I am in the market to replace my conti extreme contact DWSs (I am running 205-50-16s). I have had two different experiences where I tore the sidewall and had to have a new tire ordered. My wife is pressuring me to consider tires that are kept in stock locally. I could call around to the local guys (Walmart, Tire Discounters, Big O etc), but I figured some of you may have gone through this before.

On a side note, I have never dealt with low profile tires before owning a Fit. I have also never dealt with a torn/blown sidewalls before either. Coincidence? In the last 5 years with our Fit we have had three different experiences that popped a tire on this car. One was hitting a curb (wife was driving), one was a pot-hole and one was rubbing the curb and catching a sewer grate while parallel parking. Sadly, I'm guessing this is normal for low profile tires. It's enough to make me wonder if I should switch to 15" rims. Because of this I'm looking at cheaper tires like General G-Max AS03 instead of the Extreme Contact (figuring one or more of these will have to be replaced over their lifetime). Will I regret it? But I'm concerned these are probably no more common in stores than the Extreme Contacts. FWIW I'm not a particularly spirited driver.

 

I've got 62K on original Dunlop 7000, and they are only about halfway worn.
I drive gently.

I am completely pleased with them, both noise, wear, and traction wise.
Oh, and I am getting 44 mpg consistently according to the meter.
I drive 95% highway, although a lot of it is in heavy LA traffic.

 

I really liked the BF Goodrich Comp 2 A/S tires on mine.

 

WOW

I've had 4 sets of the Extreme Contact. My wife's VW had two sets of the DWS in a 235/45R17 and I had a set of the DW and DWS on a neon I had in the 205/50R17. Never had any issues ever. Not even a flat. My wife even hit a pothole that bent the rim to the point it needed replacement, but tire still held air and balanced fine on the new rim. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another set.

I don't think it's the low profile tires either? My Fit with the squealamatic tires is probably the first vehicle excluding SUV's or trucks that I've owned in the last 20+ years that didn't have low profile tires. My Subaru currently has 245/40R17 Bridgestone RE-71R tires.

I would really hazard to guess it's bad luck or something that you're doing or a combination of both?