Best tires for your Regal

[Thundermtn]

I finally had a nail puncture that was repaired but messed up the foam on my stock tires at 35.5K. With only 4.5/32 left it was time for tires anyway.

I decided to spend the bigger money on the Michelin CC2. They ended up at $1,342 for the whole set with road hazard and a four wheel alignment.

The first thing I noticed was that they sort of look terrible on the car. Like combat boots on a bikini model.

I only have about 300 miles on them so far but other than the looks they are really good. I'm running them at 33# at driving temp and they are just a little stiffer feeling than my stock tires, but still a comfortable grand touring tire. Noise wise I feel like they are a hint quieter on a good surface and on a rough surface a little louder and louder in a turn.

On initial turn in to a corner there is the tiniest amount of a squirmy feel for the smallest fraction of a second and that is the only negative to them. Once you're into the curve they feel great in all other aspects of twisty roads, the steering feel is very good and precise. I was able to drive them in heavy rain at high speed yesterday and they are locked to the surface. I also made a full throttle pull from a stop in the same heavy rain and it never even blinked.

Even though the sticker shock was a bit much, so far I'm happy with this set other than they aren't the sexiest looking thing on the road.

edit; I'm in an '18 Tourx red needle

 

[LLninja]

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Even though the sticker shock was a bit much, so far I'm happy with this set other than they aren't the sexiest looking thing on the road.

edit; I'm in an '18 Tourx red needle

When I was shopping for new tires in Jan, I was shocked at how I used to be able to get a new set of good tires for $500-700, and now the prices have climbed to $800-1200. I think supply chain has caused prices to jump, though I would suspect the fewer number of new cars getting made should have helped supply and demand. But I guess demand is still there as all the people driving their used cars a little longer still need tires.

 

[Thundermtn]

I had not bought new tires for a vehicle in twelve years. The last set of four were 31x10.5x15 B.FG. T/A KO's for a truck and it was $875.

 

[L J]

Too much money chasing fewer goods.
Staying home spending government provided money..

 

[LLninja]

I had not bought new tires for a vehicle in twelve years. The last set of four were 31x10.5x15 B.FG. T/A KO's for a truck and it was $875.

How are you able to do that? Do you buy new cars every few years or not drive at all or what? When I used to commute 50 miles per day, I bought tires every 2 years or so. Now that I'm retired, it's really when they go bad. My CTS needs new tires as they have dry rot. I also need new tires for the Airstream (sat for 20+ years, now we are renovating it) and for my utility trailer (also dry rot as these were the original set purchased 10-15 years ago).

 

[LLninja]

Too much money chasing fewer goods.
Staying home spending government provided money..

The government didn't provide me with any money...I earned too much in 2019 to qualify.

 

[FavaBean]

Like combat boots on a bikini model.

Ahem!! 🥾 [My] eyes are up here, buddy! 🥾


BTW - nice review. It's spot on... especially the wet weather traction part. If you get the opportunity, snow traction won't disappoint either. I'd be curious to hear if you see a slight decrease in gas mileage (also). That's my only beef.

 

[L J]

The government didn't provide me with any money...I earned too much in 2019 to qualify.

I was speaking generally, but they did send me the money I thought they sent everyone, even you rich folks.

 

[abizzle]

I was speaking generally, but they did send me the money I thought they sent everyone, even you rich folks.

I also made too much money for stimulus checks, but don’t let that fool you. It’s all relative because I get killed on taxes and I’m not immune to the same inflation everyone else is feeling.

I have learned to laugh when the govt tells me I make too much money for something because it feels like such a slap in the face. They’re more than happy to take $2500/month in FICA taxes and shame on me for wanting even just a tiny bit back.

 

[abizzle]

I finally had a nail puncture that was repaired but messed up the foam on my stock tires at 35.5K. With only 4.5/32 left it was time for tires anyway.

I decided to spend the bigger money on the Michelin CC2. They ended up at $1,342 for the whole set with road hazard and a four wheel alignment.

The first thing I noticed was that they sort of look terrible on the car. Like combat boots on a bikini model.

I only have about 300 miles on them so far but other than the looks they are really good. I'm running them at 33# at driving temp and they are just a little stiffer feeling than my stock tires, but still a comfortable grand touring tire. Noise wise I feel like they are a hint quieter on a good surface and on a rough surface a little louder and louder in a turn.

On initial turn in to a corner there is the tiniest amount of a squirmy feel for the smallest fraction of a second and that is the only negative to them. Once you're into the curve they feel great in all other aspects of twisty roads, the steering feel is very good and precise. I was able to drive them in heavy rain at high speed yesterday and they are locked to the surface. I also made a full throttle pull from a stop in the same heavy rain and it never even blinked.

