I've been checking out tires at The tire rack and reading the comparisons and comments. I'm just about ready to purchase the Michelin LTX M&S and remembered a few years ago that someone told me about Yokohama tires. I set up a comparison of Michelin to Yokohama. For what it's worth, the Yokohama was at least as good and in some catagories even better than the Michelins. In fact they scored the highest of all the brands. Not only that but at about 2/3 the cost! Is this too good to be true?
So-------does anyone have or know of someone who has the Yokohamas? How are they really?
It seems like Michelin is trying to boost their sales by offering a free palm zire with the purchase of 4 tires. A hundred dollar value! I'd rather get the hundred bucks!
I've had Yokohamas in the past and they've been very good tires.
I've also had Michelins and while they're great tires, like you've noted, they are expensive. I was able to get the Geolander A/T IIs for 2/3s the price of the Michelins.
I've had the Geolanders on for 15K+ miles and they're wearing great. They've performed well in the snow and slush during the winter and have done a great on the trails I've tackled.
I had them sipped when I bought them and I think that's helped some with the winter traction. They aren't great in thick mud, but then most ATs don't do to well in the mud.
About the only negative that comes to mind is noise. They have a fairly open design which is great for traction, but it did result in a bit more noise. It's not bad, but on some road surfaces you can hear them howling a bit.
Hey thanks, that does help. Yeah, I meant to say the BFG Rugged Trail tires, the OEM ones. It's cool that Discount Tire stores around here are selling the Yokohama Geolander A/T II. I hadn't seen it previously. Looks like a good tire.
Actually, I was looking at the Geolander HT/S. I think that's what they were. Anyway, they were more of a highway tire. I do mostly highway driving and almost never go offroad. I would think with a less aggresive tread that the tire would run down the road much quieter than the AT version.
In that case, here's another vote for a Yokohama product.
Based on Tirerack feedback ratings and other reviews, I had my Mom buy the Yokohama Avids for her Previa. They've been great as far as noise - super quiet, and she's been very happy with the traction they've provided during winter driving.
If I'm not mistaken, Yokohama use to have a guarantee that if you didn't like their tires within a certain number of days or miles, you could bring them back for a refund. The guarantee may not be available now, but it's worth at least asking about.
I just put Yokohama HT/S's on my '03 Tundra four days ago. They are 275-70-16's mounted on American Racing Python wheels (16x8). I love them. I aslo researched them on the tire rack. Their ratings sold me on the Yoko's.
I got the tires and wheels from NTB. They price matched (plus $15.00) the best intenet prices.
I just mounted the Yokohama ATS II 265/70/17 tires today. I didnt even notice any extra road noise on the way home today. I hear many good things about the tires.
Here's a question for Cyclone123 and Stcj.. How do the Yoko HT/S tires perform in snow? tirerack.com has some good reviews overall, but seem to be light on reviews in ice/snow. I'm considering these tires, but I need to make sure they are good for the midwest winters.
Unfortunately I can't help you with the snow traction question. I've only had the tires on for 2 weeks. These are nice looking tires and they look good on the Tundra. It's hard to say for sure, but I think these tires are a little stiffer riding than my previous Goodyear Wrangler RT/S. I'm disappointed with that 'cause if you read the comparisons on the tire rack's chart, the Yokos should be far superior. I've always had a vibration in my truck which I thought was caused by the Goodyears. Well now I have new wheels and new tires and still have a vibration. I'm supposed to go and get the tires checked by a local tire shop.
I was going to get the Michelin M/S but got swayed by the price and the tire rack's comparison chart. I'm thinking now maybe I should have got the Michelins. It's hard to say if that would have been a better choice or not.
Did you buy from tire rack, cycl? Are the tires from the same prod run? I've read TR has sent tires from different batches. Are these tires sipped? Are the grooves all the way through the usable trend or just the first 3/32nds like goodyear does? I can't find any store around here with them in stock. Thanks for the info!
We have to remember tire rack's survey results are based on gut feelings of you and I. These results are all subjective. Granted 1000s can't be way off, but I have noticed significant differences in survey results and Consumer Reports road test results.
Like CYCLONE 123, I have not had these tires too long. I can tell you these tires are fantastic in rain. Like CYCLONE 123 mentioned, they are slightly firmer then stock. My truck feels like it corners better, but that could be just in my mind. I would deffinately buy these tires again. I will update my pics soon with a side-by-side pic of the new and the old tires.
Yeh, I bought them from TR. I'll have to go take a better look at the tread. What is sipped? I don't know if they are from the same run. How can you tell and does it matter?
Sipping is cutting small grooves across the tread to improvement contact with the road giving better traction. Michelin LTXs are sipped nicely and they go through the entire usuable tread. Here's a couple of links about sipping:
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/sipe/
http://4crawler.cruiserpages.com/4x4/CheapTricks/TireSiping.shtml#HowToDoIt
Yokohama Tires
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