joedoe

I'm about to replace noisy stock 225/50VR17 Dunlop 2050 tires on my 2006 GS300 with 245/45ZR17 General Exclaim UHP tires. This tires have best rating in Tirerack's survey.

Is it a god idea?

Irishman06

You got dunlops on your GS? Aren't the factory tires yokohama advans?

I may be a tire snob, but I wouldn't buy dunlops, or generals, or any other tires of that variety. for summer tires, if you don't mind 20,000 mile tires, i'd go with bridgestone re050-a. currently $82 a tire on tirerack closeout, you won't find better tires at twice that price.

also, look out with the size change you're making, those tires are almost an inch wider than the tires you're replacing, your tires will look a little more "squared off" around the shoulder, you'll get a bit more sidewall flex (the cornering response will be a little slower, but the ride will be smoother), and they may not even fit your wheels.

joedoe

Where did you see $82 per tire? Tirerack shows me $152 for Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position 245/45-17.

Edit: Well I did find it - it's not a pole position tire.

Also, why do you think they won't fit? There is no RE050A in size 225/50-17 anyway.

P.S. Just checked the manual: stock rims are 7.5 wide and 245/45-17 tire requires 7.5-9 rim width so I guess it should fit. I kind of hesitant to buy discontinued tires. What if I'll need an emergency replacement?

joedoe

Could somebody at least give me an advice: will 245/45-17 tires fit 2006 gs300? Or maybe I should go with 235/50-17 (1.5% speedometer error)?

mitsuguy

iTrader: (2)

the 245's will work, but the Generals are marginal at best...

there are much better options...

keep in mind when people rate stuff online, they go based on value to themselves as well, in which the general is a great value, however, it is sub-par to any michelin, bridgestone, or other high end tire...

joedoe

and how would you rate Firehawk Wide Oval? I'm looking for performance but also for low noise and comfort. Will wider tire affect mileage?

mitsuguy

iTrader: (2)

wide ovals... good tires, for more of a performance oriented ride...

not the quietest, pretty stiff sidewalls, but sticky...

joedoe

So which one will be quietest then?

mitsuguy

iTrader: (2)

between the wide oval and the exclaim?

first off, I don't even consider them in the same category, but secondly, they are about the same in terms of quietness... the wide oval just performs a WHOLE LOT better, handling wise... wet weather wise, the general is pretty darn good...

prior to the BFGoodrich KDW's I have now, I had Exclaims... thought they were great, until I lowered the car... then quickly realized I needed something with more cornering grip, as the Exclaims shortfalls in the handling department were quickly found...

joedoe

On my previous GS I had Firehawk SZ50 EP and liked them a lot, however they are discontinued now. And Generals have almost the same pattern...