What is the Recommended Tire Pressure for New Tires?

Monday, February 6, 2012 by Doc Horvath
Regardless of size, a tire's handling and durability is directly tied to using the appropriate inflation pressure for the vehicle. With a variety of wheel and tire choices for new vehicles, it's essential to rely on the vehicle manufacturer to specify the appropriate inflation pressure for the tires. Using the vehicle's weight capacity for each axle and other considerations, the manufacturer can best calculate the psi needed to ensure the tire handles and performs well.

All too often, many drivers and mechanics assume the maximum tire pressure listed on the tire's sidewall is what is recommended for proper inflation. However, that number represents the maximum pressure that's safely allowed, but is likely higher than what is recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Tire pressure can vary on several things, including:
For best results, look for a placard on the inside of the driver's door or a similar chart in the owner's manual to determine the recommended psi for your application.

placard example

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Michelin Energy Saver

Friday, February 3, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Michelin Energy SaverReviewer's Overall Rating: 7.4

2007 Toyota Prius Touring
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Miles driven on tires: 1000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 1000 Miles on Tires
January 17, 2012

I drive a 2007 Prius touring edition (stiffer suspension & +1 wheels. OEM were bridgestone potenze - garbage, I replaced with Flaken 912's - better handling but extremely rough riding - exceptionally loud and wore to tread bars within 25K miles. I replaced with these and have only 1000 dry miles (no rain or snow in S. Cal yet. But... amazing change! Like a new car: indescribably smoother ride, much quieter so that we can use the hands-free phone again, tracks like a porsche 911 and so ar has increased my fuel efficiency by about 2 mpg - combined city and freeway driving. Just a terrific choice and when spending this kind of money, you are always unsure about a decision when you can't easily swap tires if the choice is bad. You will not regret these. Just need to test the wet traction and wear life. GREAT TIRES - very happy!!

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Kumho Ecsta 4X

Thursday, February 2, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Kumho Ecsta 4XReviewer's Overall Rating: 8.75

1996 Volkswagen Golf GTi
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Miles driven on tires: 100
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 100 Miles on Tires
January 22, 2012

Yesterday, here in Pennsylvania we got three inches of snow which just so happened to be the day I put these tires on (brand new out of the box). So I took the liberty to test out the tires. Since the tread was fresh- the review may be a little bias, but I loved the traction I got with these tires. I took my 96' VW Golf up a pretty steep street where the snow really had not been cleared because the residence is in its early stages of development. So needless to say, lots of freshly paved streets and culdesacs covered in snow. I went around a figure eight a few times while braking, sliding, speeding up, slowing down. I expected the tires to slide (after all they are not snow tires) but I was really satisfied with the response and the traction I received for a low profile tire- keeping in mind however that they are brand spanking new. I would like to rate the performance in snow a 9 out of 10, but being realistic I would say like 7.8 out of 10. A personal opinion of course, but making a judgment based on the last set of tires I had on my stock 14 inch wheels I am glad I went with the Kumho 4x!


I would also like to say that the service of tirerack.com is awesome- an easy 10 of 10. I originally ordered tires with a 5% larger sidewall aspect ratio. The next day, Charlie Aquile, one of the sales specialist from Tire Rack, called to confirm that the tires I ordered were indeed the tires I needed because what I ordered were not recommended for my vehicle. I ended up dropping from a 45 radius to a 40, saving around $60. So thanks to guys at Tire Rack. Hope this review helps!

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the General Altimax Arctic

Thursday, February 2, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

General Altimax ArcticReviewer's Overall Rating: 7.6

2007 Pontiac Vibe 2wd
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Miles driven on tires: 500
Location: Rochester, MN
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 500 Miles on Tires
January 18, 2012

Bought these tires based on reviews here, as well as price. I downsized from OEM 205/55/16 to 195/65/15 and got a new set of wheels. The Vibe can be scary in snow and ice due to its light weight, although the ExtremeContact DWS I had on the last 2 winters performed quite well. With the DWS earing down a bit I wanted to try winter tires, and the Generals have performed very well in light-moderate snow. They still slip on ice, but cornering and braking are vastly better than before, and much better than on my AWD Subaru with all seasons. The main downside of these tires is that they are extremely floaty on the highway. It actually takes work to make sure the car keeps going straight in the lane, and if it is very windy this can be nerve-wracking at higher speeds. Cornering seems fine, it is just that the tall tread and lack of a solid center rib probably makes it float around more. To be fair, I am comparing a taller sidewall, narrower width tire to the OEM size, so that will account for some difference in stability just by itself.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Firestone Winterforce

