Tyres - What is the Truth?

bigjl

jase1 wrote: »

Totally agree -- I was just trying to put the "lasts longer" idea into perspective.

Even Michelin only claims 30%. If their tyres genuinely were lasting 2-3 times longer than other brands, cheap or otherwise, they'd be singing the fact from the rooftops. Therefore I don't buy it.

Yes, Continentals are a very good tyre, but you pay for that performance with a reduced lifespan. Rather like the Toyos, really.

It's all about compromises, and selecting the best tool for the job. Personally I'll choose grip over wear-rate every time -- but I'm a cheapskate, so I buy the cheaper but comparable T1Rs instead.

I got really good life from the T1R's that i have just changed, once they got down to 3mm the rate of wear really seemed to slow down, don't know why, i haven't changed the usage or way I drive.

The older T1S used to wear very fast. Noisy aswell, but really grippy in the dry and all Toyos are priced very well.

The Continentals Contact tyres on the wifes Clio wore away really quick and also unevenly, the Avon ZV3's are fine, no odd wear, go figure.

I think that Goodyear are probably using tyre tech from a few years ago, but perhaps the compound is softer due to being made for the Slovakian climate and roads?

Seems plausable, just like VW did with Seat and Skoda years ago.

jase1

Are the conditions in Slovakia really that much different to the rest of Europe?

Slovakia is one of the richer Central European economies -- and when I was in the neighbouring Czech Republic I didn't find the road surface quality (or the climate) to be significantly different to the UK. Perhaps a few more potholes out in the sticks.

adouglasmhor

d.ross wrote: »

More potholes than the UK?....it must be bad:eek:

And if the Czech republic is bad Slovenia will be worse.

caleyles

Just thought I would put in my own input, We have a bmw 320i - 2200cc 6 cyl. Wheel size is 225/45/17 W. Made a huge mistake and got a complete set of cheaper range tyres - NEVER AGAIN - obviously the rear wheel drive is crap in the snow though the bmw winter wheel programme has changed that and it is better than any car I've ever had in the snow with the exception of a C8 which had traction control etc. Anyway this summer has shown up the cheaper tyres for what they are - CRAP - the car has slid in the rain several times and floats quite nicely across all these big lovely puddles on the road. In the latest incident whilst driving through Elgin on the A96 I was following a volvo s40 round a roundabout doing approx 30 mph in 4th gear and while accelerating out of the roundabout yet another huge 45 degree slide - The kids loved it though. I have done my advanced driving albeit throwing fire appliances round and there has never been real scares with any of the slides. The tyres have been changed to Goodyear Eagle F1 assymetrics and the difference is incredible as regards wet grip/aquaplaning etc. No more cheap tyres for me,

andygb

caleyles wrote: »

Just thought I would put in my own input, We have a bmw 320i - 2200cc 6 cyl. Wheel size is 225/45/17 W. Made a huge mistake and got a complete set of cheaper range tyres - NEVER AGAIN - obviously the rear wheel drive is crap in the snow though the bmw winter wheel programme has changed that and it is better than any car I've ever had in the snow with the exception of a C8 which had traction control etc. Anyway this summer has shown up the cheaper tyres for what they are - CRAP - the car has slid in the rain several times and floats quite nicely across all these big lovely puddles on the road. In the latest incident whilst driving through Elgin on the A96 I was following a volvo s40 round a roundabout doing approx 30 mph in 4th gear and while accelerating out of the roundabout yet another huge 45 degree slide - The kids loved it though. I have done my advanced driving albeit throwing fire appliances round and there has never been real scares with any of the slides. The tyres have been changed to Goodyear Eagle F1 assymetrics and the difference is incredible as regards wet grip/aquaplaning etc. No more cheap tyres for me,

RWD BMWs are lethal in the wet if you take the p**s. It does not matter which tyres you have. Unlike a race track there are always oil/diesel deposits on roundabouts, and FWD cars deal with these better.

caleyles

Totally agree about the FWD being better although better tyres make a huge difference and unless you are too young to remember when most cars were RWD Its great fun having the odd slide (Controlled) although not as much fun as putting fire engines sideways on a skid pan at a test centre.

Trebor16

My motto on tyres is quite simple:-

spend on tyres, save on underpants!

scheming_gypsy

cheap tyres and disposable nappies for me!


Although i've just gone mid range on a pair of GT Radials, £70 each fitted for a pair or 215x40x17's. I was ideally looking for Proxy's or something similar but these were getting decent reviews in the dry and wet

mikey72

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

cheap tyres and disposable nappies for me!


Although i've just gone mid range on a pair of GT Radials, £70 each fitted for a pair or 215x40x17's. I was ideally looking for Proxy's or something similar but these were getting decent reviews in the dry and wet

They come out well for Chinese tyres.
They're more reasonable budget, rather than mid range tyres though.

scheming_gypsy

I was putting the mid range down to the price, they're probably about £20 each side of budget and the start of the decent brands. So far i've had no problems but it's still a bit early yet; couple more months and some heavier rain and i'll see which way i'm facing!!