Sumitomo HTRZ II

Price Paid:  $800.00 from Sears Auto Center

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 Jetta GLI

Summary:
These are the first set of tires i have purchased for this vehicle. compared to other tires in my 225 40 18 size these were at a desrible price. They have amazing dry condition handling and have a very aggresive look to them, awesome feel and stabibilty at high speeds. Only beef i have with these tires is wet handling, and road noise. Under hard cornering and acceleration in the rain vehicle wants to slip, and going between 15-35 miles an hour vehicle sounds like it has super swampers on it, a little loud, but a very nice tire indeed.

Strengths:
Dry handling, styling, price point

Weaknesses:
Poor wet handling, road noise

Similar Products Used:
Goodyear Eagle F1

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $434.00 from Sears - Dearborn Mic

Summary:
Brought (4) Sumitomo Tires 225 40ZR18 HTR II on November 22, 2006. Loved them until I noticed a bubble on the sidewall on the 26 of November 2006. I took the car back to Sears. The manager said it was an impact bump. He refused to do anything. No replacement, no nothing. I never hit anything and I saw other reviews in which others has experienced the same thing with this tire and this side bubble. I believe it is a manufacturer defect. I am still investigating. Has anyone else had this problem?

Strengths:
Good traction

Weaknesses:
sidewall bubble

Similar Products Used:
no

Price Paid:  $38000.00 from san francisco ca

Year / Model Reviewed:
2001 volvo v70

Summary:
Sumitomo tires at less than mid life, i noticed a bulge in side wall. tire rep said i must have hit the tire hard somewhere. i don't ever recall hitting a rut or anything severly. any body with similar problem with this brand

Strengths:
good ride, just dont ever hit any bumps

Weaknesses:
side walls

Similar Products Used:
big o, pirelli- never this problem

Price Paid:  $17500.00 from Sinclair Ford

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 Focus ZTS

Summary:
Bought the new car for our teenage girls. Safety and style. Ride with OEM Firestone Firehawk GTA 205-50 16" tires gradually got rougher and louder. At 14,700 mile, rotated the rears to the front (rotate every 3000-5000 miles). Sounded like a failred wheel bearing from the grind. Steering wheel shaked horribly. Could not drive over 50 mph Firestone said it was Ford design problem (not their problem!). Ford has the car in eval today and tomorrow. Four different tire shops in the St. Louis area all said it was the GTA. After reading GTA reviews on this website, I'm convinced Firestone should go out of business. All the reasons for buying this car.....safety being #1......were negated by the fact that the GTAs are junk and endangered the lives of my family. My daughter had a flat last week, luckily on the I-55 exit ramp. They found a hole but no nail!!! Bought a set of Sumitomo HTRZ II P205-50 16" tires upon recommendation of a friend and this web site so I could again hear the radio and not shake my teeth loose. WOW, WHAT A DIFFERENCE. So far, 500 miles into the new set, I am ecstatic! Open you eyes Firestone. I will let you know how Ford handles the issues. We bought 4 cars from them over 9 months. They won't get my business again unless I get fully reimbursed for the new, wonderful tires. Dave Sinclair Ford has been a wonderful dealer..........thus fa

Strengths:
Great ride, low road noise, great handling (don't regularly corner hard). Good value, $424 for the set with lifetime balancing.

Weaknesses:
None noted thus far.

Similar Products Used:
Firestone Firehawk GTA (pieces of junk!)

Price Paid:  $100.00 from Tire Rack

Year / Model Reviewed:
 93 Acura Vigor

Summary:
I spent some time looking at different tires for this car. I am running 205/45R17. I previously ran a pair of Michelin Pilot Sports. I was happy with them but for the $265 dollars to replace them I decided to look around. I looked a the reviews at the tire rack and decided to by these. I am very impressed. I would say the they have comparable to the Michelins in performace, and with the price difference I would buy them over the Michelins for sure.

Strengths:
Grip on dry roads. cornering feel. Give me a good sense of the road Have a very good feel Price

Weaknesses:
More severe bump steer then the Michelins that I had but other than that they have none

Similar Products Used:
Michelin Pilot Sports Yokahama Goodyear