Even though the sticker shock was a bit much, so far I'm happy with this set other than they aren't the sexiest looking thing on the road.

edit; I'm in an '18 Tourx red needle

Thanks for the review. I see what you mean about the tread pattern. The CrossClimate is designed to perform better in rain and snow, which coincides with your experience driving in heavy rain.

I like the Primacy MXM4 and the Primacy Tour. I’ve gotta put some miles on the new Chinese tires Carmax installed before I switch to Michelin, so maybe the prices will come down before then.

 

[L J]

I also made too much money for stimulus checks, but don’t let that fool you. It’s all relative because I get killed on taxes and I’m not immune to the same inflation everyone else is feeling.

I have learned to laugh when the govt tells me I make too much money for something because it feels like such a slap in the face. They’re more than happy to take $2500/month in FICA taxes and shame on me for wanting even just a tiny bit back.

They didn't send me the last check till after I made another quarterly tax payment for that year. I wish I made $2500/month in my SS check let alone paid them that a month in FICA. Is Dr Fauci your real name
abizzle?
Or are you a Biden, wait they don't pay taxes on their family influence peddling racket.

 

[abizzle]

They didn't send me the last check till after I made another quarterly tax payment for that year. I wish I made $2500/month in my SS check let alone paid them that a month in FICA. Is Dr Fauci your real name
abizzle?
Or are you a Biden, wait they don't pay taxes on their family influence peddling racket.

Don’t forget to add SS, Medicare, and State taxes on top of FICA. I usually have about 15 hours of overtime each week because that’s the only way I can get ahead.

You must be self employed, right? Is that why you pay quarterly? You can’t be doing all that bad. I mean you’ve got like 26 cars! 😆

 

[L J]

Don’t forget to add SS, Medicare, and State taxes on top of FICA. I usually have about 15 hours of overtime each week because that’s the only way I can get ahead.

You must be self employed, right? Is that why you pay quarterly? You can’t be doing all that bad. I mean you’ve got like 26 cars! 😆

Dude I only pay quarterly taxes because I don't have them withhold enough taxes from my retirement income. Sounds like if I had your money, I would throw mine away. I have been a poor Pontiac guy all my life, and when I had to buy a Caddy or a Buick it was base or midlevel trim. You guys are rich Buick top trim guys.
PS Is that new math..26 cars?

 

[abizzle]

Dude I only pay quarterly taxes because I don't have them withhold enough taxes from my retirement income. Sounds like if I had your money, I would throw mine away. I have been a poor Pontiac guy all my life, and when I had to buy a Caddy or a Buick it was base or midlevel trim. You guys are rich Buick top trim guys.
PS Is that new math..26 cars?

I apologize. I’m not familiar with how retirement income is taxed. I’ve only heard of businesses paying quarterly taxes, so that’s why I asked. I have my withholdings maxed out, so I either get a small refund or I have to pay a small amount at the end of the year.

Us rich Buick top trim guys, huh? Do You mean the used Essence I bought with 41K miles on it? It’s the first “new to me” vehicle I’ve had since 2001 and it’s only the third vehicle I’ve had in the last 28 years.

I won’t deny that I’ve done well in my career. I was fortunate to discover my aptitude for computers and electronics when I was 18 and it has allowed me to develop a plethora of marketable skills in an industry that continues to grow. It hasn’t come without a lot of hard work and extra time spent developing those skills.

 

[L J]

A

If your Canadian I think that is hey, which seems like it is roughly translated to ok...hey.

 

[L J]

But to get back to tires....

I think the round ones are preferrable to the not so round ones.

 

[LLninja]

I apologize. I’m not familiar with how retirement income is taxed. I’ve only heard of businesses paying quarterly taxes, so that’s why I asked. I have my withholdings maxed out, so I either get a small refund or I have to pay a small amount at the end of the year.

Us rich Buick top trim guys, huh? Do You mean the used Essence I bought with 41K miles on it? It’s the first “new to me” vehicle I’ve had since 2001 and it’s only the third vehicle I’ve had in the last 28 years.

I won’t deny that I’ve done well in my career. I was fortunate to discover my aptitude for computers and electronics when I was 18 and it has allowed me to develop a plethora of marketable skills in an industry that continues to grow. It hasn’t come without a lot of hard work and extra time spent developing those skills.

