Tyre Help

supermonkey

Hi All,

I've found a very slight gauge out of one of my tyres. Basically a small lump of rubber came away from the side. Is this likely to need replacing?

I noticed this when checking my tyres as I have a service next week and want to avoid paying extortionate prices if they need doing.

I'm also concerned that whats on my car isn't suitable. The manual states 215/45/R18 89W. The back has 93V Nankang Toursport 611 & front 89Y Kumho Ecsta Spt. So they are not matched and the speed / load doesn't match the manufacturers recommendation.

Black tyres states "It is very important that you check your speed rating before buying your tyres - as choosing a tyre with a lower speed rating could invalidate your insurance." This has got me worried!

The tyres don't seem to get great reviews either!

Not sure whether to go for some winter tyres. I know there are a couple of interesting threads on here, but I would have nowhere to store another set of tyres, (or complete wheels)!

gilbert_and_sullivan

Your tyre speed and load ratings are fine unless you exceed 150 mph.

If your tyres are failing you grip wise replace them, if not run them, only you can tell if they are good enough in the cold and wet when it really matters.

A good all rounder at a sensible price is the Uniroyal Rainsport2, but there are many others, these apprently cope quite well in cold weather, and are second to none in the wet.

If you want winter spec and have no room for a second set, consider winter marked all season tyres (not just M&S marked, it means nothing without the snowflake symbol), but be quick as prices are rising fast.
Good quality all season and winter tyres that work are not cheap.

flyingscotno1

supermonkey wrote: »

Hi All,

I've found a very slight gauge out of one of my tyres. Basically a small lump of rubber came away from the side. Is this likely to need replacing?

I noticed this when checking my tyres as I have a service next week and want to avoid paying extortionate prices if they need doing.

I'm also concerned that whats on my car isn't suitable. The manual states 215/45/R18 89W. The back has 93V Nankang Toursport 611 & front 89Y Kumho Ecsta Spt. So they are not matched and the speed / load doesn't match the manufacturers recommendation.

Black tyres states "It is very important that you check your speed rating before buying your tyres - as choosing a tyre with a lower speed rating could invalidate your insurance." This has got me worried!

The tyres don't seem to get great reviews either!

Not sure whether to go for some winter tyres. I know there are a couple of interesting threads on here, but I would have nowhere to store another set of tyres, (or complete wheels)!

Nankang and Kuhmo are cheaper tyres, towards the budget end but Kuhmo is fairly good. Depending on the damage to tyre it should be replaced- why compromise on safety and risk a failure or puncture.

Must be a fast car with the W rating and I fancy someone has just said sod it and stuffed a V on it as they will be cheaper than W rated tyres which are expensive. The load rating is fine.

I also do not believe lower speed ratings would invalidate your insurance, unless the car could go faster than the tyre was capable of.

On a car with those wheels your looking at 4x winter tyres with rims/alloys to be fair- probably 205/55/R16 size but depends on car.

supermonkey

Thanks for the help.

The car is not a supercar! I would never reach the speed they're rated for anyway, but just don't want an insurance problem.

I thought I had read that the winter rated all seasons aren't as good.

gilbert_and_sullivan

supermonkey wrote: »

I thought I had read that the winter rated all seasons aren't as good.

Indeed they are not as good as summer tyres in summer or full winter tyres in winter, when compared with like for like quality.

However a good quality winter marked all season will be better than ditchfinders at either extreme IMO and will be as good a general purpose tyre as you could want.

I know of other people running these tyres and are well pleased with them, my daughter is now on her third set of Vredestein all seasons, which also manage to cover extraordinary mileages whilst keeping her safe on the road.

I run winter/summer sets on my own car.