Replacement Tire Help
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Joined: Oct 2014
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From: SW Florida
Replacement Tire Help
Will be replacing tires on my wifes 2021 CX-5 GT. I have narrowed my search to either : Michelin Defender 2, or Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4.
All SW Florida driving, No cold temps.
I have checked Tire Rack reviews and both of these get pretty high ratings.
Would appreciate members comments, opinions, or experience with these tires.
Thank You
All SW Florida driving, No cold temps.
I have checked Tire Rack reviews and both of these get pretty high ratings.
Would appreciate members comments, opinions, or experience with these tires.
Thank You
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 10,334
Likes: 198
From: Northern California
It really difficult to get accurate indicators of any tires used from a DIY . Very few get to compare tires in a short period of say 100 miles in their normal operating environment. And that they generally only have the worn-out tires or the stock tires for comparison. the reviews on Tire rack are not bad but talking to them is far better idea.
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Joined: Oct 2014
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From: SW Florida
Thanks, I will give them a call.
Tires are the original OEM Toyo's that are close to 4 yrs. old, with 26 K miles on them. Still some good tread left, but due to age, and heat here in FL, I want to get ahead of any problems.
I figure either one of the Michelin's will be an improvement over the Toyo's.
Tires are the original OEM Toyo's that are close to 4 yrs. old, with 26 K miles on them. Still some good tread left, but due to age, and heat here in FL, I want to get ahead of any problems.
I figure either one of the Michelin's will be an improvement over the Toyo's.
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Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 87
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From: Pompano Beach, Florida
New tires for my CX-5 -- and what a great ride now
I’m late to the table on this, but I just replaced the OEM tires on my 2021 Mazda CX-5 GT with same size Michelin Primacy A/S XL tires--and what an amazing difference they made in the car's, ride, handling, and quietness. Wow, it's like I’m driving a completely different car!
I had no idea a new set of grand touring tires could make such a dramatic difference. The ride is so much softer and quieter!
I asked Claude AI about this and received this response:
You're definitely not alone in this discovery! Many drivers underestimate just how dramatically tires can transform a vehicle's character. It's one of those automotive truths that often gets overlooked because tires seem like such a basic component.
The Michelin Primacy A/S is a fantastic choice for your CX-5 GT - it's specifically designed as a grand touring tire that prioritizes comfort, quietness, and smooth handling over aggressive performance. What you're experiencing is the difference between tires optimized for different priorities.
Your original equipment tires were likely chosen by Mazda as a compromise between cost, fuel efficiency, and acceptable performance across various conditions. Tire manufacturers often design OEM tires to meet specific price points and efficiency targets rather than maximizing comfort or premium feel.
The Primacy A/S uses advanced rubber compounds and tread design that absorb road noise and vibrations much more effectively. The sidewall construction is engineered to provide a more compliant ride while still maintaining good handling characteristics. You're also getting better road contact and more sophisticated engineering that's been refined over decades of tire development.
This is actually a common revelation among car enthusiasts - upgrading to quality tires is often the single most noticeable improvement you can make to any vehicle, sometimes more dramatic than suspension modifications costing thousands more. The contact patch between your car and the road is only about the size of your palm per tire, so the quality of that connection makes an enormous difference in everything from comfort to safety.
Many people simply replace tires with whatever's cheapest or most convenient, never realizing they're missing out on a significantly better driving experience. You've just discovered one of the automotive world's best-kept secrets!
For the record, I have no connection with Michelin other than having had a very good experience with their tires on several other cars over the years. Before buying these, I researched tires in Consumer Reports and online, and the Michelin Primacy A/S (for all-season) XL tires sounded like just what I needed--great reviews from both CR and other users, easy availability, and fair prices. So I ordered them from Tire Rack and had them installed locally here in Florida. The total cost for four tires, including all expenses, was $ 1,151.28, including approximately $75 sales tax — a great bargain given the significant improvement they’ve made in my ride.
Caveat emptor! These tires may or may not be right for your needs, but they have certainly made me a happy driver! Your mileage may vary.
