Help! Branded or unbranded tyres?

GeckoGirl1985

Hi everyone,

So, I've had my first car for a little over a year now - an S reg 1.2 corsa with 17k on the clock (it belonged to a little old granny before I got it and she hardly used it). As my drive to work is only about 10 mins into the next village I've only done about 2k in the last year with it.

It passed its MOT with flying colours but the the mechanic did say that the tyres are looking a bit old, not enough to be an advisory but he did point out a few small cracks where they are starting to perish a bit even though the tread is fine. I have no idea how old the tyres actually are. The roads have been snowy and icy here the last week or so and I've had a few freaky moments slipping and sliding about!

I've decided that since I have a few extra £ this month to replace all four tyres while I have the money available. Also my dad has offered to go 50/50 on the cost with me.

This is where I have problems. My dad is the ultimate tight fist, he wants me to put £30 unbranded tyres on the car (BBT Economy) and is determined that these will be just fine as that's what he's always used. He says paying any more for branded tyres is a waste of money.

I'm not so sure - I've shopped around my local garages and have been quoted £45 per tyre for Goodyear Duragrip. I can't help feeling that it is worth the extra 15 quid to put 'good' tyres on my car that will last me for years, as they are what keeps me stuck to the road at the end of the day! He is not impressed with this at all and is really arguing that he knows better and he does not want to waste his money. I'm starting to think I might just have to try and pay for them myself rather than have an argument with him, even though I can't really afford it.

What do you think? Are branded tyres better than unbranded? What would you do in my situation?

steve-L

Why not suggest replacing TWO tyres.... at £45 and keeping the best 2 and sticking them on the back wheels

Depending how good/bad they are and having a rear wheel blowout on a FWD car is less frightening than on a front wheel.... (should it happen)

Then save to replace the other 2 tyres.

colino

They wont be huge on this tyre-shredder (if standard wheels) so you shouldn't have any problem getting top-brands for £45-£50 each, fitted. If you do go down the, "just two" route, which you shouldn't if they are perishing instead of wearing, put the best on the back.

Strider590

GeckoGirl1985 wrote: »

This is where I have problems. My dad is the ultimate tight fist, he wants me to put £30 unbranded tyres on the car (BBT Economy) and is determined that these will be just fine as that's what he's always used. He says paying any more for branded tyres is a waste of money.

He's wrong, massively wrong....... He's been fed a line by a fitter at a tyre/exhaust outlet, where they make more profit on cheap tyres. They should be banned from giving this bad advice.

Take a look at this video, Whatcar don't sell tyres.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_j-2W2uZ8c

In that test the budget tyres took 22 meters longer to stop in the wet!!!

I don't know what car you have, but I have a Vectra, my tyres are Avon ZV5, they're £140+ each if I go to somewhere like crapfit. If I buy them at an independent tyre specialist (where the local taxi drivers and boyracers go), I get them for £84 each.

You need to find a better tyre retailer (under the arches backstreet type of place) and get some decent rubber. If your ever anywhere near Birmingham, i'd recommend Jeffries tyres in Bromsgrove.

The reason people don't notice the difference normally is because they're going from barely legal premium brand tyres to brand new budget tyres, they're bound to feel better initially. Thus fuelling this idea that it makes no difference.....
My GF drives a 2nd hand Ford KA, she had rubbish tyres fitted from the dealership, she'd just part-exed an old KA which was falling apart, but had fairly new premium brand tyres fitted, she could spot the difference a mile away, the newer car felt awful!!!

Tyre's are one thing that the British have a very poor attitude toward, you won't find people scrimping on tyre's like we do out in Europe or the USA.

Tyre's are the single most important safety feature on any car....... They are the only thing keeping your car out of the nearest ditch.

motorguy

Theres a phrase for the cheapest of the cheap unbranded tyres in the trade - they're called 'ditchfinders'. :eek:

Either put the money your dad will give you towards a full set of the good tyres OR if your low on cash, as above replace the worst two, and put the remaining two on the rear.

Stooby2

+1 for what Strider says. Cheap tyres do not perform as well in emergency situations as decent ones - especially in the wet. Go for the good ones, but shop around.

john_white

Always put your best tyres on the back, even if FWD.

Strider590

motorguy wrote: »

Theres a phrase for the cheapest of the cheap unbranded tyres in the trade - they're called 'ditchfinders'. :eek:

This is right, I dare say at some point the local Crapfit sold some to your dad, but what he didn't see after leaving was the fitter laughing at saying "hahaha, I just sold that guy a full set of Super Hedgehog DitchFinder XL's"

steve-L

john_white wrote: »

Always put your best tyres on the back, even if FWD.

Why? I don't understand the logic of that.

colino

Whether fwd, rwd or 4x4, there are only a tiny amount of vehicles that have active or passive rear steering. As the driver has therefore no real control over the back end, while you are focusing on driving the car, the last thing you want to happen is for the rear wheels to lose traction, do their own thing and add to your thrills. Best tyres should always be on the back.

lesalanos

All tyre fitters are trained to put new tyres on the back.

There is also a big heavy weight over the front wheels helping them to stick to the road.