anyone NOT like the stock tires?

[BetaDnB]

Originally Posted by Mutinyofthemind

16" Continental ContiProContacts here. Less then 7,500 miles on the fronts and they're almost to the wear bar, rears are about 3/4ths there. Haven't had any hydroplane issues, but it's almost not worth it to bother with getting them swapped out with the tire warranty if it just needs to be done again in less then 6 months. Heavy stop-go traffic, and I tend to be a bit quick in the corners... but that's a lot of wear over a little time.

Tempted to just buy some Falken ZE-512s (do hydroplane like hell when you have 1/4th tread left). Lasted about 14K on my Cobalt, but they had great grip, and didn't feel so... squirrely.

What? You must drive like an absolute insane (completely unsafe) maniac and don't rotate your tires. I have the same tires, drive and corner hard, and my tires easily have another 25,000 miles left in them. I've also autocrossed/daily driven on low tread wear rated tires and never got less than 15,000 miles out of them. So you're either talking out your a-- or shouldn't have the privilege to drive.

I'm happy with the tires for daily driving and spirited driving.

[st falcon]

^^YEAH....I drove very "spirirted-ly" on my old tires, Potenza RE950 High performance all seasons....they were rated at 340 tread wear, and went 50000 miles! I have pushed these Conti's to the limit (induced understeer) on highway clover leaf on-ramps, and the tire broke free very smoothly and predicatably...

They are a competent tire on a car that cost 20K

[brent375hh]

I set my tire pressure (38F 33R) to achieve a fairly balanced drift, and very occasionally drive like that. I now have exactly 9.5/32 of tread left on all four tires measured at the middle, with 2K on the car. Assuming these actually measured the 10/32 that Continental states, since I did not check them when new, it would take me 24K miles before they hit the 4/32, the point which I get new ones.

I have no complaints about traction, including in rain and light snow. Seat of the pants tell me that my car will hang with my buddy's 2004 Mustang GT in corners, and he thinks the same, but his now wears Riken.

If they don't have the sidewall hernias that some complain about, I might well buy another set, but it appears that many people would prefer the DWS from Continental judging by Tire Rack polls.

[st falcon]

Originally Posted by brent375hh

I set my tire pressure (38F 33R) to achieve a fairly balanced drift, and very occasionally drive like that. I now have exactly 9.5/32 of tread left on all four tires measured at the middle, with 2K on the car. Assuming these actually measured the 10/32 that Continental states, since I did not check them when new, it would take me 24K miles before they hit the 4/32, the point which I get new ones.

I have no complaints about traction, including in rain and light snow. Seat of the pants tell me that my car will hang with my buddy's 2004 Mustang GT in corners, and he thinks the same, but his now wears Riken.

If they don't have the sidewall hernias that some complain about, I might well buy another set, but it appears that many people would prefer the DWS from Continental judging by Tire Rack polls.

Your Focus would hang with an 04 Mustang GT in a turn with almost any tire, unless he had some serious, serious rubber equipped.

[Kabigon]

Originally Posted by Duffman355

I hate Continental tires. I was disappointed to see the new Foci rolling out of the factory with them

Yeah, it's too bad that the Germans don't know how to make tires and that BMW puts Conti tires on many of their cars, including the M models.

Imagine how good the M3 would be if it had decent tires on it.


/sarcasm off

[st falcon]

Originally Posted by Kabigon

Yeah, it's too bad that the Germans don't know how to make tires and that BMW puts Conti tires on many of their cars, including the M models.

Imagine how good the M3 would be if it had decent tires on it.


/sarcasm off

Should some with Hankook's, wonder why the M cars dont have such prodigious rubber...

[Mutinyofthemind]

Originally Posted by BetaDnB

What? You must drive like an absolute insane (completely unsafe) maniac and don't rotate your tires. I have the same tires, drive and corner hard, and my tires easily have another 25,000 miles left in them. I've also autocrossed/daily driven on low tread wear rated tires and never got less than 15,000 miles out of them. So you're either talking out your a-- or shouldn't have the privilege to drive.

I'm happy with the tires for daily driving and spirited driving.

Don't appreciate the accusations, keep them to yourself. This is about the stock tires, not critiquing someone else's driving by talking out of YOUR ass.

I have a 20 mile commute in heavy stop-go traffic. Heavy on the brakes, frequent on the gas. Additional 10 miles on highway at a consistent 70mph. I've made this commute in two different cars, with four sets of tires between them. Stock Contis on my Cobalt lasted roughly 11,000, which seems to be where the Focus is heading as well. Next was a set of Falken ZE-512's on the Cobalt, those wore out after 14,000. That was the only set that was driven hard for ~1,000 miles. Last set of tires on the Cobalt where Pirelli P4s that had lasted for 25,000. It'd be a lie to say I'm ALWAYS at the speed limit, no is around here. When traffic moves, everyone is doing 5-10 over the limit. I pick a lane and stay in it for the whole commute until my merge to the highway. I will take turns without slowing down if not needed, but I'm not trying to hit the apex of every turn while squealing the tires and them on the edge of losing grip. As for driving like a maniac? Go yourself.

[BetaDnB]

Sorry dude. I've spent plenty of time working with and around tires. They don't just wear down that quickly with highway and stop and go traffic. Hell I got two full years out of a set of kumho asx's that started off life with a day going round and round Nelson ledges. And by 2 full years I mean through western new York winters too. I wasn't asking for an explanation. My post was about the stock tires and the only way they're going to wear at a rate you described.
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[st falcon]

Originally Posted by Mutinyofthemind

Don't appreciate the accusations, keep them to yourself. This is about the stock tires, not critiquing someone else's driving by talking out of YOUR ass.

I have a 20 mile commute in heavy stop-go traffic. Heavy on the brakes, frequent on the gas. Additional 10 miles on highway at a consistent 70mph. I've made this commute in two different cars, with four sets of tires between them. Stock Contis on my Cobalt lasted roughly 11,000, which seems to be where the Focus is heading as well. Next was a set of Falken ZE-512's on the Cobalt, those wore out after 14,000. That was the only set that was driven hard for ~1,000 miles. Last set of tires on the Cobalt where Pirelli P4s that had lasted for 25,000. It'd be a lie to say I'm ALWAYS at the speed limit, no is around here. When traffic moves, everyone is doing 5-10 over the limit. I pick a lane and stay in it for the whole commute until my merge to the highway. I will take turns without slowing down if not needed, but I'm not trying to hit the apex of every turn while squealing the tires and them on the edge of losing grip. As for driving like a maniac? Go yourself.

All crap aside, it still seems very implausible man...not trying to call you a liar, but 11-14000 miles? The old tube tires of the fiftiesand before lasted longer...

[Joey D]

The Conti's aren't very good if you want to do anything other than commute down the freeway during warmer months. They will suit probably 95% of Focus owners just fine and last long enough to make those owners happy enough.

For anyone who drives a bit more spiritedly they are pretty terrible and during the winter they are even worse. But then again anyone who does drive their car in any other way than just a typically commuter, usually puts dedicated summer tires on their cars with winter tires if needed. I plan on swapping my tires pretty soon, I just couldn't justify scraping brand new tires no matter how much I didn't like them.