Car Tyres Info

Alt

Zanzibar wrote: »

From experience Michelin wear the best out of the brands I have used - I have 30K+ on original rear wheels and still going.

Second that. Also if you have access to COSTCO, until 22nd you can get 20% discount on purchases of 4 Michelin tyres

Cheers

Premier_2

Alt wrote: »

Second that. Also if you have access to COSTCO, until 22nd you can get 20% discount on purchases of 4 Michelin tyres

Cheers

Up to 25% off at ATS Euromaster (upto & including 17") plus £40 worth of fuel vouchers

http://www.atseuromaster.co.uk/

Edit: ... and don't forget f1autocentres will beat any locally available supplier's price or match it and give you an extra 10% off
http://www.f1autocentres.co.uk/price_promise.php

becs

We've got Michelin Pilot Primacy HP on our BMW and have been really pleased with the wear and the ride. Just about to get another set, but have done over 20k on these ones.

Rallydriver

darich wrote: »

I can corner faster in my own car with lower profile tyres than i can in my gf's car which has higher profile tyres.
Lower profile tyres deflect less and are more responsive under braking, steering and accelerating.
The trade off is a harder ride.

It's not really a trend, nor is it vanity....and there's a distinct advantage in having them if you have a performance car.

I've been in motorsport for 15 years and , although I'm not a chassis engineer (though I do know a couple), I am well read on the subject and I can tell you straight off that nothing is that simple.

These super low profiles just aren't liked in motorsport and there is good reason for that. On the road, so called "rubber bands" are just a fad for vain people.

Mark_Hewitt

I know it's mostly down to the regulations, but look at the tyres on a Formula 1 car.

Omega_1

There have been some most interesting observations and advice on this post and these views really have been appreciated.
I think if I rec-cap on my personal situation - the car was bought less than a year old with about 11K miles on clock so can assume were original tyres.
They were shod with Bridgestone Potenza RE 040 225/45 R18 95Y tyres. At about 17K the front were replaced by Vauxhall dealership with same tyre but (and have only discovered as result of all your comments and observations) with 91W tyres (still having the original 95Y tyres on rear which whilst are still above legal limit are scheduled for replacement shortly - hence the query on a potential replacement tyre bearing in mind safety which is paramount, reduced road noise and preferably a longer wear life if this were thought possible. Irrespective of being a FWD, would have the new tyres put on the front in any case. I do not wish to change wheel sizes (or change the manufacturers spec either) my imitation 'Stirling Moss' style driving of my youth is long gone (and thus shows my era !) so steady and legal driving is the norm but with safety always in mind under all conditions.
So, replace like with like (should there be a concern about the current mixture of 91W and the 95Y) ? and can anyone see a problem with the proposal of considering Michelin Pilot tyres on front and leaving Bridgeston on rear until a further change is required in perhaps another year (hopefully much more) ? Thanks.

Paradigm

From what I can find out the Signum 3.0 diesel has a top speed of 137mph so the original fitting of "Y" (186mph) rated tyres seems to be overkill!

Have a look in your handbook & check the recommended tyre ratings.

Personally, I would be looking at fitting "V" (149mph) or "Z" (150mph+) but keeping to the manufacturers load rating.

Chippy_Minton_2

As long as the speed ratings are above the vehicles top speed you should be ok. Quite how insurance companies can has issue with 120-mph tyres fitted to 140-mph car is beyond me as our speed limit is only 70-mph.

Paradigm

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

As long as the speed ratings are above the vehicles top speed you should be ok. Quite how insurance companies can has issue with 120-mph tyres fitted to 140-mph car is beyond me as our speed limit is only 70-mph.

Legally there isn't an issue, fitting a "U" (124mph) rated tyre wouldn't fail the MOT for the reason the speed limit is 70mph but.....

Insurance co's are a law unto themselves & if there's a getout they'll try to find it!

Premier_2

The legal position on tyre speed ratings is that they have to be rated for the intended purpose of the vehicle.

However the manufacturer will recommend tyres that match or exceed the maximum design speed of the vehicle as the manufacturer doesn't know what the customer's intended usage will be. e.g. the customer may decide to take the vehicle to a track day or perhaps to Germany onto an autobahn without any speed restriction (if they can still find one)

I guess as insurers have to allow usage throughout the EU, then the German autobahn situation is one they have to consider a potential purpose they are insuring.