GMoney

I am in need of changing tires soon. Why are there so limited tire choices for this SUV? Also seems that the stock Michelins are on nation-wide back order (dealers have them in stock for big $$).

Has anyone used any other tire size for the stock 18's?

cantsleepnk

I believe someone on the board used 255/55/18 with no rubbing issues.
Someone else on the tire rack site used 245/55/18 BFGoodrich KDWS (only kind available in that size) but was unhappy due to excessive tire noise.
When I changed mine I went with the stock michelins. Didn't want to make an $800 mistake.

BTW if you're going with 255 tires 255/50/18 might be closer than the 55 ratio to stock.

Good luck.

Mark_LP

I recently was in the same situation. The choices came down, for me, to the Michelin or the Goodyear. I had previously used a local shop to put on some tires for my previous car. Their excellent R&R of those tires led me to call them. While talking to them, I had my list in front of me from the Tire Rack for their products. They were within 30.00 per tire of that price. The price they quoted me included mounting, balancing and disposal of old. I thought it was a very fair price. I ordered them them yesterday and I can go in today and have them put on. I think because of these shortages, local may be the only may to get them quickly. BTW, I chose the Goodyear Eagle RS-As. I thought the Michelins were nice but I wanted to try something slightly more aggressive. The price was only 80. more overall.

vchiu

The Goodyear and Michelins have very different treadwear numbers. Might as well be sure about it since those tires are expensive.

Mark_LP

I saw those treadwear numbers as well. Having come from the Michelin tires, I can say that a dramatic drop in performance had happened by the time I was coming up on 25,000 miles. The drop was significant enough for me not to continue trusting their performance. More than 3/4 of the tread was gone and wet traction was less than 50% of what it was orignally. For me that was enough to say, time for new tires.
After driving around for a few weeks on the Goodyears, I would have to say that they are a better tire. The sidewall is much stiffer than the Michelins. The road noise is about the same. The traction, if my memory from the then-new Michelins, is a hair better. FWIW.

man8959

Try Brigestone Dueler H/L Alenza. i never had them but heard they're good tire.

DJ SprinklesNJO

whats the size of the stock tire?

lexuslover

the stock 18"s on the AWD are Michelin® Energy MXV4 S8 P235/55R18 . they have them in stock at tirerack.com (i think there is a CL vendor discount also) for $165/ea + shipping. costco also sells michelines, and the price right now is $172.99/each, which INCLUDES the mounting.

i just ordered tires for my SC thru costco.com and got $50 off a set of Michelins (Michelin does this $50 or $60 off about twice a year at costco). Service was great, couldn't be happier, and you can't beat the price.

the SC tires were considered "special order" since they don't carry them in the store, but it took only 3 business days to get them. i think the energy's they do will have in stock since they are popular and the size is not low profile.

i have these on my RX, and approaching 45k miles on the original set, with plenty to go. i think they can easily reach 60k miles before replacing. definitely worth the money.

n10tn02

Goodyear has an Eagle RSA in this size.

foxda

I just got a set of Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza. I've only had them for a couple of hundred miles but they handle much better then the Michelins in dry weather IMHO, are about the same noise level as the Michelin, have a tread wear rating of over 600, are rated better in snow and wet handling and cost about $40 a tire less then the Michelins through tire rack. I would recommend these tires.