Car Tyres

smitkit

Hi

I've been told that I'll need new front tyres on my car soon, so I'm just doing a bit of research on what I'll need. I've followed a previous MSE thread which has links to some good online shops, and will also call a few local garages to see what they can offer.

My question is a bit more generic. I do about 8,000 miles a year (mostly about town, but the occasional motorway jouney), and don't go racing on motorways . Is there actually any benefit in paying extra for the better branded tyres?

I'm a bit risk-averse, so am minded to pay a little bit extra to get a brand name I recognise, but don't know if this is just being stoopid!

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks

Smitkit

Ebe_Scrooge

Ideally you want a local independent tyre fitter who you can trust, they will be able to give you the best advice for your particular car / driving habits.

It's always a tricky call. On the one hand, the tyres are the only thing that keep you in contact with the road, so from that point of view you want the very best you can get. However, a Ferrari on a race track will require rather better tyres than a Mini doing 30mph around town.

Personally I've always gone for the mid-range tyres. I do a mixture of town and motorway driving, and like yourself, don't go at stupid speeds. To me, the longevity of the tyres is an important consideration, and some brands will wear better than others.

As a VERY broad guideline, you can get softer compounds that will grip better but wear out faster, or harder compounds where the reverse is true. Some tyres will also perform better in the wet than others - important if you do a lot of high-speed motorway miles, less so if you're pottering sedately round town.

Lots of variables, which is why a trusted tyre fitter is your best bet. But on the whole, most of the mid-priced tyres stocked by most garages will probably suit.

jase1

Plenty of existing debates on this subject elsewhere on this forum.

I would tend to agree with Ebe.

bap98189

If you are just pottering about town and using the car for the odd motorway journey do what the rest of us do. Ring up a couple of local tyre places with the size you need and ask for the cheapest thing that is actually new, black and round.

scheming_gypsy

Try Camskill as well just for the tyres, seem to be one of the cheapest online or there's Blackcircle who arrange everything (order the tyres and they send them to your tyre place of choice and arrange the fitting)..

I've just ordered a couple of Falken FK452 which get rated above Toyo Proxes by a lot of people on performance cars and are apparently made by Dunlop. Reasonably priced for the size and reviews

smitkit

Thanks everyone, really useful advice

I have a nice local garage that I take my car to for repairs etc. They mostly deal with high spec cars, but I like going there as they have great service and don't raise eyebrows when I ask stupid questions. The only reason I was looking around on tyres was because I think they will try to fit some high spec ones as most of their clientelle will be able to afford them. I shall do what I should have done already, and give them a call and see what they suggest

Thanks again everyone.

Smitkit

Wig

Try this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3335884