# Tire purchase 215/55/17 **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 9, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246 "2021-09-09T02:16:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/1 "2021-09-09T02:16:46Z")
What would be a good/reasonable tire for 215/55/17 for a hybrid? I didn’t find a lot of choices - America’s Tire has their own brand now, Sentury! Name brands are twice as expensive! Believe all made in China! Any experience with GT RadialChampiro Touring A/S? ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/2 "2021-09-09T02:46:45Z")
So, you won’t complain With civil unrest, covid, work from home Anything made by Michelin. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/4/4/44ae2f53e68488ac9b2bc332d97d476e8c82b99a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 11:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/3 "2021-09-09T11:08:43Z")
> [@sciconf](#): > > I didn’t find a lot of choices Many, many choices listed on Tirerack. “Reasonable” really, IMHO, should be based on driving conditions and needs. Not on saving $10 or $15/tire. From [itstillruns.com](http://itstillruns.com). “Some companies make thousands of different tires, so sorting out who made what and where can be confusing. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers maintains a list of codes for unionized tire manufacturers on its website. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration also maintains a searchable database to locate the manufacturer and its location.” Though manufacturers are multi-National, they still have plants in America. From [tiredeets.com](http://tiredeets.com): “ One of the most popular Chinese brands in the US is definitely Sentury. The company is one of the largest tiremakers in its country” As far as your question, No, I don’t have any experience with that tire. In my area America’s Tire stores are Discount Tire stores. They **might** be one of the few retailers selling Sentury. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 11:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/4 "2021-09-09T11:49:30Z")
You didn’t find a lot of choices? Tire Rack lists 102 different choices in that size. For a hybrid, you want a tire with what Tire Rack labels Eco Focus. Sometimes the term “LRR” is used to indicate the same thing. Both those terms mean better rolling resistance than comparable tires with similar wear and grip. Unfortunately Discount Tire doesn’t call those out on its web site. Yes, those are more expensive, but you save at the gas pump. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/5 "2021-09-09T12:00:07Z")
I second @CapriRacer’s comments. The 4 little rubber patches are the only things that keep you on the road, stop you before a big accident or allow you to swerve around that accident. Cheaping out on tires is never a good idea. Especially with a hybrid or EV, your MPGs can and will be affected by a cheap tire. It will on any car but you paid extra for the hybrid, why throw it all away on a cheap tire? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 12:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/6 "2021-09-09T12:07:42Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > The 4 little rubber patches are the only things that keep you on the road, stop you before a big accident or allow you to swerve around that accident. +1 I used to know a guy who complained that $40 was too much to pay for a tire because, “It’s just a hunk of rubber”. Rather than giving him a technical explanation of why he was wrong, I simply said, “Okay… If I give you $40, can you manufacture a tire for me? No? How about if I give you $100?”. That silenced his complaining. This guy had Delta tires on his car, but he always bought them one at a time and they were all different tire models, plus there were at least 2 different sizes mixed up among the 4 tires. Riding in his car was… an adventure… 😏 ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 1:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/7 "2021-09-09T13:20:25Z")
Even Walmart has a lot of choices for that size tire . If the ones on the vehicle are fine maybe just put the same on a again . As posted the purpose of the tires is more inportant that trying to save a few dollars. ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/8 "2021-09-09T14:03:16Z")
Yeap, Walmart seems to have plenty. Never bought from them before, bit scared. Thanks all - yeah, safety is important. The 2016 GoodYear Assuarance has sidewall issue and has been slowly leaking. It seems like tires are like vegetables, not good after 6 yrs or so - definitely not after 10yrs. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/9 "2021-09-09T14:08:59Z")
> [@sciconf](#): > > It seems like tires are like vegetables, not good after 6 yrs or so - definitely not after 10yrs. It is reccomended that tires be replaced after 5 to 8 years depending on where a person is located . Hot climates will cause tire dry rot and side wall cracks in as little as 5 years. And that applies to all brands . Why would you be afraid of a brand name tire from Walmart ? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/10 "2021-09-09T14:11:53Z")
> [@sciconf](#): > > not good after 6 yrs or so - definitely not after 10yrs. Yes, correct. Rubber aging starts the moment it leaves the mold and continues until it is recycled. When it ages, it hardens and weakens and becomes unsafe. I just replaced a set of 7 year old tires with OK tread depth and rubber harder than asphalt! ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/11 "2021-09-09T14:17:11Z")
Curious, you are a “bit scared” of buying from Walmart, but considering a tire manufactured in China from from America’s Tire (Discount Tires)? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/12 "2021-09-09T14:17:38Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > When it ages, it hardens and weakens and becomes unsafe +1 Even my _incredibly_ cheap friend recently replaced his 7 year old tires that had less than 5k miles of wear on them. ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/13 "2021-09-09T14:21:48Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Curious, you are a “bit scared” of buying from Walmart, but considering a tire manufactured in China from from America’s Tire (Discount Tires)? Better customer service. They focus on one thing, tire - not even wheel alignment. And they excel. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/14 "2021-09-09T14:25:58Z")
Most higher end tires are not made in China. But alot of the off-brand/generic ones are. A decent perennial bang for buck choice is the General RT43 . ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/15 "2021-09-09T14:31:50Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Yes, correct. Rubber aging starts the moment it leaves the mold and continues until it is recycled. When it ages, it hardens and weakens and becomes unsafe. I just replaced a set of 7 year old tires with OK tread depth and rubber harder than asphalt! Does tire wet prolong tire life? Which tire wet? ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/16 "2021-09-09T14:33:54Z")
Now I always research tires at [tirerack.com](http://tirerack.com) and Consumer Reports. Sometimes I buy from tr, usually locally. My friendly neighborhood garage recommended General Altimax RT43. (tr and CR rated them highly, too.) They charged nothing to mount and balance and the net price was about the same as buying from tr. The tires have been excellent on my van and I may well buy the same for my Civic. ---
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/17 "2021-09-09T14:34:31Z")
I second the recommendation of Generals. Discount Tire carries them for a good price. Medium priced high quality tires. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/18 "2021-09-09T14:36:17Z")
> [@sciconf](#): > > Does tire wet prolong tire life? > Which tire wet? No , there is not a dimes worth of difference in brands . I use it because they just look better to me. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/19 "2021-09-09T14:44:15Z")
I put Altimax RT43s on my wife’s Silhouette. They rode well, we’re quiet, and had decent life until we sold the van. I do not know if they have a LRR version, but I would buy them again, or the most recent incarnation from General. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246/20 "2021-09-09T14:50:35Z")
No, no rubber treatment prolongs tire life. Plus, you cannot treat the tread. That would be like smearing grease on the tread… not good! [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-purchase-215-55-17/179246.md?page=2)