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Firestone WinterforceReviewer's Overall Rating: 9.4

2007 Hyundai Sonata SE
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Miles driven on tires: 1350
Location: Ringle, WI
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 1350 Miles on Tires
December 24, 2008

I had originally wanted Blizzak WS50. Finding that model unavailable, and the replacement WS60 was rated similar to the Winterforce, I thought I'd save a few bucks and go with the Firestones. After a few months of use, including rain, snow and dry, I'd buy them all over again. I haven't had to use them in ice conditions, but we don't see a whole lot of that here-mostly just snow. I expected more road noise due to the tread design, but it's completely tolerable and I don't see how they could be quieter considering the intended purpose. It's just a light hum, honestly I've had more road noise with Michelin Symetry (an all season tire). The tread depth is impressive, we should get years of winter use from these.



The dry traction is fine, almost as good as the Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus that we use in summer, but the snow traction has really transformed the car. With these tires and ESC, we're totally confident in any weather. The deep (over 6") snow traction is really pretty good. I've conducted 6 panic stops tests from over 50 MPH in 5-7" of snow, each test ended without excitement, and in distances much shorter than I had expected. Stability Control has something to do with the directional control, and the ABS helps, but the stopping distance was probably 60-70% of what I would have expected with an all season tire.



Living in the country, we had considered buying an all-wheel drive car, but these tires have eliminated that thought. Winterforce inspire confidence and are well worth having, even using just 4 months of the year. I've never used a dedicated snow tire on any car before, but I'm sold on the idea now. If you think you need a new set of all season tires just to make it through the winter, seriously consider a second set for winter, it's apples and oranges.



Tirerack made it easy, tires/wheels/covers were delivered mounted, balanced and aired to correct pressure. I've ordered from Tirerack before, and will continue to do so in the future

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Michelin X-Ice Xi2

Monday, January 30, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Michelin X-Ice Xi2Reviewer's Overall Rating: 7.44

2011 Nissan Versa Hatchback
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Miles driven on tires: 1000
Location: North Jersey, NJ
Driving Condition: Easy Going

Initial Review, 1000 Miles on Tires
January 21, 2012

Quiet and comfortable in the dry and confident in the rain. In the snow they are bad in the mush and slush at an intersection- you turn the wheel but the car goes straight. They brake loose easily when you're accelerating or braking. Probably a descent tire for the rainy northwest but no confidence in them in New Jersey. I initially liked them in the cold and dry of early winter but for me fairly worthless in the snow . I can't really comment on the ice performance. No doubt good compared to a summer only tire but a waste of money for a snow and slop tire. Confidence wise, I felt like I was on old summer tires. Get a stud-able type snow tire (without studs)and not this ice tire.

How to Protect Your Tires and Wheels

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 by Alex Mouroulis
There are several ways to protect your tires and wheels. Obvious ways to keep them protected are to avoid potholes, curbs and impacts if at all possible.

Keeping wheels clean is one of the best ways to preserve your wheel's finish. I use Griot's Garage Wheel Cleaner with every car I wash. To use, the cleaner is sprayed on the wheel, cleaned with a brush and rinsed off with water. With its unique penetrants that allow you to use less effort when cleaning your wheels, the products high concentrate allows the cleaner to stay on the wheel longer to remove stubborn brake dust, road oils and other deposits. The wheel cleaner is a non-caustic product that is very effective while being made from premium, biodegradable ingredients that are safe for you and the environment.

When it comes time to change my wheels out for the season, I clean each wheel thoroughly, knocking any tar or asphalt loose. I seal the entire wheel with a coat of Griot's Garage Paint Sealant. The product provides a high gloss finish that only needs to be applied once a year. This makes getting the wheels clean during a car wash much easier. Keep your investment looking brand new!

Griot's Garage Wheel Cleaner
Griot's Garage Wheel Cleaner
Griot's Garage Paint Sealant
Griot's Garage Paint Sealant
Griot's Garage Short Handle Boar's Hair Wheel Brush
Griot's Garage Short Handle Boar's Hair Wheel Brush

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Firestone Winterforce UV

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Firestone Winterforce UVReviewer's Overall Rating: 9.82

2000 Toyota RAV4 4-door 4wd
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Miles driven on tires: 2000
Location: Twinsburg, Oh
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 2000 Miles on Tires
January 12, 2012

By far the finest tire I have ever had on an All Wheel Drive car! This tire goes through deep snow like a Tank! Last winter I was in New Jersey when they got over two feet of snow the day after Christmas. Cleaned off the windshield, got in my car and drove home to Ohio. No slipping or sliding the whole way! I don't drive a lot, so I run them year around! So far they are wearing like iron! Great product Firestone!

