Expensive Vs not so expensive tyres

Expensive Vs not so expensive tyres

Author
Discussion

coley20

2,944 posts

190 months

Saturday 21st November 2009
quotequote all
number2301 said:
I agree with the poster who recommended a sensible tyre size. 195/50/15 Michelin PE2s are £68 fitted.
Bet those wheels/alloys would look great on an A4

vxrandy

1,785 posts

182 months

Saturday 21st November 2009
quotequote all
I run kumho's on my 2.4 accord which is just short of 200bhp and @ £70 a corner i dont think you can go wrong on a 17" wheel.

Menguin

3,762 posts

220 months

Saturday 21st November 2009
quotequote all
coley20 said:
number2301 said:
I agree with the poster who recommended a sensible tyre size. 195/50/15 Michelin PE2s are £68 fitted.
Bet those wheels/alloys would look great on an A4
rofl

Indeed. But I think 225/40/18s would be distinctly cheaper than 235/40/18s due to being more widespread?

coley20

2,944 posts

190 months

Saturday 21st November 2009
quotequote all
I have 225 40 18 Michelin Pilot sport PS2, they are excellent!!

I deal in part worn tyres, and michelin`s always sell the best and demand the highest prices, and for a good reason because they are the best IMO.

Tallbut Buxomly

12,254 posts

215 months

Saturday 21st November 2009
quotequote all
Talksteer said:
Tallbut Buxomly said:
I value my cars too much to run them on cheapo tyres. Theres no doubt some cheap brand tyres will be as good as the more est expensive ones but its still too hit and miss.
Actually one thing that the yearly tyre tests people like Autocar do is that by and large with tyres you do get what you pay for the tyres from the top brands are usually measurably superior.

That said the vast majority of accidents are cause by people running into things they failed to see so your driving style is probably more important than the absolute performance of your tyres.

http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/uk/en/co...
Yet again hit and miss. I dont put a huge amount of trust in tyre tests run by magazines etc as there is potential for bias from the tyre manufacturers etc. I read all i can and take it with a pinch of salt and law of averages. The tyres as fitted standard to my a4 from day of purchase (michelins) i have always felt are really well suited to the car and my driving style. Some people as stated will think the cheapest and crappiest tyres out there fitted to an m3 are brilliant as they havent a clue others would pick up they are crap in minutes. Its hard to judge so i work on averages of opinion.

RedexR

1,861 posts

213 months

Saturday 21st November 2009
quotequote all
I just got a couple of Federal supersteels today for the wifes car , a nice budget tyre. The thing I really like is the outer band on the sidewall which means it has some protection against kerbing when parking , not that she's bad at parking of course wink



Edited by RedexR on Saturday 21st November 22:23

fatboy b

Original Poster:

9,492 posts

215 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
davidjpowell said:
Happy with Falkens. Have some Kumho which the previous owner of my Saab put on.

They are utter ste in the wet. No grip, prone to aquaplane.

If there was not so much life left in them they would go now. As it is I have to drive to the conditions and slow because of the bloody things
I don't agree. I think the Kumhos are better than the Contis. I'm pleasantly surprised by them, especially in the wet. Aquaplane they don't.

snoopstah

391 posts

222 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
fatboy b said:
davidjpowell said:
Happy with Falkens. Have some Kumho which the previous owner of my Saab put on.

They are utter ste in the wet. No grip, prone to aquaplane.

If there was not so much life left in them they would go now. As it is I have to drive to the conditions and slow because of the bloody things
I don't agree. I think the Kumhos are better than the Contis. I'm pleasantly surprised by them, especially in the wet. Aquaplane they don't.
Both pointless statements. Are the worst tyres Kuhmo make worse than the best tyres Continental (or whoever) make? Almost certainly. Are the best tyres Kuhmo make better than the worst tyres Continental make? Almost certainly.

Unless you're going to mention the actual tyre model in question then generic statements mean absolutely nothing. Virtually every tyre manufacturer has a range of tyres from 'eco' long-wearing death-trap tyres to super-sticky high-wearing semi-track tyres.

(And for the record, my ~300bhp/tonne car has Kuhmo KU31s on. And I'm happy with them).

