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Tire Update Posted by Ian Glenday [Email]  (#95)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ian Glenday) on Fri, 14 Dec 2001 19:24:55
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Here is the history of the tires used on my 9-5SE and the observations by me and my SAAB Master Tech.
Michelin MXV4 (original)0 to 30,000 miles. Wear excellent but very noisy and poor in the wet particularly in Florida monsoons.
Firestone SZ50 (not EP)225-50-16, 30,000 to 52,000 miles. Greatly reduced noise and were vast improvement in handling in wet and dry conditions. This is a plus 0 size. Wear was a problem as the inside blocks wore unevenly front to back. Rotation was not the problem it happened front and rear but more on the rear. To get more use from the tires I had then trued (shaved) after 6,000 miles of use.
Dunlop SP Sport W-10, 225-50-16, 52,000 to 72,000 (two of these were replaced under road hazard warranty. These went to 78,000 miles.) Excellent handling wet and dry and very quiet at first. They too were affected by uneven wear. SAAB and Dunlop recommended higher pressure all the way around (44 minimum) This did not stop the uneven wear.
Fulda Carat Extremo 225-50-16, 72,000 to 82,300 miles(present)two tires. Excellent handling wet and dry but started wearing unevenly as with other directional performance tires used before. SAAB Tech states that the suspension of the SAAB 9-5SE is too soft for performance tires and they will wear in this manner. He suggested that a tread that has more straight blocks like the original Michelins are needed to stop this problem.
Dunlop SP Sport A2, 225-50-16, ( 2 tires)78,000 to 82,300 miles. Excellent handling wet and dry. Silent running. Wear is good thus far with no signs of uneven wear on inside blocks.
I am putting this up because of the uneven wear problem with performance tires on the non Aero 9-5's. I was willing at first to pay the premium for the improved performance and quiet but am no longer interested in this. I have read the rhetoric on the use of "H" rated tires on the 9-5 and since I will never approach their limit I feel comfortable with my decision to goe with the SP Sport A2's for my circumstances. The replacement tires I used previously were V or W rated and wore very poorly. The only good thing to be said for the Michelins is that they wore evenly and had about 15,000 to 20,000 miles of tread left when I took them off at 30,000 miles (because of the NOISE and poor wet handling)!
Hope this helps those who are considering upgrading to performance tires. Would like to hear from other 9-5 owners regarding their experiences with these or similar tires on their 9-5. Good luck and happy SAABing!
Ian Glenday
99 9-5SE, 2.3LPT, 82,300 miles
posted by 63.209.1...
_______________________________________ Ian 1959 93b 1967 96V4 1968 99 1974 99L 1988 900S 1988 900 1994 900S 1996 900S 1999 9-5SE, 2.3lpt 1995 9000 CSE 2006 9-3SC, 2.0T
, Fri, 14 Dec 2001 19:24:55 <-- Viewing This Message
, Sat, 15 Dec 2001 06:53:26
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