[Mushman]

I recently changed the rims and tires on my 2001 Base MDX to those which come on the touring edition. Let me say that they are excellent. I love the ride and feel of the new rims and tires.

When I had the goodyear tires, I noticed a lot of slipping in wet weather (nothing dangerous though) and really felt like these tires were made for cars.

The Michelins also feel a lot quieter and I feel l ike I am driving an SUV, and not a car. There may be better tires out there, but these are a definite winner when compared to the Base Goodyears.

What really hurts is that my cousin just picked up a 2002 Toyota Corolla S and it comes with the same darn Goodyear tires that the Base MDX comes with (diff size of course). How disappointing. Love my MDX to death, but very disappointed in Acura for cheaping out on the tires when this is a main safety factor and were spending $40,000 - not $14,000.

Just my opinion.

 

[manus1980]

Michelin

The Michelin tires for 17" rims are expensive. A lot more expensive then the 15" tires for a camry. I blew out one of my tires on a huge pothole and I found out a couple things. Many companies don't make tires in the 17R235 size. The few that do aren't cheap. Michelin especially because it is top of the line. To replace one of these tires is $180 minimum here is Lousiana.

 

[Mushman]

Good price on tire

In case you need a tire in the future, here is a good source:

I went to my local Costco and they were offering me the Michelin Cross Terrain in the same size as the MDX for $136 which includes installation, balancing, new valve, awesome warranty, free flats fixed, and old tire disposal.

If they don't have it in stock, they can get it in less than 5 business days.

Just keep this in mind. I always like to have a source in case I need it and hate to have to pay premium prices.

 

[proskunetes]

Costco is the happiest place on earth... They even have wide parking spaces...

 

[GCK]

While at Costco, do consider buying Kirkland brand types. These are Michelins, rebranded as Kirkland. Buying Kirklands would save you considerable amount of money.

 

[proskunetes]

About Kirkland brand tires,
I'm not sure if this problem got corrected, but some Kirkland tires do tend to pull the car left/right particularly on the Freeway when there are those "rain gutter lines/treads" on the road. Costco's tire rep. was aware of this problem at the time and had me sign something to indicate that they had indeed notified me of this possible effect.

*Other than that, Costco is still the happiest place on earth!!!

 

[DaleB]

While at Costco, do consider buying Kirkland brand types. These are Michelins, rebranded as Kirkland. Buying Kirklands would save you considerable amount of money.

I agree Costco is a good place but for tires in the Bay Area Wheel Works is much better. They are experts in tires, wheels, brakes and alignment.
Hell, they even flushed the hydraulic clutch of my '86 RX-7.
These are honest people that understand running gear beyond tire mounting and balancing and will match Costco prices any day of the week.

 

[DaleB]

Yeah, I know I answered a real old post on here. But I still think WheelWorks rules!
Costco is fine for your everyday driver who just thinks tires are tires, but not an X owner.
Besides, buying tires where I buy 12 roll packs of paper towels and replacement brushes for my sonicare just doesn't get it.
The kosher hot dogs and pepsis are good though!
Damn, it's getting late, good night folks!

 

[Erik]

wheels: a performance issue?

Re: the Michelins vs the Goodyears. Regarding performance, does it matter if the Michelins are on the base wheels vs the touring wheels? In other words, do the wheels make a difference in performance? I had been assuming that the wheels are strictly an aesthetic consideration. Am I wrong?

peace

 

[donsev]

Re: wheels: a performance issue?

Re: the Michelins vs the Goodyears. Regarding performance, does it matter if the Michelins are on the base wheels vs the touring wheels? In other words, do the wheels make a difference in performance? I had been assuming that the wheels are strictly an aesthetic consideration. Am I wrong?

peace

Since the base and touring wheels are of the same dimensions (diameter and width) the only possible *performance* related difference would be if there was a substantial difference in weight between the two (which I doubt there is). Since a lower unsprung weight is preferred, the lighter would be better (assuming equal strength). But since you would probably never notice the difference (unless you were into auto-crossing with your MDX ), I wouldn't worry about it either way.

 

[wmquan]

What really hurts is that my cousin just picked up a 2002 Toyota Corolla S and it comes with the same darn Goodyear tires that the Base MDX comes with (diff size of course). How disappointing. Love my MDX to death, but very disappointed in Acura for cheaping out on the tires when this is a main safety factor and were spending $40,000 - not $14,000.
Just my opinion.

Glad you're enjoying the Michelins Cross Terrain SUV's, they are really good tires.

Goodyear Integrity's are actually standard equipment on all Lexus RX300's. I've heard complaints from some RX300 owners about the tires. I've also heard positive feedback from RX300 owners who have switched to the Cross Terrains.

The Honda Pilot will apparently have Goodyear Integrity tires (on 16" wheels).

 

[Guest]

Goodyear Integrity Tires -- No Problems!

I have Goodyear Integrity tires on my MDX with absolutely no problems in 8,500 miles of driving in snow, rain and dry pavement here in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I wouldn't trade them for any tire made by Michelin. Nothing but bad experiences with Michelin tires on other vehicles. I think most people here like the Cross Terrains because they are more expensive which automatically seems to make them better. Couldn't give me a Michelin tire for free. I wouldn't have them on any vehicle I own. Just speaking from my own experience. Buy what you like.

 

[sideburns]

Sounds like "Johnny Reb" either owns a Goodyear store or is a major stock holder. I've put Michelins on almost all my cars over the years - always good. My one or two experiences with Goodyear is that they seem to wear faster (probably softer tread for the "soft" people who like a soft ride).

