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So I've been running my OEM Firestone Destination LE to the bare bone and was hoping to get another 2-4K out of them and change them out before winter, they have 48K now and are rated for 60k.

Not so lucky, last week I had a fast leak that turned out to be a nail. Put on the spare and figured time to research. With the 215/70/15s my choices for LRR are limited and I decided the Michelin HydroEdge with Green X sounded promising but expensive though 90K helps.

So this morning I'm on my usual commute and jamming on Led Zeppelin and FAS down a hill to a right hand turn and somehow I cut it a little tight and the right rear tire nipped the curb. I bump start and head down the road then start hearing a loud noise, mute the tunes, and hear loud howl and pull over. Sure enough, a quarter sized chunk ripped out of the sidewall and nice sized leak. No BOOM but it must have blew out pretty quick. I've been running 58psi for the last 10k.

First tire still in the bed, I'm 2 miles from work and get a buddy to come get me and the first tire for patch. I work right across from Haglin Automotive and they plug it up for free and I'm back on the road.

Called a few places and got quotes of $643 and $595 before calling Costco. After the $70 Michelin special I will be paying $490 or $122.50 a pop. That didn't have any in stock and they should be in in 7-10 days.

Can't wait to see how significant the mpg improvement is, maybe I can FAS that turn a little faster with the new rubber. ;)

I don't think you'll be disappointed. I snagged a set of HydroEdges before the green-x came out (too good a sale to pass up) and put them on about a thousand miles ago. There was a bit of a mileage hit at the beginning vs. the LRR Integritys, but now that's down to practically nil. They do sing a little but that's the only down-side so far. With the right inflation pressure I think that 90k just might happen!

I must have backed over something while maneuvering on my still-
going noodly wander toward home from Hybridfest, because on the
way into Cincy I noticed the "green diamond" TPMS-alike going
a bit wonky and realized I had a tire getting low. Made it
another mile into a truckstop under their fuel-island canopy,
which was really good because it was raining hard all day, and
changed to the donut. The injury to the tire was almost invisible
and I wouldn't have found it if it wasn't still hissing.
.
I wound up with a new p-o-s Korean no-brand tire because the
guy at the tire place insisted the hole was too close to the
sidewall. Roughly centered in one of the edge treadblocks?
I'm getting a second opinion when I get the chance.
.
But one of my 4 Hydroedges with > 50K on them is now on the
recycle heap somewhere. *sigh*
.
_H*

For what its worth - I won't repair any tire with a puncture in the last tread block near either shoulder. It's also my company policy as well. But in the past for my own personal car, I have tried repairs in that area and they don't hold. There is just too much flex from the sidewall in that area and after a few hundred miles they start to lose grip.

Got the new Hydroedges on, hope there is a short break-in and then some improvement over the old ones.

The window sticker said they filled to 29 front 32, back, but they looked pretty low and coasting was very poor on the return home, I didn't head to my free air supply immediately and I check them this morning after a dismal 31mpg commute which should be 34-39mpg depending on traffic.

Even after the 10 mile drive the hot tires read 25 front and 28 back.:eek: Hope that explains the poor performance, I pumped them up to 50 all around, and it felt much better but the coast was still noticeably shorter, had to do a quick bump to make my usual parking spot where I normally wouldn't. :eyebrow:

give them some time.
Just needs more run time.

Still not up to my old results after 200 miles, but I'm patient......

I would think 1000 miles ;)

worthywads, any updates on your MPG with these tires now that your tire pressure is correct? I'm thinking of putting the hydroedge green x on my '04 HCH, but don't want to suffer a hit on fuel economy compared to the OEM dunlops. any input would be really helpful. hope they're working well for you!

So far nothing conclusive, i've had worse than normal traffic on my normal commute, but I also feel a drag and greater drop in speed on very familiar coasts. It will be several months before I hit 1000, so only time will tell. I'll hopefully report better soon.

Sounds good. I made the decision to go with the Hydroedges. I ordered them from Costco today (they have a $70 off promotion) and they should be installed in a few days. I learned something though. The manager of the tire center at our Costco told me that the Green X technology has been around for a long time. It's only recently that Michelin started labeling some of their tires as "Green X." In other words, a Hydroedge tire with Green X purchased today is the same as a Hydroedge from a few years ago that was not labeled as Green X. The tires have the same rolling resistance, although apparently that rolling resistance is pretty good. I verified this by calling Michelin. Even if I take a small hit on fuel economy though, I think the peace of mind that comes from better traction will more than make up for it.

I'll post some initial impressions after they're installed, and post again after I hit a thousand miles.

Had a good commute home yesterday 36.4mpg, which is typical with the old tires but the coasts seems better, but lots of variables, it seemed like there was no wind and there usually is, but I'm more hopeful. :D

Two months later and 2 tanks in and I'm still waiting to be impressed with these tires. It is pretty opbvious that my usual coasts are not as long and I don't hit as high a mph at the bottom of hills etc.

I'm running 50psi and I think I'll go to 60, I'm getting desperate. :confused:

My mpg chart has plummeted my tanks from last year were 2.5+ mpg better than this year. Maybe a little colder this fall but it is WAY obvious that I'm slowing quicker, I fas to a right hand turn that I used to only drop to 45 day after day, now I'm at 40 instead.

So this morning I'm on my usual commute and jamming on Led Zeppelin and FAS down a hill to a right hand turn and somehow I cut it a little tight and the right rear tire nipped the curb. I bump start and head down the road then start hearing a loud noise, mute the tunes, and hear loud howl and pull over. Sure enough, a quarter sized chunk ripped out of the sidewall and nice sized leak.I know just which rift in Whole Lotta Love should have been playing. (Boom, boom!) :D