What happened to cheap tyres?

jase1

As I have said before, the tests have shown on more than one occasion that, even in summer, a barely-legal premium tyre will be outperformed by a new budget in the wet.

My caveat with the budget boots is that I don't generally continue to run them past 3mm of tread (and to be honest I apply the same rule to premium rubber as well). But I am quite sure that if you're careful enough, even a car with sub-optimal brakes and four mismatched ultra-budget tyres at 1.7mm in the pouring rain isn't going to land you in the ditch -- as has been said you drive to the conditions. That twisty A-road that you might be able to safely traverse at 60mph on a dry sunny day with a brand new car with brand new tyres, may be a little more 'interesting' with the old car and bad tyres in the pouring rain, but that's why you have an accelerator pedal rather than an automatic cruise control.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Cheap tyres got bigger with lower profiles and increased speed ratings, and governments of the day had to increase VAT to get more money to throw about, no more cheap tyres.

ian103

used avon's on an mx5, costly mistake, handling not so good and not a patch on the bridgestone;s originally fitted. replaced a front pair of tyres on avensis 2d estate with kuhmos, no worse than the original equipment and in some aspects better. i was perhaps a bit more keen in driving the mx5 so perhaps budget tyres need considering against the car and how yoy drive

mikey72

ian103 wrote: »

used avon's on an mx5, costly mistake, handling not so good and not a patch on the bridgestone;s originally fitted. replaced a front pair of tyres on avensis 2d estate with kuhmos, no worse than the original equipment and in some aspects better. i was perhaps a bit more keen in driving the mx5 so perhaps budget tyres need considering against the car and how yoy drive

Kuhmos is a very good example of a budget tyre made in china, but well thought off.
They have been tarnished recently though.

http://www.china.org.cn/business/2011-03/28/content_22238230.htm

Notmyrealname

UncleZen wrote: »

2 reasons
1) We dont make tyres in the UK, all tyres sold in the UK are made in europe and the exchange rate has pushed up the price.

Rubbish. We do make tyres in the UK. Avon is one company. Colway are another. Pirelli have or had a factory in Stoke on Trent.

Notmyrealname

mikey72 wrote: »

If you can't drive on budget tyres, you should do us a favour and post your licence back now to be honest.

You continue to save £30 and I'll continue to be able to stop 30ft earlier than you can and maintain better control of my vehicle if I have to make a sudden change of direction.

Notmyrealname

Difference between BRAND NEW budget, medium and premium tyres:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSIfuZoaFOk&feature=related

Budget tyre almost going straight on at a corner with a load of understeer and squealing as it loses grip. What a surprise.

Autocar budget tyre wet weather braking test from 2009. A difference of over 10 metres or 33ft from the Continentals to the worst budgets at just 50MPH. What do you think the difference would be at 70?



But what the heck, they're all the same eh despite the reams of test results showing different? And when you pile into the back of the car that had better tyres than you and pulled up quicker, at least you can say you saved a few quid on the rubber as they take your car off to the scrapyard....

Notmyrealname

jase1 wrote: »

That twisty A-road that you might be able to safely traverse at 60mph on a dry sunny day with a brand new car with brand new tyres, may be a little more 'interesting' with the old car and bad tyres in the pouring rain, but that's why you have an accelerator pedal rather than an automatic cruise control.

Around here deer have a nasty habit of appearing from nowhere. I'd stop, you'd be sliding off the road...

mikey72

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Rubbish. We do make tyres in the UK. Avon is one company. Colway are another. Pirelli have or had a factory in Stoke on Trent.

Avon. Owned by Cooper. Made in China

Colway. Re treads

Pirelli. you won't buy a tyre made in stoke.

(If you really want to know where you tyre is made, it tells you on the sidewall. You won't find one made in the uk anymore, if you have a standard car tyre on)

mikey72

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Difference between BRAND NEW budget, medium and premium tyres:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSIfuZoaFOk&feature=related

Budget tyre almost going straight on at a corner with a load of understeer and squealing as it loses grip. What a surprise.

Autocar budget tyre wet weather braking test from 2009. A difference of over 10 metres or 33ft from the Continentals to the worst budgets at just 50MPH. What do you think the difference would be at 70?



But what the heck, they're all the same eh despite the reams of test results showing different? And when you pile into the back of the car that had better tyres than you and pulled up quicker, at least you can say you saved a few quid on the rubber as they take your car off to the scrapyard....

http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/uk/en/continental/automobile/themes/press_services/img/autocar_tyre_test_article_en.pdf
Full article, the Wanlis performed better than the contis on aquaplaning.