Personally I do. No matter what it on, daily hack or weekend sports car.
At the end of the day it's your last contact with the road.

We've all heard..

"these are half the price, but made in the same factory as XXX"

Or

"these actually use XXXXX treads so they're the same"

I don't buy it.

So what are your choices and experiences?




I was always told "brakes and tyres, nothing else really matters"

@

I always buy premium or sports tyres when renewing tyres.

Currently running AD08 on my MR2 and they're leagues ahead of what I've used in the past on the car.

The 'shopping trolley' that rarely goes out of town and therefore seldom above 30mph is on Falken, my Audi is on Toyo and my Rileys, because they're both undergoing restoration are on something cheap and nasty - horses for courses, they're shod according to their use.

I have never moved away from the T1-R

Most definitely, because there's a noticeable difference. I also always fit OEM discs and pads, because the bite from decent pads and the discs with high carbon content steel is always a lot better than with cheaper versions.

I don't skimp on brakes or tyres, if I'm totally skint at a push ill fit partworn premiums rather than ditchfinders

I tend to buy the tyres the manufacturer specified as standard, unless there is good reason not to. The Elise had Bridgestone RE040s as standard, the Lotus marked version are now like rockinghorse dung so I moved to the LTS marked Yokohama AD07s that are currently fitted to new Elises. The 350Z also had RE040s as standard, it's now halfway moved to RE050As - they're a bit better in the wet. God knows what the Saab was originally fitted with, I've just put a set of Goodyear Eagle F1s on it and bought a set of winter wheels with Nokian winter tyres on them.

Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas all the way for my on the Z4 Coupe. Good feel and great performance in the wet - which is handy right now.

But would these be considered "premium"? I know they don't technically have a Goodyear or Michelin label but I think they're pushing the premium bracket with the Ultrac Sessantas?

I feel re-assured by premium brands but are they the 'best' tyres?

I once fitted mid range Avon ZV5 to our Galaxy and they were very grippy and a comfy ride but wore out in the half the time of the OE Michelin Pilots. Car now has Pirelli P7s on it and they last but are not as confidence inspiring or as comfortable as the Avons or Michelins.

My Vectra has always had Goodyear NCT5s fitted. I get 30k on the fronts and 50k on the rears. They're an 'eco' tyre and often derided as being ditchfinders but for motorway use/mileage they're ideal. On town roads/A roads they're thumpy. I need a new pair and this time I'm tempted to go for stickier mid range Uniroyal Rainsport 2s but I would be annoyed if I got drastically reduced longevity a la Avon.

The MX5 has Michelin PE2s fitted and I will be sticking with these come replacement as the only other 14" tyres in V spec available are Yoko Advans and Toyo Proxes CF1 - would imagine both of these are a step down from the PE2s

I guess the lesson for me is just stump up for Michelins every time.

Not sure that applies with main stream cars, if you look at what they come out of the showroom with you will find it's going to vary on what they can get the best deal on in the month it was manufactured.

Though to be fair most manufactures do use 'Premium' brands, but I did notice Khumo's on something new recently, forget what, might have been a Skoda.