[CoriolisSTORM]

Gents, I am starting my quest for tires for my caliber after they have started making pretty bad racket, which is standard for the CRAPstones that are on it. It has about 23.5k on it so far and most people are lucky to get the things to last 20k. So anyway, the size is 215/55R18 and on tire rack, out of all the tire brands they carry, guess how many they have??? Frikkin' 4 matches in the original size. (and two of those are OEM tires! ) Here's the list:
Firestone Firehawk GTA-03 (what's on there right now, standard on R/Ts)
Bridgestone Potenza RE92A
Continental contiPremiumContact2
Bridgestone Turanza EL 400-02 (the other OEM tire offered on the SEs and SXTs)
The average review for each of these tires is around 1-2.5, best I've seen is 2.9. Ideas on what to do? I don't know of anybody that has reprogrammed the speedometers for these yet or if you change a gear like we do in our jeeps, so I'd prefer to go to the factory size again. The ones on there are kind of hard, don't corner good, loud, and haven't lasted terribly long at all. (I guess the lifespan has been acceptable though) What to do with ****ty options like this?

[BeachinXJ]

Try looking at another site. That's not exactly an odd size and is kinda common. You could go slightly wider depending on the width of the rim. It's the 18" Rim that's getting you.

[That1guy]

maybe try to find a size that is a little bit different. My truck had those stupid firehawk tires on it when i bought it. I dont know why those performance all season tires were put on a 4wd pickup. They wore out in 30000 miles if that.

[CoriolisSTORM]

Originally Posted by BeachinXJ

Try looking at another site. That's not exactly an odd size and is kinda common. You could go slightly wider depending on the width of the rim. It's the 18" Rim that's getting you.

see, I plan on actually ordering from a local shop, there's a guy here that knows what he's doing and such, but I kind of want to know what I'm looking for before I go to see him. Other site suggestions?
edit: The wheel is 18x7.

[TellyDSP]

That 7" rim kills you. try a 235 50R18. It's a slightly wider tread. It's a bit tight with the rim width, but it should be fine. I tihnk the Kumho Ecsta ASX is a great all-seaon tire. It's a bit soft in the sidewall, but I loved mine...especially for the price.

Spec differences...code wont work for the chart but you can compare the two here...

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp

Actual Speed: 60 mph 100 km/h Speedometer1: 60.1 mph 100. km/h
Speedometer Difference: 0.223% too fast
Diameter Difference: 0.22%

[orangetj05]

i would try a 225/55r18 or a 235/50r18 should open your options a good bit

[CoriolisSTORM]

Originally Posted by TellyDSP

That 7" rim kills you. try a 235 50R18. It's a slightly wider tread. It's a bit tight with the rim width, but it should be fine. I tihnk the Kumho Ecsta ASX is a great all-seaon tire. It's a bit soft in the sidewall, but I loved mine...especially for the price.

Spec differences...code wont work for the chart but you can compare the two here...

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp

Actual Speed: 60 mph 100 km/h Speedometer1: 60.1 mph 100. km/h
Speedometer Difference: 0.223% too fast
Diameter Difference: 0.22%

That might be an option, and thank you for the calculator, that'll be a good help!