Need some suggestions on new tires - live in St. Louis area

[vexter0944]

Hello everyone - been a while since I've posted - but I need a little advice from the St. Louis area people. I just moved here and am in need of some new tires as my factory ones are just about shot. I have 16" silver rims on a 2000 Camaro v6. They are the stock Goodyear ones. Question 1 - what type/brand should I get for the area/weather? Question 2 - any good shops that offer good deals around here? Any help would be appreciated - thanks!

[ December 29, 2003: Message edited by: vexter0944 ]

[ December 29, 2003: Message edited by: vexter0944 ]</p>

[V6Bob]

I don't mean to be annoying, but that's quite a question. It's kinda like posting "What car should I get" on a general car board. The answers you get will be similarly helpful for you, personally.

Dirt cheap tire that's decent? Kumho 711 (pretty bad in snow). Max dry cornering performance with acceptable tread life? Goodyear GS-D3 (virtually undrivable in snow). Best all round tire for good/somewhat bad weather? Michelin Pilot Sports A/S (about $200 a pop). Middle of the road tire - inexpensive, high quality, long life, does most things OK? Michelin Harmony (but some people will laugh at the style - you'd have to get 215/60 and they're used on minivans). This could go on forever.

You'd get a lot better info with some facts.

How much do you care about cost, style, noise, ride, dry weather traction, tread life?

Saint Louis gets some snow. Do you have a winter beater? Would you consider two sets of wheels/tires; winter/summer?

[vexter0944]

O.k. - sorry for the 'generality' of the post.

Cost - pretty important - trying to keep cost to between 400-500 bucks

Style - I love the way the stock Goodyears on my car now - would like something similar

Noise - not a big issue

Ride - as long as it's similar to stock that's cool

Dry Weather Traction - stock or better would be fine - I don't drive like a maniac and I tend to do more highway than city driving

Wet Weather Traction - stock or better would be fine - for snow as long as it's drivable that's cool - rain on the other hand - it'd be nice to have a little better rain traction

Tread Life - I'm guessing 50,000+ miles...

Oh yeah - no winter beater - and I'd rather not do 2 sets of rims/tires.

The deal is I'm no tire expert - so I'm just looking for some insight...and was hoping that some people who live in the 'Lou would say hey "I got my tires here - this kind and this place and they are great for this area." That's all. Thanks for any more help everyone can offer.

[ December 29, 2003: Message edited by: vexter0944 ]</p>

[V6Bob]

"no winter beater - and I'd rather not do 2 sets of rims/tires"

A lot of the recommendations here are for performance tires, pretty bad in snow. I'd go with all-season tires.

"Style - I love the way the stock Goodyears on my car now - would like something similar"

Your "stock" Goodyears might be either 215/60 (base model) or 235/55 (factory option, or included in Y87 package).

If they're 215/60s I like the Michelin Harmony (my winter tires). In your price range, Michelin quality, work well, 80,000 mile warranty.

If it's 235/55, Kumhos generally get good ratings here and are about the cheapest decent tire going. The all season model in that size is the 716.

Another choice in 235/55 is the Firestone Firehawk 500. Great owner ratings on tirerack's web site.