C63 tyre options

[hab1966]

Seem to remember a thread recently about somebody fitting/looking to fit one of the lesser named brand tyres to their C63?

Cant find the thread, but was wondering about people's experience of tyres for a C63 that don't come from the main main manufacturers.

[jackwood]

Hi,
I think that might have been me.
I ran Conti 5P's for the first 62,000 miles (a LOT of them!).
When I was taking the winters off this March they couldn't get me a full set of Conti's and I needed a set of tyres urgently as the rears wouldn't pass the MOT.
So my local tyre place recommended I try the Kuhmo Ecsta LE.
They were less than half the price of a set of Conti's and thy feel every bit as good to me.
They certainly have a lot of wet and dry grip. The front end has more initial bite and more feel too.
The only possible negative comment is that the sidewall feels a bit stiffer resulting in a slightly more, er, feelsome ride. The extra stiffness does make it feel sharper though, so you would have to decide if that is a positive or negative for you.
But overall, I have to say they are a very very good alternative at a fraction of the price.
Jack

[hab1966]

Thanks Jack.

Just had two new fronts fitted (Continentals) and don't need to change the rears for a little while longer.

However, when the time comes and given the miles you get out of the rears, I was wondering whether to put a lesser make on. Would prefer to do all four then its the same all around, but just have to decide whether to put different makes front and rear.

I'll look into the ones you suggest.

[Viperzs]

That's interesting about the Kumhos.

I know it is a very big difference in car but I swapped my Fiesta to Kumhos after its initial set of Pirellis and I have always asked for Kumhos since then,

At work I have a contact at Michelin who used to work on the car tyre side and when I said that he questioned why I chose Kumhos saying they were nowhere near as good.

Oh well.

[Cable]

I think the mid level brand tyre manufacturers have come on a long way, over the past few years. You'll find that Kumho, Federal, Vredestein and Uniroyal make some very good tyres.

A few years ago I did some research, before buying a new set, and found that the Uniroyal Rainsport 2's were a very good tyre, at substantially lower price than the premium brands. Even Evo magazine put them in second:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2010-EVO-Tyre...

Having had them fitted on my car (note: not a C63) I was very impressed and have since fitted to my wife's car, my brother has also fitted them to all his cars. They have been criticised for a softish sidewall, but I actually found this a benefit, giving the car a more comfortable ride and better flexibility on the limit.

I know this hasn't been on a C63, but the point being that you don't have to pay through the nose for a good tyre.

[hab1966]

Okay the time has come to replace the rears, the front have a lot of wear left on them.

Would i be 'stupid' to fit a different brand on the rears to those on the front? Currently ContiSportContact all round but would happily fit Kuhmo's to the rear given the savings.

I don't drive like a loon and the money saved can go towards petrol!

[Twincharge]

The general rule is to make sure tyres are matched per axle.