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Car Forum / Toyota / Camry / December 2007

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Best Tires for 2003 Camry?

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mwebsurfer - 22 Nov 2007 19:50 GMT
I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
terrible traction and stopping ability wet. i've had
several near accidents with them. Which in your opinion
would be the best replacement? I'm considering Goodyear
Assurance tires or Michelin Pilot or weatherwise. Any
suggestions will be helpful. My car has ABS and that
doesn't even help in the wet or snow.
Slim Pickings - 22 Nov 2007 23:46 GMT
>I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
>2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>suggestions will be helpful. My car has ABS and that
>doesn't even help in the wet or snow.

I put Michelin Hydroedge tires on my 2002 Camry LE and I
couldn't be happier. I'm in BC, north okanagan, and winters
in the valley are mostly wet streets, not deep snow.

Slim
Ken Peterson - 27 Nov 2007 23:02 GMT
I second this recommendation for the Michelin Hydroedge.  Awesome
tires on all surfaces.  I have also had good luck with premium
Bridgestone tires.  As indicated, http://www.tirerack.com/ is a great
place to get some ideas, maybe even buy and have installed locally.
You can buy the road hazard warranty through Tirerack as well to be
honored locally.

>>I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
>>2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
>Slim
timbirr@mailcity.com - 27 Nov 2007 23:13 GMT
> I second this recommendation for the Michelin Hydroedge.  Awesome
> tires on all surfaces.  I have also had good luck with premium
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

Oh, gosh, people get a bit wacky over oil and tires.....If you want to
spend a buncha of bucks, the Goodyears originally mentioned are GREAT
tires, according to several folks I know that have them....The
tripletred or the comfortred are the best.

BUT, as my wife pointed out when I went to buy tires for my 03 CAM, I
can buy two sets of the KUMHO for the price of one set of the
tripletred/comforttred.

Do I get exactly the same noise reduction....probably not. Do I get
exactly the same traction.  Probably not. Would I get the same miles,
maybe, maybe not, but probably pretty close.

Do I have any trouble in light snow and ice with the KUMHO. No.

Would I have any problems with the Goodyears in light snow and
ice...Probably not.....Do I have money to waste...FOR SURE NOT.

So, instead of the Goodyear Comfort/Tripletred I was considering, I
went with the KUMHO>>>>....is that the solution for you....Maybe
not...but you could buy at least two sets of the KUMHO for the same $$
$ as one set of the Goodyear....The KUMHO work for me...check out
their ratings on TIRERACK.COM
C. E. White - 29 Nov 2007 14:20 GMT
> Oh, gosh, people get a bit wacky over oil and tires.....If you want
> to
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> can buy two sets of the KUMHO for the price of one set of the
> tripletred/comforttred.

You sound like my Father. He always bought the cheapest tires he could
find. And he ruined the ride and handling of every vehicle he owned.
Nothing like buying cheap tires that bump and whine for 30k miles.
Tires are the single most important element in acheiving good ride and
handling. You have to love someone who will spend $20+k on a car and
then slap on crappy tires.

Ed
timbirr@mailcity.com - 29 Nov 2007 19:39 GMT
On Nov 29, 6:20 am, "C. E. White" <cewhi...@removemindspring.com>
wrote:

> You sound like my Father. He always bought the cheapest tires he could
> find. And he ruined the ride and handling of every vehicle he owned.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Ed

Well, Ed, usually I agree with you. You are pretty straight forward
and tell it like it is.

But it is like this.  I generally agree with the Michelin ads that say
"you have so much riding on your tires."  So, I try to buy good
tires.  For the most part have been with Toyos lately, good tires,
pricey, but not too pricey.

But, I kept hearing good things from my local, independent tire dealer
(who I really trust), as well as Tire Rack, about Kumhos....So put
them on my wife's Corolla.  Excellent  traction, handling etc.  A
slight bit nosier than the Toyo Spectrums, but hardly....So far, some
40K on them and a lot of that is on dirt and gravel, which really tear
up tires. They are holding well.

So, I went with Kumhos on my Camry....Only 10 months on them, so don't
want to commit too much, but no problems.

