170 each after much searching!

http://vehicross.info/forums/showthr...ooper+zeon+ltz

http://vehicross.info/forums/showthr...ooper+zeon+ltz

Actually Kat, your pics is what got me interested in those wheels in the first place. I hadn't shopped around other than 'tire rack' and 'discount tires direct' (and Sears since Etlsport works there) until your post.

Don't be ticked about the cost - that was the each price before shipping ... so it will be $20 more per.

[Riff Raff]

SPIKE--- In consideraton of the parameters you indicated, I highly recommend the following tire:

"FIERCE ST" in 285/60R18 (31.3" O.D./40 lbs) which sells for only $82.25 each (yes, Eighty-Two dollars and Twenty-Five cents) at www.OnlineTires.com. The Fierce ST is an exact "clone" to the much more expensive Toyo - Proxes S/T II.

Check-out the factory website at www.FierceTires.com. You can read recent customer outstanding reviews of this specific tire at www.Treadepot.com.

The Cooper - Zeon "LTZ" (31.3" O.D./49 lbs); like on VX-KAT is an awesome tire, but may be a bit "overkill" based upon your driving style and very limited off-road excursions.

If you still prefer a true A/T tire like the "LTZ", then please also consider the PRO-COMP - All Terrain in 285/60R18 (31.3" O.D./43 lbs). The Pro-Comp A/T is Snowflake/Mountain rated, has a 50K mileage warranty and is currently on sale at www.4WheelParts.com for a "Buy 3, Get The 4th Free" tire special. Check with fellow VX member "BoarderCross2000" who just installed a set on his VX from this exact sale offer.

Above all; check-out the "FIERCE S/T" in 285/60R18, as it just might meet all of your requirements at a super awesome price!!!

[VX KAT]

"FIERCE ST" in 285/60R18 (31.3" O.D./40 lbs) which sells for only $82.25 each (yes, Eighty-Two dollars and Twenty-Five cents) at www.OnlineTires.com. The Fierce ST is an exact "clone" to the much more expensive Toyo - Proxes S/T II.
Above all; check-out the "FIERCE S/T" in 285/60R18, as it just might meet all of your requirements at a super awesome price!!!

That Fierce ST is a nice lookin' street tire!

[Spike]

Pro-comp are almost 250 ea, even with 3 + 1 free, its too expensive for the crappy budget I have at the moment.

Tread on the Fierce ST is definitely very cool, almost in a Klingon kind of way ... Not sure how they would do in snow ... But also they are a bit 'too street' for me. That's what I have my tweaked GTP for (daily driver / or when I want to go loud and fast)

The VX, I use mostly evenings and weekends, car shows, or in real bad weather. But the wheels definitely need to be more aggressive and let people know "This NOT a Rav 4 or Santa Fe - so don't go looking at me like that, you freak!"

She gets driven at least once or twice a week. But overall, I do less than 5000 miles a year on the VX since I got the Grand Prix Two yrs ago. So any tire I get should last me a good long while! but I don't want to go replacing them at 25,000 miles either. (even if that does take me 5 yrs!)

Thanks for those 2 suggestions though!

So I am still looking between the Zeon and Fuzion STi at this point.

[Riff Raff]

Thanks for those 2 suggestions though!

So I am still looking between the Zeon and Fuzion STi at this point.

SPIKE--- No, problem. Based upon your posting update; and your wallet limitations, I'd say go with the COOPER - ZEON "LTZ" (like VX-KAT). Just make damn sure when you order them to be very specific about requesting the "LTZ" model designation. Because there are multiple ZEON versions within the COOPER brand line-up, and it's very easy to mis-order the wrong tire. Thus; look up the specific part number at the Cooper website, and verify it on the order form when placing your order.

[Spike]

http://www.tireteam.com/Tires/Cooper...tml?&ref=GBASE

$133 x4 + 80 shipping

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

$118 x4 + $75 shipping

[Riff Raff]

http://www.tireteam.com/Tires/Cooper...tml?&ref=GBASE

$133 x4 + 80 shipping

SPIKE--- According to the batteries in my calculator, your grand total for the Cooper - Zeon "LTZ" delivered is: $612.00

Well; check-out the website of www.Treadepot.com, which has the "LTZ" for only $120.00 x 4, + $103.00 shipping to your zip code of 19073. That equals a grand total of only $583.00 versus your quote of $612.00 (a difference of $29.00).

Just make sure you shop around before you place an order.

[circmand]

Spike, I can't help ya, but I know some our resident tire experts will reply as they get on-line.

Dear Handeeman I am sure Spike appreciates the post it includes so much helpful info HAHA

As no one else has posted THE SEARCH ENGINE IS YOUR FRIEND

Why is it everytime someone needs or wants to buy tires they feel the need to start a whole new thread, I bet there are dozens of tire threads by now with all the info you need with none of the waiting for someone to post. Starting a new thread just requires the need for the same info to be posted again and again.

[vt_maverick]

I bet there are dozens of tire threads by now

Which is why searching takes forever...

[Spike]

By the way - and just an FYI - I DID use the search engine

... But there wasn't a single VX owner who has treferenced the Fuzion XTi ... at least no one who may own them has posted that they do in fact own them.

Yet TireRack.com ranks them quite highly ... (I guess highly among non-VX owners)

Ford and Toyota owners have referenced them on their forums ... but that doesnt nescessarily apply to a VehiCross, does it?

If it is frowned upon to ask a valid question, what is the point of my belonging to a forum that I like to visit on and off for the past 7 years?

Yes, there ARE a lot of tire posts ...
Some people may ask questions about tires, some people like to post pictures of their new treads ... My point is, we all have different questions, opinions, points of view, needs, wants, thoughts. That is what a forum is all about. It is free form. Unless someone wants to poll through all the various bits of data, discard the outdated items, compile relevant topics and create a master database, this is how it is going to be. It is a little too late to worry about the structure of the forum/search engine/database now.

Prices change, new products come and go ... etc

and with that said ... does ANYONE know ANYTHING about the Fuzion XTi ? (Bridgestone)

[VX KAT]

Spike- Let me know if you want any specific pics or anything of the LTZs that would help you make decision...happy to take more & post.