Yokohama Avid V4's for $67 each?! These can't be as good as the AVS DBs right?
 

I live in So Cal. so there's no need for grip in the snow, ice, sleet or even much rain. I realise there have been several threads on tires (and I read them all), but I still am sceptical about the proformance of the Avids, especially for that price. How's the wear? The noise? And the grip? Anyone know? Anyone done a driving comparison?

I replaced a set of Firestone Firehawks with the Avids, I paid $75 a tire last year and have put about 10k on them. In the snow they're not the best, but I've had no problems otherwise. Wear is much better then the Firehawks, although they are slightly noisier. If you are on a budget I'd say they are definately the way to go. They're probably just as good as the Db's on dry roads, just not as quiet. I was going to get the Db's but the cheapest I could find them was $110a tire and at the time my money was very short.

Yeah I hear you, money IS kind of tight right now. But if paying $100 more means that I don't have to crank up the stereo real loud to drown out the road noise for 2 years, maybe it's worth it. I just wonder exactly how much louder the Avids are over the DBs. I've never heard that the Firehawks were quiet, so that leads me to believe that the Avids are somewhat noisy. Am I right?

Burgundy, you also mentioned that you have put 10k miles on 'em already, how much tread so you have left?

It's good to hear that they handle well though.

Anyone else care to comment?

I'd look at the yokohama ES100s if i didn't have to worry about snow.. about $85 or so shipped from tire rack, and better dry and wet traction... I HATE tirerack only because they use customer feedback for rating the tires... if only they used tested data AND customer feedback... its just retarded that sometimes a 30$ tire gets rated the same as a $200 because the people buying them are in totally different classes

How's the road noise compared to the Avids or the DBs?

The tires aren't that loud at all, just a steady hum. I would have gotten the ES100s, but they are definately not for the bad weather, and living in Jersey we get some occational snow. They're also probably louder than the Avids. Tread is fine, and the Avids have a 50k warranty (The Db's are only 35 I think).

So if you guys ranked tires according to their noisyness, from softest to loudest it would be this?:

1. AVS DB
2. Avid V4
3. ES100

Who knows...I was planning on getting DB's but the tire store didn't carry them then...and that day I HAD to have tires. THe Avid V4 was available and had a good price. I wasn't disappointed - and they are very quiet. Of course I had the Potenza RE71 before these, and let me tell you - they are the NOISIEST tires I've EVER had. Period.

I replaced my Continental ContiSport Contacs with the Sumitomo HTR(?) and it felt alot smoother and quiter. Nothing else to compare it too though. Hope that helps.

Sumitomo's??
 

Well..............when I replaced my OEM SVX rims (along with those quiet Avid V4's ;) ) with those SWEET Lexus rims :rolleyes: I got some Sumitomo HTR+ to wrap around them. No complaints so far, a good quiet tire. Handles well. And you cannot beat the price!

Well I finally broke down & got new rubber, I went with TOYO *PROXES FZ4* all around . Having them Sipped,mounted,balanced,& new stems ended up costen me just under $680 & I really wasnt looken to spend that much ,
But hey its for my baby & if anything happend to her becuse i went cheap on her tires I couldnt live with myself.
Just had em put on so only had a short run + some freeway but they seem remarkable ( its rainen steady ) the only bad thing is now i can kinda hear my rear wheel barings & i just cracked 52k but there not screaming by anymeans so for now im gonna turn the radio back on :D

I bought a new set of V4's 9 months ago. I think they are an excellent value. I wanted-

-VR rated
-Lowest possible noise
-Good sidewall stiffness
-Excellent wear characteristics
-Superior wet and snow traction

These tires have surpassed all my expectations. Overall, you could probably do slightly better in dry weather handling with something else but you would pay over $100/tire or have something with little wet/snow traction.

The Avid V4s are sounding better and better :) Is the TireRack.com the best place to get 'em? Also, I've heard that Sears will price match TireRack, anyone know?

The Avid V4s are OK...

Buy the Bridgestone Potenza RE950 if you can.

Curly, Sears will price match any online price plus $10 (about what you would pay for shipping online). I had found them for $65 on something like onlinetires.com, so Sears gave me them for $75.