Nissan X-Trail Tyres - Recommendations, Including on Tyre Profile

BigBirdy on 14/10/2020 - 17:45
Last edited 14/10/2020 - 17:47

Hi all,

I'm looking for new tyres for a 2013 Nissan X-Trail 4WD. Car does a mix of commuting and highway, with a little bit of dirt/gravel/sand. Less than 10,000km total per year.

Two of the original Dunlop Grandtrek ST20 225/60R17 99H are scrubbed on the inner face and possibly unroadworthy, but otherwise they still have plenty of life. But they are getting a bit old at 7.5 years. They did the job, but weren't particularly grippy.

Bob Jane recommended Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33 225/60R17 99H ($795)
Tyrepower recommended Toyo Proxes C100+ 225/60R17 99V ($739)
Jax have Continental UltraContact UC6 225/60R17 99V ($712)
(price for 4 tyres, fitting and F&R wheel alignment)

I was thinking the Continentals, but wondered about using these,
Jax have Michelin Latitude Tour HP 225/65R17 102H ($731)
(They don't sell them in 225/60R17)

The Michelin are a slightly higher profile (65 vs 60), so slightly taller. They also have a higher load rating (102 vs 99), which I assume means they have a tougher sidewall. I figure the car would sit a little higher (~12mm), and the speedo would indicate slightly lower. I estimate speedo will read 98kmh rather than 95kmh at actual speed of 100kmh.

Can anyone offer some expert advice re these various tyres, changing profiles, and/or recommend a better alternative?

Thank you.

Automotive Car Nissan

Comments

  • oscargamer on 14/10/2020 - 18:13
    +2

    I would go the Contis myself.

    • BigBirdy on 14/10/2020 - 18:15

      Have you had experience with them?

      • oscargamer on 14/10/2020 - 18:24
        +1

        Yes. Great tyre.

        I like to refer to this website https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Continental/UltraContact-… for generally real world / impartial thoughts.

        Also his YT channel is very good. https://www.youtube.com/c/tyrereviews/search?query=ultracont…

        Your tyres that are scrubbed would strongly suggest you need an alignment.

        Don't go higher load rating = rougher ride.

        Don't change profile.

        • brendanm on 14/10/2020 - 18:29
          +1

          Nothing wrong with changing profile, would get an accurate speedo, and a slight bit more clearance. The load rating is also only a tiny change, won't be noticeable with the extra sidewall.

          • oscargamer on 14/10/2020 - 18:36

            @brendanm: Changing profile would concern me re: tyre placard. From a driving perspective, it wouldn't worry me.

            • brendanm on 14/10/2020 - 18:54

              @oscargamer: You are generally allowed a certain amount of leeway, probably different in each state just to confuse people.

              • BigBirdy on 14/10/2020 - 18:57

                @brendanm: Sales guy at Jax said it was okay, but didn’t offer any opinion on whether it was wise. I just thought the Michelin might be a good choice

                • brendanm on 14/10/2020 - 18:58
                  +2

                  @BigBirdy: To be honest I doubt you could go wrong with any of your options. The others should be available in the higher profile as well if you wanted that specifically.

                  • BigBirdy on 14/10/2020 - 19:08

                    @brendanm: Ok, thanks. Profile change was purely because that (cheapish but highly rated) Michelin is not sold in 60. More generally, there’s more options in 65 profile, as well as them being cheaper.

                    • brendanm on 14/10/2020 - 20:02
                      +1

                      @BigBirdy: All good reasons, if the size change works in your favour, which it sounds like it will. Note you will have slightly worse acceleration and most likely slightly worse fuel economy.

    • BigBirdy on 14/10/2020 - 18:48

      Handy site, and looks like I got my maths correct

  • This Guy on 14/10/2020 - 19:08
    -1

    Road tyres:

    Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 265/35 R 19 Y (F); 345/30 R 20 Y (R) (labeled Super Sport).

    Dirt tyres:

    Cooper STT PRO 275/65R20.

    I recommend four sets of each. To save money on the Sport Cups I recommend buying a few Agera RS' for the tyres.

    • BigBirdy on 14/10/2020 - 19:13

      Hmm, good thinking. The Agera is my #1 option to tow the caravan when it’s time for the big trip …

      • This Guy on 14/10/2020 - 21:12

        No no no no no. You misunderstand.

        You only buy the Agera's for the tyres. You put the tyres on your xtrail. If you don't have rims to suit in your garage give Tempe Tyres a call.

        Ring around to find one of those guys who will give you $100 for junkers and take $25 each as the Agera's on on rims.

        Rolling diameter is rim size + 2 * tyre profile * tyre width / 100

        The tyre profile is just the percentage of it the width. If you change the rolling diameter you change the circumference, changing your gearing and the accuracy of your speedo. Some tyre shops will sell you a lower profile with a wider tyre as it is ~2% off, but most don't anymore.

        There are no stupid questions so there must be no stupid answers, right?

        • BigBirdy on 14/10/2020 - 21:22

          What about the caravan?

  • JDMcarfan on 14/10/2020 - 19:41
    +1

    Michelin Primacy 4's were my going to be my pick when coming to look at replacements for my 2015 Subaru Outback (225/60R18), maybe have a look at them? They seem to be $215 a corner, so $860, and with $100 Michelin cash back and approx $80 W/A, would be an equivalent price of $840 (A little more than your offerings).

