Accelera tyres, how bad are they?
Discussion
JimmyConwayNW said:
Countdown said:
Would that mean that your tyres are "locking up" or your ABS is kicking in a lot earlier?
Neither option.I'm just trying to work out the mechanics/physics of the situation you describe. If the tyres haven't locked up, or ABS hasn't activated, then the tyre itself is doing everything that's being asked of it. So why is it the tyre's fault that braking distances have increased ?
I have a set of Accellera tyres on my E39 5 Series (they were on it when I bought it), without going out in the rain to look I think they're Alpha's in the standard size.
There's one roundabout in town where they'll easily set off the TC in the wet on a regular basis. Previous cars wearing a variety of differen boots did the same there. For what its worth, spirited driving in most conditions have never required a change of underwear once I got home.
I did think about changing them when I first got the car but really couldn't find anything that bad about them. They're certainly better than some Pirelli P-zero's I had on my ST200.
There's one roundabout in town where they'll easily set off the TC in the wet on a regular basis. Previous cars wearing a variety of differen boots did the same there. For what its worth, spirited driving in most conditions have never required a change of underwear once I got home.
I did think about changing them when I first got the car but really couldn't find anything that bad about them. They're certainly better than some Pirelli P-zero's I had on my ST200.
Countdown said:
JimmyConwayNW said:
Countdown said:
Would that mean that your tyres are "locking up" or your ABS is kicking in a lot earlier?
Neither option.I'm just trying to work out the mechanics/physics of the situation you describe. If the tyres haven't locked up, or ABS hasn't activated, then the tyre itself is doing everything that's being asked of it. So why is it the tyre's fault that braking distances have increased ?
996TT02 said:
Surely the testing was done under carefully controlled conditions, with identical control vehicles shod with alternative premium brand tyres to have a baseline, so again, how dare you question that statement? You need faith, my man.
FWIW recently I have been running my car on cheapo (the cheapest) new tyres available, about £50 a corner. I find they grip/drive fine 95% of the time. The main issue is the shocking amount of road noise they make and yes, slightly less grip than a premium tyre in extreme conditions, so adjust accordingly (slow down).
I believe that Pirelli P6000 (so called premium brand) are the worst tyres I have ever used.
LikesBikes said:
There's one roundabout in town where they'll easily set off the TC in the wet on a regular basis. Previous cars wearing a variety of differen boots did the same there. For what its worth, spirited driving in most conditions have never required a change of underwear once I got home.
I've found the same thing happening on certain roundabouts, and also joining main roads on steep hills (basically when weight distribution isn't "normal"). In other words there's more weight than usual on the rears or on one side of the car rather than the other.Once you know where the "limit" is then, in my experience, cheap tyres don't tend to be any less predictable than premium tyres.
996TT02 said:
Surely the testing was done under carefully controlled conditions, with identical control vehicles shod with alternative premium brand tyres to have a baseline, so again, how dare you question that statement? You need faith, my man.
I know you speak in jest but it's a fair point . For example when people complain about how bad certain tyres were and how they noticed an immediate difference when they replaced with "better" tyres - surely it's logical that replacing a set of used tyres with a set of new tyres is automatically going to feel better?my e91 318d has acceleras onand they seem fine but then I think anything would grip in 255 width with only 140bhp when it comes time to change I'll probably go uniroyal rainsport 3's or continentals if I have nothing else to spend my money on that month as the uni's are only £30 more a corner and the contis probably only £25 more again. Although I do worry if I put better rubber on I'll no longer be able to have a cheeky drift as it can only just manage it in the wet as it is.
Countdown said:
996TT02 said:
Surely the testing was done under carefully controlled conditions, with identical control vehicles shod with alternative premium brand tyres to have a baseline, so again, how dare you question that statement? You need faith, my man.
I know you speak in jest but it's a fair point . For example when people complain about how bad certain tyres were and how they noticed an immediate difference when they replaced with "better" tyres - surely it's logical that replacing a set of used tyres with a set of new tyres is automatically going to feel better?A set of new Chinese Wanlis replacing the OEM Dunlops felt fantastic at the time. Fast forward to a few months ago, and they have now been replaced by a set of Regal, (Dunlops made in South Africa). Again, the new tyres feel amazing.
