New 'All Season' Tires for Scion xD?
 

My spouse's car, a 2008 Scion xD needs a new set of 'all season' tires. We have full winter tires (Nokian Hakka 5's) so they only need to be 3 season - and mainly they should be low rolling resistance and long wearing, and have decent wet traction.

Here's the best *rated* tire from TireRack in the standard size (195/60/R16): Yokohama AVID Ascend (H- or V-Speed Rated)

This is the only model that specifically mentions LRR features, and it has by far the longest tread wear rating - 740 vs 400 for the next longest rating.

I'll try to find info on Michelin and Nokian...

What are your recommendations? Thanks in advance!

question is moot...
 

I ended up ordering the Nokian eNTYRE, even though the closest size is 205/60/R16 (0.6" wider than stock), because I think they are better than the Yokohama's, and because it supports my local business - Chang Ho Kim! In the end these are only about $25 more than the Yokohama tires.

If you stick to the stock size, then the Yokohama Avid Ascend are the best bet, I think. Only three makers have that exact size, and the others have far lower wear ratings, and do not mention anything about LRR, either.

Did you check out going skinnier to 185s or 175s?

Neil,

You've been around here long enough to know that "LRR" is a relative term and doesn't mean great rolling resistance. It means "better" rolling resistance compared to other tires with similar wear and traction characteristics.

Put a different way, you can't get both super low RR and super long treadwear in the same tire. It's a compromise. So you need to decide what compromise works for you. Tire Rack is a good way to research this. - and the OE tires are most likely to give you the best RR, but if look at the treadwear ratings, they aren't so good.

The 16" wheel is not available any narrower than the 195 size, as far as I could find. Most brands start at the 205 width for a 16" wheel.

Yeah, I know that the tread wear is only relative and so are the LRR claims.

By the way, I contacted Bridgestone today asking about their "Large & Narrow" tire; asking both about if/when it will be available, and whether they will be supplying a wheel to go with it. I'll post any answer I get...