ngeier,

Thanks for the info regarding the Cooper tires. I haven't replaced the OEM Dunlops yet. I ran them until it was time to switch over to my Nokian snow tires for the winter season, so come spring I will have to buy a new set of tires to replace the original OEMs.

Does anyone have any opinion which is better, the Bridgestone OEMs or the Dunlops? For my car that would be either the Bridgestone B381 or the Dunlop SP20FE.

 

I have over 65,000 miles on my original Bridgestone tires. It's really time for a replacement, but I can't seem to find them, or a good ultra-low rolling resistance tire.

 

My Used 2007 HCH had Cooper LRR tires on it ( the paperwork showed that I got them with 1800 miles on them 25800 on original Dunlop ) and for 6000 miles it averaged 43.7 mpg. ( Aug, Sep, Oct & Nov )

My New 2009 HCH has Dunlop on it - the 1st 3 tanks were about 41.2 mpg. The current tank ( it has not gotten above 32F ) is 33.5 mpg.

I think the Coopers rode better too. ( both were kept at 40lbs air pressure checked every Saturday morning ).

I personally had problems with Firestone tires ( and Bridgestone owns Firestone ) and will never own anything with them on it. I have refused rental cars with Firestones on them. I feel the just about the same about Bridgestones. 2 blow outs in 2 weeks will do that to you. The replacement tire for the 1st blowout had a bubble on the under the cars sidewall that the tire place noticed when they were replacing the other blow out.
I put 4 Michelin X tires on it and never looked back. Others died in Explorers ( not what I had, but similiar tire failures ).

Everyone has an opinion - this is mine

 

After all the experience I've had with Michelin I think that's the route I'm going to have to take. I'll take the hit on mileage if I have to... I just trust them... even though I've been able to eek 67,000 miles out of the OEM Bridgestones.