Milt Baker
Pompano Beach, FL
I had no idea a new set of grand touring tires could make such a dramatic difference. The ride is so much softer and quieter!
I asked Claude AI about this and received this response:
You're definitely not alone in this discovery! Many drivers underestimate just how dramatically tires can transform a vehicle's character. It's one of those automotive truths that often gets overlooked because tires seem like such a basic component.
The Michelin Primacy A/S is a fantastic choice for your CX-5 GT - it's specifically designed as a grand touring tire that prioritizes comfort, quietness, and smooth handling over aggressive performance. What you're experiencing is the difference between tires optimized for different priorities.
Your original equipment tires were likely chosen by Mazda as a compromise between cost, fuel efficiency, and acceptable performance across various conditions. Tire manufacturers often design OEM tires to meet specific price points and efficiency targets rather than maximizing comfort or premium feel.
The Primacy A/S uses advanced rubber compounds and tread design that absorb road noise and vibrations much more effectively. The sidewall construction is engineered to provide a more compliant ride while still maintaining good handling characteristics. You're also getting better road contact and more sophisticated engineering that's been refined over decades of tire development.
This is actually a common revelation among car enthusiasts - upgrading to quality tires is often the single most noticeable improvement you can make to any vehicle, sometimes more dramatic than suspension modifications costing thousands more. The contact patch between your car and the road is only about the size of your palm per tire, so the quality of that connection makes an enormous difference in everything from comfort to safety.
Many people simply replace tires with whatever's cheapest or most convenient, never realizing they're missing out on a significantly better driving experience. You've just discovered one of the automotive world's best-kept secrets!
For the record, I have no connection with Michelin other than having had a very good experience with their tires on several other cars over the years. Before buying these, I researched tires in Consumer Reports and online, and the Michelin Primacy A/S (for all-season) XL tires sounded like just what I needed--great reviews from both CR and other users, easy availability, and fair prices. So I ordered them from Tire Rack and had them installed locally here in Florida. The total cost for four tires, including all expenses, was $ 1,151.28, including approximately $75 sales tax — a great bargain given the significant improvement they’ve made in my ride.
Caveat emptor! These tires may or may not be right for your needs, but they have certainly made me a happy driver! Your mileage may vary.
Milt Baker
Pompano Beach, FL
Last edited by miltbaker; Jun 9, 2025 at 04:13 PM. Reason: corrected paragraph spacing
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 10,334
Likes: 198
From: Northern California
Claude AI ???? lol
Consumer reports... another less then they use to be for information
Look the tires you got are from a great company I use to retail them in a couple of my shops. Maybe next time start with looking up the manufacture of the tire and all the performance specification before running to the internet or other owners and web sites that do not really properly if any real controlled testing of tires.
Consumer reports... another less then they use to be for information
Look the tires you got are from a great company I use to retail them in a couple of my shops. Maybe next time start with looking up the manufacture of the tire and all the performance specification before running to the internet or other owners and web sites that do not really properly if any real controlled testing of tires.
Last edited by Callisto; Jun 9, 2025 at 05:22 PM.
Member
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach, Florida
You do it your way, Callisto, and I'll do it mine.
I felt that what I learned in my search and research for the right tires might be of interest to other CX-5 owners here. Nothing more, nothing less. ;-)
Milt Baker
Pompano Beach, FL
I felt that what I learned in my search and research for the right tires might be of interest to other CX-5 owners here. Nothing more, nothing less. ;-)
Milt Baker
Pompano Beach, FL
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 10,334
Likes: 198
From: Northern California
And yes you did your research and choose the tire that appealed to what you thought was the best choice and was authored the best for your reading comprehension and crowd DIY voting.
I just did want where you found your information to get confused with REAL WORLD information empirical data and verifiable facts.
BTW you and the other non car guy because of your responses I pm the op and told him about the tire info and Mazda
Last edited by Callisto; Oct 23, 2025 at 12:02 AM.
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