Looking for replacement tires. I plan to replace original tire size (p215-55-16)with a P225-55-16. Looking at B.F.Goodrich, Dunlop, Goodyear,and possibly Bridgestone. Good all around tire with a better than 200 treadwear rating than original rubber.

 

Nitto NT-450. Great grip, quiet, excellent treadwear. Keep in mind
that there is no oversight board for the UTQG. Using the number
within brands will give you a better indication of it's relative wear
than comparing brand to brand. Why? Well, the tests are mandated by
the US Government but they are conducted by each manufacturer. The
variances in testing environments and externalities mean that you
will do better comparing within brand. Since there is no oversight
board (DOT just ensures they do the tests, record buyer information,
put the info on the sidewall...), there is a lot of room for fudging
numbers on the sidewall without much chance of any repurcussions. Or
you could just have different testing conditions (temperature, vehicle
weight, suspension, brakes, etc.) that yield different results from
brand to brand. However, the testing conditions within brand are
quite likely to be much more consistent.

My personal experience is that Nitto makes a great tire and you can
expect above average treadwear from them. I upped from NT-450 to
NT-555 when I got my OZ Superleggeras and I couldn't have been
happier. They're a tremendous value.

Nitto Tires

 

I was planning on the 225 also but its not going to give you the look that struts/springs with 18" rims is going to look. So instead I stuck with the spec tire size and tried to look for the best "all around" tire and ended up with the Dunlop SP Sport A2. I dont know what the actual treadwear rating is in relation to original.

Review from Tirerack

Free Shipping from Discount tire direct

 

I had the Michelin XGT V4's on mine originally, and they gave excellent grip, while remaining very quiet. I managed a 2.104 60' with them on at the strip, when the car was stock.

 

I had these on my POS 88 Dodge Shadow. They did have tenacious grip
even on that piece of junk. While it may have been more a function
of the suspension (stock except for KYBs at all 4 corners) I felt
they just broke loose without warning. The threshold of traction was
very high but once hit, they were done. I nearly bought them again
but the Nittos were a better deal and now that I have them I would
never go back.

 

Bridgestone, Michelins and Yokohamas are the best all around tires.

 

I am running 225/50/16 Sumitomo HTR+ on my SE rims. Ride well, grip well, and have a meaty width. THe height makes me look like a 4x4 @ stock height, but s would 215/55/16, so I don't worry about it.

I paid about $350 for them new @ sears w/ road hazard and a lifetime balance and rotation. THey matched the tirerack.com price.

 

I ran Michelin MXV4's in 215/55-16 and am now running Michelin XGT H4's in 225/55-16. I'd say they are very similar in that they are quiet tires with good tread wear. The 225/55 is the way to go if you want to reduce a bit of teh wheel well "gap" as well. I think next time I may have tried the Kumhos in 225/55 as the tire guys said they were great tires for the money.

Good luck!

 

No wonder you didn't buy my tires. Road hazard, lifetime balance and rotation is something I dont offer.

 

c'mon now, if you wanna get down to it life is just one big rip-off, eh? UTQG is there for a reason, it's relative. You think a Michelin with a 400 doesn't last twice as long as a Michelin with a 200, relatively speaking? Why don't they just give everything a treadwear of 440 then?

Do any of us really expect a treadwear of 360 to equate to some exact mileage? Of course not. Do we in general expect it to last twice as long as a tire with a treadwear of 180? Yes. Do you buy a tire with only a traction rating of A? Of course not, when AA is readily available for the same price.

When I buy an appliance, I look for Energy Star. It costs much more and you save less than $100 per year. But I don't get into saying does my fridge really use 504 kw/yr or not, and did the mfg. fudge the numbers. I just use it to compare relatively speaking.