New Tires for 07 Elantra SE

It doesn't matter much. Narrower tires with higher pressure are better
on wet pavement with or without standing water. Even a thin film of
water will cause hydroplaning with sufficient speed.

Matt

 

I only have good to say about Kumho tires. I looked at the KH16s but
decided on the slightly more sedate standard touring KR21s instead in
a narrower and taller size then stock for better snow traction and
hydroplane resistance

They cost half of what I payed for the Bridgestone Turanzas they
replaced and other then in hard cornering they outperform in all
categories

YMMV


L.

 

I didn't mention this before, because my original post was about replacement
tires, but I should say that I do have a replacement tire on the left front.
I picked up a nail in the middle of West Virginia (!) and the only tire I
could get on such short notice was something called a TBC Tempest Touring
Plus from Merchants. I was told it was the closest they had in stock to the
Kumho. Do you think it would help for me to order another Kumho and get rid
of the TBC? Thanks again.

 

Mixing tires is generally a bad idea, as they're never going to perform
the same. Considering that we're talking about front tires on a front
drive car, it's even more important. Just for fun, try moving that tire
to the rear and see how the car performs with matched front tires.

I'm curious as to why they didn't just repair the nail hole in the
original tire. All it takes is a patch on the inside.

 

You could do as Brian suggests, or you could have your tires rotated.
Either way, that's the first step in checking to see if there's a
difference. I don't recognize TBC Tempest, so I suspect it's a low-cost
generic tire, which is unlikely to have similar traction characteristics
to your Kumho.

As for the tire repair, it depends on where the puncture is. A puncture
in the sidewall is not repairable safely.

 

Thanks, I'll get the tire rotated on my next visit to the garage and see
what happens.

 

I've been in that situation once, but I've also had unscrupulous
mechanics tell me that tread punctures couldn't be repaired, in order to
try to sell me a tire. Fantine's description raised a red flag with me.