Wheel Clearance Event: 18" ATX Series Storm for Dodge Ram 1500

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Cy Chowattukunnel
2012 Ram 1500 Black 3 Quarter

Would you like to to improve the appearance of your new Dodge Ram? Well, take a look at the ATX Series Storm that is currently on closeout. As part of our Wheel Clearance Event, this wheel is now available for only $119! Add the overall performance and versatility of the 275/65-18 Firestone Destination A/T and you've got a Tire & Wheel Package for only $1,456.**

18x8.5 5-139 30 mm  offset Black W/Teflon Coating ATX Storm
18x8.5 5-139 30mm offset Black w/Teflon Coating ATX Series Storm
275/65-18 Firestone Destination A/T
275/65-18 Firestone Destination
A/T

2012 Dodge Ram and ATX Storm FAQ:

  1. Is the 30mm offset ATX Series Storm the only compatible wheel for my truck in this particular wheel model? There are actually two compatible versions of the ATX Storm, the 30mm offset and the 18mm offset version.

  2. What's the difference between a 30mm and 18mm offset? Offset is the distance between the mounting pad and the middle centerline of the rim. The higher the offset the more "in," while the lower the offset the more "out" the wheel moves relative to the hub. To gain a better understand of offset, read our tech article titled "Offset."

  3. What effect does this offset difference have on my Ram wheel fitment? Your Original Equipment 17" wheel is either 7" or 8" wide (depending on the exact O.E. wheel you have) with a 25.4 mm offset. You can check your O.E. width by looking for either a 17x7JJ or 17x8JJ stamped on the back of the wheel. Let's consider the O.E. 17x7" wheel. With a 30mm offset, the edge of the wheel will move 4.6 mm in. What about the wheel width difference? Since we're going from a 7" wide wheel to an 8.5" wide wheel, the edge of the wheel will move out by 3/4" (that's 1/2 of the 1.5" wheel width difference).

  4. What would be the net effect for this new set-up? The wheel would move in 4.6 mm because of offset and out 19.05 mm (3/4") with the wheel moving out 14.45 mm (.57 inches) compared to the O.E. 17x7" wheel.

  5. What about the 18mm offset? The wheel would move 7mm out plus another 3/4" out, therefore the edge of the wheel moves out 26.05 mm (1.03"). 
*Prices subject to change, limited stock
**Prices subject to change, including TPMS Sensors and excluding shipping

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Michelin LTX M/S

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Michelin LTX M/SReviewer's Overall Rating: 8

2007 Ford F150 STX Regular Cab 2wd
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Miles driven on tires: 74000
Location: Richmond, Tx
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 74000 Miles on Tires
January 10, 2012

personally, the tire really surprised me with the overall performance considering that it came from the factory. Most tires on a new car or truck are not worth anything (cheapy). This tire performed but I truely want an tire that will fill my wheel base. This tire looks small on my truck.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Continental ExtremeContact DWS

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Continental ExtremeContact DWSReviewer's Overall Rating: 8.88

2005 Volkswagen Passat GLS 4motion Wagon
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Miles driven on tires: 4000
Location: Belchertown, MA
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 4000 Miles on Tires
August 26, 2010

OK so we're 3000 miles into the DWS's and it looks like they were a good choice. Only a New England winter remains on the check off list. Minor criticisms - the sidewall design/finish is not the greatest. It doesn't clean up too well and on the 205/55 size has a 'suede' look surface finish. Also the wear bead that protects your wheel is ommited on this size. The comments regarding sidewall stiffness might also merit some consideration, but for those of us who drive in such a way as to avoid the attention of the police, this shouldn't be a huge issue. Other than that, I'm very happy and will be considering these for my new CC once the OEM ContiProcontacts have expired.

Don't Hibernate Your Camaro

Monday, January 23, 2012 by Cy Chowattukunnel
The Camaro is definitely one of those cars that everybody seems to love. If you're a Camaro driver who lives up north, you'll need winter / snow tires to keep your vehicle safe. Given the wide variety of Camaro trim levels and drivers' needs, both the Studless Ice and Snow and Light Truck/SUV Performance Winter / Snow tire options should be considered.

