Cheap tyres VS premium brand tyres
Discussion
Hey thanks for all of the reply’s, I feel like this hasn’t gone down too well in this community and I’d like to explain my thoughts a little further.
Ok so I, like most of you, would have replied in a similar way to a post like this had I had bad experiences with cheap tyres. Thing is, that from my recent experience I honestly have to say that I don’t think it was a bad decision.
The differences are very slight, the cost savings aren’t - therefore worthwhile (in my opinion).
Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it. I’m not a racing driver and don’t plan on doing any track days, I’m just trying to save a few fellow petrol heads a couple of quid based on my recent experience of pretty average driving (with a few foot to the floor moments).
One user mentioned having better tyres and just adding tyre pressure to my rears: surely this would Just waste expensive tyres??
Regarding aqua planning: water displacement is always the number 1, so bear in mind tread depth is the most important feature there.
I’d also like to add that maybe I was lucky with my most recent set, and that had black circles chosen a lesser quality tyre, this post may have been swayed in the opposite direction. We will never know.
All being said I know you’re all only trying to watch out for each other and offer sound advice so thanks for the responses.
Ok so I, like most of you, would have replied in a similar way to a post like this had I had bad experiences with cheap tyres. Thing is, that from my recent experience I honestly have to say that I don’t think it was a bad decision.
The differences are very slight, the cost savings aren’t - therefore worthwhile (in my opinion).
Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it. I’m not a racing driver and don’t plan on doing any track days, I’m just trying to save a few fellow petrol heads a couple of quid based on my recent experience of pretty average driving (with a few foot to the floor moments).
One user mentioned having better tyres and just adding tyre pressure to my rears: surely this would Just waste expensive tyres??
Regarding aqua planning: water displacement is always the number 1, so bear in mind tread depth is the most important feature there.
I’d also like to add that maybe I was lucky with my most recent set, and that had black circles chosen a lesser quality tyre, this post may have been swayed in the opposite direction. We will never know.
All being said I know you’re all only trying to watch out for each other and offer sound advice so thanks for the responses.
I put Hankook`s on my last E Class.
It was in for service & Merc very kindly priced Conti`s as what were on it & Hankook, what new E`s were coming through with at the time.
I spoke to my local indy tyre place, he priced them considerably less than Merc & then suggested I get the Hankook`s.
£40 less a corner than Conti`s iirc, but were a higher load rating.
They transformed the old boat!
Cornered better due to the higher LR, stiffer walls apparently, were quieter than the Conti`s, wore better (never seen more than about 18k on Conti`s) Hankooks were still above the wear mark when I changed the car after about 20k & I was £160 up too.
My new E has Contis & I can`t wait to wear the f
kers out!!
Would never put Ditchfinders on a daily that does big miles, 20k plus pa, although our shed Astra has Lassa 205`s on it, they seem quite fine for something that spends it`s life doing tip runs, station carpark lurking & the occasional 100 mile round trip.
It was in for service & Merc very kindly priced Conti`s as what were on it & Hankook, what new E`s were coming through with at the time.
I spoke to my local indy tyre place, he priced them considerably less than Merc & then suggested I get the Hankook`s.
£40 less a corner than Conti`s iirc, but were a higher load rating.
They transformed the old boat!
Cornered better due to the higher LR, stiffer walls apparently, were quieter than the Conti`s, wore better (never seen more than about 18k on Conti`s) Hankooks were still above the wear mark when I changed the car after about 20k & I was £160 up too.
My new E has Contis & I can`t wait to wear the f
kers out!!Would never put Ditchfinders on a daily that does big miles, 20k plus pa, although our shed Astra has Lassa 205`s on it, they seem quite fine for something that spends it`s life doing tip runs, station carpark lurking & the occasional 100 mile round trip.
dommyem said:
Hey thanks for all of the reply’s, I feel like this hasn’t gone down too well in this community and I’d like to explain my thoughts a little further.
Ok so I, like most of you, would have replied in a similar way to a post like this had I had bad experiences with cheap tyres. Thing is, that from my recent experience I honestly have to say that I don’t think it was a bad decision.
The differences are very slight, the cost savings aren’t - therefore worthwhile (in my opinion).
Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it. I’m not a racing driver and don’t plan on doing any track days, I’m just trying to save a few fellow petrol heads a couple of quid based on my recent experience of pretty average driving (with a few foot to the floor moments).
One user mentioned having better tyres and just adding tyre pressure to my rears: surely this would Just waste expensive tyres??
Regarding aqua planning: water displacement is always the number 1, so bear in mind tread depth is the most important feature there.
I’d also like to add that maybe I was lucky with my most recent set, and that had black circles chosen a lesser quality tyre, this post may have been swayed in the opposite direction. We will never know.
All being said I know you’re all only trying to watch out for each other and offer sound advice so thanks for the responses.
But you cost saving is what, £100? on a 25% saving? if you chose to always fill up at the cheapest fuel station over the course of a year you would probably make that back. Ok so I, like most of you, would have replied in a similar way to a post like this had I had bad experiences with cheap tyres. Thing is, that from my recent experience I honestly have to say that I don’t think it was a bad decision.
The differences are very slight, the cost savings aren’t - therefore worthwhile (in my opinion).
Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it. I’m not a racing driver and don’t plan on doing any track days, I’m just trying to save a few fellow petrol heads a couple of quid based on my recent experience of pretty average driving (with a few foot to the floor moments).
One user mentioned having better tyres and just adding tyre pressure to my rears: surely this would Just waste expensive tyres??
Regarding aqua planning: water displacement is always the number 1, so bear in mind tread depth is the most important feature there.
I’d also like to add that maybe I was lucky with my most recent set, and that had black circles chosen a lesser quality tyre, this post may have been swayed in the opposite direction. We will never know.
All being said I know you’re all only trying to watch out for each other and offer sound advice so thanks for the responses.
dommyem said:
The differences are very slight, the cost savings aren’t - therefore worthwhile (in my opinion).
Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it. I’m not a racing driver and don’t plan on doing any track days, I’m just trying to save a few fellow petrol heads a couple of quid based on my recent experience of pretty average driving (with a few foot to the floor moments).
Regarding aqua planning: water displacement is always the number 1, so bear in mind tread depth is the most important feature there.
Aquaplaning causes less than 1% of overall european accidents. Most accidents happen below 60 mph, with a spread across dry and wet conditions and can be attributed to not stopping in time (rather than falling off a road in a corner).Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it. I’m not a racing driver and don’t plan on doing any track days, I’m just trying to save a few fellow petrol heads a couple of quid based on my recent experience of pretty average driving (with a few foot to the floor moments).
Regarding aqua planning: water displacement is always the number 1, so bear in mind tread depth is the most important feature there.
The "slight differences" you mention can be anywhere between 15% and 30% wet braking, which when braking down from a speed of 60mph (which could be considered "taking it easy" or "driving to the conditions" on certain UK roads) can be the difference of stopping, or a really big crash.
I've always been a premium tyre guy and really would only consider a make I would feel comfortable with knowing I have full confidence in them when called upon in an emergency. When looking at buying a second hand car, the quality of tyres and if their all the same make tells me how well it's been looked after. After all what else have they saved money on? Ok I agree we can't all afford the best tyres but careful shopping around and research can pay in the end.
My Sunbeam Lotus has 13" wheels which is a real struggle to get decent road tyres for in my preferred size without going to the specialist classic tyre suppliers who charge a fortune for them or using track day specials. I've now got another set of 15" wheels so I have a bigger choice.
My Sunbeam Lotus has 13" wheels which is a real struggle to get decent road tyres for in my preferred size without going to the specialist classic tyre suppliers who charge a fortune for them or using track day specials. I've now got another set of 15" wheels so I have a bigger choice.
My car had Nokian (or Nexan maybe) tyres on when I got it. All with loads of tread and it was so easy to behave like a hooligan in it it was unreal. The back end was very playful (which in a 2.5 tonne car was fun!) and I nearly spun it once in the rain accelerating hard(ish) away from some traffic lights.
When it was serviced it was noted that the tyres were cracking quite badly (not old either) so I replaced them with Michelins. I have never been a tyre snob (on cars anyway, on bikes, a totally different story!) but they really have transformed the car. It grips now, all the time, feels much more responsive to the steering and more stable under cornering, doesn't like to 'light up' the rears at the first sign of damp either.
