Which tires for economy first then perfomance?

[mindtraveller]

As a newbie I went down to quik fit today and it turns out that although half the tred on my front tires is thick, in places it is now illegal...

Is that just the lot of 130bhp engines, is it the fact that I don't like to use my brakes for corners or is it bad allignment? Half of my front right tire is bald while the other half looks new. On the left side it is just the right rim that has gone, the left side looks new?

Anyway I need at least 3 new tires. Any time I put my number plate into a search engine it tells me I need sports tires. Like: Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 which are for the sporty production versions of rally cars! Or contentals which are for premium cars. I'm on a budget!

which I'm sure are great but will cost 100 a tire! and considering I work part time and mainly use my car for commuting...

Is there any reason why I shouldn't get Barum Bravuris 2? They seem hard wearing and advertise they are for high speed cars and come in at £67 fitted.

Barums say they are good for steering, good grip all weather and very durable, where as michi and other brands that come up just seem to be about high performance on the track. If michi can double the milage of a Barum I would go for it. But looks like Barums might wear better than Michi's?

Any wisdom? This is something you can't find on the net! Thanks for reading!

Barums speil:

The Bravuris 2 is a modern tyre for high-speed vehicles. It boasts an extremely good price-performance ratio.

Mileage Performance and Safety

The Bravuris 2 is a very durable wide tyre offering extremely safe handling in bends. It provides precise grip at high speed and in all weathers.

The Bravuris 2 offers:

* precise steering response
... due to solid shoulder lugs and a circumferential central rib.


* precise grip at high speed, in all weather
... due to the lateral grooves extending well into the tread centre.


* high mileage combined
... due to the optimised tread pattern with the flat belt contour.

 

[aBoijj]

Take a look at this link - there may be a reason why your tyres are wearing unevenly:
http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_wear.htm
It's a random one from a web search - there's usually posters in tyre places that show you things like this.

I just had new tyres and went for Falken FK452. Not cheap and nasty, not hideously expensive, just good value for money.

 

[mindtraveller]

The falken look like a good choice. The description is very similar to the one above. How much were they fitted?

 

[aBoijj]

About 85 quid a corner (94Y) if I remember correctly. That may be post-discount though.

 

[Viking]

You don't say what car you have, nor what wheel / tyre size you require. You also don't say what part of the country you're in so my recommendation may be far off what you need. But I will say this. Do Not Go To Kwik Fit For Anything At All!

Go somewhere that has trained staff and tyre fitters who know what they're doing with alloys and suspension, rather than somewhere that just employs fitters trying to sell you something they have little knowledge about.

Local to me I pay £89 per corner for Michelin Pilot Sport, fitted with care, balanced, new valve, and carcass disposal. As a comparison, Camskill (noted as being very cheap for tyres online delivered to your door) are charging £89.04 for the same tyre, then delivery to pay for, then you have to find somewhere to fit them and pay for that.

Also (and this might sound daft) try a VW dealer and see what price they can do. My local one fits Dunlops something or other for about £65 - £70, all in.

Having read some reviews on Barum tyres, I think personally I'd pass on them.

One thing to remember, longer wearing tyres are usually a harder compound. Harder compounds are not as good at road holding and traction. If you want to stay on the road, hard tyres are not good. Cheap hard tyres are downright dangerous.

 

[mindtraveller]

Thanks for the info Viking, just called my vw dealer and they are calling back. My car is a seat IBIZA tdi sport 130 bhp, and though it is sporty I'm not sure if I can justify rally tires when I'm mainly commuting and work part time!

Sizes are 205/45r/16 83w

I hear what you are saying about Barum people do say to stay away, however these Barum 2's are getting better reviews.

I also hear what you are saying about road holding, but then I want tires that will last a bit longer and be good in all weathers...also be nice if they offer good traction too, but I need a trade off.

 

[nightflight]

Personally i'd trade off the length of use rather than the road holding performance.
much cheaper to replace four tyres more often than tho replace a car when the cheaper tyres loose grip.

 

[mindtraveller]

Okay, I'm convinced. I decided to go for Michilin Pilot exalto's as I heard they grip well and last a long time....

Just when I was about to place an order I find this!

Manufacturer's Description:

. The Pilot Exalto PE2 was inspired by Michelin's World Rally Championship (WRC) tyre design and architecture, and was developed to provide crisp and responsive handling in both wet and dry conditions, however it is not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.

What good is a tired that doesn't do for the British winter?

I was told also that Barum Bravaris isn't good with turbo diesels as they are too torquey for them...so now I'm back to square 1. Don't want to get tires that won't do for winter...

 

[MJ]

I'm with Viking on the kwik-fit opinion.

What i'd do is have the tracking checked and adjusted (which will be why your tyres are wearing prematurley) and have the rear wishbone bushes checked because they are usually the fault causing the tracking to be incorrect otherwise you'll just keep killing your tyres before they are due.
We fit alot of Hancook Ventus Pro tyres (especially to ibiza 130pd tdis)and all the customers who have them are pleased with the life-span, comfort and handling.

 

[mindtraveller]

I'm quite sold on the FK452 but couldn't find any on Camskill for my size which 205/45/83W apparently 45 is a little unusual...

