Cheap tyres VS premium brand tyres
Discussion
Once you have lost faith in a brand, it takes a long time to be reassured. 17 years ago, Mum Michelin Primacy were dreadful in the wet, costing me a front wing. After that it has been Continental for many years. Now my 1 year old 335d has Pirelli Pzero runflats, and they seem fine in wet and dry. Despite all the good things said about Michelin now, I would be reluctant to go back to Michelin.
My C63 when I bought it as an Merc AUC came with a full set of brand new Nexen's on it.
I was slightly apprehensive, and even questioned the salseman about it, however in the 5 months I've owned it, I really can't fault them.
I'm sure the brand snobs will be sniggering down their sleeves and to be fair I wouldn't have chosen them as a brand I'd have used prior this.
I was slightly apprehensive, and even questioned the salseman about it, however in the 5 months I've owned it, I really can't fault them.
I'm sure the brand snobs will be sniggering down their sleeves and to be fair I wouldn't have chosen them as a brand I'd have used prior this.
Pica-Pica said:
Once you have lost faith in a brand, it takes a long time to be reassured. 17 years ago, Mum Michelin Primacy were dreadful in the wet, costing me a front wing. After that it has been Continental for many years. Now my 1 year old 335d has Pirelli Pzero runflats, and they seem fine in wet and dry. Despite all the good things said about Michelin now, I would be reluctant to go back to Michelin.
PS4 is significantly better than CSC5/6 lol I needed a pair of tyres a few weeks back and could not quickly enough get hold of the usual Michelin Green X Energy Savers with the required Extra Load rating. Hesitantly bought a pair of Evergreens with the required spec thinking if I have to ditch them prematurely its not a lot of money. Slightly to my surprise I find so far they have been superb.
I remember buying a set of 4 Continental tyres on the day they closed the continental tyre factory in Scotland. Being a tyre nerd I looked to see where mine had been made... 1x from South Africa 1x from Malaysia 2x from Brazil. Same tyre pattern, but they all wore differently.
Unless you are racing the differences between the mid range and premium tyres is really minuscule in real world driving. Just avoid the Budget no names you've heard of tyres.
Unless you are racing the differences between the mid range and premium tyres is really minuscule in real world driving. Just avoid the Budget no names you've heard of tyres.
Dave Hedgehog said:
i regard the OEM contisportcontact 5 that audi and merc have fit to many RS / AMG models as a rubbish tyre, only lasts 9k miles (i got 25k on the replacement MPSS), super soft floppy side walls that make the steering even more vague, aqua planes like a mofo , tramlines in lane one of M Ways and when worn to around 4mm are like driving on hard blocks of oiled rubber when its below 5c
awful bloody things
MPSS and 4S instantly cure all of these issues
I've seen Contis on S model cars, but never an RS. I'm pretty sure RS cars come with Pirellis and the very new ones come with Hankooks.awful bloody things
MPSS and 4S instantly cure all of these issues
Evanivitch said:
mat205125 said:
Assuming the Michelin’s last the same as the Bridgestone boots, the economy gain will have all but covered their entire cost.
I've generally found that Michelin tyres far out live anything else, and that's usually supported by independent tyre review data. 5% fuel saving over 30k miles from a set will work out at about £500. Take that away from the cost of the set at £850, and the set of Michelin boots has cost £350.
Sure I could have put four black things onto the rims for £350, however there’s no way that rubber at that price would last as long, perform as well, or be as comfortable or quiet.
Funkstar De Luxe said:
Of course I can’t speak for anyone else - but when buying a car first thing I check is tire brand. Why? Because if the owner is willing that cheap out on the single most important component on a car then the chance of them having done good quality maintenance is zero.
I think it’s a really stupid thing to do. If I couldn’t afford the best tires for my car, I’d sell it and really consider what the f
k I had been doing.
Compromise my cars handling and safety for the next 20,000 miles to save a couple hundred quid? Not a chance
So I have been a casual observer on this forum for while and never really felt the need to make an account and comment, this thread and more specifically this comment convinced me to do so. I think it’s a really stupid thing to do. If I couldn’t afford the best tires for my car, I’d sell it and really consider what the f
k I had been doing. Compromise my cars handling and safety for the next 20,000 miles to save a couple hundred quid? Not a chance
While I get that it heavily depends on the car and it's setup (hp, driveline arrangment and also design to a point) I don't think that someone should get any kind of hate for fitting cheap tyres when they're legal, passed all UK safety tests and have been fitted by a professional. I admit that my car is no F1 car (84hp 2003 Honda Jazz) that doesn't stop me from travelling at the same speeds on the motorway or A roads as anyone else and for me, £30 a tyre is enough for me, regardless of how fast I'm driving or how the weather is. Sure, I could fit some nice £70+ Pireli's and be better off, I don't think it's worth it for me.
