Tyres?

vaksam

Sorry, this is probably quite a dumb question!

How do I go about finding out which are the most suitable tyres for my car? I know the sizes etc but there are so many makes out there. Are there any that are best to avoid? Are the budget options worth it?

I have actually needed to replace tyres in the past, but in those days I had an old banger which I drove at most once a week, and so usually went for the budget option! Now I have a more roadworthy vehicle and use it to commute to and from work, so I think a bit more thought needs to go into the process...

Many thanks for any advice!

anewman

This is a difficult one. Reviews on the internet tend to be quite varied for the same tyres. The well known brands are probably safe choices, and using sites like Blackcircles.com you can get these cheaper than the likes of kwikfit etc.

Hintza

First thing I would do is check what is on it and if you are happy with them and price is in the ball park then stick with them.

If I was changing tyres I would try and do an axle at time (keeping same type on one one axle). If you just need one just use the spare.

Unless you are a sporty driver then you will probably not notice much difference within the well known brands. I have bought budget jobs for bangers but I beieve they don't last as long so might be false economy.

I took a liking to Firewstone Firehawks at one stage when put in a bit of research the seemed pretty good and were a little cheaper than likes of Michelin etc

My advise is see if there are any deals around and if buying online try and buy two minimum (keeps postage costs down) and you can hold one untiul you need it if required.

Another place to look is MyTyres

alastairq

I noticed a recent Kwikfit offer, can't recall the make, but there was a ''good?'' deal for four......although in smaller print, there was what seemed to be a better deal for two......working that one out proved a bit of a strain for me, maybe someone else has a better idea?

Deciding on what tyres one wants/needs depends, as said above, on one's driving needs, and style.

Using the spare is a good idea, however there is a downside....being, how OLD is the spare itself?

Or...what if it is one of those Spacesaver spares?

In my experience, Firestones last better than Michelins...and Uniroyals....by a long chalk.

But for small car tyres, Michelin claim better fuel mileage...although I believe much of that can be lost through thoughtless driving style?

Since this site is about 'money saving', I don't think you can go far adrift with a set of ''budget'' tyres.

on the basis of an average mileage [12000 or thereabouts p.a.??],then the car is likely to be replaced before the tyres?

If, however, you are like me, on the very cutting edge of cheapest-of-cheap motoring, then the car will be retained for as long as it doesn't need a pacemaker........[ £500 off ebay, 4 1/2 years ago, with full tax and MoT...a volvo 740 estate....basic model, 2 litre engine, serviced only by me...regular 30 mpg's...never short of space...has NEVER let me down...tows a heavy trailer when demanded....spares available, especially 2nd hand....or off tinternet, rarely has money spent on it...rarely gets washed either....has literally taken myself and family from one end of the country to the other,many, many times....commutes every day......]

it came with four half worn Goodyears ......which lasted me at least two years.

the two least worn went on the front, and I bought a pair of Colway remoulds for the rears....a set of their famous snow tyres, would you believe.

it is more than two years since I fitted these snow tyres....and I doubt it's been driven for more than an hour in real snow since!......I have been warned NOT to buy a set of ''rain tyres'' on that basis!!!

but...these tyres have seen nearly 30000 miles and are just beginning to be a cause for concern......maybe before christmas?? [they cost £18 each, delivered...]

LAst year I bought a pair of budgets for the fronts.....10000miles plus and the tread's as deep as ever.......however, these cost me a bit over £60 the pair, fitted.....

maybe it's the car? [rwd]...maybe it's my continual maintenance???[pressure checks, etc...]

needless to say, the car coped with the deepest of floods, last year and this, without hesitation.

it's over 20 years old now.....but......what DO I replace it with?

as to the tyre issue?

it would really make a grown person cry if one shelled out megabux for the finest recomended tyres, only to find , for some reason,they failed to live up to expectations?

I'd take a look at Vredestein, and ContintAl.....???

vaksam

alastairq wrote: »

If, however, you are like me, on the very cutting edge of cheapest-of-cheap motoring, then the car will be retained for as long as it doesn't need a pacemaker.......

My old car was a 1992 Rover Metro. Free, as it was a hand me down from my mum (who'd had it handed down from my gran)! Drove like a tank, but I was advised that the engine would keep on going for as long as I needed it to. It went to the great scrap yard in the sky last Feb, when I realised that the amount I'd spent on re-building the continually rusting bodywork around the perfect engine would have bought a new car outright! And I cried like a baby when it was towed away, it was my first car! :rotfl:

Many thanks for all the advice, there's two tyres that need replacing so I will hopefully be able to get a deal for buying two. I think the ones that are on there now are continental, so I will price some of those up and see if they are within my budget using the websites suggested and see how I get on!

alastairq

I did happen to catch a mid-day TV prog about haggling over prices....one was at a tyre dealers, so if you CAN do haggling, why not give it a whirl?

vansboy

Check Todays Offers on www.justtyres.co.uk they also have an online discount if you are happy to order this way, plus a downloadable voucher if you spend £100 .

But I've just had my first dealings with www.etyres.co.uk & they came when they sais & had much better price than anyone else. Plus they supplied AND fitted the tyres (on our driveway) which saves a lot of messing about, by having tyres from one supplier, then fitted by another...
VB

FlameCloud

Which ever ones you get, I would get the best ones you can afford. Tyres are the only thing keeping you in contact with the road and the differences between different tyres in braking tests is massive- more than most people realise I would imagine.

If you find a specific oweners site for your car they should be able to help with recomendations.