Ok I just got my P5 today and with all the bad things about the Dunlop SP5000's I'm hearing I went and talked to a local tire store about tradeing in the Dunlops for other tires. So far they've offered me Cooper Lifeliner Touring SLE's H-rated 205/50/16 for $60 CDN a piece.

Would you go through with the deal? Other any other tires you'd recommend if not the Coopers?

I am planning on getting winter tires/rims in the fall/winter also.

 

I have had no trouble with the Dunlops except when the tread gets to the end and in the snow. I have winter tires for my car that I use for 4 months a year.

I think they are great tires for dry roads and even wet roads. I did notice that during heavy rain w/25000 miles on my old sedan, the tires seemed to hydro-plane at lower speeds than other tires that I have had.

When I got rid of my sedan last december, my tires were on their last miles.

I think you will be okay with just getting some snow tires for the winter. I got mine at discounttire.com for $425 shipped and with insurance last october. They are 14 inch steel rims with 196/60/14 tires that handle pretty well on the dry roads. They do wear fast though being soft and having less surface area in contact with the road.

They did a great job with all the snow we got up here in mass this winter and I was glad that I got them. The dunlops on my sedan did terrible in the couple of very small snow storms we had in 2001-02 winter.

If I were you, I would not take that offer and just invest in some new rims and tires for the winter......is that $60 with a trade in of your dunlops? Does that include mounting and balancing?

I am very glad with the handling the stock dunlops offer on my P5.

Just giving you my opinion after driving with the dunlop sport 5000's for the last three years.

-R

 

Yep it's $60 CDN (~$40 U.S) per tire with Dunlop trade in. Install and everything included. Not to mention the Coopers would come with a 60,000 mile "warranty".

Since there is more "tire" on the Coopers......would it ride better? (smoother / quieter?) as I plan on doing some long hi-way trips this summer.

 

I have taken many long trips with the dunlops and i believe they ride nice. I would not get rid of them for the coopers, especially since they want you to trade them in. I would just invest in snow tires for the winter. Check out reviews on the coopers and compare them to the dunlops.

Since there is more tire, I don't think they will necessary ride better. They could make more noise and pick up more road sounds?

Stick with the dunlops will they have to get replaced. I drove my first set on my sedan hard and got probably 27,000 miles on them before they got noticeably bad. You probably can get 35k on them if driven economically.

-R

 

A local dealer was telling me that there was an old man who was still on his first set of Dunlops after 45,000 miles and they still looked good.
Mine have 15,300 on them and won't last another 15 k, but I drive and corner pretty hard.

 

Yeah, mine were coming to the end of their lives after 21K. I corner pretty fast and hard getting on the highways because the car handles great. Thats unreal getting 45k out of them. Man must drive like crazy slow or something? I can't see getting over 36k driving carefully. Whatever, I love my car and drive her pretty hard (not abusing though).

Hell, If I get 25-30K out of a set I am not going to complain......

-R

 

The only complaint i have with the stock dunlop is for the winter. But for a spring, summer, fall street tire i think they're pretty darn good and glad we got them stock. My experience with tires are worn potenzas and futura tires (4 for$99) and the dunlops were better in my opinion, except for snow.

 

there is NO WAY I would trade for those coopers....do you realize that would be like paying $140 USD for EACH of those coopers?

I am not sure where you are hearing all these bad things about the dunlops but they are WRONG! so they may not be a good tire for driving in the snow...but for a spring/summer/fall tire they are GREAT!! they make the car handle like a slot car...they have great adhesion and wear properties.

IF you get those coopers....whatever you do...do not try to go zipping around corners like you can with the dunlops...if you do you will find yourself in the ditch with a bent up new car....the reason they are warrantied for 60,000 miles is because the compound the tire is made of is HARD...which does make it last longer...but also DECREASES the adhesion properties of the tire...it won't GRIP the road as well.

I'm sorry....but in my opinion...if you trade in the dunlops for any other tire before they are just plain ol' wore out....YOU are making a HUGE mistake.

you would be much better served to find some fairly inexpensive 15 or 16 inch SNOW TIRES and some steel rims for next winter.

 

The stock tires are just fine for stock ones. Nuke is right, the Coopers are a rip off.