When I was with my girlfriend up until around 2 months ago, I was doing over a 1500mi a month most of which was motor/duel carraigeway miles at all times of the night (this being because we were both huge fans of long late night drives to no where just chatting, and not because of any official need to drive) and because of this, I chewed through a set of £38 Hankook front tyres in around 7,000 miles and to be totally honest, they were perfectly adaquate for the money in terms of grip and I would have fitted them again if it wasn't for the fact that KwikFit didn't have any in stock at the time. I drove over Dartmoor in the snow and they pulled the whole way, through mud and snow when we had to go offroad due to a motorcycle crash upfront etc. In terms of performance when they were needed, they were excellent. As for their milage, I'm not a mechanicaly sympathetic driver and worked them hard in terms of acceleration, braking and cornering and they still lasted 7k which, while not excellent, isn't to bad considering their duty cycle and price.
While I appreciate what you're saying, it's a little insulting to say that someone who buys cheap tyres doesn't look after the rest of the car when many do, myself included. My tyres, while cheap yes, are legal and safe regardless of what any tyre snob says.
Regardless of what tyres I have on, I refuse to the the advice of change at 3mm which many suggest. 1.6mm is the legal depth and that is what I shall run them down to. Yes there is a noticable drop in grip, but they're still safe else the legal depth would be 3mm and manufacutures would build them to be safe to 1.6mm, they would build them to be safe at 3mm.
Personally, I think that as long as someone tyres are legal ie. at least 1.6mm of tread depth and of UK standard, then they should not be judged and/or hated on for them.
Evanivitch said:
mat205125 said:
Assuming the Michelin’s last the same as the Bridgestone boots, the economy gain will have all but covered their entire cost.
I've generally found that Michelin tyres far out live anything else, and that's usually supported by independent tyre review data. Yes, I agree the mileage is great on them, but that comes at the expense of grip. You can't have both. Grip is from sticky rubber, which leaves bits behind on the tarmac, so they wear out.
I'm with Goodyear EfficientGrip on both our cars now, for us it's the right balance between grip, life and cost.
This has been well enough covered on Tyre Reviews you tube channel.
If you buy Happy Gallop tyres, you are a danger to yourself, your passengers and the wider public.
Not when things are going well of course, but in the unforeseen situations and circumstances 1000s of drivers find themselves in daily in the UK.
These people would probably buy cheaper seatbelts if they could, as they seem ok to them.
People that buy them and insist it’s a good idea, are wrong. They have saved a little money in exchange for potential risk.
They care more about the money, than safety (and obviously performance) I’m not saying the tyres aren’t legal, but as JB says on Tyre Reviews, they very much should be!
There really isn’t much space for the opinions of these people.
The dangers involved in these cheap tyres is conclusive and repeatable. It’s not conjecture.
For my sins, I learned the hard way!
So many on here said the Falken 452 was good, with only minimal downsides.
I fitted some, thinking I must be the idiot over paying for PS2 all the time.
Once fitted, ALL they were was a collection of ALL the downsides separate people mentioned!
My then three year old 130i was sadly ruined. I knew within a mile of leaving the tyre fitters.
It wouldn’t turn in, brake, accelerate ride bumps well at all.
Erratic scrabbling contact patches and a stability program that had no clue what the hell was going on, so spent all the time in flashing panic mode.
That was only driving at slightly faster than daily commuting speeds.
I realise the awfulness would vary from chassis to chassis, but not to any degree that would make them acceptable performance tyres.
I could only stand it for a couple of thousand miles or so, before I paid again, on 4 x more Michelin.
That was when I realised that even amongst a supposedly enthusiast group, there are far too many that know nothing at all on the subject at all, as we can see evidenced here.
If you think these cheapo tyres are acceptable and safe, then you just need to accept the advice and scientific findings of those that know better on the subject. (This will almost never mean tyre fitters)
I know I’m being quite abrupt here, but too many people are pussy footing around the subject.
If you buy Happy Gallop tyres, you are a danger to yourself, your passengers and the wider public.
Not when things are going well of course, but in the unforeseen situations and circumstances 1000s of drivers find themselves in daily in the UK.
These people would probably buy cheaper seatbelts if they could, as they seem ok to them.
People that buy them and insist it’s a good idea, are wrong. They have saved a little money in exchange for potential risk.
They care more about the money, than safety (and obviously performance) I’m not saying the tyres aren’t legal, but as JB says on Tyre Reviews, they very much should be!
There really isn’t much space for the opinions of these people.
The dangers involved in these cheap tyres is conclusive and repeatable. It’s not conjecture.
For my sins, I learned the hard way!
So many on here said the Falken 452 was good, with only minimal downsides.
I fitted some, thinking I must be the idiot over paying for PS2 all the time.
Once fitted, ALL they were was a collection of ALL the downsides separate people mentioned!
My then three year old 130i was sadly ruined. I knew within a mile of leaving the tyre fitters.
It wouldn’t turn in, brake, accelerate ride bumps well at all.
