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Tyre confusion

aliasojo
aliasojo Posts: 23,053 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
I need 2 new front tyres so I'm searching the net for best prices etc.

Several sites have tools where you input your reg and it recommends tyres in different categories (premium/budget/winter/ etc etc).

I've just read about the labelling that rates braking performance/fuel efficiency/noise and that A is better.

So why am I seeing several tyres with much lower ratings (E for example) that are more expensive and classed as 'premium'?

I had hoped the labelling would help narrow down what was a good tyre but it doesn't seem to be helping much given that the price of a premium tyre with a lower rating can be twice as much as a tyre with a higher rating so I'm a bit confused.

Can anyone advise me?
Herman - MP for all! :)
«13

Comments

  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It depends what you want from a tyre, a winter tyre will often score A for braking, where as it scores E for fuel, it doesn't mean it's a bad tyre at all.

    What size tyre do you need?
  • aliasojo
    aliasojo Posts: 23,053 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I'm looking for the best all rounder. I would very much like to be able to get winter tyres but I'm not in a position to afford to buy 2 sets of tyres and pay the associated fitting costs so I want the best all season tyre I can get.

    185/55 R15 82 H

    I've been looking at A - braking rating and C fuel efficiency ratings but as I said, some tyres that have been recommended are much less than those ratings but more expensive.
    Herman - MP for all! :)
  • Just to say I bought part worn winters - they were basically brand new - from gumtree.

    In another 2 to 3 months you might get someone selling summers as they have bought winters.
    https://www.mytyres.co.uk is where I look if I am wanting ratings etc.
  • bod1467
    bod1467 Posts: 15,214 Forumite
    It's all about getting the best compromise. Something very grippy (high braking rating) is unlikely to give high fuel efficiency too. So it's quite possible for something to be E for fuel efficiency, A for braking, and be a premium tyre (as it would be used by someone wanting lots of braking and cornering grip).

    http://www.blackcircles.com/general/tyre-labelling/tyre-label
  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    For that size the Dunlop sport has A rated braking.
  • jase1
    jase1 Posts: 2,308 Forumite
    A rating of 'E' means that the tyre has not been tested in that category -- so you can't take that to mean anything.

    Tyre ratings are self-certified in any case, and can be shown to be unreliable (look at the ratings for any number of cheap imported Chinese tyres for example).
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 33,518 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Also may be worth considering changing to 195/50/15, rolling circumference is 1.45% smaller so makes negligible difference to the speedo but at a considerable cost saving on tyres. Did this on my Rover many years back, insurers said it was ok.
  • Cyberman60
    Cyberman60 Posts: 2,472 Forumite
    Hung up my suit!
    I use tyretraders:
    https://www.tyretraders.com


    but check reviews here before buying :

    http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/
  • bigjl
    bigjl Posts: 6,457 Forumite
    I can recommend the Dunlop Blue Response tyre.

    Had four fitted to the wifes Clio in a similar size 185/60/15 i think.

    Quieter than any previous tyre fitted and seem to be wearing well.

    Also grip well in wet and dry.

    Have fitted Avon ZV3s, Continental Contacts and Hankook Kinergy Eco to it over the years.

    The Dunlops appear to not be wearing on the inner/outer edge as seems common on the Dci Clio.

    The worst for that was the Continentals, destroyed in 15k on the front.

    And that was when car had less than 40k on it.

    It also gets regular geometry checks/adjustments.

    The issue may be to do with the heavy diesel engine and the very light electric steering alongside plenty or urban driving.

    I was going to fit a full set of the new Michelin Energy tyre but the Dunlop were £15 cheaper per corner and beat the Energy on wet grip and fuel economy.
  • bigjl
    bigjl Posts: 6,457 Forumite
    As far as All Season goes i would not pay extra.

    My Acceleras are All Season and can't say i felt any more secure than on a standard tyre.

    Winters may help if you live in the country and they are great in the wet and colder temps.

    But on a return on investment basis and set of good name brand tyres will be fine for most people.

    Though the Avon ZV3s were particularly good in the snow, the Clio had similar grip as my Volvo at the time with a fulll set of Goodyear Winter tyres.

    Again ths Dunlop Blue Response were excellent during the last winter.

    They have around 15k on them now and they still have plenty of tread, in fact they hardly seem worn.
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