I purchased my AWD 2010 Element on Black Friday with an option for new tires at dealer cost. I have read the forum pages and am having difficulty coming to closure on what represents a good tire choice. My priorities from highest to lowest: use stock EX rims, all season tires, choose a tire to minimize road noise, choose a tire for good gas mileage, choose a tire with good treadwear rating.
What I have learned/know is that I do NOT want to replace with Goodyear Wranglers (they are nearly bald after only 29k miles) and I am not excited about changing from stock tire size. Driving conditions will be mostly highway with some fire road camping trips; winter driving will be mostly rain with some minor snow.
Three questions:
Is there a good summary thread somewhere on the forum pages...or has a poll ever been done on aftermarket tire choices?
Any reason to not use the Continental CrossContact LX Sport?
Other recommendations that I should consider?
Tirerack has Tire Survey Results, based on reviews from customers. A starting point for your needs is the Highway Allseason category. You can filter tires by available sizes, e.g. the stock size, or one of the sizes that are 2-4% smaller or larger. Evaluation categories include various kinds of traction, noise, and tire wear. No reports on gas mileage.
Some people place more trust in reviews by EOC members, but I don't. I've had 4 different tires on my E since 2003, and don't consider myself to be an expert. Nor can I say that the tires I currently have are better than ones that I haven't tried.
Manufacturers also have tables or graphs comparing their tire models, indicating which of their tires are better for treadwear, or for mud traction , or what ever. Most tires also have a treadwear rating, a number like 400 or 700. The higher the number the greater the expected wear. Their treadwear warranty is also an indicator. Snow tires and super sticky ones don't have a treadwear rating, because buyers value the traction over wear.
Consumer Reports periodically tests various categories of tires. Tirerack does some of their own testing, but only 3-4 tire models at a time. But those are probably the most objective tests around.
Concern for how tire models and sizes affect gas mileage is a relatively recent one, at least at the retail level. However I suspect that Honda (and other auto manufacturers) take that into account when selecting stock tires. They have incentive to maximize the EPA gas mileage numbers. So I doubt if any new tires will do better than the old ones. I don't recall anyone reporting a noticeable improvement in mileage when the changed tires.
After reading the extensive review of the General Grabber HTS by ApriliaGuy in this forum and after speaking with a Honda Service rep who owned an Element and spoke highly of the Grabber tire I chose the blackwall Grabber HTS 215/70R/16 for my EX AWD on stock rims.
They are definitely quieter than the old Wrangers that were replaced...too early to give a more thorough review.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Honda Element Owners Club
1.2M posts
88K members
Since 2002
Element Owners Club is your go to forum community to discuss your Honda Element, and get ideas from your next great trip to your next Honda Element Mod.