As much as I love my HCH, I'm already looking forward to replacing the tires...which to little to enhance the driving experience. If I'm willing to pay more for tires will the upgrade result in better traction and traction...or just cost more money?
b.

It will improve the handling and traction, but sacrifice mileage. Check for 'low rolling resistance' tires if you want to maintain mileage.

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Michelin has a range of sizes in their "energy" series tires, which claim low rolling resistance. So in theory anyway, you can get some tires with better traction, and not sacrifice too much mileage. My current tires only come in a couple relatively skinny sizes.

I'm not sure if there is anybody here who has done that, but I'm thinking that I may go that route when my Bridgestone B381s give up the ghost.

I'm too lazy to dig up the thread, but the Sumitomo HTR-200 is rated very high in both grip AND exceptionally low rolling resistance. It should be a very sensible replacement for the OEM tires and they're only $39 in 195/70-14 and $43 for 195/60-15.

That's good news, since the Michelins are quite expensive.

Does anybody know of a good place to find the rolling resistance of different types of tires? It seems like it's not a typical attribute that they list, at most of the popular tire sites I have visited.

I feel your pain...I have Googled my buttocks off trying to find that data, and so far nothing turns up. It's like it's and "Industry Secret" or something !!!

Coyote - the only data I found was a report (pdf file) done in 2003 that listed the top 10 low rolling resistance tires of the time. I think this is it:

www.greenseal.org/recommendations/CGR_tire_rollingresistance.pdf

However, this browser is blocking the download at the moment so I can't verify the link. That Sumitomo tire was 3 or 4 on the list. I cannot find any such data from the manufacturer sites I've visited - and I'm looking hard. My Dunlops are about done. the Sumitomo tire is top on my list - also takes up to 51 psi so you can safely run it at higher levels.

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But does a low resistance tire and the high pressure it requires sacrifice traction and handling?

It may very well - haven't tried it yet. However I run my Dunlops at 45 psi and haven't noticed any degrade in handling. However it's been dry and sunny since I put them that high.

*** Retired after 65,000 outstanding miles ***