What about MODEL NAME: FALKEN TYRES / CAR / FALKEN ZE912 ZIEX FALKEN ZE 912 - 205/45R16 87V XL TL

PRICE: OUR PRICE £48.25 inc.VAT On Camskill? Sound good? what is XL and TL and is that okay on my car?

 

[Viking]

Michelin tell you that their tyre is suitable for British summers and not recommended for British winters. Let me put it like this. How many other tyres are not suitable for British winters, but the manufacturers don't actually tell you this? I have a set of winter wheels and have Avon Ice Touring dedicated winter tyres on them, and a set of summer wheels with Michelin tyres on. I swap 'em when it gets down towards freezing. I see many other drivers with normal summer tyres on struggling for grip and traction, and usually heading for the hedge. Simply because their tyres are not suitable for winter. But no one mentioned it to them.

 

[mindtraveller]

Wonder what tires are genuinely good for all seasons then!

Just got quoted on Kumho Ku31 3 for 186.79 from a seat garage any good?

 

[Gordz]

Wonder what tires are genuinely good for all seasons then!

Just got quoted on Kumho Ku31 3 for 186.79 from a seat garage any good?

Had this debate a while ago about cheap tyres, and definitley go for branded decent tyres, I'm on budget too being a student, but at the end of the day it's just one of the costs of motoring you can't avoid

I see you're in North Wales, where abouts? As what I do is use one of the online tyre shoppers find which one is the cheapest, buy them online and then they fit them at my local national tyres & auto care place.

Works out loads cheaper than Kwik Fit or anywhere else like that!

 

[Viking]

If you want all season tyres then they're no good in winter. Only marginally better than summer tyres actually.

Look, til you read that paragraph you were happy with the Michelins, as in fact most people on them are. The only thing that's changed is that you now realise that winter tyres are better in winter than summer tyres. That's always been the case and it's never bothered you before. Now with Summer coming on you're thinking about getting tyres suitable for winter. Just buy the Michelins, and look out for a set of cheap wheels to stick winter tyres on in October if you feel the need. That's what I do.

Winter tyres will wear like hell in summer and won't last at all. Summer tyres will last in winter but you'll have no traction or grip to speak of. All seasons tyres are average in all conditions.

For normal use, summer tyres cover most bases.

 

[Gordz]

If you want all season tyres then they're no good in winter. Only marginally better than summer tyres actually.

Look, til you read that paragraph you were happy with the Michelins, as in fact most people on them are. The only thing that's changed is that you now realise that winter tyres are better in winter than summer tyres. That's always been the case and it's never bothered you before. Now with Summer coming on you're thinking about getting tyres suitable for winter. Just buy the Michelins, and look out for a set of cheap wheels to stick winter tyres on in October if you feel the need. That's what I do.

Winter tyres will wear like hell in summer and won't last at all. Summer tyres will last in winter but you'll have no traction or grip to speak of. All seasons tyres are average in all conditions.

For normal use, summer tyres cover most bases.

I'm thinking of doing that winter cheap wheels thing next winter!

But I've had summe specific summer tyres before, and then had some very brown pants moments when it rains (like it usually does in our summer!).

I find decent all-weather tyres are the perfect comprimise for spring, summer & autumn driving.

 

[mindtraveller]

Hey Gordz, yeah that was my plan, but even getting online prices the kumho quote from Seat in Bangor is looking pretty good.

186 for 3 and fitted and balanced! Not sure if I can beat that online!

Viking, thanks, summer tires it is then.

Michi's for 97 at kwik fit price matched by tire shopper or kumhos for 186, and though I like your thinking Gordz, online is no cheaper!

I was told by seat they are fitted standard on cars with higher spec than mine nowadays and recommend by vw...

Down to the two contenders now I think, with 100 pounds between the options.

 

[mindtraveller]

oh and Gordz, I'm in Llandudno....but work in Bangor...

 

[mindtraveller]

Thanks for the advice guys. This is the first time to buy tires for any car, as I just had a bike and scooter for the past 10 years...(living in Hiroshima) not UK.

 

[Gordz]

Hey Gordz, yeah that was my plan, but even getting online prices the kumho quote from Seat in Bangor is looking pretty good.

186 for 3 and fitted and balanced! Not sure if I can beat that online!

Viking, thanks, summer tires it is then.

Michi's for 97 at kwik fit price matched by tire shopper or kumhos for 186, and though I like your thinking Gordz, online is no cheaper!

I was told by seat they are fitted standard on cars with higher spec than mine nowadays and recommend by vw...

Down to the two contenders now I think, with 100 pounds between the options.

Ah, well always seems to be cheaper for me when I compare online and in shop maybe depends on the tyre???

oh and Gordz, whereabouts is Llandudno....

Where abouts are you based? Bangor?

It's like a 15 min drive away down the A55 towards Chester.

 

[mindtraveller]

Ah, well always seems to be cheaper for me when I compare online and in shop maybe depends on the tyre???



Where abouts are you based? Bangor?

It's like a 15 min drive away down the A55 towards Chester.

I was misleading there. I am comparing online quick fit, online tireshopper and online camskill...

and the above was a statement not a question, but it looked like a question!

I'm off out for a drive and a walk! all this research has done my head in.