Tyres. Again :(

APNess

Full Member
Feb 1, 2005
171
6
This car (Leon fr tdi 150, chipped) is the worst I've ever own for tyre wear. I've only done 6-7k miles, if that, on the current set since fitting last year and they're done, bald, illegal, all four. It's been the highest cost consumable on the car by far, but at least I've only gone through one set of tyres in the last year...

http://www.neuton-tyres.co.uk/

Take a look at that - not wanting to advertise or anything, just wondered if anyone had any experience with the company or the tyres. I'll be ordering 4 225/45/17 tomorrow if I can find someone to fit/balance them as, at £50 a pop, they are by the cheapest tyres for this car I can find. Don't even care if its like driving on marbles just so long as they last!

On a brighter note, am getting the timing belt, water pump, front brake discs (312mm jobs)+pads, and both front wheel bearings done for £400, so whilst its an expensive month (also road tax is due... d'oh) I think I saved big there (done by a local VAG mechanic in his spare time).

Anyone else recommend tyres (the cheapest, nastiest hardest wearing as possible please) to try? Any 2 for 1 offers anywhere?

At kwik fit/local garage place prices I may as well get a set of naff alloys+nangkangs off the internet and flog my existing alloys, more or less same price...

Thx for any help! My wallet needs it!!!
 

smokescreen

Guest
Had alignment and such checked? Shouldnt go that fast!
 

APNess

Full Member
Feb 1, 2005
171
6
It's been mentioned (by anyone who knows me) that my 'enthusiastic' cornering style (or lack of) might be to blame, but I know the alignment is well out. Even so, they should wear more to one side rather than bald all over (and just about down to the thread on the back - weird when the front gets most hammer). Wondered why it feels like my tyres are falling off going round roundabouts. I'm unchipping the car and will leave it so for as long as I can stand (stock 150 ain't exactly quick) but if it saves me dosh I can stand it. Maybe. I hope.

Well, for a week.

Possibly.

Ok, a couple of days.
 

ThackersLCR

Active Member
Jul 5, 2008
141
0
Blackpool
It's been mentioned (by anyone who knows me) that my 'enthusiastic' cornering style (or lack of) might be to blame, QUOTE]

You abit 'Handbrake Happy' aswell mate? :lol: That is some doing though mate! My tyres aren't worth having in the wet. Worth purchasing front and rear ARBs?
 

APNess

Full Member
Feb 1, 2005
171
6
Running 30 psi (not sure of right pressure I guess always ran 30 or slightly over) and I'm not handbrake happy any more (now that I'm old and uhm, sensible)

Have same problem with the motorbike. Went through a set of Bt021 (sport touring) tyres in 2k miles. That's more down to me being a fat twat though I think.
 

APNess

Full Member
Feb 1, 2005
171
6
Oh, and am also checking on http://www.mytyres.co.uk/ anyone else got any websites to check? My previous policy of supporting local business and showing customer loyalty is currently being ripped up and chucked out the window now that I see I could've been paying £50 a corner less all these times.... hmmm
 

APNess

Full Member
Feb 1, 2005
171
6
The current tyres or vledensteins or something like that. Might as well call them 'philadelphia' because they appear to be made of soft cheese :(

And I always found the cheapest nastiest hardest least grippy tyres lasted the longest. I'll never go near toyo proxes again after they more or less melted on my previous car ...
 

james walker

cooling is the key people
May 24, 2007
5,121
2
retford notts
id suggest get the things that are wrong in the first post sorted and buy some decent tyres, its the only contact between you and the road, crap tyres +ditchfinders....

falken 452s
goodyear f1 assym
 

APNess

Full Member
Feb 1, 2005
171
6
:confused:cheap tyres/alignement out/hard cornering/wrong tyre pressure

hmmh, wonder why they wear quickly....:doh:;)

Wouldn't say 'cheap' at £120/corner, just crap.

As for tyre pressure, should they be run harder than 30psi? 35?

Alignment does need sorting though, that's for sure. It's on the list o stuff to do.

Hard cornering... well, yeah, that's down to me. I *have* to make a conscious effort with this next set or change the car to something that won't encourage me to hammer it so hard in the corners. Handling isn't great but I do like to break up the monotony of the grind to work, otherwise I'd go nuts.
 

D.K

LCR 225
Oct 24, 2007
6,408
3
se london
id suggest get the things that are wrong in the first post sorted and buy some decent tyres, its the only contact between you and the road, crap tyres +ditchfinders....

falken 452s
goodyear f1 assym

I agree with that.
Get the tracking sorted and buy some decent tyre's and then if your still going through them too quick maybe change your driving style :shrug:
 

james walker

cooling is the key people
May 24, 2007
5,121
2
retford notts
tyre pressure in inside youre fuel flap....

120 a corner, for what?

alignement will be your killer, suprised it doesnt drive shite if its way out....
 

D.K

LCR 225
Oct 24, 2007
6,408
3
se london
Wouldn't say 'cheap' at £120/corner, just crap.

As for tyre pressure, should they be run harder than 30psi? 35?

Alignment does need sorting though, that's for sure. It's on the list o stuff to do.

Hard cornering... well, yeah, that's down to me. I *have* to make a conscious effort with this next set or change the car to something that won't encourage me to hammer it so hard in the corners. Handling isn't great but I do like to break up the monotony of the grind to work, otherwise I'd go nuts.

I dont pay that much for good 18" tyres for my LCR.

I normally run abouyt 32 PSI in mine.

To be honest you'v answered your question yourself, I.e tracking and driving style
 

APNess

Full Member
Feb 1, 2005
171
6
Turns out the bushes for the ARB are totally shot on one side, and the back tyre on that side might have been coming off the rim as a result when hammering it - 8 psi. Other side not so bad at 10psi ... Fronts at 20psi. These were all blown up in December, late on if I recall. There always was a strange feeling of 'are my wheels falling off' as I hammered it hard on a RH bend on the way home.

Shopping list looks like:

Poly bushes
New tyres with air in
Wheels Aligned
Slow down on bends
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
PMSL

Sorry but this is one of the funniest posts I've read in a while.
Anyway, keeping the tyre pressure at a constant 33PSI improved my handling and tyre wear instantly. the money I spent on a tyre pressure gauge and foot pump has been saved on the first set of tyres. Tyres are lasting me about 20,000 miles now and I really don't hang about.
Make sure the tyres your buying have XL (Extra load) on them as the Leon is a heavy car and needs these.
I bet if you bought Good Year Eagle F1 Asymmetrics (about £100 per corner fitted), kept the same driving style, check your tyre pressure every week (when tyres are cold, at least 1 hour after last driving the car), changed the bushes and got the tracking done you should see 10,000 miles.
checking tyres every 2 months is almost criminal TBH
 
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