Tyres 205/60 - What to choose?

[FHCNICK]

So my wedge has been off the road for many years and is finally approaching the stage of going for an MOT. Is their a consensus on which tyre to pick these days? I was a fan of the long discontinued Bridgestone RE-71's back in the day but unfortunately choice in this now strange tyre size is a bit limited.

Apologies for the probably "done to death" nature of the post.

ATB
Nick

[adam quantrill]

I'm a fan of T1-R's, and near enough to the original size you can still get Toyo Proxes T1-R 205/55 R15 V (88) under 60 quid a corner.

[FHCNICK]

Thanks Adam, unfortunately not available in 205/60 on a 15" rim. The only Toyo Proxes option I have found is the CF2 and while the blurb on them sounds pretty good I can't help thinking that at £46 per corner they are either a budget option or too good to be true.

I might try either the Dunlop Sport BlueResponse or the Continental Eco Contact 6, both are over £80 a corner but then the tyre size is not a popular one.

[adam quantrill]

I have run with 205/55R15's on my 350i and you really don't notice the difference.

[LLantrisant]

if you are talking about the early Tasmins...those had 14" wheels...and not mayn chocie with 205/60R14....definately not with the correct speed index "V"

Toyo Poxes CF2 are available with Index H
as well as Kumho Ecsta HS51, Nang Kang Cross Sport SP-9 and Maxxis Victra 510

[Dave.]

Loads of choice on Camskill....

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m53b0s412p0/Car_Tyres_-...

I say choice, not sure I’d choose any of those.

I think I’d chose a lower profile personally.

ETA - https://www.camskill.co.uk/m53b0s289p0/Car_Tyres_-...

[FHCNICK]

LLantrisant said:

if you are talking about the early Tasmins...those had 14" wheels...and not mayn chocie with 205/60R14....definately not with the correct speed index "V"

Toyo Poxes CF2 are available with Index H
as well as Kumho Ecsta HS51, Nang Kang Cross Sport SP-9 and Maxxis Victra 510

Unfortunately my S1 Tasmin is long gone so it is just the R15 tyres I need now.

[FHCNICK]

Thanks Dave & Adam for your responses.

Looks like I either try one of the modern Eco compound tyres in 60 profile or drop to 55 profile for something with potentially more grip.

Cheers all.

[adam quantrill]

The eco ones will be very disappointing... low rolling resistance generally means low grip.

[magpies]

quite a few of the S Series chaps have gone BluResponse and say they are very good. They are available in 205/60 R15 91V rating.

[Tasmin200]

I've been look at this size recently too (205/60 R15). I'm considering these Avon ZV7's as a compromise between cost and performance.

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m53b0s412p135819/Avon_T...

[LucyP]

Buy the Continentals from Camskill at £126.40. They are £126 for a reason, in the same way that you won't get much joy from the Joyroad tyres at £31, if you value handling, grip and your life. Do Ferrari or Porsche, fit £30 non-brand tyres at the factory?

Has anyone ever seen a tyre test where the cheap Chinese tyres beat the Michelins or Continentals at 4 times the price?

[Scrump]

BF Goodrich muscle car tyres in the right size here:
https://www.vintagetyres.com/shop/tyres/bf-goodric...

[FHCNICK]

LucyP said:

Buy the Continentals from Camskill at £126.40. They are £126 for a reason, in the same way that you won't get much joy from the Joyroad tyres at £31, if you value handling, grip and your life. Do Ferrari or Porsche, fit £30 non-brand tyres at the factory?

Has anyone ever seen a tyre test where the cheap Chinese tyres beat the Michelins or Continentals at 4 times the price?

They are only H rated.

I would not put budget tyres on, the limiting factor is availability of the size / profile / speed rating. As others have done, moving to a more popular profile leads to a much bigger choice.

Edited by FHCNICK on Wednesday 25th November 13:01

[FHCNICK]

Scrump said:

BF Goodrich muscle car tyres in the right size here:
https://www.vintagetyres.com/shop/tyres/bf-goodric...

They are only T rated.

[FHCNICK]

magpies said:

quite a few of the S Series chaps have gone BluResponse and say they are very good. They are available in 205/60 R15 91V rating.

Good to know and these will probably be what I choose if I don't go for a lower profile, thanks

[adam quantrill]

FHCNICK said:

Apologies for the probably "done to death" nature of the post.

Not at all! As you can see, the picture is constantly evolving... I still miss the old Yokohama AVS's!

[Skyedriver]

It's a little bit "down the line" for me at the moment but tyre and wheel choice is likely one of my questions.
Ive got a set of 16" wheels that came with the car, they look new but aren't and have tyres with loads of tread but are 14 years old! I've also got a set of the original 15" wheels which aren't bad but it would be a shame to use as is so will need attention and they need new tyres as the tyres are even older....
A which wheel poll arriving shortly......

[adam quantrill]

16" are easier for tyres...

[LucyP]

FHCNICK said:

They are only H rated.


]

So what? That's 130 mph. Will your car do that? Even if it will, you're not going to do over 130 mph, unless you like prison food. Buy the best tyres, not the speed rating when the rating is nearly twice the legal limit.