Retirement is taxed if you pulled money from tax deferred accounts. All these years I was thinking I’d pay less tax during retirement… boy was I wrong. I wish I had more Roth 401(k) but several of my past employers didn’t offer it. Now I’m paying taxes up the wazoo (just did my taxes today, paying a whopping $52k) while I Roth convert as much as I possibly can while staying out of the nosebleed tax brackets so if I don’t die young, hopefully I can get to the point where I never pay income tax ever again.

 

[LLninja]

Dude I only pay quarterly taxes because I don't have them withhold enough taxes from my retirement income. Sounds like if I had your money, I would throw mine away. I have been a poor Pontiac guy all my life, and when I had to buy a Caddy or a Buick it was base or midlevel trim. You guys are rich Buick top trim guys.
PS Is that new math..26 cars?

Rich Buick top trim guys? I don’t feel rich. You can call me rich if I buy an exotic or some other 6 figure car. My buick is only the 5th car I have purchased for me or my wife in my life. I tend to spend a little more and drive them forever. Given your list of vehicles, I am pretty certain I have spent less than you on vehicles.

 

[abizzle]

Retirement is taxed if you pulled money from tax deferred accounts. All these years I was thinking I’d pay less tax during retirement… boy was I wrong. I wish I had more Roth 401(k) but several of my past employers didn’t offer it. Now I’m paying taxes up the wazoo (just did my taxes today, paying a whopping $52k) while I Roth convert as much as I possibly can while staying out of the nosebleed tax brackets so if I don’t die young, hopefully I can get to the point where I never pay income tax ever again.

My understanding is a 401K is tax free unless you take a distribution before age 59.5. The money goes in pre-tax and early distributions are taxed at 20%. Roth IRA distributions are tax free because the money goes in post tax. You don’t pay taxes on unrealized gains, or at least that’s the current law, and if you wait until retirement to sell then you can get away with paying fewer taxes. What about Social Security? Is that taxed?

 

[LLninja]

My understanding is a 401K is tax free unless you take a distribution before age 59.5. The money goes in pre-tax and early distributions are taxed at 20%. Roth IRA distributions are tax free because the money goes in post tax. You don’t pay taxes on unrealized gains, or at least that’s the current law, and if you wait until retirement to sell then you can get away with paying fewer taxes. What about Social Security? Is that taxed?

Not quite right. for traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, money goes in pretax, but when you pull the money out it is taxed at the going income tax rate. So you can control how much you pull out to stay in the 10%, 12%, 20%, 22% etc tax brackets, but it definitely does not come out tax free, Roths come out tax free because you already paid the taxes going in. The 20% for withdrawing early is actually only 10% and that is a penalty on top of the income taxes. So if you are in the 10% tax bracket, the money comes out at 20%, but if you are at the 22% tax bracket, then the penalty makes in 32% (real ouch). Now there are two very nice loopholes that allow you to pull money early. One is to rule of 72(t) to make substantially similar annual withdrawals (google it for the details). The second is using the rule of 55 to reach into your last employer’s 401(k) without penalty if you stop working the year you turn 55 (or later). So if your birthday is on Dec 31st, you can actually start this at 54 years of age on Jan 1st and have almost a year before you actually turn 55. This is what I;m using to retire early. The real loophole was that my employer’s 401(k) happened to allow me to rollover everything from past employers 401(k) or from external Roth or traditional IRAs, so I essentially have access to all of it. Also some employer plans would require you to withdraw all of it to use the rule of 55, and that doesn’t work because then you could be taxed at an insane rate if you had 7+ figures in your 401(k). Luckily, my employers 401(k) allows me to pull as much or as little as I want. The only part I cannot access right now is anything I put into a recent Roth because there is a 5 year rule on Roths and this a Roth was started because the company I used to work for got acquired, so the Roth started in 2020.

Alas, 7 years ago, I knew nothing about retirement, I had been contributing for decades, but had my head in the

sand just hoping it would work out. It wasn’t until a couple job scares the kicked me into overdrive to pay off the house and get out of debt to ward off any future job scares. Then I saw the light, rather than wait for a job scare, I just planned to leave on my own terms. So I retired last August and am not looking back.

State taxes, on the other hand is another mess. Luckily the state of IL does not tax retirement income.

Finally, you ask about federal social security and yes, it is taxed at the going rate depending on your marginal tax rate. So if all you are making is SS, the taxes aren’t very much. I;m not depending at all on SS, but I do plan to start collecting SS as soon as I legally can. Maybe I’ll use my SS checks to lease a Huracon or something insane like that.

So after that long winded diversion… I love my new Pirelli tires. I;ve never owned Michelins though.