Tires and Handling
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Tires and Handling
2005 Accord EX 4cyl
53,000 miles
Just replaced my OEM Michelin Energy MXV4 tires and the car just doesn't have the same feel. Duh! Of course, placing new tires will certainly change the way the car rides and handles, but this I do not understand.
I've had three sets of new tires on the car and they all feel sort of "mushy" compared to the originals. Nothing I can really put my hands on (no pun intended) but I just don't feel the road like I think I used to.
Tires tried:
Toyo Versado 205/60-16 92V
Michelin Primacy MXV4 205/60-16 92V
Michelin Primacy MXV4 205/60-16 92H
I know the car is suppose to have V speed rated tires, but the only thing I noticed differently about the tires was the Primacy V rides like a rock!
Could my struts be that worn at 53,000? It may just be that having good tread on the road surface feels strange to me and I'll just have to get used to it? Any thoughts?
53,000 miles
Just replaced my OEM Michelin Energy MXV4 tires and the car just doesn't have the same feel. Duh! Of course, placing new tires will certainly change the way the car rides and handles, but this I do not understand.
I've had three sets of new tires on the car and they all feel sort of "mushy" compared to the originals. Nothing I can really put my hands on (no pun intended) but I just don't feel the road like I think I used to.
Tires tried:
Toyo Versado 205/60-16 92V
Michelin Primacy MXV4 205/60-16 92V
Michelin Primacy MXV4 205/60-16 92H
I know the car is suppose to have V speed rated tires, but the only thing I noticed differently about the tires was the Primacy V rides like a rock!
Could my struts be that worn at 53,000? It may just be that having good tread on the road surface feels strange to me and I'll just have to get used to it? Any thoughts?
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,398
From: Wisconsin
random thougts:
New tread has more flexibility than old tread, just because the worn-out tread blocks are so short that they're very stiff.
Different tires. Just because they're Michelin doesn't mean they're identical.
None of this proves that your shocks are NOT worn out...
New tread has more flexibility than old tread, just because the worn-out tread blocks are so short that they're very stiff.
Different tires. Just because they're Michelin doesn't mean they're identical.
None of this proves that your shocks are NOT worn out...
Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 164
From: LA area
all of the tires u stated there are bottom of the line passenger tires. If you want stiffer and more controlled handling, get a sports tire. a toyo proxes t1r is good on a budget, but if you want the best, get a high end michelin or pirelli. michelin pilot sport ps2 is good..pirelli pzero is good too
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JimBlake may be on to something with his flexible tread theory. Of the thousands of Accords out there that replace tires around 50,000 miles, I cannot believe I am the only one to experience this.
Heck, I may just trade it for an Acura and not worry about tires.
Last edited by Pocketman; Aug 28, 2009 at 04:19 PM.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,398
From: Wisconsin
Yeah, people replace tires all the time. I notice this when I replace tires, but it IS kinda subtle. I imagine some people just blame it on the tires being newer. Or I bet a majority buy new tires of a different brand or different model, so they SHOULD feel different.
Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 164
From: LA area
btw, when you are talking quality tires, 160 a piece is really cheap. imo get a mddle range bridgestone ppotenza if u want pretty good handlig but still remain smooth. just dont get a pos tire thatcosts 100 bucks
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At my wife's encouragement, I've been test driving several cars, including Acura's. The TSX is a nice car, but rides a little rough. I'm having issues with the new TL's (and new Accord's) larger size, so haven't taken the plunge. The Accords are still noisy, and I like not having a car payment. Anyway, I've noticed a lot of Michelin Pilot OEM tires. I notice too that the Primacy's in my '05 are noticeably smoother after driving the other cars.
Bottom line, I'm still not sure what's a good Accord tire that provides handling and low road noise. Can't afford to road test too many more.
Bottom line, I'm still not sure what's a good Accord tire that provides handling and low road noise. Can't afford to road test too many more.
Been Around A Long Time Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,213
From: Wayne, NJ
jason, 160 is a decent budget. My current Toyo Proxy 4's ran me $110 a piece. On my accord, I had a set of Yoko db S2's ... granted that they discontinued them because of a design flaw, but they cost around $90 a piece. I also handled 0.9 G's with them on a 2000 sedan and hit 0.95 twice.
The best bet is to look through the reviews on tirerack, ONLY THE BAD ONES, then get what you want elsewhere cheaper.
The RE01R's that I want are in a whole different league .... and you need a winter set of wheels if you want to go the extreme route ..... pointless with a stock suspension.
