Churchill tyres. Anyone heard of them? Any good?
Discussion
Found a BMW I like - December 2018 F32 4 Series. It ticks all the boxes, except, it has Churchill tyres which I’ve never heard of. This wasn’t a cheap car new and isn’t a particularly cheap car at 4.5 years old either, so it’s slightly unnerving that it has a brand of tyres that I don’t recognise. My concern is that someone’s bought an expensive car and then tried to run it on a shoestring budget… or am I worrying unnecessarily? Are these tyres OK or should I be looking at factoring in the cost of reverting them back to the type that would have been fitted by BMW when the car was new?
It's new enough, it's sporty enough.
Did the dealer fit these tyres or the previous owner ?
IMO, anyone who fits cheap Chinese tyres to such a car, clearly does not care about the car. So I'd have equal concerns about other maintenance of the vehicle, and what has been skimped on there too.
Must admit, it is one thing I look at when checking adverts for a car or viewing a car, is that they have good tyres. Cheap Chinese tyres are a huge red flag.
Although I guess if all 4 are the same ( and same age etc ), that's a slight bonus, at least they don't do one tyre at a time and end up with 4 different tyres.
I don't think I could buy a nice car that had 4 different tyres. Just screams of a totally care-less owner.
Does that car have runflats, and are the tyres fitted appropriate for the vehicle ?
I had never heard of them before though, google brought this up
https://www.f1autocentres.co.uk/tyres/manufacturer...
You just need to check Tyre Reviews on Youtube for comparisons of branded tyres etc against low end stuff. The difference in most tests is quite massive.
Did the dealer fit these tyres or the previous owner ?
IMO, anyone who fits cheap Chinese tyres to such a car, clearly does not care about the car. So I'd have equal concerns about other maintenance of the vehicle, and what has been skimped on there too.
Must admit, it is one thing I look at when checking adverts for a car or viewing a car, is that they have good tyres. Cheap Chinese tyres are a huge red flag.
Although I guess if all 4 are the same ( and same age etc ), that's a slight bonus, at least they don't do one tyre at a time and end up with 4 different tyres.
I don't think I could buy a nice car that had 4 different tyres. Just screams of a totally care-less owner.
Does that car have runflats, and are the tyres fitted appropriate for the vehicle ?
I had never heard of them before though, google brought this up
https://www.f1autocentres.co.uk/tyres/manufacturer...
You just need to check Tyre Reviews on Youtube for comparisons of branded tyres etc against low end stuff. The difference in most tests is quite massive.
With wear & tear items like tyres if you haven't heard of them it is generally for good reason.
As above, tyrereviews.co.uk is the go-to resource to find out about tyres.
If I were to consider such a car I would either factor a change into the price I am willing to pay, or make it a condition of sale & be specific what you are asking for, not just "better tyres".
As above, tyrereviews.co.uk is the go-to resource to find out about tyres.
If I were to consider such a car I would either factor a change into the price I am willing to pay, or make it a condition of sale & be specific what you are asking for, not just "better tyres".
All four tyres are the same. The car only has 19k miles on it so I guess they can’t be that old. It has two owners. I guess the questions are; Who put the tyres on, previous owner or dealer? Does the car have a full BMW service history? Basically if it has fBMWsh then I’ll just look to get the tyres changed if I buy it. In every other sense it’s a great car.
I've witnessed & dealt with the aftermath of a
car understeering off of a damp road. I was going faster than it & I was having no problems with the conditions.
Two teenage girls, one dead and the one traumatised for life.
Cheap, budget tyres are probably the worst way to save money I can think of....
car understeering off of a damp road. I was going faster than it & I was having no problems with the conditions.
Two teenage girls, one dead and the one traumatised for life.
Cheap, budget tyres are probably the worst way to save money I can think of....
I had 4 Churchills on my SLK and mate quipped "we'll fight them on the beaches ...... we'll fight them in the ditches"..... yet they worked fine!!
there's more bulls
t about tyres than just about every other product out there!
they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
ignore any review based upon price.
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
there's more bulls
t about tyres than just about every other product out there!they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
ignore any review based upon price.
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
Edited by Tye Green on Sunday 25th June 20:29
Edited by Tye Green on Sunday 25th June 20:30
Tye Green said:
I had 4 Churchills on my SLK and mate quipped "we'll fight them on the beaches ...... we'll fight them in the ditches"..... yet they worked fine!!
there's more bullst about tyres than just about every other product out there!
they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
ignore any review based upon price.
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
Quite a long post, that can be shortened to state you know very little about tyresthere's more bulls
t about tyres than just about every other product out there!they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
ignore any review based upon price.
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
Edited by Tye Green on Sunday 25th June 20:29
Edited by Tye Green on Sunday 25th June 20:30
Tye Green said:
I had 4 Churchills on my SLK and mate quipped "we'll fight them on the beaches ...... we'll fight them in the ditches"..... yet they worked fine!!
there's more bullst about tyres than just about every other product out there!
they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
ignore any review based upon price.
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
Jesus H Christ there's more bulls
t about tyres than just about every other product out there!they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
ignore any review based upon price.
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
Edited by Tye Green on Sunday 25th June 20:29
Edited by Tye Green on Sunday 25th June 20:30
stevieturbo said:
Tye Green said:
I had 4 Churchills on my SLK and mate quipped "we'll fight them on the beaches ...... we'll fight them in the ditches"..... yet they worked fine!!
there's more bullst about tyres than just about every other product out there!
they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
ignore any review based upon price.
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
Quite a long post, that can be shortened to state you know very little about tyresthere's more bulls
t about tyres than just about every other product out there!they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
ignore any review based upon price.
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
Edited by Tye Green on Sunday 25th June 20:29
Edited by Tye Green on Sunday 25th June 20:30
snoopy25 said:
Tye Green said:
I had 4 Churchills on my SLK and mate quipped "we'll fight them on the beaches ...... we'll fight them in the ditches"..... yet they worked fine!!
there's more bullst about tyres than just about every other product out there!
they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
ignore any review based upon price.
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
Jesus H Christ there's more bulls
t about tyres than just about every other product out there!they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
ignore any review based upon price.
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
Edited by Tye Green on Sunday 25th June 20:29
Edited by Tye Green on Sunday 25th June 20:30
Just to be a little more specific rather than just laugh at you.
Tye Green said:
I had 4 Churchills on my SLK and mate quipped "we'll fight them on the beaches ...... we'll fight them in the ditches"..... yet they worked fine!!
Define worked? Yes they fitted, yes they allowed the wheels to turn, that can constitute "worked".Tye Green said:
there's more bullst about tyres in your post than just about every other product out there!
EFAt about tyres in your post than just about every other product out there!Tye Green said:
they're black, round and made or rubber and every design is a compromise.
That is actually reasonably accurate, but you forgot to say that the compromises are generally much more obvious at the lower end of the price range as much less is spent to make them as good as they can be in the real world on real roads.Tye Green said:
the level of grip that a particular compound or sidewall stiffness etc will likely provide in any particular environment has no effect on the production cost, and the most significant factors in the retail cost are the marketing budgets,'brand value' and profit margin.
Whilst marketing budgets have some small effect on price it is much more affected by the time/energy/research that goes into making them any good.Tye Green said:
there's no such things as 'budget' 'midrange' 'premium' . these are constructs created by the industry so we have something to talk about. there are only 'profit margins'.
JHC! How ignorant can you possibly be, next you will be claiming that it is those who buy better tyres are the ones who are brainwashed rather than you! Do you always wear your tin foil cap when on the internet?Tye Green said:
Ignore anyone who dismisses a tyre choice based upon the country of manufacture (currently it's China but a few years ago it was Korea / Japan etc)
I have yet to hear anyone do that, I have heard the generalised phrase "chinese ditch finders" used tongue in cheek but the phrase is a generalisation & doesn't exclude other countries and nor does it include all chinese tyres.Tye Green said:
ignore any review based upon price.
I will tacitly go along with that one for one reason only (having just checked 2 random sites) 205/55/16 - U/R RS 3 £157.49 at ATS. £76.50 at tyresguru. Tye Green said:
ignore any tyre review at all unless it's of a particular tyre used on the same vehicle that you are concerned with.
B/S - all tyre reviews are done on one vehicle, on one day, in one set of conditions. Therefore they are truly independent & relative to each other not the vehicle concerned. If they were done on different vehicles on the same day then you may have a small point.Tye Green said:
ignore any comment which is along the lines of "it's your only connection with the road - buy the best you can"
So what else connects the vehicle to the road?Tye Green said:
DO listen to someone who has the same vehicle / tyre size as you and can provide feedback such as warm weather grip when used in the environment you will use it in / wet weather grip / longevity / etc (or whatever is important to you)
Covered above.Tye Green said:
remember, almost everything that you hear or read about tyres and politics is from someone who is trying to make a living by telling you that bit of information!
So, I MUST be trying to sell tyres by that answer.Edited by E-bmw on Monday 26th June 09:49
Driver101 said:
As soon as I see a car with budget tyres it really puts me off.
It's often dealers that put them on. I know they want to make profit, but fitting budget tyres puts potential buyers off. Is saving hundreds of pounds on tyres really beneficial on expensive and performance cars?
Exactly, although if it’s the dealer that’s put them on then at least it’s not an indicator of a previous owner who’s been doing things on the cheap. I think if they were put on by the dealer and the service history checks out then there are no further concerns.It's often dealers that put them on. I know they want to make profit, but fitting budget tyres puts potential buyers off. Is saving hundreds of pounds on tyres really beneficial on expensive and performance cars?
Don't necessarily write the car off because of the tyres. When I test drove mine it had Dunlop Sport Maxx on the front and back but the dealership did me a "favour" by replacing the (knackered) rear tyres FOC with some Accelera ones. In the dry they're fine although the sidewalls seem a bit soft and they're wearing pretty fast! They're absolutely ste in the rain however although can be quite entertaining
I've subsequently replaced the bald fronts with Pirelli Pzeros so I can actually steer and will be doing the same with the rears when they are shredded. They may be crap but I am also a tight arse.
te in the rain however although can be quite entertaining I've subsequently replaced the bald fronts with Pirelli Pzeros so I can actually steer and will be doing the same with the rears when they are shredded. They may be crap but I am also a tight arse.
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