Help! Branded or unbranded tyres?

molerat

The majority of sources recommend new tyres fitted to the rear.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/car-tyres.html
http://www.celtictyres.co.uk/front-rear.php
http://www.tirereview.com/article/81718/always_install_two_new_tires_on_the_rear_axle.aspx

Vicky Butler-Henderson shows why
http://www.etyres.co.uk/flashmovies/new-tyres-on-rear-800.html

OP, I am assuming you have 165/65/14T tyres fitted, if so £45 a corner for the Goodyears is excellent value

Gilbert2

molerat wrote: »

The majority of sources recommend new tyres fitted to the rear.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/car-tyres.html
http://www.celtictyres.co.uk/front-rear.php
http://www.tirereview.com/article/81718/always_install_two_new_tires_on_the_rear_axle.aspx

Vicky Butler-Henderson shows why
http://www.etyres.co.uk/flashmovies/new-tyres-on-rear-800.html

The majority of sources that you have posted?

Even the AA advise in general terms, they refer you to your specific vehicle handbook.

Let's face it, have I ever encountered a problem when replacing new tyres that have been fitted to the front? No.

rev_henry

A 1.2 corsa? Just get the cheapest, its hardly a high performance car!

artbaron

Cheap things are cheap for a reason and the cheapest are almost invariably rubbish. With a 1.2 Corsa you don't need to go mad but it's a bad idea to for for the very cheapest. Not only will they have less grip and be less resilient, they won't be as durable and you'll likely end up paying more in the long run. I've just swapped my tyres after 24,000 miles usage and they were barely half worn. They cost double what my previous ones cost but my previous ones lasted 7,000 miles. So it economy terms alone, which is the better bet?

vaio

Gilbert2 wrote: »

The majority of sources that you have posted?

Even the AA advise in general terms, they refer you to your specific vehicle handbook.

Let's face it, have I ever encountered a problem when replacing new tyres that have been fitted to the front? No.

I guess that's because you drive within the capabilities of your car & tyres and have been lucky enough not to have external events intervene and push you outside those capabilities.

If they had then the laws of physics take over and the advice posted by molerat, AA, VBH & others is correct and results in understeer (which tends to be self correcting if you lift off) rather than oversteer (which tends to result in a spin or trip backwards into the scenery)

ILW

With some brands you are paying a lot towards their advertising and sponsorship costs, and the quality in no better than mid range (but less well known) brands. Look into makes such as Toyo.

GeckoGirl1985

Thanks for all your replies so far, I am definitely looking to replace all 4 so wont need to worry about whether I'm putting the best tyres on the front or back as all will be replaced.

Rev_henry, the issue here is not about whether or not my corsa is a high performance car - it's not, it's just a cheap little runaround with a couple of dents in it that I bought for my 1st car. The issue that's concerning me it's what is going to save my life in an emergency situation. While the £45 Goodyear tyres I want have a better fuel economy rating, they also have a better wet grip rating too. The budget ones my Dad is pushing me to get don't come close in comparison.

I think I will just ask my Dad to chip in the £60 he wants to give me for half a set of budgets, and make up the difference myself. When it come to safety I'm not happy to be bullied to buy cheaper, less reliable tyres just because my old man is a skinflint!

ILW

vaio wrote: »

I guess that's because you drive within the capabilities of your car & tyres and have been lucky enough not to have external events intervene and push you outside those capabilities.

If they had then the laws of physics take over and the advice posted by molerat, AA, VBH & others is correct and results in understeer (which tends to be self correcting if you lift off) rather than oversteer (which tends to result in a spin or trip backwards into the scenery)

A good trained driver will tend to prefer a little oversteer and it can be more controllable. But only if you know what you are doing.

skivenov

rev_henry wrote: »

A 1.2 corsa? Just get the cheapest, its hardly a high performance car!

Actually, I'd say the fact it's only a 1.2 Corsa is a good reason to fit a better tyre.

It's likely to have relatively skinny tyres, no traction control, ABS, relatively rudimentary suspension (probably not have the anti-roll bars that higher specced cars will have), and a fairly high centre of gravity.

So, all things being equal, the tyres are a much bigger part of keeping you out of trouble than on a more sophisticated car.

And that's the reason my Corsa's sat on £200+ worth of tyres.

chicken_licken_3

I've just sold my 10 year old 206 diesel (I'm currently car sharing with the hubby).

I've always been inclined to go with the branded tyres.....I've had Pirelli's, Continentals and Firestone tyres, been relatively pleased with the wear and durability of those. I did have to, for financial reasons, go for budget tyres once....it was once and never again, the stupid thing was they were only £9 a corner less than the better ones!

I don't have any mechanical opinion, but buy the best you can afford