Wanna hoot!! RS-A's are what Ford was putting on Police edition Crown Vickies!!!
I laughed in the CS reps face when I heard that, but it"s true.

 

I just bought a 2009 Mazda3 i Touring this week, and it came with 205/50 R17 Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires. Like you I've read absolutely NOTHING good about these tires and withing 24 hours of buying the car, I ordered a set of highly regarded Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for it. The good news here is that TireRack is selling the remaining Michelins for $120 per tire in a closeout sale (thereplacement Michelin model called the Pilot Sport A/S Plus is now available for $175 per tire), while supplies last. I should have my new skins next Monday.

 

It was the RS-A's that I hit the pothole with. The tire survived, my rim was RUINED!! The worst shakes ever experienced in my short car owning history (81 Cadillac Cimarron/Chevy Cavalier, 83 Camaro that I paid $400.00 for and lasted 2½ years, 1992 Geo Prizm).

I guess having 8 tires and rims will work out the best and cheapest in the long run...

 

I finally decided to try the RX8 wheels on my 06Mazda3i, I find the road noise is alittle louder than stock tires(Running Falken P-225-40-zr18), but handles and looksmuch better.Exhaust and CAI are next but with holidays coming up I'll have to wait.

http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/p...100_1017-1.jpg

 

They look good, like the original 2004 wheels I got. This weekend was FRUSTRATING!! I don't currently have the stock rims on my car, so when I went to get the current wheels straightened, the idiots at Firestone (had a flat), kept my key for the lug nuts. 2ND TIME another spot takes my key. Discounttire is sending me a third which will be on my neck from now on.

Thanks for sharing that VL. I think I will lean that way (smaller wheels) if my wife doesn't make me go CX-9 first.

 

Good luck with getting your car fixed. I know how those roads are in Mass I lived in Fairhaven for a couple years, between the potholes and salt they can really destroy a car.

 

Hey guys, I was looking up some info about the Kumho Ecsta ASX tires (after reading V1 replies), and they get good reviews. Will look to go with those in the Summer possibly. Interesting that tirerack also had, "Sumitomo?" $58 bucks each!! Sounds too good to be true, anyone use those before? They are a "best seller", but I think we know why...

 

I had decent luck with Toyo Proxes tires (wear wise), but I did blister and shred 2 tires on potholes/road debris.

 

Geesh SS, what were you doing? Zoom zoomin' to the extreme? The roads are that bad though, I saw a VW this weekend shred it's rims on route 128 here in Mass. It is crazy the number of tire brands out there. It is no longer a rush decision for me what to get now. I'll be doing some studying until next week arrives. Will have to make a switch to newer tires since they will be deformed by riding a couple of months on bad rims.

 

52,000 miles in Metro Detroit. My wife has killed 2 tires as well on her 6 (no wheels damaged though)

We've got potholes that will swallow your whole car. Tons of roadsalt is used and we've got really high weight allowances for semis so the roads take a pounding.