Matching tyres or odd one out?

[Ian Geary]

1st world problem incoming...

I had two new Goodyear efficient grip performance on the front of my car yesterday. I've always rated them as a good mid range type. £113 fitted each, or £202 a pair because of multiby discounts.

The rear of my car has reasonably new Michelin cross climates, probably about 10% worn, if that? Say 3k miles at most.

I didn't get cross climates on the front because I needed two tyres quickly yesterday, and the cross climates weren't in stock.

So, today, I get a puncture on the rear - inner side wall, which can't be repaired.

Losing a tyre with loads of tread is annoying, but it happens.

However, if I buy a third efficient grip.for the rear, it will leave the car with an odd tyre out.

It's going to bug me.

A new cross climate is £150ish fitted, whereas for £202 I can get both rears replaced - ie new all round.

But then I'd be throwing away a good rear tyre with decent tread just so they "match"


Car is a BMW 525i - so nothing particularly exotic. Can't say I've ever noticed having different tyres front/rear or left/right before, but the cross climates did well during winter.

So do I spend £150 matching the rear with another cross climate? £52 more on top of that to get new matching tyres all round (ie £202) or just stick a £65 budget tyre on and stop over thinking everything?

Ps might possibly be thinking of selling it, so matching tyres would help give a good impression of the car.

Thanks

Ian

[GreenV8S]

Does it have a full size spare? What type and condition?

[Pica-Pica]

In those circumstances I would replace both rears with Goodyear EfficientGrips, and keep the other tyre as a spare (or negotiate a discount for the tyre place to take your intact Michelin).
If you don’t match all round, it will always niggle away at you.
I have those Goodyears, and rate them.

Edited by Pica-Pica on Friday 18th February 22:14

[Smint]

The accepted norm these days is you shouldn't mix winter (cross climates being snowflake stamped) and summer only rated tyres at all, due to the different handling characteristics, though it went on all the time back when all cars were right wheel drive and many fitted what were known as ''town and country'' block tread tyres to the back wheels to assist with bad weather traction, all cross plies in those days, and Morris Oxfords etc weren't falling into the ditch on every bend.

If it's a simple puncture on or near the sidewall but not right up against the bead and the nail/whatever that punctured hasn't ripped the inner carcass to shreds, then it can be repaired by a professional tyre repair outfit, yes its quite legal despite what some here say, and professional, these chaps are not tyre fitters they repair all sorts of tyres for a living.
Worth contacting Tyre Revivers at Islip Northants, see what they can do for you and judge if cost effective, they operate collection and delivery services from the Northants workshop over large areas of the country through selected tyre fitting bays, if you're way out of area they might know of somewhere in your locale.
I have no affiliation with the the company mentioned other than i know one of the chaps there and use their services myself when necessary.

[E-bmw]

I would be going all one way or the other.

Which way depends on whether it is imperative to travel in winter or not.

If it is A/S all round, if not or you can get a spare set of wheels for winters the summers all round on those ones fitted currently.

[Ian Geary]

Thanks all - some really good replies there

- no: winter travel is very rare. I'm in Surrey which has incredibly mild winters. Wet braking and anti aqua planing are the two things I want most from a tyre.

- the spare is a space saver...I had looked at an extra wheel or set of wheels from eBay, but adding refub costs to purchase cost and tyre cost, it's a bit of a rabbit hole

- the hole is proper in the sidewall - looks like debris hit it and took a gouge out. I went to Watling tyres (south east chain), who I've found generally good at repairing clean punctures in the past and playing it straight.

So I think I will get two new efficient grips at the back, keep the lightly worn cross climate and see if I can sell it to my local tyre place that fits part worns.

Even if I get a few quid back it will make me feel a bit better.

Thanks

Ian

[stevieturbo]

As Smint says, you should never have mixed regular tyres with all weather tyres on the same vehicle.

The tyre fitters should not even have done this.

Only use tyres of a similar nature on the car, do not mix all weather, winter, summer etc etc on the car.