To the OP: The best handling bang for your buck is a good set of anti-sway bars. They will allow your tires to perform much better due to more even loading on turns.
The best bet is to look through the reviews on tirerack, ONLY THE BAD ONES, then get what you want elsewhere cheaper.
The RE01R's that I want are in a whole different league .... and you need a winter set of wheels if you want to go the extreme route ..... pointless with a stock suspension.
To the OP: The best handling bang for your buck is a good set of anti-sway bars. They will allow your tires to perform much better due to more even loading on turns.
Last edited by falkore24; Sep 12, 2009 at 09:19 AM.
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Follow up on my original post:
Took my Accord to the dealer. Found no problem with the struts that would require replacement. Went for a long ride with the service manager behind the wheel. Conclusion, the car handles differently than it did, but not necessarily bad. We both admitted that I would be more sensative to the change since I've been driving the car daily for four years.
During the conversation, service manager told me OEM and aftermarket tires are not the same, even with the same brand and label. He admitted being suspicious when he first heard this and bought a like tire from a tire story, brought it back to the dealership and through side by side comparison saw physical differences. (BTW, he did not make any attempt to sell me tires. I priced them at the parts counter and found them to be about $10 more than Sam's Club.)
When I first started this quest, the tire store salesman said something like "I cannot get you the same tire that the manufacturer put on your car." I really didn't know what he was inferring and sort of blew it off, until hearing the same story from the service manager. I've since found a newspaper and other articles to support this.
Tire manufacturers make a specific tire for specific vehicles to meet certain standards, often fuel economy. The "same" tire in the aftermarket is not subject to the same standards and is more "generic" for use on multiple vehicles. What effect this has on the average consumer is probably minimal, but appears to be real.
Anyway, the jury is still out. Don't want to drive as I am now for the next few years. Dislike putting more money into tires after what I've already spent. Really don't want a car payment.
Took my Accord to the dealer. Found no problem with the struts that would require replacement. Went for a long ride with the service manager behind the wheel. Conclusion, the car handles differently than it did, but not necessarily bad. We both admitted that I would be more sensative to the change since I've been driving the car daily for four years.
During the conversation, service manager told me OEM and aftermarket tires are not the same, even with the same brand and label. He admitted being suspicious when he first heard this and bought a like tire from a tire story, brought it back to the dealership and through side by side comparison saw physical differences. (BTW, he did not make any attempt to sell me tires. I priced them at the parts counter and found them to be about $10 more than Sam's Club.)
When I first started this quest, the tire store salesman said something like "I cannot get you the same tire that the manufacturer put on your car." I really didn't know what he was inferring and sort of blew it off, until hearing the same story from the service manager. I've since found a newspaper and other articles to support this.
Tire manufacturers make a specific tire for specific vehicles to meet certain standards, often fuel economy. The "same" tire in the aftermarket is not subject to the same standards and is more "generic" for use on multiple vehicles. What effect this has on the average consumer is probably minimal, but appears to be real.
Anyway, the jury is still out. Don't want to drive as I am now for the next few years. Dislike putting more money into tires after what I've already spent. Really don't want a car payment.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,398
From: Wisconsin
I've heard a slightly different version of the story, from friends in the tire industry...
Honda works with a tire company, to design THEIR SPECIAL tire for the Accord. Maybe it's as simple as convincing Michelin to offer a tire in another size. Maybe it's the tire construction from one tire, tread pattern from another, & maybe some custom recipe for the rubber compound.
When they're done, Michelin (or GY, BFG, whoever) doesn't print HONDA ACCORD on the sidewall of the tire. They pick some label that already exists in the tire-company, and it's basically pretty close in general mission.
Browse TireRack. Often you'll find 2 different tire listings that are ALMOST the same. Same label, same size, maybe same price. But ONE of them says OEM Honda or OEM Porsche.
Honda works with a tire company, to design THEIR SPECIAL tire for the Accord. Maybe it's as simple as convincing Michelin to offer a tire in another size. Maybe it's the tire construction from one tire, tread pattern from another, & maybe some custom recipe for the rubber compound.
When they're done, Michelin (or GY, BFG, whoever) doesn't print HONDA ACCORD on the sidewall of the tire. They pick some label that already exists in the tire-company, and it's basically pretty close in general mission.
Browse TireRack. Often you'll find 2 different tire listings that are ALMOST the same. Same label, same size, maybe same price. But ONE of them says OEM Honda or OEM Porsche.
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