"Rapid" brand budget tyres - anyone use them?

tygar2

photome wrote: »

But isnt one of the reasons for less grip due to the rubber being a harder compound which in turn would last longer than a softer compound used on(in particular) michelins and continentals

All the information I have read seems to generally agree with the above - the better the wet weather performance - the softer the compound. Search for Rainsport 3 reviews for example.

I have a question on this - Does a harder compound also mean stiffer sidewalls or is that a different matter altogether?

khcomp

'I have a question on this - Does a harder compound also mean stiffer sidewalls or is that a different matter altogether?'

No - the sidewall rigidity depends on the sidewall construction, number and type of ply cords, and mainly the aspect ratio: Lower profile tyres will naturally have less sideways 'give' than higher profile ones. This is also why run flats are generally firmer - they tend to be low profile anyway, and the construction of the run flat 'pocket' uses another 'bridge' of rubber & plies across the tyre width behind the tread.

tygar2

AdrianC wrote: »

As also said before, those ratings are self-certified by the manufacturers.

When a container-load of tyres being sold through AliBaba.com can have whatever brand the customer wants stuck on the side, I'll let you decide how much worth that carries.

Let's look at the actual running cost of tyres, shall we?

Let's say we're looking at a set of four tyres costing £200. Ouch. £200... But they last for a single 15,000 mile year. So the cost is 1.3p per mile. If the car does 45mpg at £1.10 per litre, then the fuel cost is damn near ten times that. And that's before we calculate the cost per mile of insurance, VED, depreciation, MOT, servicing, repairs...

Tyres are very, very, very cheap. And they could well save a life.

You are right in that tyres are cheap relative to the overall cost of motoring. However what I was trying to ascertain was wether there is anything actually wrong with the budget tyres.

Something being from AliBaba does not make it a poor performer and conversely big branding, higher prices and advertising does not make a product excellent. All tyres are shipped by the container load. Tyres are consumables the same way air filters and brake pads are, yet many reputable garages get their service parts from the likes of Euro Car Parts rather than branded items from main dealers. Performance is what matters.

Who knows, the Rapid tyres might end up "in fashion" and on some Best Buy list in a few years - the way the likes of Uniroyal, Toyo or even ALDI came up.

I know someone who hides her ALDI shopping in Waitrose bags...don't tell her I know!:D

tygar2

khcomp wrote: »

'I have a question on this - Does a harder compound also mean stiffer sidewalls or is that a different matter altogether?'

No - the sidewall rigidity depends on the sidewall construction, number and type of ply cords, and mainly the aspect ratio: Lower profile tyres will naturally have less sideways 'give' than higher profile ones. This is also why run flats are generally firmer - they tend to be low profile anyway, and the construction of the run flat 'pocket' uses another 'bridge' of rubber & plies across the tyre width behind the tread.

Thanks for the info.

Is there any way of working out if one tyre has stiffer sidewalls than another? Is there something written on the tyre? I have seen tyres with an "XL" rating on websites - does that help in any way?

AdrianC

tygar2 wrote: »

However what I was trying to ascertain was wether there is anything actually wrong with the budget tyres.

Like I said - IME, yes.

Something being from AliBaba does not make it a poor performer and conversely big branding, higher prices and advertising does not make a product excellent.

Very true. However something that's dirt cheap and wholesaled in that manner is FAR more likely to be of abysmal quality than something that's being manufactured and wholesaled through more traditional channels.

Tyres are consumables the same way air filters and brake pads are, yet many reputable garages get their service parts from the likes of Euro Car Parts rather than branded items from main dealers. Performance is what matters.

Indeed. And ECP and the like sell a lot of cheap terrible-quality disposable rubbish, too.

Who knows, the Rapid tyres might end up "in fashion" and on some Best Buy list in a few years - the way the likes of Uniroyal, Toyo or even ALDI came up.

I know someone who hides her ALDI shopping in Waitrose bags...don't tell her I know!:D[/QUOTE]

takman

I currently use Jinyu tyres on my car and they are also priced at a budget level. They have always done about 22,000 miles before they need replacing. Plus they perform quite well on the car and was surprised how good they when braking in the wet while towing a caravan.

wrightk

takman wrote: »

I currently use Jinyu tyres on my car and they are also priced at a budget level. They have always done about 22,000 miles before they need replacing. Plus they perform quite well on the car and was surprised how good they when braking in the wet while towing a caravan.

Have a full set of these on my mazda 5 and know several with 4x4s and tyre fitters with mercs who always go for the jinyu. Never had a problem, neither has anyone else, garage and tyre fitters included

I remember a time when hankook were considered low end budget ditchfinders until they started fitting them from the factory to a lot of kia's and hyundais.

Always wonder why many 'comparison' videos of budget vs premium tyres on youtube and the likes are always either sponsered by or made by premium tyre manufacturers...

salubrious

motorguy wrote: »

Which wont be great then

They are what they are - If the op is expecting them to be of equal grip or performance to a premium brand then no is the answer to that.

Iceweasel

takman wrote: »

I currently use Jinyu tyres on my car and they are also priced at a budget level. They have always done about 22,000 miles before they need replacing. Plus they perform quite well on the car and was surprised how good they when braking in the wet while towing a caravan.

Emergency braking? in the wet.

Any old rubbish will slow the car down in 99% of normal road use

It's when you have to swerve to take avoiding action if a roof-rack or a tyre tread from a truck suddenly appears in front of you, that a tyres true quality becomes apparent.

I shan't bother to mention nuns or baskets of kittens.

takman

Iceweasel wrote: »

Emergency braking? in the wet.

Any old rubbish will slow the car down in 99% of normal road use

It's when you have to swerve to take avoiding action if a roof-rack or a tyre tread from a truck suddenly appears in front of you, that a tyres true quality becomes apparent.

I shan't bother to mention nuns or baskets of kittens.

Yes it was emergency breaking in the wet. I was only going 30 and I didn't completely stop but I wanted to see how the outfit would react in an emergency situation. It performed well enough that I'm confident in the tyres.

I have also had to do a proper emergency break from 60mph on the motorway when a car in front suddenly slowed down for some apparent reason, but that was in the dry. I also didn't hit the car in front so I would say that was a definite pass!.

I've never had to swerve in my car so I wouldn't know what they are like in that respect. But the grip is more than good enough for the way I drive my car.