Tyres - Budget or known brand?

Lee_Howden

I'm going to need some new tyres on both mine and the wifes car in the next couple of months.

Previously I have always purchased top branded tyres e.g. Pirelli, Firestone, Continental. I have been wondering if it is worth it getting top brand tyres though.

My car is a 1.8 diesel ford focus which does around 22,000 miles per year, alot of which are on the motorway (long commute to work). I'm currently using Firestone TZ200's which are close to needing replacing.

My wifes car is a 1.4 fiesta which does roughly 12,000 miles in a year. She also uses the motorway to get to work everyday. She is still on the manufacturer supplied Continental tyres at the moment.

Can anyone offer me their thoughts on this?

Wig

I never buy expensive brand name. Always go for the cheapest they have. Last time it was a BOGOF pair of Riken tyres made by Michelin bought from ATS.

Lee_Howden

Wig wrote: »

I never buy expensive brand name. Always go for the cheapest they have. Last time it was a BOGOF pair of Riken tyres made by Michelin bought from ATS.

What sort of mileage do you get out of them?

Also, what are they like grip wise? That would be a big factor as I do alot of motorway miles and like to feel safe!

SnowWhiterThanWhite

Try This........

http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/home.asp

Arlen

I pay for a good quality tyre usually Continentals. For my car (205/55/R16) it is £73 a tyre from my favourite tyre fitters. For anyone in Leicester Jocks Tyres on the A47 near St Georges Retail park they are quick and they haven't marked my alloys.

Pete268

To be honest tyres are not something I skimp on. I consider as there are only 4 points of contact about the size of my palm between the road and me in the car, I get the best tyres I can afford.(currently on Michelins). However some of the lesser known brands are actually made by the top known brands and work out a bit cheaper than buying the top brands. Do a bit or research on the web.

Be wary though of 'Ditchfinders' usually very cheap imports from the Far East and China - some of these can be lethal.

Pete

Wig

I no longer do enough miles to be able to say what they do. I don't drive fast so grip is no problem. They get me from A to B and that's all that I need.

Doesn't sound like the wifes continentals have faired very well @ 12,000 miles. Are they the front pair? I also had a pair of front continental ecos which were bald after 12,000 from new on the front of a hatchback, Those were the ones I changed to Rikens, only done about 3000 miles since changing.

Lee_Howden

Wig wrote: »

I no longer do enough miles to be able to say what they do. I don't drive fast so grip is no problem. They get me from A to B and that's all that I need.

Doesn't sound like the wifes continentals have faired very well @ 12,000 miles. Are they the front pair? I also had a pair of front continental ecos which were bald after 12,000 from new on the front of a hatchback, Those were the ones I changed to Rikens, only done about 3000 miles since changing.

They have been on the car since new. Mileage currently on the clock is around 20,000.

The 12,000 miles is roughly how many the car does in a year. Sorry if there was any confusion. Thought this may be useful.

I've had conti on two of my cars and on the wifes car and they don't seem to last as long as other premium brands.

I've raised this thread as friends and colleagues of mine have bought some budget brands for their vehicles and appear to have got decent mileage out of them, although they don't use the motorway as much as me!

tomstickland

I never buy budget tyres. I had some appalling experiences with Regal "sports" that were wobbly, unstable and with zero grip. I had them fitted in desperation due to a puncture catching me out. Considering I can buy decent sports tyres for £45 fitted from Blackcircles, Mytyres or Protyre I see no reason to fit rubbish.

maniac886

Lee_Howden wrote: »

They have been on the car since new. Mileage currently on the clock is around 20,000.

The 12,000 miles is roughly how many the car does in a year. Sorry if there was any confusion. Thought this may be useful.

I've had conti on two of my cars and on the wifes car and they don't seem to last as long as other premium brands.

I've raised this thread as friends and colleagues of mine have bought some budget brands for their vehicles and appear to have got decent mileage out of them, although they don't use the motorway as much as me!

If you are using the motorway a fair amount I would not get budget tyres. As people have already said the tyres are the only contact between the road and car.

There are a fair few sites that people have posted...have a shop around and see what you can get.


On my focus I have 205/50 R16 Avon ZZ3s all round and got them fitted at a local fitters on ebay for just over £200. Excellent quality tyres and come highly recommended over at FFOC.

anewman

When you can buy branded tyres at sites like blackcircles.com and mytyres.co.uk for much less than the usual rip off merchants like kwikfit etc, that's the better option IMO.