 

[Guest]

Hey "Sideburns:"

That's funny, I was thinkin' the same thing about the people who are touting Michelin tires. I've gotten 80,000 miles on a set of Goodyear Eagles that still had tread when I sold my car. I don't own a Goodyear store and I couldn't care less if anyone else buys Michelin tires. Just don't try to sell them to me. I've had 2 Michelin tires with sidewall bubbles after 10,000 miles and 1 tire with 2,000 miles that blew out when hitting a pothole at about 30 mph and my daughter had 4 (as in four) tires on a new Celica that developed sidewall bubbles at different times within 20,000 miles. I've driven over !,000,000 miles and have NEVER had any problems with any other brand of tire outside of MICHELIN. Maybe I've been unlucky but if you don't learn from experience you are doomed to repeat it. So be my guest and stick with Michelin but I'll pass.

 

[Pauls MDX]

Goodyear vs Michelin

In my opinion the Michelin are much better than the Goodyear. Don't get me wrong Goodyear does make excellent high performance tires, but not the ones they put on the MDX base. Michelin tires speak for themself, as you have seen the high end vehicles usually have the michelin as stock tire. The cost difference is dramtic between the two, that in of itself tells which is better. That's one of the reasons you pay higher for the touring model.

Quieter, smoother, and much better handling wet & dry

One post states that tires don't matter and are just cosmetic, that is the craziest thing I have ever heard. Tell that to a race car driver and he will laugh. The tires are one of the most important aspect to the driving of a vehicle. Why do you think the have pit stops to change tires in a race!!!!

 

[Steve]

I have a 2002 base and switched to the Michelins (on my original base wheels) at around 1200 miles. There is a big difference - much quieter, handles better and they eliminated the vibration problem that I had.

I too cannot understand why Acura puts the Goodyears on the base model (other then they are less expensive).

Acura should offer the MDX in the US as they do in Canada - one (Touring) model with the nav system as the option. Especially now that the Honda Pilot is debuting

FYI the Michelins are also available on line through TireRack.

 

[ardvarkus]

Here's why Acura puts the Goodyears on the base:

1. Less expensive
2. Makes the Touring Option appear to be more valuable (ie the Mich is a significant upgrade)

There is NO question within the industry that the high end Mich tires are, as a group, significantly better than most competitors in terms of quality, testing, & safety margins. Lots of anecdotes, your mileage may vary, etc but overall Michelin is the best $$ can buy, as a brand.

Anybody who gets sucked into the belief that a COMMODITY like car tires much be purchased from a speciality shop is kidding themselves. Buy the cheapest place, find a competent shop to mount them. Go to a high volume place that can stand behind and has the muscle to get the manufacturer's attention if you have a claim. try tirerack.com if nothing else (or ya live in Lousiana). Sure, yahoos can mess up tires mounting them, and can damage rims, but a tire is a tire.

Oh, I always like to know what I want to buy before I go into any store to purchase. Last thing I'd do is walk in and ask "what kind of tires should I buy?"

My, NTBH, 2 cents..

Ard

 

[Lrpba300]

Well, I've been reading these posts about Michelins VS Goodyears. I know that when I got my 2k 3.2 TL, it came with Mich. mxm4's (or something like that) & they were TRASH. Rated as a M&S tire & they were horrible in the snow or on wet roads. They didn't handle worth a damn, they were only good for a QUIET ride & better gas mileage. After about 11k miles, I replaced them w/ Aqua-Flow's . Much better handling, 50 billion times better in snow & on wet roads, ride was still excellent, & noise was not that bad, after all. Oh, they're made in the SAME plant as Goodyear's Aqua-Tread. It's an off name to save money, like Kirklands are to Mich. MANY people on the Acura-TL board *****ed about how bad a tire they put on such a high quality, luxury car like the Acura TL. It was to save money, I'm sure. (just like they maybe doing w/ the GY's on base model VS Mich. on touring models).
Maybe the Mich. in this case are better than the Goodyears they put on the base models? Maybe it's for cost? But remember, it can ALWAYS go the other way!
So far, no problems w/ the GY's, including driving through 70 miles of a blizzard. I agree they don't "handle" the best, but this is an SUV

 

[wmquan]

From what I've read here, I think one can logically conclude that the Michelin Cross Terrain SUV's are a better tire for the MDX than the Goodyear Integrity's. I think the opinions that count the most are those that have actually had MDX ownership experience with both sets of tires, as opposed to the viewpoints of those who have had only one of the two sets. Experience with different Goodyear and Michelin models on other vehicles doesn't count -- after all, the difference between the worst and the best Goodyear tires, or the worst and best Michelin tires, is quite substantial.

I've always suspected that the Cross Terrains were better, judging from the RX300 folks who have switched from the Goodyear Integrity's to the Michelin Cross Terrains. But I took those opinions with a grain of salt because 1) it's an RX300 and not an MDX; and 2) a lot of those folks were upgrading their tires after the Integrity's had worn; thus their comparison point may have been skewed by recent experiences with the worn tires. But on this system, the Integrity's being upgraded have probably not worn significantly to throw off the validity of the comparison.

My two cents/sense.

 

[donsev]

Re: Goodyear vs Michelin

One post states that tires don't matter and are just cosmetic, that is the craziest thing I have ever heard. Tell that to a race car driver and he will laugh. The tires are one of the most important aspect to the driving of a vehicle. Why do you think the have pit stops to change tires in a race!!!!

Paul, if you are referring to THIS post, then please re-read. Erik is asking about WHEELS (also, read my reply).

Re: the Michelins vs the Goodyears. Regarding performance, does it matter if the Michelins are on the base wheels vs the touring wheels? In other words, do the wheels make a difference in performance? I had been assuming that the wheels are strictly an aesthetic consideration. Am I wrong?

peace