Winter / Snow Tire Sizes

Depending on your trim level and engine, your Original Equipment tires may have one of the following set-ups: 245/55-18 or 245/50-19 on all four corners, or the staggered set-up of 245/45-20 on the front and 275/40-20 on the rear or 245/40-21 on the front and 275/35-21 on the rear.

If you live in a harsh winter area like Green Bay, Wisconsin that receives lots of snow and you can moderate how hard you drive when the temperatures are warm and the roads are dry, then you should look at 225/65-17 Studless Ice and Snow tires. Camaro SS drivers should consider 235/55-19 Studless Ice and Snow tires since 17" wheels won't clear the O.E. Brembo brakes.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Your Camaro uses a valve-stem-mounted Direct TPMS. O.E. sensors are $50* each and installation is part of our standard mounting and balancing. Your Camaro won't automatically learn the new sensors but you can initialize them yourself by following the instructions in your owner's manual.

Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package (Studless Ice and Snow)

A great Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package with a Studless Ice and Snow tire option would be the 225/65-17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 on the 17x8 Moda EB1 at $1,116** plus shipping.

235/65-17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70
225/65-17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70
17x8 35mm offset Hyper Silver Moda EB1
17x8 35mm offset Moda EB1

Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package (Light Truck/SUV Performance Winter / Snow)

A Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package to consider with a Light Truck/SUV Performance Winter / Snow tire would be the 245/50-19 Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow on the 19x8.5 Sport Edition WX5 at $1,720** plus shipping.

245/50-19 Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow
245/50-19 Pirelli Scorpion
Ice & Snow
19x8.5 Bright Silver 28mm offset Sport Edition WX5
19x8.5 Bright Silver 28mm offset
Sport Edition WX5

2011 Chevy Camaro Winter FAQ:
  1. The Pirelli Scorpion Ice and Snow is listed as a Light Truck/SUV Performance Winter / Snow tire but you're recommending it for my Camaro, why? Because many of today's full-size sport sedans, muscle cars and sports cars share vehicle platforms with smaller crossover and sport utility vehicles, they also share their tall tire sizes. The Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow was introduced in 2003 with selected sizes for crossover vehicles and smaller SUVs. Then, well before the current Camaro became available for enthusiasts, Pirelli began adding 50-, 45- and 40-series T-, H- and V-speed rated tires in 17", 18", 19" and 20" wheel diameters for higher performance crossover vehicle applications. Pirelli chose to put these sizes into their Scorpion family and by doing so, the Scorpion Ice & Snow line also "crossed over" to be appropriate for many of today's car applications that use tall tire sizes. So while the Scorpion Ice & Snow's tire category may seem unusual for a Camaro, its combination of dimensions, wintertime traction and high speed durability are appropriate.

  2. I have 20" wheels as Original Equipment, can I run 20" winter / snow tires? You can run 20" snow tires but there isn't a matching set in a 245/45-20 front and 275/40-20 rear set-up, so you would have to run 245/45-20 on the front and back.
*Prices subject to change
**Including sensors, prices subject to change

The Upgrade Garage is Not Just a Wheel Simulator

Thursday, January 19, 2012 by Gavin Carpenter
Have you ever wanted to know what a certain wheel looked like on your vehicle before you bought it? Well, check out our Upgrade Garage and view a complete fitment guide for your vehicle, as well as easily switch between product category results with one click.

If you follow the link above and enter your vehicle's year, make and model you'll see what wheels are available by clicking the "wheels" arrow.

Upgrade GarageThe Upgrade Garage is also a fantastic place to check out other performance upgrades for your car. Wheels and tires are only the beginning. 

You can also find an assortment of brakes, suspension products, bulbs and engine performance upgrades like the AIRAID air intakes and Hypertech Power Programmers.

If you don't see what you're looking for, create an account and you can save vehicles in your garage to revisit at a later date to see what's new! You can also add items to your wish list from any of the search results pages.

Shop for a complete performance upgrade and never have to enter your vehicle make, model and year again. 




Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Continental ExtremeContact DWS

Thursday, January 19, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Continental ExtremeContact DWSReviewer's Overall Rating: 8.5

2010 Subaru Legacy Sedan
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Miles driven on tires: 3000
Location: st louis, mo
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 3000 Miles on Tires
January 11, 2011

I have had these tires for 3 mos. During this time we have had all conditions ice, snow sleet and rain. These tires with a car that has all wheel drive is like having a snow cat. Two weeks ago we had an ice storm. My wife tried to pick up our son from practice and could not make it up the slight incline out of our neighborhood. I just put a new set of michelin primacy tires on her car. We took my car and made it up easily. It is kind of strange driving on these tires because nothing really bad happens. Last night i was driving home and the only way I could tell it was icy was the other cars were having problems, some severe. The relative performance of these tires is that you can start faster stop better and turn better than the cars around you. It is worth keeping in mind when stopping in icy conditions because the guy behind you may hit you. These tires are the real deal. Better than the Primacy tires on my wifes car. The only way to improve would be dedicated snow/ice tires but you really dont need them.

I would recommed these tires and definitely buy again.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Continental ContiProContact

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Continental ContiProContactReviewer's Overall Rating: 7.8

2003 Subaru Forester 2.5 X
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Miles driven on tires: 14000
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 14000 Miles on Tires
August 11, 2009

I am a semi-spirited driver; I typically drive 5-10 miles over the limit (with the flow) and enjoy taking corners a bit fast when I can, but I am not an aggressive driver.



On the positive side, these tires look good, have great traction in most circumstances (what do you expect from a general purpose tire?), ride very smoothly and handle quite nicely for the class they are in. They balanced very easily and are holding air extremely well month after month.



On the negative side, They are NOT particularly quiet. The hum on concrete is annoying (Subarus are not at all well insulated against cabin noise).



But the deal breaker is the wear: I just rotated the 5th tire onto the ground after 1-4 wheel rotation at 8k miles (had to buy a 'real' wheel, as Subarus full size spare has a dink wheel that doesn't rotate into the lineup-why?). Compared to the new tire, the tires on the ground are already about 1/2 way worn out! Not even 1 year old! Outrageous!



As someone else commented, they also hold small gravel and pebbles in the tread - a lot of it if you drive on gravel as I often do. Annoying (noise, looks) and compromises traction, I'm sure. I will not buy these tires or this brand again.



I got talked into these tires by my mechanic. A big selling feature was durability; 80k miles promised. Politely, all I can say is, NOT IN MY CASE!!

Wheel Clearance Event: Chrome Wheels for BMW 7 Series

Monday, January 16, 2012 by Cy Chowattukunnel
Do you love your manual transmission but need a bigger car? Today, there aren't many options for you to choose from. Dodge has hinted about rolling out a manual version of the Charger SRT-8 but right now they seem to be stuck in, well, neutral. BMW has confirmed they'll be offering the new M5 with a manual transmission.

We would like to thank BMW for offering a manual transmission on the E23 (1978-1987) and E32 (1988-1994*) BMW 7 Series. These vehicles offer classic styling, lots of room, good handling and the freedom to shift when you want to shift. 

If you still love your 735i and would like to add a little sizzle to your ride, take a look at the 18x7.5 20mm offset chrome plated Zinik Z24 Risso marked down from $255 to $99 per wheel.***

What if you're interested in purchasing 18" tires? Both 245/40-18 and 235/40-18 sizes are compatible, however I personally would recommend 235/40-18 because 245/40-18 seems a little too wide for a sports luxury sedan. For a great balance of wet and dry grip, low tread noise and decent wear, consider the Kumho Ecsta 4X. Enjoy this combination mounted and balanced and ready to install for only $952.**

18x7.5 5-120 20mm offset Zinik Z24 Risso
18x7.5 5-120 20mm offset Zinik Z24 Risso
235/40-18 Kumho Ecsta 4X
235/40-18 Kumho Ecsta 4X

If you're puzzled as to why the Ecsta 4X doesn't appear in our Tire Survey Results, it's because we haven't accumulated our minimum number of surveys and reported miles. The Ecsta 4x is the replacement for the popular Ecsta ASX and during "Testing Value-Priced Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires" we found the Ecsta 4X had improved across the board, especially in wet grip.

In addition to the 1980-1992 735I, a set of these chrome wheels also fit other low offset BMWs such as: the 1977-1984 BMW 633Csi, the 1986-1989 BMW 635Csi, the 1978-1984 BMW 733i, 1993-1994 BMW 740i, 1980-1986 BMW 745i and the 1988-1994 BMW 750iL.

