Tyres - What is the Truth?

SueC_2

I've heard it said that there is no point buying 'premium brand' tyres, as the cheaper equivalents are exactly the same but without the label.

I've also heard it said that 'premium brand' tyres last longer and improve mpg.

What's a girl to do?

scheming_gypsy

go for the premium brand ones, a lot of cheaper ones can have you inspecting ditches whilst upside down.

Woody._2

How many miles do you do?

What sort of car are they going on?

What sort of driving do you do?

SueC_2

Woody. wrote: »

How many miles do you do?

What sort of car are they going on?

What sort of driving do you do?

About 17000 per year.

VW Eos.

Mainly motorway, some local.

Wig

If you don't drive like an idiot, then go for the cheapest tyres you can find, they will last just as long and you will notice no difference whatsoever.

reported mpg increases are a load of pollocks and certainly not going to give you a return anything like approaching the amount of extra money you had to pay to buy the expensive brands which claim better mpg.

slbhill

Go with the cheaper brands. No difference in my experience - as long as you avoid retreads. If you end up in a ditch it's more likely to be because of your driving, or because you didn't replace them when they were due.

Also, in true MSE fashion - always shop around, the prices for the same tyres vary hugely. We buy from Viking wholesale & pay a one man band garage £10 to put them all on for us, generally ends up about half the price of Kwik Fit. More hassle but well worth it.

gilbert_and_sullivan

I take tyres as seriously as anyone who likes keeping out of the ditch, so lots of research before taking the plunge.

I won't pay the very high prices of the premium brands, they need to charge lots in order to sponsor motorsport and pay for huge TV advertising campaigns, which to be fair work as they are deemed the best by those swayed by such things.

I won't buy tyres from the bottom of the food chain either, invariably odd sounding names noted in European tyre tests for having wet grip hardly worth mentioning...in one memorable test the car fitted with the ditchfinders was still travelling at 27mph when the same car fitted with the standard premium tyre had stopped.

I invariably end up buying European made mid range tyres.

Do your research, learn and buy accordingly.

mikey72

17000 miles on motorways
I'd go with a premium brand, with good grip in the wet as well.

Uniroyal do a decent priced rain tyre.

s_b

mikey72 wrote: »

17000 miles on motorways
I'd go with a premium brand, with good grip in the wet as well.

Uniroyal do a decent priced rain tyre.

i concur
an eos is a heavy car and needs premium rubber
budget indeed pah...

cootuk

A lot of cheaper brands squirm when you corner due to weaker sidewalls, have much poorer wet braking, and wear heavily.

A lot of premium brands should give better all round performance.

https://www.rezulteo-tyres.co.uk has links to German tyre tests.
After reading some of the results you might want to plump for a specific tyre.

gilbert_and_sullivan

mikey72 wrote: »

17000 miles on motorways
I'd go with a premium brand, with good grip in the wet as well.

Uniroyal do a decent priced rain tyre.

Agree, daughters Civic has covered 25k thrashed miles with Uniroyal Rain Experts on the front, measured them today @4mm.