When it was serviced it was noted that the tyres were cracking quite badly (not old either) so I replaced them with Michelins. I have never been a tyre snob (on cars anyway, on bikes, a totally different story!) but they really have transformed the car. It grips now, all the time, feels much more responsive to the steering and more stable under cornering, doesn't like to 'light up' the rears at the first sign of damp either.
Hopefully nobody’s toddler accidentally runs out into the road in front of a linglongbrownstar99plus shod car.......
It’s all very well saying ‘ I can handle crap tyres because I don’t cane it in the wet’ but that is hugely stupid and arrogant to suggest that nothing else serious could potentially be avoided through better tyres. Things can and do happen that out outside of our control.
Drive safe.
It’s all very well saying ‘ I can handle crap tyres because I don’t cane it in the wet’ but that is hugely stupid and arrogant to suggest that nothing else serious could potentially be avoided through better tyres. Things can and do happen that out outside of our control.
Drive safe.
TBH when I saw the first post I thought troll. First post on here asking about the advisability of using tyres which give poor grip.
" I actually love my slightly less grippy tyres, it's made the rear of the car so much more fun!"
Not so much fun when doing an emergency stop with less grippy tyres. The saving between ditchfinders and mid range tyres over the life of the tyres is pretty minimal. £2 a week?
I'll give the OP the benefit of the doubt on trolling but the fact the reduced grip is noticeable in normal driving when the tyres are still new says it all.
" I actually love my slightly less grippy tyres, it's made the rear of the car so much more fun!"
Not so much fun when doing an emergency stop with less grippy tyres. The saving between ditchfinders and mid range tyres over the life of the tyres is pretty minimal. £2 a week?
I'll give the OP the benefit of the doubt on trolling but the fact the reduced grip is noticeable in normal driving when the tyres are still new says it all.
irc said:
TBH when I saw the first post I thought troll. First post on here asking about the advisability of using tyres which give poor grip.
" I actually love my slightly less grippy tyres, it's made the rear of the car so much more fun!"
Not so much fun when doing an emergency stop with less grippy tyres. The saving between ditchfinders and mid range tyres over the life of the tyres is pretty minimal. £2 a week?
I'll give the OP the benefit of the doubt on trolling but the fact the reduced grip is noticeable in normal driving when the tyres are still new says it all.
Indeed, just wait to see how bad they are when they have 10k miles on them ..." I actually love my slightly less grippy tyres, it's made the rear of the car so much more fun!"
Not so much fun when doing an emergency stop with less grippy tyres. The saving between ditchfinders and mid range tyres over the life of the tyres is pretty minimal. £2 a week?
I'll give the OP the benefit of the doubt on trolling but the fact the reduced grip is noticeable in normal driving when the tyres are still new says it all.
It really has to be unbelievable stupidity (sorry if that offends you) to save a few quid a year, on a major safety item, on a car that costs maybe £2,000 a year to run. I don't know how much yours costs, but add up Depreciation, Tax, Insurance, Servicing and Fuel and see if it's worth it.
What do you think the manufacturer would say? What brand do they recommend?
If I had a Veyron, though ... well the pukka tyres are £7,000 each, so if I could get some £60 ones for my next 200mph spin then I probably would
but I'd ask Richard Hammond first ...
What do you think the manufacturer would say? What brand do they recommend?
If I had a Veyron, though ... well the pukka tyres are £7,000 each, so if I could get some £60 ones for my next 200mph spin then I probably would
but I'd ask Richard Hammond first ...https://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rtest.pl?rt_rubr...
Nearly every comment on "Would you purchase these again?" is Definitely.
Nearly every comment on "Would you purchase these again?" is Definitely.
dommyem said:
https://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rtest.pl?rt_rubr...
Nearly every comment on "Would you purchase these again?" is Definitely.
Nearly every comment on "Would you purchase these again?" is Definitely.
dommyem said:
So really I am very pleased with my decision
dommyem said:
I don’t think it was a bad decision.
Confirmation bias is a thing. I’m sure the tyres are adequate just so long as you believe hard enough.
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