After two weeks and 600 miles I am impressed with the Hankook Optimo H727. I was even more impressed with the deal I got on them: too good to pass up.
The deal: Once both rebates arrive, (both approved) the total OTD cost for a set of H727 in 185/65/14, with a wheel alignment and lifetime rotation/balance, will be $280.47 installed. Unreal.
$308 for four tires from DTD-eBay.
$51.01 for mount/balance/install at Firestone, with a coupon and without tire disposal. (Got a few bucks for the old rubber at a local shop.)
$71.01 for wheel alignment at Firestone, with a $5 off coupon and 10% off for using my Firestone charge card for the first time. (That card entitles the cardholder to free lifetime rotation/balance.)
45 cents in postage on mail-in refund.
Subtract $100 DTD-eBay rebate and $50 Hankook rebate. Even better: One of the hubcaps came off the day I got the tires installed, so Firestone ordered me a set of four new hubs to make it right.
First time I tried the order online/install local route, but all the stars lined up here. If anyone can beat this deal, please let me know. (Actually I might have been able to save a few more bucks on the alignment with a better coupon I found after-the fact, but I am not complaining.)
So: Too early to say much in way of a review, but three days after the H727s were installed I took a 400-mile round-trip uphill to upstate NY. A clear improvement over the previous tires, especially in the combination of smooth, quiet ride and decent steering response. (Better at both ends, by far.)
No rain on that trip but I got a chance to try them out in cold rain showers after I got home. No problem there. We shall see about snow/slush soon enough, but I expect them to do well there. Ask me again two years from now, if I still have the Saturn then.
One nit-pick: The specs say the initial tread depth is 11.5/32, but my gauge reads closer to 11, even. If that's the worst thing I can say these must be pretty good tires.
They were made in Korea, date code 1712, aka April 22-28, 2012. I ordered them on Nov. 2, they arrived Nov. 6, installed Nov. 7. Would have preferred USA-made tires, but I can live with South Korea-made products when no USA-made alternative is in the same ballpark for both price and quality. (Getting hard to find 14" in the newer higher-end models.)
These will be the last tires I put on this car, barring road hazard. In the unlikely event I still have the Saturn in five years, when the treadlife warranty expires, I expect these tires will still be on the car, at least for three seasons.
Will update down the road as the miles add up. Thanks for listening.
The deal: Once both rebates arrive, (both approved) the total OTD cost for a set of H727 in 185/65/14, with a wheel alignment and lifetime rotation/balance, will be $280.47 installed. Unreal.
$308 for four tires from DTD-eBay.
$51.01 for mount/balance/install at Firestone, with a coupon and without tire disposal. (Got a few bucks for the old rubber at a local shop.)
$71.01 for wheel alignment at Firestone, with a $5 off coupon and 10% off for using my Firestone charge card for the first time. (That card entitles the cardholder to free lifetime rotation/balance.)
45 cents in postage on mail-in refund.
Subtract $100 DTD-eBay rebate and $50 Hankook rebate. Even better: One of the hubcaps came off the day I got the tires installed, so Firestone ordered me a set of four new hubs to make it right.
First time I tried the order online/install local route, but all the stars lined up here. If anyone can beat this deal, please let me know. (Actually I might have been able to save a few more bucks on the alignment with a better coupon I found after-the fact, but I am not complaining.)
So: Too early to say much in way of a review, but three days after the H727s were installed I took a 400-mile round-trip uphill to upstate NY. A clear improvement over the previous tires, especially in the combination of smooth, quiet ride and decent steering response. (Better at both ends, by far.)
No rain on that trip but I got a chance to try them out in cold rain showers after I got home. No problem there. We shall see about snow/slush soon enough, but I expect them to do well there. Ask me again two years from now, if I still have the Saturn then.
One nit-pick: The specs say the initial tread depth is 11.5/32, but my gauge reads closer to 11, even. If that's the worst thing I can say these must be pretty good tires.
They were made in Korea, date code 1712, aka April 22-28, 2012. I ordered them on Nov. 2, they arrived Nov. 6, installed Nov. 7. Would have preferred USA-made tires, but I can live with South Korea-made products when no USA-made alternative is in the same ballpark for both price and quality. (Getting hard to find 14" in the newer higher-end models.)
These will be the last tires I put on this car, barring road hazard. In the unlikely event I still have the Saturn in five years, when the treadlife warranty expires, I expect these tires will still be on the car, at least for three seasons.
Will update down the road as the miles add up. Thanks for listening.