But, Ed, if I really wanted to go cheap, I have LOTS of options that
are half the price of Kumhos.....Marshall, Defender, Westlake, etc.
But, I wanted a reasonable price on a reasonable tire. I think, at
least for my driving in the heavy rains of the Pacific Northwest,
Kumhos are it. Hate the name....love the price and handling....and
again, if I wanted to put the cheapest junk on my cars, I could have
done it at half the price of the Kumhos.  Heck with the Marshalls I
have been seeing I could buy FOUR sets for the price of one set of the
Goodyear. LOL>
mjc13<REMOVETHIS> - 29 Nov 2007 22:07 GMT
> On Nov 29, 6:20 am, "C. E. White" <cewhi...@removemindspring.com>
> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
> have been seeing I could buy FOUR sets for the price of one set of the
> Goodyear. LOL>

    To add to the above, we used to buy Goodyear. Then our tires
started to get crumbling sealing surfaces at only a year or so old. I
checked the sidewalls, and the great Regatta IIs that used to be made in
the USA were now being made in Turkey. I Freecycled them with 95% of the
tread left on them and got Hankooks, because they seemed to have a good
rep. They are quiet, ride well, handle well, and don't crumble. Bottom
line: go by the actual quality of the tire, not by what brand they are
or how much they cost. In these days of "outsourcing" and cost-cutting,
the big names aren't necessarily the best.

   BTW, the Michelins that came OEM on my '86 Civic Si were Utter Crap.
C. E. White - 30 Nov 2007 12:27 GMT
> But it is like this.  I generally agree with the Michelin ads that
> say
> "you have so much riding on your tires."  So, I try to buy good
> tires.  For the most part have been with Toyos lately, good tires,
> pricey, but not too pricey.

I was thinking bout trying Toyos myself on my truck.

> But, I kept hearing good things from my local, independent tire
> dealer
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> don't
> want to commit too much, but no problems.

Kumhos would have been too good for my Father. He always ended up with
"Country Squire" or "Multi Mile" or Farm Bureau tires. In later years
my Mother started buying tires for her car and she usually avoided the
sorts of tires my Father bought. I just drove his truck the other
day - the tires are horrible. Here is the worst thing - The truck is a
Ford Ranger that had the infamous Firestone tires. The tire store
would have installed any tire in that size for free - my Father let
them put on the cheap crappy tires when he could have gotten Goodyears
or BF Goodrich for free......

Ed
Hopkins - 05 Dec 2007 03:41 GMT
Yeah, the experiences below mirror mine. Good performance and word of
mouth -- what more does a company need? FWIW, Car-X is carrying them
now, and they'll be standard on Fords, in '08 I believe.

After a measly few 100 miles I can say only one thing -- I'm getting
good feedback from the road surface.

> Well, Ed, usually I agree with you. You are pretty straight forward
> and tell it like it is.
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> have been seeing I could buy FOUR sets for the price of one set of the
> Goodyear. LOL>
Joe - 23 Nov 2007 02:36 GMT
Whatever you come up with, search www.tirerack.com for them...  If you
haven't made up your mind yet, go for all season tires with a 4.5 to 5 star
rating and you should be very happy.  IMHO of course and worth every penny
you paid for the advice if I'm wrong.  :)

Signature

Joe in Northern, NJ  -  V#8013-R

Currently Riding The "Mother Ship"
http://yunx.com/valk.htm

Ride a motorcycle in or near NJ?
http://tinyurl.com/5apkg

Hillary Exposed:
http://tinyurl.com/2v4avg

>I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
> 2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> suggestions will be helpful. My car has ABS and that
> doesn't even help in the wet or snow.
Murcatroid - 23 Nov 2007 02:42 GMT
I put Nokian WR's on my 2002 LE, best all around tire I have ever had. Great
on dry, wet, Excellent on snow and ice.

I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
terrible traction and stopping ability wet. i've had
several near accidents with them. Which in your opinion
would be the best replacement? I'm considering Goodyear
Assurance tires or Michelin Pilot or weatherwise. Any
suggestions will be helpful. My car has ABS and that
doesn't even help in the wet or snow.
mack - 25 Nov 2007 19:18 GMT
>I put Nokian WR's on my 2002 LE, best all around tire I have ever had.
>Great
> on dry, wet, Excellent on snow and ice.

I can't speak for the wet or snowy weather handling (living in So. Cal.) but
I replaced the Michelins on my '97 with Goodyear ..."Weatherhandler"s (as I
recall), and the tires are wearing like iron, and handle perfectly in dry
weather.   Never had any trouble in rain (which we get so seldom) and I
never took them into snow country.
Don Fearn - 25 Nov 2007 21:55 GMT
mwebsurfer <mwebsurfer@verizon.net> opin'd thus:

>I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
>2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>suggestions will be helpful. My car has ABS and that
>doesn't even help in the wet or snow.

Goodrich Traction T/A. I got a set from Tire Rack for my commuter
Scion xB and couldn't be happier. When I need new tires for my Camry
that's what I'm getting . . . .

-Don

Signature

With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.

johngdole@hotmail.com - 26 Nov 2007 02:43 GMT
Consider the newest member of the Michelin MXV series: the new
Michelin Primacy offers 60K miles tread wear rating. Lifetime balance,
flat repair, rotation and installed for $113.99 each (before coupon).
The excellent Michelin HydroEdge is up to T rating only, IIRC.

The thing with the energy-efficient MXV is that they have lower roll
resistance and give you up to 3% MPG improvement. But some drivers
complained that they don't grab the road as well. No problems in my
typical driving. YMMV.

http://www.costco.com/Tires/Product.aspx?IV=true&YW=2003&MA=TOYOTA&MD=Camry&SP=0
&MN=53544&cat=3961&lang=en-US&MNo=53544&Prodid=11212567&Aspect=65&Diameter=15&Sp
eed=H&Width=205


Go check out the Bridgestone tires while you're there. Notice the
generally cheap construction and how thin the sidewalls are? Cheap
tires are cheap for a reason. I personally would stay away from
those.

> I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
> 2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> suggestions will be helpful. My car has ABS and that
> doesn't even help in the wet or snow.
mjc13<REMOVETHIS> - 26 Nov 2007 11:52 GMT
> I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
> 2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> suggestions will be helpful. My car has ABS and that
> doesn't even help in the wet or snow.

   If you are looking for all-season tires that are decent-priced and
perform well in all conditions, I suggest the Korean-made Hancook (sp?)
all-seasons. We have the higher mileage-rated ones on our Camry wagon,
and had them on our Volvo 240. A good combination of price, wear and
performance. We dumped Goodyear when they outsourced to Turkey, because
the tires started then to literally crumble on us...
Justa Lurker - 26 Nov 2007 13:20 GMT
>> I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
>> 2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> performance. We dumped Goodyear when they outsourced to Turkey, because
> the tires started then to literally crumble on us...

I have had very good results with the Toyo tires on my wife's 95 Camry
LE, and plan to put them on my 99 Camry LE when it needs new tires this
spring.  Used to be a very loyal Goodyear customer until too many recent
disappointments.
johngdole@hotmail.com - 27 Nov 2007 05:23 GMT
I know owners who are happy about Toyo tires. But these may be kinda
hard to find in some places. I personally just go to Costco and get
Michelins. Fix flats, rotate and balance tires at any Costco.

> I have had very good results with the Toyo tires on my wife's 95 Camry
> LE, and plan to put them on my 99 Camry LE when it needs new tires this
> spring.  Used to be a very loyal Goodyear customer until too many recent
> disappointments.
C. E. White - 26 Nov 2007 14:26 GMT
>I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
> 2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> suggestions will be helpful. My car has ABS and that
> doesn't even help in the wet or snow.

Why not read opinions at tirerack.com . They usually have lots of
responses for common tire sizes. See
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=ST
for results for tires similar to your OE tires. The Tire Rack Surveys
back your opinion of the OE Continentals. They are the near the bottom
of the "Standard Touring All Season" category. The Michelin Pilots are
in a more expensive category (see
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=HPAS)
and are highly rated.

Ed
Hopkins - 29 Nov 2007 03:14 GMT
> I am about to replace the awful Contintal tires on my
> 2003 Camry. The old tires are not worn out but have
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> suggestions will be helpful. My car has ABS and that
> doesn't even help in the wet or snow.

Pirelli P6.

I just got a set of Kumhos. Had good reviews but I only have a couple
hundred miles on them.

One thing to remember about Tirerack.com -- they do not sell every
brand.
 
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