problems with the Goodyear Eagle RSA tires?
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Tire Rack ratings are informative, but not perfectly accurate. Some observations --
Issue #1 -- new vs. old tires -- comparing two different tires based on a new tire and the worn out tires they are replacing. A new tire gets much better traction, handling, wet traction, and quieter ride/ less tread noise than a worn out tire. Read most reviews and the 'new' tire brand almost always is proclaimed way better than the old one.
Issue #2 -- brand loyalty -- my experience is that most brands have good tires and crap tires, but some will condemn every tire or praise every tire based on brand. Just human nature.
Issue #3 -- injustice -- many reviewers are ticked off that their 60,000 mile tires are worn out after 35,000 miles (some tires just don't last as long as ratings indicate, but it may be the vehicle, balancing, alignment, or driving habits) -- people don't like the idea of getting ripped off
This would tend to bias evaluations of original equipment tires; tires with short tread life; and tires that are more average than exceptional like the RS-A or Turanza RE92A.
As a side note, I think the RS-A tire was originally developed for quietness and traction for luxury cars like Lexus and are manufactured in Japan.
Issue #1 -- new vs. old tires -- comparing two different tires based on a new tire and the worn out tires they are replacing. A new tire gets much better traction, handling, wet traction, and quieter ride/ less tread noise than a worn out tire. Read most reviews and the 'new' tire brand almost always is proclaimed way better than the old one.
Issue #2 -- brand loyalty -- my experience is that most brands have good tires and crap tires, but some will condemn every tire or praise every tire based on brand. Just human nature.
Issue #3 -- injustice -- many reviewers are ticked off that their 60,000 mile tires are worn out after 35,000 miles (some tires just don't last as long as ratings indicate, but it may be the vehicle, balancing, alignment, or driving habits) -- people don't like the idea of getting ripped off
This would tend to bias evaluations of original equipment tires; tires with short tread life; and tires that are more average than exceptional like the RS-A or Turanza RE92A.
As a side note, I think the RS-A tire was originally developed for quietness and traction for luxury cars like Lexus and are manufactured in Japan.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Laramie, WY
Going out on the snowy/wet roads in a few minutes and if my initial response here need amending I will do so. 28 degrees, snow packed side streets, wet main streets. I will drive with the snow mode on.
I had RS-As come stock on my '04 Maxima SE (which I'm still driving). Worst tires ever. I'd drive on them until it's time to replace... and get something... anything else.
Unless you can find someone gullible enough to buy them off of you, and put that $ towards a set of better tires.
Unless you can find someone gullible enough to buy them off of you, and put that $ towards a set of better tires.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 143
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From: Laramie, WY
Well here is my report.
I still think these tires when used on the G37X do a good job on snow, packed snow and snow melt covered streets. I did some sharp turns, accelerations with snow mode on and off and hard braking on wet streets. I came from a Volvo S60R AWD (6MT), used Conti Extreme Contacts and Goodyear Eagle UHP AS tires and these work just as well if not better. Use the snow mode and the car accelerates fine, and corners well. Braking seems fine to me on the wet streets. Perhaps the snow mode and the AT makes all the difference. But at least IMHO these tires are fine when you drive as conditions warrant. Other have obviously had different experiences, but FWIW this is my report.
I still think these tires when used on the G37X do a good job on snow, packed snow and snow melt covered streets. I did some sharp turns, accelerations with snow mode on and off and hard braking on wet streets. I came from a Volvo S60R AWD (6MT), used Conti Extreme Contacts and Goodyear Eagle UHP AS tires and these work just as well if not better. Use the snow mode and the car accelerates fine, and corners well. Braking seems fine to me on the wet streets. Perhaps the snow mode and the AT makes all the difference. But at least IMHO these tires are fine when you drive as conditions warrant. Other have obviously had different experiences, but FWIW this is my report.
Last edited by Hi Alt G; Nov 16, 2009 at 03:37 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 244
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From: Ohio
Well here is my report.
