Help me choose DD tires - wife's '14 Maz6 edition

Allright folks, we now have 25k on the wife's 2014 Mazda 6 and the Dunlop 5000 all seasons are approaching the wear bars on the front. They've been decent tires but there is a LOT of road noise at highway speeds. Although I think the car could use more sound proofing I suspect the tires are most of the problem.

Unfortunately they are an odd size with not a ton of choices - 225/45-19. This is our road trip car, go-to transportation, and the wife's DD. I want something that will be quiet, handle adverse weather, and wear well. And I'd like to keep it under $1000 a set installed. We don't see much snow in these parts, but it does get cold and wet and occasionally icy, so I'd prefer an all season. If I have to go with a summer tire I probably can, but I'd rather not.

So, given the local tire places, I usually buy from Discount Tire. Here's what they list: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/resetFiltersTire.do?fl=&rcz=31005&c=31&ar=45&rf=true&fqs=true&rd=19&rc=GAAINT&cs=225

I checked Tire Rack and they have about the same selection.

What would you recommend from the above list?

I could step up to a 245/40-19 and have a slightly better selection, but going to a wider patch will increase noise and possibly hydroplaning tendencies, and decrease mileage. Not sure it's worth it but if you have experience that direction, say so.

WWGRMD?

Pilot Sport A/S 3. Have them on the Wife's car which plays the same role in our family and we love them. very confident handling in all conditions and just overall a good tire.

onlinetires.com also list Yokahama Avid in that size. I have them on my Miata (different size) for winter use and they seem to be very good so far.

bmw88rider wrote: Pilot Sport A/S 3. Have them on the Wife's car which plays the same role in our family and we love them. very confident handling in all conditions and just overall a good tire.

I was looking at those. I've always liked Michelins on our Explorer, but I heard the A/S 3s were noisy. Any noticeable noise on yours?

Much quieter than the OEM's they replaced. But those were the BMW run-flats so that is not saying a heck of a lot.

Is the General Altimax HP available in that size? Just put a set on my girlfriend's Corolla. I like them so far. Widely recommended on this forum.

If you can get the Conti DWS (not the DW they have listed, at least not for all season) in anything near that size, I recommend it heartily.

Duke wrote: If you can get the Conti DWS (not the DW they have listed, at least not for all season) in anything near that size, I recommend it heartily.

Just checked, not available.

This is slightly disheartening since my wife just picked up a 2015 Mazda 6 with the same size tires.

I knew it was going to be an issue but I had hoped the factory tires would have a little more life in them. The choices really are pretty short, especially in all seasons when this isn't a car that really justifies sticky, short-wear, summer tires.

Given those choices, the Michelins seem like the obvious pick.

I believe that plenty of drivers get 25k miles on the harder compound summer tires. I would suggest one of those if you were asking this question in late March. I would suggest the Michelin Pilot Sports too because I would be worried that the General G-Max would be noisy (I'm looking on Tire Rack). I had a different set of General tires before.

yeah, but I'd like to get 40+k out of a set of tires, ideally. That would at least last 2 years and drop my tire budget to $500/year. Spending $800 on tires every 18 months is insane. I've been getting 30+k out of summer hi perf tires on my mustang for crying out loud, and I KNOW it get driven harder than the Mazda does.

CS5

If the bridgestone Ecopia is available in that size that is where I would go; they are quiet and I have 33,000 on them now and they are wearing really well.

Edit: if the fronts are wearing you need to be rotating more. Cheaper to rotate than buy tires...

Just want to chime in on how much I dislike the stock Yokohama's on the 6 Sport. Already at half tread after a little under 10k miles and hopefully they'll be gone by the end of next summer.

Just put a set of Blizzaks on mine, so no help here till next summer. I'm leaning towards Conti DWS's and/or a set of 18" wheels to replace the 17's for summer use.

Interesting thread to watch, as I am in a similar spot with my GTI and am considering many of the same choices here ....

Michelin A/S 3 + $25 snow cables from pepboys. They do a passable job in light snow but with an open differential, that will be $25 well spent when trying to traverse a hill.

Make sure you fill out all the warranty paperwork.