Mr2Mike said:
996TT02 said:
they have now been replaced by a set of Regal, (Dunlops made in South Africa)
A sure sign of the crap tyre connoisseur; Budget tyre X is made by premium manufacturer Y and is therefore just as good. Mr2Mike said:
996TT02 said:
they have now been replaced by a set of Regal, (Dunlops made in South Africa)
A sure sign of the crap tyre connoisseur; Budget tyre X is made by premium manufacturer Y and is therefore just as good. It seems you do, so sorry for you.
Sleep easy, I have regularly spent well over a grand on a set of 4 tyres where necessary so I'll be around for a while yet.
Countdown said:
You could. A possible solution would be to drive everywhere at 5mph (or even 0.00001 mph)or insist that all cars are fitted with 19" carbon ceramic brakes just in case....
In reality people make a risk assesment which can be summed up as follows; "Based on how I drive how likely is it that I am going to need the extra grip a premium tyre provides over a standard or budget tyre?". A lot of people don't actually need the extra grip.
In reality, people think they're all the same and buy the cheapest thing that gets the car legal again. In reality people make a risk assesment which can be summed up as follows; "Based on how I drive how likely is it that I am going to need the extra grip a premium tyre provides over a standard or budget tyre?". A lot of people don't actually need the extra grip.
I had a new pair fitted a few years ago to the front of a civic type r, the traction was shocking in the wet even with potenzas but with accelerelas it was way worse. In the dry hard to tell the difference during normal driving but when it was wet and cold, i recall the front wheels spinning up the driveway (steep driveway so start with then levels out) when they never used to with other tyres.
otolith said:
Countdown said:
You could. A possible solution would be to drive everywhere at 5mph (or even 0.00001 mph)or insist that all cars are fitted with 19" carbon ceramic brakes just in case....
In reality people make a risk assesment which can be summed up as follows; "Based on how I drive how likely is it that I am going to need the extra grip a premium tyre provides over a standard or budget tyre?". A lot of people don't actually need the extra grip.
In reality, people think they're all the same and buy the cheapest thing that gets the car legal again. In reality people make a risk assesment which can be summed up as follows; "Based on how I drive how likely is it that I am going to need the extra grip a premium tyre provides over a standard or budget tyre?". A lot of people don't actually need the extra grip.
Mind you, based only on price I used to regard both Falken and Nexen as cheap "economy" brand tyres. Nexen are still available at reasonable prices but Falkens appear to have increased in price since I bought the first set of new ones about five or six years ago.
Once down to around 3mm, my Falkens on both the 200bhp Rover 620ti or the MG ZS 120 will easily lose adhesion in less than dry surfaces like I and no doubt others would accuse Accelera tyres of doing. Never bought an Accelera set new but, more recently, I have driven cars with near new Accelera tyres and they are OK unless you are the sort of driver who would find a ditch even with the best tyres in the world.
Very recently, have fitted Uniroyal Rainsport 3s to the ZS and so far, despite not being that expensive, I am delighted with them in all conditions. About £70 a corner fitted if you shop around so I decided to get a set for the 18" Wheels on my MG ZT Turbo. The ZT's 225/45 18 Rainsport 3s are close to twice the price of the ZS's 205/45 17s even after shopping around. I'll still keep searching.
Well I've been driving around on these and so far they don't seem that bad. I've not been absolutely hooning it about but have pushed them a bit harder and not lost grip at any point, even in the wet and sub-zero temperatures. I'm definitely leaning towards keeping them until they're knackered as so far they have proved perfectly competent if not exceptional.
phil1979 said:
I've had 2 sets on my 159. They were fine on that. When I swap over to my Dunlop winter tyres, I honestly don't notice any difference, but then again I don't drive like a tool in my 1.9 fire-breather.
A more powerful car, though? Probably spend a few more quid.
They come pretty highly regarded on the Alfa forums specifically for the 159. I don't know which particular model from the range just that they are reckoned to be great value and match up to a lot of top end tyres.A more powerful car, though? Probably spend a few more quid.
Must be something in it.
Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff