touring tires for 900T vert

[speed32219]

Well, I'm finally getting around to changing dry rotted tires on the 94 900T vert I purchased. (Mainly due to slow leaks) I priced the Mich MXVR+ energy 195/H60/15's and the price for 4 is roughly 551 OTD. (Out-The-Door)

I search the forum and found a post by Jezzadee refrencing the Tirerack.com website with some alternative tires for the 900's.

Just ordered the Kumho Solus KH16 grand touring for $46 each. Anyone try these tires before?

(This is what I get for buying a car with only 62K on the clock but has been sitting under a cover for many a year with very little usage)

[Honkey]

Skimping on tires is never a good idea and you always get what you pay for...

I had nasty Perelli P6000's on my C900 when I bought it and recently changed them to Bridgestone Potenza GIII's and it made such a difference...

As long as you stick with the good brands like Toyo and Bridestone and dont get the cheapest tire they make you'll be fine

[sknaffl]

I just picked up 4 Bridgestone Potenza's for $320 OTD...and I can't be more pleased...handling is great, and road noise is non-existant.

I had been a die-hard Michelin fan for years, but honestly feel like their quality has gone somewhat downhill over the last 3 or 4 years...yet they are still one of the most expensive....after a little shopping, price comparisons, and reading a lot of reviews...I felt the Bridgestone's were the best deal and so far have been right.

I've read Khumo's aren't that bad either

[eggsngrits]

I've had the exact Kumho tires from the exact source for about a year or eighteen months. They've been great.

On the other hand, I only drive the 'vert about 4k per year, so your experience may vary. Hey, for $46 each, give it a whirl!

[speed32219]

Yep, that's what I wanted to hear. PPL's impressions of the Kumho tires and the comparisions. The reviews I read looked pretty darn good so I pulled the trigger. I'll post back after I put a few thousand on them. Plan a trip to the GA/NC mountains and possibly TN (Gatlinberg) in mid september. Then I will be able to tell ya'll a story about the tires general touring performance as well as the twisties. Stay tuned for the Fall premiere of, "900T over the tail of the dragon" or "Saab's return to deals Gap". It's becoming an annual event.

Just might have to stop by Nora Mills near Helen Ga. to grab fresh stone mill ground speckled grtis. Looking at your NIC has my belly growling. EggsNgrits for sure.

[eggsngrits]

Well, in Gatlinburg you're going to do nothing but stop, roll forward 30-40 feet, stop again. Wait 1.5 minutes, repeat.

So, I know the Kumhos are good for that!

I do recommend downtown Asheville, NC when you're in the area. Hold off the urge to stop in Hendersonville for a meal and keep going the additional 20 miles into Asheville. Asheville has a bohemian side that is infinitely more entertaining.

Sknaffl can tell you more, but a great time may be had in Knoxville, too -- I recommend the Old City just below downtown closer to the river.

[sknaffl]

[QUOTE=eggsngrits]Well, in Gatlinburg you're going to do nothing but stop, roll forward 30-40 feet, stop again. Wait 1.5 minutes, repeat.

HAHA...very true...I live in Knoxville and I avoid Gatlinburg at all costs...If you really want to put your new tires to the test....take the drive up to Fontana Lake and Robinsville NC...through Maryville, TN (just outside of Knoxville)....not only is it a beautiful drive but it is one heck of a work out on your car....if everything is in order with your suspension...it's an awesome ride.

It's known as the "trail of the dragon" in the motorcycle community...I call it Hwy. 129

[Gabby]

We have KUMHO's on both of our 900's--the tires you mentioned on our 91 vert--I have V rated ecsta's on my 3 door. They are quiet, and stick in the wet and dry. No complaints at all. We have been running them for 6 months or so. Our local SAAB guru recommends them.

Be sure to drive the Cherohala Skyway between Robbinsville, NC and Tellico Plains, TN. The route goes over the Continental Divide (5000+') and has some spectacular scenery and nice sweepers and some tighter twisties that you will enjoy!! While on my motorcycle on that route, I regularly am laughing inside my helmet!

You should be well served with your new KUMHOs, and will retain a fair amount of scratch in your wallet versus some of the more famous alternatives.