    I was specifically looking for a more "sporty" performance when replacing my dueler's, and your driving use pretty much ties up with what I do. (Short city commute daily, and highway trips about monthly, no towing on my end, but do have a fully loaded car with a roof rack and bikes on the back at least a couple times a year)
    They're 103V's for a 225/60R17, so are betting a load capacity than all your current offerings (better for towing), and were the recommended tire from Michelin, when chatting to Bob Jane and my (car-obsessed) engineer mates.
    I ended up with the Bridgestone Alenza A001's (don't seem to be available in your size) on the recommendation of mates, and have been amazed with the grip and NVH levels. Didn't end up with MP4's as they weren't available in my size (and the substitute Michelin Primacy SUV's weren't as good on paper) but honestly would've picked either if they were.

    Also side note: fitting different tires to what is factory spec seems to be something that the major tyre retailers aren't strictly unwilling to do. Speaking from personal experience, I was trying to get family members into the Alenza's too, and giving unavailability in their size (225/55R18), no retailer I talked to was willing to fit 60 aspect tyres, and said I should just pick an alternative. Seems to be a liability thing for misreading speedo's, even though I wanted to correct the typical Jap car 3-5% underreporting given the 3% larger circumference.

    • oscargamer on 14/10/2020 - 19:56

      Not a speedo thing. A tyre placard thing. Which is a legal requirement.

      • JDMcarfan on 14/10/2020 - 20:09

        ahh yep that makes perfect sense, would be good though if you could sign a waiver acknowledging the change from OEM specs (given that you can change rims, which would likely change the rolling circumference of the wheel & tire combo) as long as it would still remain within the adr requirements (reporting at a minimum (true speed) or maximum (true speed +10% +4kmh).

      • brendanm on 14/10/2020 - 20:13
        +1

        Yep, just had a look at the Queensland regs. As it isn't an MC vehicle, and I stead comes under standard passenger car, diameter can only increase a max of 15mm, however this is over the largest option that was available from factory on that vehicle. So if Nissan sold an xtrail of that series, with a larger tyre, op would be fine.

        • JDMcarfan on 14/10/2020 - 20:18

          Interesting to hear the QLD regs, I would presume that the rules would be largely similar across the states. 15mm does seem very minimal though, moving from the 55 aspect to 60 aspect bumps it 22mm. Thankfully there is the "largest option from factory", but would suck if you've got no alternative OEM offerings.

        • BigBirdy on 14/10/2020 - 20:41

          In that year, different xtrail models (FWD, AWD, diesel) had, at least, 65R16, 60R17 and 55R18. Possibly others, and I suspect yet others again in different years for same body

          • brendanm on 14/10/2020 - 20:42
            +1

            @BigBirdy: So all you have to do is find a wheel/tyre combo that is within 15mm diameter of the 65 profile tyres you want, then you will still be legal.

    • BigBirdy on 14/10/2020 - 20:03

      Thanks. Note, I don’t tow. Look up what an Agera RS is …

      • JDMcarfan on 14/10/2020 - 20:11
        +1

        Oh haha lol yeah I know what an Agera RS is. Silly me not realizing the sarcasm in your earlier comment and thinking it was a model of caravan

  • eter on 14/10/2020 - 21:44
    +1

    I went with the Continental UC6 SUV last year for my CRV (2013). Definitely quieter than the original Dunlop Grandtek I think because of the slightly bulbous side wall. The compound is also slightly softer contributing to the compliant and comfortable ride. Based on this I expect them to wear slightly faster than the harder compound tyre but no issue for me as I prefer to change worn tyres early anyway. Grippy enough on the dry and wet for my daily driving and holiday highway drive. Overall very happy with the tyres and the price especially with the $100 cashback.

    ps: At the same time I also changed my VW Golf tyres from Pirelli Cinturato to the Michelin Primacy 4 which only came in higher load rating (~100) meaning additional reinforcement to the tyres and can feel slight drag in initial acceleration due to the weight difference; however you forget about this over time. Despite the harder compound used by Michelin they are still quiet. I anticipate these tyres will last longer than the Continental. The price is higher than other brand but it may even out over the long run. The side wall is more upright making them aesthetically more sporty, however doesn't drive as sporty as the Pirelli Cinturato.

    For your X-Trail I would recommend the Continental UC6 SUV to suit the comfort oriented characteristic of the vehicle. Going with the sportier tyres I don't think is going to make the car drive or ride sportier due to the tune of the suspension; sometimes it may even confuse the ride. Good luck!

    • BigBirdy on 14/10/2020 - 22:17

      Good little review, thank you. I found the Dunlops were a bit too easy to spin in the wet, and squeal going around roundabouts. I also find it strange a slightly more off-road oriented SUV like the xtrail comes with relatively low profile tyres

  • ShannonN on 14/10/2020 - 22:49

    Try Here they offer 3 diff sizes 16, 17, 18 for your model .

    I used them for my Falcon and found good service think fitting and Balance is included in every purchase.

    there is one brand (Dunlop Grandtrek PT3 225/60R17 99V) that if you buy 4 you get 100 cash back so 4 x 200 - 100 = 700 that set
    as seen here.

    https://www.tyreright.com.au/en/search?w=225&p=60&r=17

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