Bingo! Now if only the rim size was the same... I am expecting to do the TPMS bypass soon since mine are somewhere around 8 years running now. I would be looking into just using regular stems on the rims when I buy new tires. The TPMS system on these cars is antiquated, low tech in the area of user friendliness, and expensive (and the bypass is super easy). Luckily I am in a state that doesn't 'safety check' the TPMS system (in fact SC dropped 'inspections' long ago because of complaints and fraud throughout the state inspection system). As a footnote, using syfi's example wouldn't you have to do 4 tires not two as in his example? Using the figure he gave (for the 2 rears) the cost would double from 2 @ $100 to 4 @ $200?


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NO, NO, NO !!! Did I say NO ?
Keep the old TPMS in the wheel, the OEM wheels are designed to have it, if you remove it you will end up with a big ugly clump of stick-on weights after balancing.
This will be to compensate for the missing ounces of the TPMS sensor.

 

This is EXACTLY why I love this site and the bunch of guys/gals in here! I never thought about that! Thanks George, seems getting older is such FUN (I should now make a note and put it in my XF logbook for when I buy new tires and do the TMPS bypass, otherwise I might forget)!


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I KNEW THAT!!

But only because George pointed it out to me...

 

I don't know if you could call mine expensive but I run Fierce Instinct in the front ($116/tire) and BFGoodrich g-force TA KDW in the rear ($270/tire). I have to buy them one at a time because I'm 19 years old and don't have the jobs that the older guys on here do. They are great tires and handle really well. Road noise is not the quietest but that doesn't bother me because I absolutely love my car. And it's a sports car, not a Cadillac. Just wanted to share my experience with you man. I wish you a good experience with your own

 

It is.

And that is my response when someone asks about a spare tire, cheap gas, etc.

I have a secret to making my tires last - I bought a Ford Ranger to drive and put all the miles on - saving the car. These really are not a suitable "daily driver"; sure, you CAN do it. And I did it for almost 5 years. But after wrecking mine and replacing it with a LOW miles 07, I went out and bought a ten year old pickup. Best move I made in a long time.

 

Agreed. I have a 98 Honda Accord that I could drive everyday but I just love being in my Crossfire. My trip to work is only 10 miles round trip every day. Everything I need is within ten miles (small town life is good sometimes) so I don't struggle with that. I think I'm going to drive it until the wheels fall off and pick up a nice low miles SRT6 when I get out into the Air Force here in the next year. Then turn the Accord into one of those street-scraping stance cars that everyone loves to hate. Since I'm already enjoying the foreign sports car game.

 

You got an ole Danger Ranger weird that my dad actually had one too that he daily'd while the Fire sat in the garage.

 

For me the four contact points MAKE or BREAK the car. I go for the best when it comes to tires. Go cheap on the stereo, go cheap on the washer fluid, go cheap on the replacement license plate bulb but never go cheap on tires.

 

I'd like to say thank you for all the responses. I should have made my question a bit more specific. I wasn't looking for the totally cheapest tires. I agree that saving money on tires is not the way to go. I was just trying to see if there is a comparable alternative for the Michelin Pilot Sport 2s, I have been buying since I purchased the vehicle in '09.
From what I gathered here I think I should be looking into Hankook, Falken, Continental and GMAX! Gonna see if I can dig something up.
Always good to hear from you guys. This definitely is the best forum and car club of any car I have ever owned!

 

Agreed!!! They have helped me so much.

 

Tire barn in terra haute $20 dismount and remount with nitrogen filled and re balanced

 

Just ordered my Motivo from http://4wheelonline.com/NittoTires.19627 so I can't comment yet about its road performance and treadlife. I bought this tire because most of my buddies are recommending it. I also checked some online reviews and most of them are positive.

 

Obviously a man of refined taste and shrewd thinking!

 

Did you get all 4? I don't see the rear size as available in their pull down.
Also, I have never had tires with this low a profile, do we need to go to a shop with specialized equipment, if so, what would you ask?

 

No, any competent tire shop should be able to handle the tire change.
What I would be more concerned about is what balancer they have.
You need to find a place with a "Road Force" balancer.

 

Is that when they balance on the car, on a roller?

 

No, that balancing machine utilizes a pressure roller to simulate road force.

 

This link will help find one close to you.

Maybe.

Hunter GSP9700 Wheel vibration Control System solves wheel vibration and tire pull problems that balancers and aligners can't fix

 

Thanks, it looks like there are tons in my area.