Also, until January 31, 2012, when you purchase a set of four Kumho Ecsta 4X tires you may be eligible to receive a $50 VISA® Prepaid Card by mail.

*Manual transmission phased out last few E32 years
**Prices subject to change, plus shipping
***Extremely limited stock

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Continental ExtremeContact DWS

Friday, January 13, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Continental ExtremeContact DWSReviewer's Overall Rating: 8.88

2005 Cadillac STS V8
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Miles driven on tires: 12000
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 12000 Miles on Tires
January 06, 2012

The only reason I put 'probably' in the 'would I purchase this tire again', is because next time, I'll likely try the DW version.

D/FW gets minimal snow/ice, and when it does, this car stays parked. That's when my wife's 2002 AWD RX300 with BFG A/T's come out of the garage! If we move back to snow country, I'll buy a second set of wheels with dedicated snows...it's that simple.

These tires, after about 12K miles, are still quite quiet, and overall, rather amazing for the cost. They were almost new on the car when I purchased it, used, and I would have picked the same shoes were I to need new ones.

With 12K not completely gentle miles on them, the "W" is still showing on all four, which means I expect I'll get close to 45K-50K out of them.

How to Properly Tighten Your Lug Nuts

Thursday, January 12, 2012 by Alex Mouroulis
Lug nuts are handled differently at almost every garage. If you've experienced a lug that is extremely hard to loosen they were likely tightened with an impact tool. There is a device called a torque stick which can make pneumatic tools much more effective at avoiding over-torque. In most every shop, I see impact tools used, while I often do not see torque sticks. Maybe this is just my luck, or possibly I've only seen a small sample of garages.

I take lug nut torque responsibility into my own hands, literally. When one torques a lug nut or bolt, they're effectively stretching the lug stud or bolt. This is why I recommend always using the lug torque specified in your vehicle's owner's manual and tightening lugs in a crisscross sequence. To gain a better understanding of how to properly tighten and loosen your vehicle's lug hardware, read "Wheel Lug Torquing."

To keep the lugs moving like new on my vehicle, I clean the corrosion off of them with a wire brush. Speaking of new wheels, always make sure to re-torque them after the first twenty miles of driving.

The most effective way to set your lug torque is with a torque wrench.

Tire Rack Adjustable WrenchThe Tire Rack Adjustable Torque Wrench is great for handling tire and wheel duties. I'm going on my tenth year with the tool which equals approximately $4 a year (wrench cost me around $40) to have the correct torque settings.

When the time comes to break lugs loose, use a breaker bar.Gorilla Extendable Power Wrench Personally, I carry the Gorilla Extendable Power Wrench in every one of my vehicles as it's easier to work with than stock lug wrenches for roadside tire changes.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the General Exclaim UHP

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

General Exclaim UHPReviewer's Overall Rating: 7.2

2008 Nissan Altima Sedan
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Miles driven on tires: 12000
Location: glastonbury, ct
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 12000 Miles on Tires
September 13, 2009

Using as a summer tire. Good traction on dry and wet pavement. Was on the car during light snow; it did okay, but not recommended. There's minimal noise, but the tire is still relatively new. Have not noticed any unusual wear. Cornering is stable. Pleasantly surprised with price/performance. If they last 25,000+/- at similar level of performance, I'll buy another set; they're easily as good as the Contis, Dunlops, and Nokians I've owned at a much lower price. Bought this tire (and a set of Enkei wheels from Tirerack came from the dealership when I purchased the car). Very pleased with Tirerack product and service. Recommended local installer was superb in every way.

New Elbrus Wheels for Your 3-Series BMW

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 by Logan Woodworth

Elbrus I08For those of you looking for a custom wheel for your late model BMW 3 Series with the appearance of the M3 wheel, Tire Rack has the solution. The Elbrus I08 is a great addition for someone looking for an inexpensive Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package for their 3 Series coupe, sedan or convertible.

This particular wheel would also be ideal for someone who has a late model 3 Series and would like to give their Bimmer the M3 look without the M3 price tag. These wheels are nearly identical to the styling of the Original Equipment wheels at a fraction of the cost.

Elbrus wheels are manufactured using the latest pressure cast technology and feature an extremely durable I.C.E coating. Not all alloy wheels are created equally and there are several casting methods used to manufacture alloy wheels. These Elbrus wheels are high pressure cast and are more resistant to damage than standard gravity cast. They also offer a durable finish well suited for winter use.