Erratic scrabbling contact patches and a stability program that had no clue what the hell was going on, so spent all the time in flashing panic mode.
That was only driving at slightly faster than daily commuting speeds.
I realise the awfulness would vary from chassis to chassis, but not to any degree that would make them acceptable performance tyres.
I could only stand it for a couple of thousand miles or so, before I paid again, on 4 x more Michelin.
That was when I realised that even amongst a supposedly enthusiast group, there are far too many that know nothing at all on the subject at all, as we can see evidenced here.
If you think these cheapo tyres are acceptable and safe, then you just need to accept the advice and scientific findings of those that know better on the subject. (This will almost never mean tyre fitters)
I know I’m being quite abrupt here, but too many people are pussy footing around the subject.
Red 5 said:
This has been well enough covered on Tyre Reviews you tube channel.
If you buy Happy Gallop tyres, you are a danger to yourself, your passengers and the wider public.
Not when things are going well of course, but in the unforeseen situations and circumstances 1000s of drivers find themselves in daily in the UK.
These people would probably buy cheaper seatbelts if they could, as they seem ok to them.
People that buy them and insist it’s a good idea, are wrong. They have saved a little money in exchange for potential risk.
They care more about the money, than safety (and obviously performance) I’m not saying the tyres aren’t legal, but as JB says on Tyre Reviews, they very much should be!
There really isn’t much space for the opinions of these people.
The dangers involved in these cheap tyres is conclusive and repeatable. It’s not conjecture.
For my sins, I learned the hard way!
So many on here said the Falken 452 was good, with only minimal downsides.
I fitted some, thinking I must be the idiot over paying for PS2 all the time.
Once fitted, ALL they were was a collection of ALL the downsides separate people mentioned!
My then three year old 130i was sadly ruined. I knew within a mile of leaving the tyre fitters.
It wouldn’t turn in, brake, accelerate ride bumps well at all.
Erratic scrabbling contact patches and a stability program that had no clue what the hell was going on, so spent all the time in flashing panic mode.
That was only driving at slightly faster than daily commuting speeds.
I realise the awfulness would vary from chassis to chassis, but not to any degree that would make them acceptable performance tyres.
I could only stand it for a couple of thousand miles or so, before I paid again, on 4 x more Michelin.
That was when I realised that even amongst a supposedly enthusiast group, there are far too many that know nothing at all on the subject at all, as we can see evidenced here.
If you think these cheapo tyres are acceptable and safe, then you just need to accept the advice and scientific findings of those that know better on the subject. (This will almost never mean tyre fitters)
I know I’m being quite abrupt here, but too many people are pussy footing around the subject.
With all due respect Red 5, they are acceptable and safe as if they we not we would not be allowed to use them. Do you really think this health and safety based society would allow thousands of people to drive unsafe vehicles? I think not. While they may not be the best tyres, they are safe and legal and have passed some VERY strict tests to get that rating. If you buy Happy Gallop tyres, you are a danger to yourself, your passengers and the wider public.
Not when things are going well of course, but in the unforeseen situations and circumstances 1000s of drivers find themselves in daily in the UK.
These people would probably buy cheaper seatbelts if they could, as they seem ok to them.
People that buy them and insist it’s a good idea, are wrong. They have saved a little money in exchange for potential risk.
They care more about the money, than safety (and obviously performance) I’m not saying the tyres aren’t legal, but as JB says on Tyre Reviews, they very much should be!
There really isn’t much space for the opinions of these people.
The dangers involved in these cheap tyres is conclusive and repeatable. It’s not conjecture.
For my sins, I learned the hard way!
So many on here said the Falken 452 was good, with only minimal downsides.
I fitted some, thinking I must be the idiot over paying for PS2 all the time.
Once fitted, ALL they were was a collection of ALL the downsides separate people mentioned!
My then three year old 130i was sadly ruined. I knew within a mile of leaving the tyre fitters.
It wouldn’t turn in, brake, accelerate ride bumps well at all.
Erratic scrabbling contact patches and a stability program that had no clue what the hell was going on, so spent all the time in flashing panic mode.
That was only driving at slightly faster than daily commuting speeds.
I realise the awfulness would vary from chassis to chassis, but not to any degree that would make them acceptable performance tyres.
I could only stand it for a couple of thousand miles or so, before I paid again, on 4 x more Michelin.
That was when I realised that even amongst a supposedly enthusiast group, there are far too many that know nothing at all on the subject at all, as we can see evidenced here.
If you think these cheapo tyres are acceptable and safe, then you just need to accept the advice and scientific findings of those that know better on the subject. (This will almost never mean tyre fitters)
I know I’m being quite abrupt here, but too many people are pussy footing around the subject.
I can understand peoples push for everyone to buy top brand tyres, but it's no ones decision but their own and to hate on someone for choosing cheaper tyres is a little unfair in my opinion, especially when said tyres have passed all the same tests and comply with all the same regulations as your tyres.
Edited by 150234 on Saturday 22 May 00:45
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