BIG BAVARIAN

452 posts

209 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
I was in our local tyre distributor (its a massive place !!!) last friday afternoon and they stock the very best, right down to the very cheap, obscure ditchfinders,they apparently sold 1000 tyres on that friday alone,all of them budgets, even the jaguar xk8 driver asked for budgets,so they have decided to cut back on stocking some premium brands as a result,you pays your money and takes your choice,my two rears are budget,but were recommended as they are made in the goodyear factory with a goodyear tread pattern, so we shall see.

bigdods

7,172 posts

226 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
235/40 R18 Falken Fk452 £82.60 a corner from camskill. Add in a tenner for shipping , plus a tenner a corner to fit, all done for £380

I have falkens on my TVR and Golf, excellent grip , good in the wet. Lots of performance car drivers are using them.

Ninjaboy

2,525 posts

249 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
V8mate said:
Have recently switched from Michelin to Falken for tyres for 'normal' car.

A little over 50% of the price I used to pay and offer very confident driving.
I could'nt get pilot sports to match the ones itted to the coupe so got 4 Falken 912's for less than 2 pilot sports 2's and they are equally as good.

jamoor

14,506 posts

214 months

Busa_Rush

6,930 posts

250 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
fatboy b said:
davidjpowell said:
Happy with Falkens. Have some Kumho which the previous owner of my Saab put on.

They are utter ste in the wet. No grip, prone to aquaplane.

If there was not so much life left in them they would go now. As it is I have to drive to the conditions and slow because of the bloody things
I don't agree. I think the Kumhos are better than the Contis. I'm pleasantly surprised by them, especially in the wet. Aquaplane they don't.
I agree ! My MG ZT came with Michelin (225/45/18) and I replaced them with Kumho Escta 31's . . . they have proved to be just as good as the Michelin in wet and dry. Michelins at that time were £190 a corner fitted and Kumho's were £103.


Illustrious_Len

557 posts

179 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
Are there ANY alternatives for my car other than Michelin TRX or TRX GTs (current fitment) for my size of 240/45 ZR 415 94W? They're currently 4-5mm all around, but being a car that has covered very low annual mileage since new, the tyres date from 2001-2003 (the spare has a three digit date code ending in 7 - which would be a tyre made in 1987 - given the car was built in 1989). Now she's seeing more regular use in my hands, I've noted a slightly less satisfactory ride and a fair bit more road-noise than my previous 735i running 15 inch Imperial wheels & modern tyres.

I knew when buying the car that these came with Metric alloys & tyres and actually bought it for its originality, bearing in mind that I knew the tyres would be pricier. Despite being a dealer, this is the first car I've owned or come across with this set-up.

Being PH, I presume there's a couple of you older model BMW owners out there with some experience of such set-ups, and the best way to resolve the issues I mention. To sort the ride & noise issues, I presumed it was down to the age of the rubber so thought a new set of TRXs may well restore most of what I'm missing. So I got busy with the internet and phone and eventually found somebody who could provide me with a set of five...for £329 + VAT each. I had presumed they'd be around £200 per corner. I have since gathered that even if I buy them "new" now - it's quite likely that I'll end up with tyres no "newer" than my current ones.

I'm reluctant to detract from the OE spec of my car (still has a 1989 BMW radio and original speakers, it's that unmolested) and it goes hugely against the grain for me to do so. But if I'm going to keep & run the car (even in casual use, it has run up 1,400 miles in six weeks - I just can't help driving it at every opportunity) regularly, then I'll just refurbish the metric rims and put them into storage on the current tyres and run the car on a set of period 17 inch Alpina alloys (which at least were an original option). As at almost £2k for a set of tyres that are hardly the cutting edge of sophistication, and so I'm lead to believe, will do nothing for my ride comfort or noise levels, I'll still be quids in forking out for a set of Alpina rims & new tyres.

If anyone can help with any of the above, please drop me a line. I love my car, but the devil is in the details...

Edited by Illustrious_Len on Sunday 22 November 15:22

OnTheOverrun

3,965 posts

176 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
I'll happily use some budget brands, notably Falken, Kumho and Hankook Evo because I've driven them and they are within 10% of the very best, but honestly most budget brands I've driven on are not good. People who don't drive enthusiastically just don't notice how much less grip and traction they have until an emergency occurs and then they find out their 40 quid tyres don't cut the mustard when they really need it. A garage fitted a set of Nexen 6000 to our company Voyager without asking and they were appalling. No wet grip, no traction, constant ABS light activity in the wet and scary squealing sounds at modest dry road speeds. We gave them 2000 miles to see if they would scrub in but they got no better and we swapped them for some mid-range Goodyears and it was like night and day.