[sknaffl]

Originally Posted by speed32219

Stay tuned for the Fall premiere of, "900T over the tail of the dragon" or "Saab's return to deals Gap". It's becoming an annual

I should have read your post a little more closely....since you've already been on the ride...you know how fun it can be.....

ever noticed on one of the dragon turns the memorial of the motorcycle guy...it's got the rear end of his motorcycle, his helmet, and his shoes all driving into the side of an enbankment...I thought that was a good monument for motorcycle enthusiasts...and a reminder on how dangerous that road can be

[Yipcanjo]

In my (personal) opinion, 1010tires.com is a much better site for researching tires, though TireRack.com has far better prices.

I am personally driving on Toyo Proxes TPT tires. A very good performing All-Season tire.

http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?ti...del=Proxes+TPT

Next, however, I might like to check out the Toyo Proxes 4!

http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?ti...model=Proxes+4



Yip

[Gabby]

For C900 Saabing, Deals Gap is to me, over rated. The roadway is very,very tight with many switchbacks and steep up and down grades. I would be running it in first and second gear most of the time, maybe up into third on some of short straights between the switchbacks. On a motorcycle, even a sport-touring mount, dragging hard parts in the turns is pretty much standard.

Any good day will find the road overrun by squids (stupid, quick and dead) on motorbikes--and local LEO's that have enjoyed pulling their remains out of the trees all they care to.

Occasionally one will also find an entire turn blocked by a tractor trailer dragging itself through the mountain pass.

One prolly needs to drive or ride it once, just to say you have done it--then go drive/ride the Cherohala Skyway.

[eggsngrits]

I wasn't that impressed with the Toyo tires that I put on my wife's Toyota RAV4. A completely different tire than the Saab would have, so perhaps not a fair comparison. The Toyo dealer in my area is the BEST (Gateway Tire), that's why I put them on the Toyota. I'll buy tires from them again, it will just be from one of their other lines.

A quick note about tire quality:

The big-name tire makers that have huge contracts with the car OEMs (Bridgestone/Firestone, Goodyear, General, etc.) will grade their tires for quality. In the case of Bridgestone, they grade A, B, C and F. A= passed quality first time, good tire. B=needed minor rework to pass quality, usually just cosmetic. C= needed more rework to pass (sometimes grinding to put it into round or to make it balance). F=it's trashed.

The A tires automatically go to the OEM customers.
If any A tires are left, they go to the Bridegestone/Firestone stores. The demand at the BFS stores is made up with 'B' grade tires.
If there are 'B' tires left over from the BFS stores, they go to the independent dealers, who also get the 'C' grade tires. Sometimes the independents get the 'A' tires when there are enough.

The point: If you are going to buy from a name-brand company and the tire brand store is a little more expensive, it may be worth it. Just because the same name, model and size is on the tire, it isn't always the same.

That's a fact.

[speed32219]

Yeah Gabby, I just may take the Cherohala Skyway around deals gap (US129)to the foothills parkway, then hwy 321 toward Pigeon Forge and close to wear valley we'll take little river road (Which is a hoot) over to 441 and then south to Cherokee. (Yes, I usually take my Honda Valkyrie up there but this time we are going 4 wheel topless) It'll be a good test and fun ride in the 900T vert. Tomorrow the Kumho KH16 tires are suppose to be here, can't wait to try them out, thanks for the great review.

EggsNgrits, you are so right on the tire thingie. How many times have I bought a new car and put 60K+ on the tires only to buy the exact same set from the tire manufactorer store and only get 35K out of them. I even think the Big automakers get specialty tires for long wear.

[Albert Trout]

I've got Kuhmo Ecsta KH11's on mine. Great tyres, especially in the wet, which is a must where I live. 205/45 R16's which actually improved the ride compared to the nasty 195's I ran before. And they were cheaper

[eggsngrits]

Originally Posted by speed32219

EggsNgrits, you are so right on the tire thingie. How many times have I bought a new car and put 60K+ on the tires only to buy the exact same set from the tire manufactorer store and only get 35K out of them. I even think the Big automakers get specialty tires for long wear.

Perhaps, but I think that this has more to do with the car having 60k miles on it when you put the new ones on!