Discussion
Hey all, just a quick question about tyres.
When I bought my current car, a 2000 Toyota Corolla, I noticed the spare tyre was low on grip, so I asked the seller to replace. He said that he would MOT it before I collected, and so if it needed doing, it would be replaced. When I collected I just checked the tread and was happy, didn't actually check what tyres they were. I didn't really drive it much at the time, being at university, but when I ended up driving it in the wet finally, the wet grip was really terrible, it would spin up when just pulling away at very low speeds.
Anyway, I checked the tyres out, the fronts were a set that I didn't recognise the name of, so I googled them and it turned out they were kwik fit own brand. So I switched the fronts for the back, which were a set of continental Vanco Contact tyres.
Next time I drove it in the wet, this didn't help noticeably, and so again I googled the tyres, having been previously happy with Continental tyres on a previous car with similar size wheels. Anyway it turns out they are van tyres (I know, should have figured that out).
Like I say I really drove the car very rarely, mostly in the dry where grip was fine, and then for the past year I have been out of the country, and the car has been off road. I want to get this sorted now though, as I am soon back in the UK, and due to be doing quite a few miles. I was going to just get a full set of 4 new Conti Premium Contacts put on as soon as the car has its MOT, but before I spend a reasonable chunk of money on them, I just wanted to confirm that it was most likely that the severe lack of grip I experienced was indeed due to having 2 terrible tyres and 2 van tyres? I just wanted some assurance that I won't be wasting my money and that it wasn't likely to be something else causing it?
When I bought my current car, a 2000 Toyota Corolla, I noticed the spare tyre was low on grip, so I asked the seller to replace. He said that he would MOT it before I collected, and so if it needed doing, it would be replaced. When I collected I just checked the tread and was happy, didn't actually check what tyres they were. I didn't really drive it much at the time, being at university, but when I ended up driving it in the wet finally, the wet grip was really terrible, it would spin up when just pulling away at very low speeds.
Anyway, I checked the tyres out, the fronts were a set that I didn't recognise the name of, so I googled them and it turned out they were kwik fit own brand. So I switched the fronts for the back, which were a set of continental Vanco Contact tyres.
Next time I drove it in the wet, this didn't help noticeably, and so again I googled the tyres, having been previously happy with Continental tyres on a previous car with similar size wheels. Anyway it turns out they are van tyres (I know, should have figured that out).
Like I say I really drove the car very rarely, mostly in the dry where grip was fine, and then for the past year I have been out of the country, and the car has been off road. I want to get this sorted now though, as I am soon back in the UK, and due to be doing quite a few miles. I was going to just get a full set of 4 new Conti Premium Contacts put on as soon as the car has its MOT, but before I spend a reasonable chunk of money on them, I just wanted to confirm that it was most likely that the severe lack of grip I experienced was indeed due to having 2 terrible tyres and 2 van tyres? I just wanted some assurance that I won't be wasting my money and that it wasn't likely to be something else causing it?
The Corolla is hardly the zenith of handling ability. However, don't go nuts buying expensive tyres - a set of Kumho Ecstas will do you just fine. Tyres also go off with age as they harden.
I've used Kumhos on my old Camaro Z28, various Mondeos, current Mondeo and current Golf GTI, never had an issue (save they're not great in snow).
I've used Kumhos on my old Camaro Z28, various Mondeos, current Mondeo and current Golf GTI, never had an issue (save they're not great in snow).
Edited by LuS1fer on Monday 2nd April 11:09
Tyres are a minefield. Broadly speaking, you get what you pay for, but not always (ref the perennial (and nearly 20 year old) Pirelli P6000 - most tyre fitters sell them as a "premium" (read expensive) tyre, and it's fairly widely acknowledged that they're poor tyres, especially in poor/greasy conditions.
It does like your tyres are to blame as long as the tracking is on - what is the wear like?
What about a set of mid-ranges? I am looking at buying a set for my daily, and brands like Toyo, Uniroyal, & Vredestein seem well thought of.
Try Camskill for tyres only, and event-tyres for fitting at your postcode.
Uniroyal Rainexpert or possibly Rainsport2 are winning the price/quality battle at the moment for me.
It does like your tyres are to blame as long as the tracking is on - what is the wear like?
What about a set of mid-ranges? I am looking at buying a set for my daily, and brands like Toyo, Uniroyal, & Vredestein seem well thought of.
Try Camskill for tyres only, and event-tyres for fitting at your postcode.
Uniroyal Rainexpert or possibly Rainsport2 are winning the price/quality battle at the moment for me.
Oh yeah it's a boring car that serves a purpose. It's not great handling, and doesn't get used to anywhere near the limits, I would just like it not to feel dangerous in the wet!
I used to get Conti Permium Contacts fitted for £60 each in the same size on my previous clio, but it seems they might be discontinued at least in that size, and the only conti's available are £75 a corner. The Kumho's and Falken's are around the price I had in mind, but the Uniroyals are a bit more expensive again. Any more suggestions?