I still think these tires when used on the G37X do a good job on snow, packed snow and snow melt covered streets. I did some sharp turns, accelerations with snow mode on and off and hard braking on wet streets. I came from a Volvo S60R AWD (6MT), used Conti Extreme Contacts and Goodyear Eagle UHP AS tires and these work just as well if not better. Use the snow mode and the car accelerates fine, and corners well. Braking seems fine to me on the wet streets. Perhaps the snow mode and the AT makes all the difference. But at least IMHO these tires are fine when you drive as conditions warrant. Other have obviously had different experiences, but FWIW this is my report.
I still think these tires when used on the G37X do a good job on snow, packed snow and snow melt covered streets. I did some sharp turns, accelerations with snow mode on and off and hard braking on wet streets. I came from a Volvo S60R AWD (6MT), used Conti Extreme Contacts and Goodyear Eagle UHP AS tires and these work just as well if not better. Use the snow mode and the car accelerates fine, and corners well. Braking seems fine to me on the wet streets. Perhaps the snow mode and the AT makes all the difference. But at least IMHO these tires are fine when you drive as conditions warrant. Other have obviously had different experiences, but FWIW this is my report.
thanks! from everything i've read, and it has been a ton of comments from all over the place from tirerack to everyone here and other Infiniti owners' sites, I think I'm going to to stay with the Goodyears for now.
As long as I keep an eye on them and my driving, we'll see how they work out.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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I had Goodyear RSA's on a 2003 Acura TL-S for 50K miles driven in the midwest. The tires worked fine in dry, wet, ice and snow. Traded that in on at 2009 G37 Journey RWD with RSA's on it. Have about 5k miles on the G37 and the tires perform as well as can be expected for OEM tires. I am putting Michelin Primacy Alpins on for the winter though. RWD and ice and snow do not play well together.
I had Goodyear UHP A/S on a 2005 Acura TL six speed. They performed quite well in snow and ice and were great on dry and wet but after about 35K miles the tires began to cup and feather. The car was aligned three times but to no avail. Complained to Goodyear and the tires were replaced with UHP Response Edge tires for the cost of mounting and balancing or about $70. Some of you may not like Goodyear tires but they stand behind their product!
I had Goodyear UHP A/S on a 2005 Acura TL six speed. They performed quite well in snow and ice and were great on dry and wet but after about 35K miles the tires began to cup and feather. The car was aligned three times but to no avail. Complained to Goodyear and the tires were replaced with UHP Response Edge tires for the cost of mounting and balancing or about $70. Some of you may not like Goodyear tires but they stand behind their product!
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Rocky Mountains
I have 25K miles on the RS-A's on my AWD SRX. The Tire Rack and Discount Tire consensus is correct. Trying to explain that a sample size of 3K is like a sample size of 300 is ridiculous. These tires are relatively quiet compared to others but their treadlife is horrible. Their dry traction is not bad, but there is better out there. Their wet traction is bordering on unacceptable and I am VERY cautious on any type of curve as I slip a good 2 inches laterally even hitting a small puddle @ 45 MPH. The snow traction downright sucks, and has since they were new. I won't even drive the SRX if it snows anymore. They need to be replaced very soon, I doubt they will make it to 28K. Pr'olly go with Yoko Parada Spec X's cus they rock on my lanche'. Not right for a G thou... Eagle GT's are good wet/snow around here...
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Atlanta, GA
I had RS-As come stock on my '04 Maxima SE (which I'm still driving). Worst tires ever. I'd drive on them until it's time to replace... and get something... anything else.
Unless you can find someone gullible enough to buy them off of you, and put that $ towards a set of better tires.
Unless you can find someone gullible enough to buy them off of you, and put that $ towards a set of better tires.
Downright weird that opinions vary so dramatically. C'est la vie.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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So, the RS-A's have short tread life, mediocre/unacceptable wet traction, and most would replace with another tire. Does anyone have any experience with an alternative tire on the G37 (or G35 or similar car) that would provide similar handling, similar low noise/ comfortable ride, AND better wet/ snow traction, better tread life, AND available in the P225 R55-17 size?
