[RDgolfer]

I oft complained of noises from my car...I cried about a potentially bad fuel pump, or the exhaust pipes possibly coming into contact with something...Wrong! It's the freakin' tires...just had the tires rotated and balanced...verdict? The tech told me two of the four tires we're producing enough road force to cause the noise...road force..wtf is road force you might be asking yourself? It means the tire is for shit...it is out of round or it has a very heavy spot at some point in the circumference...these tires suck and it seems like it was a cost saving measure by Ford to have them as OEM....well, considering how much I have spent on mod parts so far, it won't hurt to trash these tires immediately after only 6000 miles, and at least I have diagnosed the problem, which was honestly driving a bit madder than I already am...and I won't even bother going to the dealer for a warranty claim...I will just buy new tires...because I don't want new tires from Ford that I know are already garbage..Tallyho!

 

[RDgolfer]

And I'm the only one? ..hard to believe...bull crap....what a noisy highway ride with these tires....chime in please...and I need to know what I tires I should purchase to replace these crap tires....I'm thinking Michelin Pilot Super Sports...I can't wait to get rid of these donuts...

 

[Zormecteon]

I don't know where you live, so I don't know if you need/want All Season tires. I'm in Western Washington and need to be able to drive in rain and cold, and went with the Pilot Sport A3s. I don't know how loud they are in comparison with the tires that came on the car, as I put less than 100 miles on them before changing the wheels with the A3s mounted. (I bought the car in January) I will say that they have more grip than I have guts, and I don't really notice any difference in handling between the cars at the Octane Academy and mine.

 

[reddog99]

I only had the stock tires on for a short time before I put on Michelin A/S 3's, but I can say without a doubt that the Michelin's are noisier, but don't grip as well (to be expected).

 

[RodMoe]

I only had the stock tires on for a short time before I put on Michelin A/S 3's, but I can say without a doubt that the Michelin's are noisier, but don't grip as well (to be expected).

Wow I would have to say noise for me is about the same tween the brickstones and my Mich as3's and the wet/cold grip of the Mich blows the stock tires in the weeds . I like the grip so much I almost use them (mich) instead of my track only DZll's which are great in wet and dry but like the stockers not so much in the cold.

 

[reddog99]

Where I noticed the Michelins being noisier is on the brushed concrete freeways we have here in California in some places. They have a tendency to howl on some stretches of road. On blacktop, the noise is about the same. They have gotten a bit quieter with more miles, but still not as quiet as stock.

As for traction, my only comparative experience is on hot dry pavement, where stock tires stick much better. I found the Michelins sliding where the stock tires stuck like glue.

 

[RodMoe]

Wow you guys got it made... Concrete AND they brush it for you ...

 

[onederer]

RE050A tires a cost saving measure?Garbage? That has to be the first time that has ever been said. It's like having a Jumbo Shrimp as a tire.

Michelin Pilot Roads have always been a little on the noisy side. I've had PR and PR2, and they are the best tires that I have ever run. But the fact remains that they are also sort of noisy.

I will be mounting PR Super Sports when these tires give up the ghost. I have been quite happy with the Bridgestone set overall.

 

[moff3tt]

The OEM Potenzas are like $200 each retail. While I am sure Ford gets a discount for a bulk order they're still expensive as hell for their size. Grip is pretty good with worn out 12k mile tires still managing to place 3rd in GS vs a GTI w/ wheels and tires and a Focus ST w/ tires. As for noise, you must be more sensitive than most. Having dailyed a 71 beetle with open header and a civic with a straight pipe I found the road noise to be pleasantly low. My friend's FRS is loud as hell by comparison.

 

[RDgolfer]

Road force of 20 lbs...that means at some point in the circumference of the tire, there are 20 lbs of force being flung at the road from that spot...that means lots of noise...lot's and lot's of noise...and the tech who balanced my tires couldn't believe how sheeootty these tires were...btw less than 5 lbs is considered good...the tire is sheeeeeoooottttt! Hold on, a 200 dollah piece of sheeeeeooooottt! And that is 2 out of 4 tires....not very good quality control...or they bought a boat load of these tires without a care, thinking no one would blink, because they are $200 Brickstones..thanks Rodmoe, good one...whatever, hello Michelin

 

[Smokin]

You probably flat spotted them.....

 

[RDgolfer]

Nopers...haven't lit em up or braked to a skid...faulty equipment

 

[SpaceFish]

It happens - on my '90 Probe GT I was getting some weird noises so I rotated the tires to see if anything stood out and one of my almost new tires had the belts separate which made for a very uneven (and noisy) surface on the tread of that one.

 

[RDgolfer]

What really gets my goat is that Tire Rack has better quality control than Ford...and hat's off to Tire Rack for that!

 

[marc89gti]

I have noticed with my set of OEM Potenzas that when its colder in the morning the first little while the tires feel a bit blocky. But once they warm up its fine.

 

[iLiptiKal]

I have noticed with my set of OEM Potenzas that when its colder in the morning the first little while the tires feel a bit blocky. But once they warm up its fine.

I get this too.