"Rapid" brand budget tyres - anyone use them?

londonTiger

keep your distance, stay well back.

tygar2

londonTiger wrote: »

keep your distance, stay well back.

Slightly confused. Please elaborate...

motorguy

tygar2 wrote: »

Slightly confused. Please elaborate...

Because the braking distance particularly in the wet is likely to be much greater.

That extra few feet might make all the difference....

Each to their own - i wouldnt knowing go out and buy a set of the cheapest of the cheap tyres for a car.

I've no doubt they're "ok" but do you really want something that is just "ok" when you're sliding towards the back of another car some winters night?

motorguy

tygar2 wrote: »

I have been on black circles and ASDA tyres. From browsing them, the question that arises is does higher price automatically equate to better tyre when in the budget to mid range segment?

Check out the tyre labels for each tyre on their site - it'll be broken down into three -



Wet Grip
A tyre's wet grip capacity is expressed in Grades from A to G.

The difference in braking distances between each grade is roughly 3m - an average car length. This makes average stopping distance between an A and G rated tyre 18m. That's 4 car lengths.

Noise Levels
The exterior noise grade of a tyre is expressed in decibels - accompanied by one, two or three sound waves, with one wave being the best noise level performance.

To achieve the best grade, a tyre’s noise level must be at least 3dB under the legal limit set by the EU.

Fuel Efficiency
The energy lost when a tyre is in motion is known as 'rolling resistance'. This has a direct impact on fuel consumption.

A tyre's rolling resistance score ranges from A to G. Over the life of the tyre, fitting an A rated tyre could save you up to 6 litres of fuel when compared to a G rated tyre.

salubrious

Don't get too excited about the stickers, the information on them is self declared by the manufacturers or importers.

I've not heard of rapid tyres myself, but there is no reason to think they are going to be better or worse than any of the other bottom end budget tyres.

AdrianC

tygar2 wrote: »

My local tyre shop offered me budget "Rapid" tyres at £45 each. They say they are good tyres.

Of course they do. They're trying to sell you them.

I have done as much research as I can and found out they are chinese made. Researching chinese made budget tyres I find alarming comments like "ditchfinders", "death trap" but they seem based more on fear mongering rather than experience.

I've experienced various by-the-container what-brand-you-want-on-sidewall-sir alibaba.com specials. If ever I buy a car with them on, the first thing I do is replace them with decent tyres.

The car is used by the missus and spends Monday - Friday parked in the local train station car park only 1 mile from home with most use being on weekends.
No wheel spinning or track days here but the missus has been known to hit 80-90 mph on the motorway on occassion.

Which is all very lovely, but when their lack of grip becomes clearest is when the extra braking distance makes the difference between a buttock-clencher and an insurance claim. Or worse.

205/45 17
http://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s457p0/

Out of that lot, I'd be looking at the £60 Uniroyals if budget is key. But the £83 Michelins aren't THAT much more... I'd bet that the cost per mile won't be dissimilar, either, because the real budget rubbish doesn't tend to last long.

motorguy

salubrious wrote: »

there is no reason to think they are going to be better or worse than any of the other bottom end budget tyres.

Which wont be great then

bigjl

Have never used Rapid.

But have used Accelera, Nankang and Nexen.

Nexen are now OE equipment fitment on lots of new Hyundais and Kias, they used to fit Hankooks.

It is unlikely that Hyundai and Kia would fit sus standard tyres to a brand new car.

Have a look online and compare prices, but I can't see the saving over Nexen tyres being worthwhile to risk buying something like Rapid.

Iceweasel

There is nothing wrong with run-flat tyres 'per se'.

Most people's first experience of them was Bridgestone Potenza which are truly horrid, I must admit.

But all run-flats are NOT the same - and the technology has moved on a lot from the 1st generation of them.

I'm presently on Continental runflats which are a whole different kettle of fish.

And not that more expensive than old-fashioned (normal?) tyres.

If you do move away from run-flats what are you going to do for a spare - mobility kit? - aerosol-spray can? - space-saver?

Exemplar

I'll vouch that Nexen are great. In fact they came out very well in the following test: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/60111/tyre-test-2012

They also offer a buyback scheme if you get damage/ puncture.

Saying this I do run Michelin myself as they were on my chav wagon when I bought it and would rather keep them the same.