Buying 4 new tyres - but which ones ?

property.advert

I've always been a bit anal about tyres and if I go ahead and buy a second hand motor then I'm likely to chuck the tyres away if they are even anything like a bit old or worn. My guess is that I'll be getting a motor with 20-30k on the clock and on the first set of tyres which are the first set fitted to the 3+ year old car.

Most likely a 2007 Ford Focus 1.6 auto with factory alloys (don't know size yet).

Only looking at brand names but how to judge which is the best ? Low annual mileage (circa 8k I guestimate), largely town driving plus a 70 mile round trip once a week, no speed freak drivers.

Looking for best traction all round, stopping in the wet, some help if it snows etc. Will go for the best price and best service (will get tracking done etc.) but no need to compromise on the tyre itself for price.

JQ.

We have a Focus C-Max and use Continental Sport Contact2 - never had any issues and they seem to get good reviews.

10JH

I'd look up some reviews, and base your budget on those.

harveybobbles

I find Conti's wear funny. They edge off quite quickly. So I repalced them with Michelins on my car and they have worn nice and evenly

The Foci 1.6 auto will probably have 205 55 16's on...

vikingaero

Best overall tyre IMHO for damp Britain and snow is the Vredestein Quartrac 3 All Season Tyre. If you buy from places like Elite in Rainham, you also get a road hazard warranty on the tyres for free.

mikey72

vikingaero wrote: »

Best overall tyre IMHO for damp Britain and snow is the Vredestein Quartrac 3 All Season Tyre. If you buy from places like Elite in Rainham, you also get a road hazard warranty on the tyres for free.

I like those myself but mytres are £128 a pair for mine, whereas Elite are £152, Camskils are a lot cheaper as well, but don't always have them in stock.

property.advert

Found this http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/213186/tyre_guide.html

Some good reviews of those Vredestein tyres, thanks.

frothey

Kuhmo Ecsta's and Toyo Proxes are well worth a look. Not too cheap but perform very favourably compared to Michelin/Goodyear/Continentals.

Lirin

Falken 912's- cheaper brand, but do average in most conditions, nice enough as an all-rounder.

bigjl

mikey72 wrote: »

I like those myself but mytres are £128 a pair for mine, whereas Elite are £152, Camskils are a lot cheaper as well, but don't always have them in stock.

Are you comparing like with like?

Are both tyres fitted and balanced?

I personally find Elite to be very well priced, however I may just be lucky in the tyres I have been buying.

For example unless Costco have the buy 4 get 20% or 25% off the price then Elite have been cheaper, this is however only based on one or two different sizes, which were fitted to the cars I owned at the time.

However I have a habit of putting on Toyo Proxes anyway so don't know why I bother sometimes, when I am rich maybe I will be able to justify the extra for the very good Michelin Primacy.


I have also heard good reports about the Vredestien tyres but have never used them so have no direct knowledge.

I have however used Nankang tyres before, NS2s, as I needed four tyres for my 17" wheels on my previous Subaru Legacy, I had bought them on eBay and the tyres where crap so needed a cheap half decent matched set, I was very impressed with that tyre, but tyre choice sometimes comes down to budget and if I had the money at the time it would have been Michelin Primacy or Toyo Proxes.

bigjl

An interesting link there property.advert, especially relevant for those that will post soon to say that Pirelli's are the best tyre in the world.

Just reread the thread, my Mondeo has 205/55/16 which as stated may well be the size on the model Focus, I couldn't find anything to touch the Toyo in that size, not for price or grip, especially in the wet and snow, which really showed the tyres to be a decent winter/all year choice.

Would still have Michelins if the money was available, and going by the way my Mondeo gripped in the wet on Pirellie P6000 I can#t in all honesty recommend them, I do about 25-30k a year, with more on A roads these days, and I reckon I shall get about 35-40k out of the set of Toyos, this is with averaging out the wear by swapping back to front twice a year, when these tyres are finsihed I am going to retire my steel wheels, to be fitted with winter tyres and getting some Focus ST 18" alloys and fitting these possibly with Michelin or more than likely my favourite Toyo Proxes.