LRR tires "Green Seal" Report March '03

[cems70]

Carlos,

You may also consider the Sumitomo HTR T4:

http://www.sumitomotire.com/catalogs...at_Rev5.05.pdf

Both sizes 195/65/15 and 195/70/14 are also 18 lbs, 51 psi, and was rated excellent in a Consumer Reports test for low rolling resistance. See here:

http://www.wsj.consumerreports.org/wsjreport140a.html

Why do you want to move up one size larger than stock?

Steve

[omgwtfbyobbq]

That CA paper was a pretty sweet find Carlos, thanks! If a tire can gain a mpg per 10psi highway, I wonder what impact under or over inflation has on street? Could be as much as 15-20%...

[cfg83]

Steve -

Originally Posted by cems70

Carlos,

You may also consider the Sumitomo HTR T4:

http://www.sumitomotire.com/catalogs...at_Rev5.05.pdf

Both sizes 195/65/15 and 195/70/14 are also 18 lbs, 51 psi, and was rated excellent in a Consumer Reports test for low rolling resistance. See here:

http://www.wsj.consumerreports.org/wsjreport140a.html

Thanks, I missed that one. I did some more homework on TireRack and they don't offer the T4, only the H4.

Why do you want to move up one size larger than stock?

Steve

On the theory that a larger tire will simulate taller gearing. Lower revs per mile implies the engine does less work to go the same distance (Caveat: being higher off the ground could hurt your Cd). If you up the tire size, you have to adjust your ScanGauge data to display the correct MPG.

But it doesn't look like the revs will be too much different at just one size up. Here's my current breakdown (based on TireRack info) :

1999 Saturn SW2 OEM Tire :
Firestone Affinity Touring -
195/65 TR15 : 35 PSI Max : 18 lbs : 24.5" diameter : 846 revs per mile

Current (pre GasSavers awareness) tire :
Goodyear Eagle GT-HR -
195/60 HR15 : 44 PSI Max : 20 lbs : 24.2" diameter : 863 revs per mile

Replacement Candidates :
Continental ContiProContact -
195/65 HR15 : 51 PSI Max : 18 lbs : 25.0" diameter : 835 revs per mile

Sumitomo HTR T4 -
195/65R15 : 51 PSI Max : 18 lbs : 25.0" diameter : 846 revs per mile

..... but .... the revs/mile could be an anomaly of the way the manufacturer calculates their revs (or a typo).

If I could fit 205's in my wheel well for even lower revs, the weight would go to 21 lbs, .


CarloSW2

[cems70]

Carlos,

Yes, I noticed the revs per mile weren't much different which made me wonder why you wanted to move up one size.

Others have posted their experience w/ larger size tires and reported the car is much slower. I've heard the explanation about lower revs, but it still doesn't make sense to me. If it were such an easy way to get better FE, why don't the car manufacturers do this themselves? At some point there must be a penalty for the larger size tire (beyond the car being taller and less aerodynamic).

FYI, I know tirerack doesn't carry the Sumitomo HTR T4. But a number of local tire dealers in my area who carry Sumitomo carry the T4. You may want to check your local dealers. I'm itching for a set for my '95 Civic DX that I just bought, but the car came w/ brand new Firestones (rolling resistance is terrible). So I'm debating if it's worth buying 4 new tires.

Steve

[cfg83]

cems70 -

Originally Posted by cems70

Carlos,

Yes, I noticed the revs per mile weren't much different which made me wonder why you wanted to move up one size.

Yeah, I don't really have a good answer, the revs are so close. I guess I would have to take the Spinal Tap defense, "but ... it goes to eleven.".

Now, 18 lb 205's or sub-18 lb 185's might be something to look for.

Others have posted their experience w/ larger size tires and reported the car is much slower. I've heard the explanation about lower revs, but it still doesn't make sense to me. If it were such an easy way to get better FE, why don't the car manufacturers do this themselves? At some point there must be a penalty for the larger size tire (beyond the car being taller and less aerodynamic).

FYI, I know tirerack doesn't carry the Sumitomo HTR T4. But a number of local tire dealers in my area who carry Sumitomo carry the T4. You may want to check your local dealers. I'm itching for a set for my '95 Civic DX that I just bought, but the car came w/ brand new Firestones (rolling resistance is terrible). So I'm debating if it's worth buying 4 new tires.

Steve

I am using Tire Rack for mostly research (sorry Matt!). I have had a good experience with Just Tires, so I am giving them dibs on my next purchase. They would have to order them, but if they can get me what I want, I will give them the business. If they can't, I will see what CostCo (nitrogen!) or the other tire shops can do for me.

Unless you have a pal that wants to buy the tires, I would wait until you use up your tread, since I'll bet you have lots of other mods you can do in the meantime. Think of it as "recycling the tires", also a good thing. I got (only?) 52,000 miles out of the GoodYear Eagle GTs, and that is pretty good for me.

One big mistake I made when I traded my 1997 Saturn SC2 for the 1999 Saturn SW2 was that I took the tires and alloys that the SW2 came with. My old SC2 had steel wheels, but I was "pre-GasSaver" ready with racing disks on those wheels, *AND* the tires were newer than the ones that came with the SW2 :



I could be driving the "space wagon" right now if I had kept the steelies .

CarloSW2