Nigel Worc's

8,121 posts

187 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
Illustrious_Len said:
Are there ANY alternatives for my car other than Michelin TRX or TRX GTs (current fitment) for my size of 240/45 ZR 415 94W? They're currently 4-5mm all around, but being a car that has covered very low annual mileage since new, the tyres date from 2001-2003 (the spare has a three digit date code ending in 7 - which would be a tyre made in 1987 - given the car was built in 1989). Now she's seeing more regular use in my hands, I've noted a slightly less satisfactory ride and a fair bit more road-noise than my previous 735i running 15 inch Imperial wheels & modern tyres.

I knew when buying the car that these came with Metric alloys & tyres and actually bought it for its originality, bearing in mind that I knew the tyres would be pricier. Despite being a dealer, this is the first car I've owned or come across with this set-up.

Being PH, I presume there's a couple of you older model BMW owners out there with some experience of such set-ups, and the best way to resolve the issues I mention. To sort the ride & noise issues, I presumed it was down to the age of the rubber so thought a new set of TRXs may well restore most of what I'm missing. So I got busy with the internet and phone and eventually found somebody who could provide me with a set of five...for £329 + VAT each. I had presumed they'd be around £200 per corner. I have since gathered that even if I buy them "new" now - it's quite likely that I'll end up with tyres no "newer" than my current ones.

I'm reluctant to detract from the OE spec of my car (still has a 1989 BMW radio and original speakers, it's that unmolested) and it goes hugely against the grain for me to do so. But if I'm going to keep & run the car (even in casual use, it has run up 1,400 miles in six weeks - I just can't help driving it at every opportunity) regularly, then I'll just refurbish the metric rims and put them into storage on the current tyres and run the car on a set of period 17 inch Alpina alloys (which at least were an original option). As at almost £2k for a set of tyres that are hardly the cutting edge of sophistication, and so I'm lead to believe, will do nothing for my ride comfort or noise levels, I'll still be quids in forking out for a set of Alpina rims & new tyres.

If anyone can help with any of the above, please drop me a line. I love my car, but the devil is in the details...

Edited by Illustrious_Len on Sunday 22 November 15:22
Len, as far as I know, you're stuck with those !

Did your particualr beemer only come with metrics ?

I ask, as mine had metrics on it when I bought it (as far as I know the originals, and if you know what your looking for at a glance, as I do on this model, there are a lot of E34's around with metrics on ..... still!)

I changed the metric wheels on mine, for one of the "X" number of imperial alloys available as standard fit when my car was new.

The tyres you mention , by todays standards aren't actually very good anyway, then given the fact that you're likely, for now, to be buying old tyres anyway ......

There was a chap on here : http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/default.asp , posts under the name Howard, who had found a place with quite a stock of metrics for his old style 6 series.

Things are going to get even worse for you metric alloy chaps, if ever the "date stamp" on tyres happens and gets enforced.

You could always imperial wheel for everyday use, metric wheel for special days, if you so desired.

Illustrious_Len

557 posts

179 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
Nigel Worc's said:
Illustrious_Len said:
Are there ANY alternatives for my car other than Michelin TRX or TRX GTs (current fitment) for my size of 240/45 ZR 415 94W? They're currently 4-5mm all around, but being a car that has covered very low annual mileage since new, the tyres date from 2001-2003 (the spare has a three digit date code ending in 7 - which would be a tyre made in 1987 - given the car was built in 1989). Now she's seeing more regular use in my hands, I've noted a slightly less satisfactory ride and a fair bit more road-noise than my previous 735i running 15 inch Imperial wheels & modern tyres.

I knew when buying the car that these came with Metric alloys & tyres and actually bought it for its originality, bearing in mind that I knew the tyres would be pricier. Despite being a dealer, this is the first car I've owned or come across with this set-up.

Being PH, I presume there's a couple of you older model BMW owners out there with some experience of such set-ups, and the best way to resolve the issues I mention. To sort the ride & noise issues, I presumed it was down to the age of the rubber so thought a new set of TRXs may well restore most of what I'm missing. So I got busy with the internet and phone and eventually found somebody who could provide me with a set of five...for £329 + VAT each. I had presumed they'd be around £200 per corner. I have since gathered that even if I buy them "new" now - it's quite likely that I'll end up with tyres no "newer" than my current ones.

I'm reluctant to detract from the OE spec of my car (still has a 1989 BMW radio and original speakers, it's that unmolested) and it goes hugely against the grain for me to do so. But if I'm going to keep & run the car (even in casual use, it has run up 1,400 miles in six weeks - I just can't help driving it at every opportunity) regularly, then I'll just refurbish the metric rims and put them into storage on the current tyres and run the car on a set of period 17 inch Alpina alloys (which at least were an original option). As at almost £2k for a set of tyres that are hardly the cutting edge of sophistication, and so I'm lead to believe, will do nothing for my ride comfort or noise levels, I'll still be quids in forking out for a set of Alpina rims & new tyres.

If anyone can help with any of the above, please drop me a line. I love my car, but the devil is in the details...

Edited by Illustrious_Len on Sunday 22 November 15:22
Len, as far as I know, you're stuck with those !

Did your particualr beemer only come with metrics ?

I ask, as mine had metrics on it when I bought it (as far as I know the originals, and if you know what your looking for at a glance, as I do on this model, there are a lot of E34's around with metrics on ..... still!)

I changed the metric wheels on mine, for one of the "X" number of imperial alloys available as standard fit when my car was new.

The tyres you mention , by todays standards aren't actually very good anyway, then given the fact that you're likely, for now, to be buying old tyres anyway ......

There was a chap on here : http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/default.asp , posts under the name Howard, who had found a place with quite a stock of metrics for his old style 6 series.

Things are going to get even worse for you metric alloy chaps, if ever the "date stamp" on tyres happens and gets enforced.

You could always imperial wheel for everyday use, metric wheel for special days, if you so desired.
Thanks Nigel,

I had feared that may be the case. Being the 750i, standard rim was a hideous style of radial spoke design (I do not know whether Metric or Imperial, as I've yet to see one in the flesh wearing them), most original owners optioned the bigger cross-spokes that mine wears. The standard 15" cross spokes are not recommended owing to the tyre width requirements, so the more usual 7x15 inch cross spokes fitted to other E32s aren't suitable for the V12.

As for your last sentence - that's the only sensible plan I can come up with. Keep the OE rims & tyres for show and preserving originality, and running her on some period Imperial alloys. Will check out that forum. thumbup

Glosphil

4,337 posts

233 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
I had Falken (512, I think) 195/60-15s on a 2000 Accord and they seemed fine. I now have Michelin XSE Pilot Primacy 205/55-16s on a Civic and they seem a better tyre than the Falkens, particularly in the wet. The grip of the Falkens in the wet worsened considerably after the thread depth dropped below 5mm - in contrast the Michelins were still OK at 4mm. However, the longer life of the Michelins more than makes up for the extra cost.

bigdods

7,172 posts

226 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
Glosphil said:
I had Falken (512, I think) 195/60-15s on a 2000 Accord and they seemed fine. I now have Michelin XSE Pilot Primacy 205/55-16s on a Civic and they seem a better tyre than the Falkens, particularly in the wet. The grip of the Falkens in the wet worsened considerably after the thread depth dropped below 5mm - in contrast the Michelins were still OK at 4mm. However, the longer life of the Michelins more than makes up for the extra cost.
512's were awful tyres, particularly in the wet. I had a set on one of my cars and it was scary even on damp roads. These have been superceded by the 912 which is a much better tyre, good for motorway miles , still only average in the wet but not scary.

The 452 is a different beast althogether, softer compound and much grippier, excellent wet or dry.

stemll

4,064 posts

199 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
TheRoadWarrior said:
matchmaker said:
Tallbut Buxomly said:
I value my cars too much to run them on cheapo tyres. Theres no doubt some cheap brand tyres will be as good as the more est expensive ones but its still too hit and miss.
confusedconfused
Eh? If a tyre comes recommended by someone who has tried them, what's hit & miss about it?
There are plenty of people who've used proxes t1-R and NOT got on well with them.. so i guess that would be the 'down' to go with the 'up' :-)
Quite. They are the only tyres in more than 24 years that I have replaced before they needed replacing. Barely made it half way through their life, they were awful. Completely destroyed the feel and were treacherous in the wet.