Edited to add - tread is pretty good on all of the tyres, I'm just guessing that the Kwik fit ones are terrible, and potentially the van tyres are made of a harder compound and thus such a light car can't get the best out of them.
I used to get Conti Permium Contacts fitted for £60 each in the same size on my previous clio, but it seems they might be discontinued at least in that size, and the only conti's available are £75 a corner. The Kumho's and Falken's are around the price I had in mind, but the Uniroyals are a bit more expensive again. Any more suggestions?
Edited to add - tread is pretty good on all of the tyres, I'm just guessing that the Kwik fit ones are terrible, and potentially the van tyres are made of a harder compound and thus such a light car can't get the best out of them.
Yes, the fact your tyres are likely fairly old and of poor quality / suitability will be the cause of your wet grip issues.
As someone else mentioned, if you're not worried about handling and would rather comfort and grip, the Uniroyal Rainsport 2 is pretty hard to beat, depending on size.
As someone else mentioned, if you're not worried about handling and would rather comfort and grip, the Uniroyal Rainsport 2 is pretty hard to beat, depending on size.
RizzoTheRat said:
I had Hankooks (can't rememeber which model but possibly Ventus) on my 306 and was really impressed with them for the price. when I bought it it had some budget rubber on and I found the same as you, fine in the dry but utterly hopeless in the wet.
Hankook Optimo K415 by any chance? Just looked them up, very highly rated and I have found them on offer, fitted for just under £210 for 4 of themjon- said:
Yes, the fact your tyres are likely fairly old and of poor quality / suitability will be the cause of your wet grip issues.
As someone else mentioned, if you're not worried about handling and would rather comfort and grip, the Uniroyal Rainsport 2 is pretty hard to beat, depending on size.
jon-, how do you rate the RainExperts?As someone else mentioned, if you're not worried about handling and would rather comfort and grip, the Uniroyal Rainsport 2 is pretty hard to beat, depending on size.
Speaking from experience of having a car with budget tyres and a Corolla of that vintage.
Its probably not the tyres. Granted I drove a T-Sport but the tyres were good Michelins. The problem is they are relatively thin on a Corolla. It had grip issues in the wet even when up and running.
before that I had a mazda 323 which had a set of the kwik fit own brand (made by pirelli or something) they were called Ceat. They were £20 a tyre and did absolutely fine.
I have since used the mentioned Continentals on my E30 and will say they were very good.
Best tyres used so far were Pirelli P Zero Corsas but these may be a bit over budget.
Its probably not the tyres. Granted I drove a T-Sport but the tyres were good Michelins. The problem is they are relatively thin on a Corolla. It had grip issues in the wet even when up and running.
before that I had a mazda 323 which had a set of the kwik fit own brand (made by pirelli or something) they were called Ceat. They were £20 a tyre and did absolutely fine.
I have since used the mentioned Continentals on my E30 and will say they were very good.
Best tyres used so far were Pirelli P Zero Corsas but these may be a bit over budget.
jon- said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
jon-, how do you rate the RainExperts?
I can only go by what I've read, as I've never used them, but the consensus seems to be a lot like the rainsport - good grip, good comfort, poor handling and average wear.
That's not what I wanted to hear... Not looking for the last word in performance as it's on the shed, but it's a shed with 200bhp and I'd like it not to be too barge like!Is there anything in that sort of price range that has good wet/dry grip & reasonable handling? Not worried about noise or longevity TBH.
Do the Vredestein SportTrac3s fit the bill?
O/T - have you thought about adding a recommendations section on your website? Something in between the Official tyre tests and the personal accounts? Check boxes for handling, grip, wear, noise, price range?
NiceCupOfTea said:
Poor handling That's not what I wanted to hear... Not looking for the last word in performance as it's on the shed, but it's a shed with 200bhp and I'd like it not to be too barge like!
Is there anything in that sort of price range that has good wet/dry grip & reasonable handling? Not worried about noise or longevity TBH.
Do the Vredestein SportTrac3s fit the bill?
O/T - have you thought about adding a recommendations section on your website? Something in between the Official tyre tests and the personal accounts? Check boxes for handling, grip, wear, noise, price range?
What size? That's not what I wanted to hear... Not looking for the last word in performance as it's on the shed, but it's a shed with 200bhp and I'd like it not to be too barge like!Is there anything in that sort of price range that has good wet/dry grip & reasonable handling? Not worried about noise or longevity TBH.
Do the Vredestein SportTrac3s fit the bill?
O/T - have you thought about adding a recommendations section on your website? Something in between the Official tyre tests and the personal accounts? Check boxes for handling, grip, wear, noise, price range?
I've thought about that an awful lot, even sketched the database schemas, it's very complicating averaging out between the magazine tests and user tests to provide a decent recommendation. One day
NiceCupOfTea said:
205/55 R16
I had them on my Mondeo (Uni Rain Expert) and throught they were very good. Changed my perception of the brand. Coped very well in the bad snow a year and a bit back. No problems with grip, handling, noise etc.I have Rainsports now as I couldn't get hold of experts at teh time, and again, I think they are very good for the price.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff