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Acura TSX: High Performance Tire Reviews

The right set of performance tires can transform the handling of your Acura TSX, for better or for worse. Choosing the right tires for sharp handling, long life, or a comfortable ride can make or break your enjoyment of the car.

By Jeffrey Bausch - May 13, 2016

This article applies to the Acura TSX (2004-2014).

There are a million reasons why you would want to update the current set of tires on your Acura TSX to high performance tires instead. Maybe you are looking for more grip, or maybe you are looking for a quieter ride? Read on and we'll give you the lowdown on what tires other Acura TL owners have reported using and recommend, or recommend you avoid. There are a ton of options out there, and unfortunately not all high performance tires are created equal. The following are five of the more oft-recommended options among Acura TSX owners, complete with price, performance, lifespan information, and more.

Figure 1. Acura TSX.

Acura TSX High Performance Tires
Nitto Motivo
Continental DWS
Yokohama Avid Envigors
Kumho Ecsta 4X
Michelin Primacy MXM4
Price
 $200 $250 $155 $225 $260
Handling

Good

Great

Okay

Good

Good
Tread Life
 Average Above average Below average Below average Average
Warranty
 60K-mile 50K-mile 60K-mile 40K-mile 50K-mile
Best Quality: Continental DWS

Best Value: Nitto Motivo

Nitto Motivo

Price – $200

Handling – Good

Tread Life – Average

Warranty – 60,000-mile limited warranty

Good tire for the price, but not a good high performance tire for all season use. It handles well enough on dry roads, but doesn't have much grip in rain, sleet or snow. These tires handle turns well and a lot of TSX owners cite a comfortable, quiet experience. They also seem to last a good long time, especially when considering the price and the dry weather grip they provide. Best for drivers looking for a low priced tire for mostly dry weather usage.

Continental DWS

Price – $250

Handling – Great

Tread Life – Average

Warranty – 50,000-mile limited warranty

The Continental may be one of the more expensive tires here, but you get a little more bang for your buck with this DWS tire. They offer superb grip on all types of surface–dry or wet –and handle extremely well. They also deliver a quiet luxury car ride, with little noise, and they last a long time. You can spend a little more now on your tire, but you'll be happier with them and you won't have to replace them as soon as with lower priced options. Best for the demanding driver who doesn't mind spending the money for the best tires.

Yokohama Avid Envigors

Price – $155

Handling – Okay

Tread Life – Below average

Warranty – 60,000-mile limited warranty

Yokohama’s line of Avid Envigor tires offer a terrific price, but not the best performance. It handles dry roadways well enough, and is okay in the rain, but most forums members who have used them don't recommend them for snow or ice. Handling is just okay and the driving experience is average. There’s also a bit of noise when driving on these tires, and they tend to wear a bit faster than the competition. Best tire for those on a tight budget, but otherwise not a great choice.

Kumho Ecsta 4X

Price – $225

Handling – Good

Tread Life – Below average

Warranty – 40,000-mile limited warranty

Kumho Ecsta 4X tires offer a low cost all season performance tire, but they just are not much less than the DWS tires, and don't perform as well. The Ecstas handle dry surfaces very well, and can handle wet roadways okay, but are not designed for snow, sleet, or ice. They are all season, thus the 4X in the name, but you are much better off with dedicated winter tires. Noise isn’t that bad, but the tires do wear pretty fast, especially for the more aggressive driver. Best for drivers looking for a low cost performance tire that can handle driving in the rain.

Michelin Primacy MXM4

Price – $260

Handling – Good

Tread Life – Average

Warranty – 50,000-mile limited warranty

While Michelin’s Primacy MXM4 tires are priced a bit higher than the rest of the competition, all you’re paying more for is the brand name on the side of the tire. Most of the reviews do not cite any sort of differentiating factor, which would make it worth more than the rest. It handles dry and wet surfaces fairly well, but despite being described as an “all season” tire, it can't compete with real winter tires in the snow, sleet, and ice. Drivers described the driving experience as okay, with handling on corners being sporty. There is a bit of noise from the rubber on the roadway, but nothing too distracting, and the tire wears at a fairly normal rate. Best for fans of the Michelin brand, but worse than the similarly priced Continetals.

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