VX benefits from LRRs

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I have Michelin Harmony 185/65R14 tires on the front of my Mazda. It had a broken belt in one of the front tires when I bought it, so I needed to make a quick choice in replacement tires.

I considered the above mentioned sumitomos and the Potenza RE92s that the Insight uses. However, based on reviews from Consumer Reports, some independent rolling resistance data, and Ecomodder forums, I chose the Harmonies.

Customer reviews on tirerack.com and elsewhere are dissatisfied with the Potenzas for sacrificing lots of handling for little rolling resistance gain. I'm very happy with my Harmonies, which I have inflated to the sidewall max of 44psi.

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Originally Posted by backsidesnap

I have been looking around to buy a set of sumitomo htr t4's for a long time. And it seemed that tirerack was the only place to find them. then I found onlinetires.com and they have them at 39 each for the stock vx size. and the shipping is ten bucks less. Just ordered them tonight, but im excited to have lrr's in the stock size!

Any update on the Sumitomo HTR T4s? I'm torn between the 175/70 Kumho Eco Solus (marketed as a LRR tire) and the 165/70 Sumitomo HTR T4 (that has the reputation as a LRR tire.)

Slight advantage to the 165/70 for being the stock size, since I dont' have to do any match, and it retains the same (intended) ratios as the stock VX. But Kumho *says* their tires are LRR, so it has to be true, right?!


EDIT: Also saw that the Potenza RE92 is available in 165/65-13... are these popular?