Cheap Tyres v. Expensive Tyres

[Borys]

^^^^
true if we are driving above speed limits

 

[Deleted member 11979]

What about MPG?

Mondeo we had once replaced Continentals with Runways - an instant reduction in MPG of 4 - 5 mpg.

Anyone had that?

 

[Mr Nicey]

cheap tyres on a motorbike will cost you your life ask any biker. dont even mention Dunlops to most either.

on a car then less so but when they are half worn and then compare half worn cheap vs premium at say 80mph - and then brake hard, or pull out up a steep hill on a wet day.

keep your cheap sh*t tyres and care not about anyone elses safety..

Cheap tyres should be outlawed but no one gives a sheet, thats whey we still have them.

 

[renault12ts]

I love cheap tyres.

 

[Shude]

The increasing move towards ultra low profile very wide tyres purely for styling reasons is a case in point. Sure they look good but the trade off is a diminution in ride quality, increased side wall and wheel damage and decreased performance in wet and slippery road conditions.

All true. My CLK55 has 17" rims and just 225 wide front, 245 rear section tread. This was probably quite a sporty setup 10 years ago for a car with 350bhp. Five years ago a repmobile was running the same sizes and today a family hatchback is on 17/18" rims and wide tyres as standard.

You only have to read this thread about some classic/retro wheels to see what's happened to wheel sizes over the last 20 years. A few years ago my Father had a little trouble getting some tyres for his Porsche 944 as it runs 15" wheels but needs Z rated tyres and hardly anyone makes an ultra-high performance tyre for a 15" wheel any more!

Personally I'm glad repmobiles and family hatchbacks are on the same size tyres as my CLK as it's really pulled the comparitive prices down so I can afford to get the premium tyres my premium car deserves.

 

[FamilyPack]

cheap tyres on a motorbike will cost you your life ask any biker. dont even mention Dunlops to most either.

You referring to the commonly named "Dunlobs"?

 

[lordlee]

^^^^
true if we are driving above speed limits

and clearly none of us ever would

 

[st4]

Buget tyres last longer. Got 30k out of a set of "primewells" on the back. The Khumos will be done by 20k.

I have conti sport 3's on the front and had good year efficient grips (then an eagle F1 thanks to mercedes).

I'm going to go premium and report my findings.

 

[Dieselman]

Buget tyres last longer. Got 30k out of a set of "primewells" on the back. The Khumos will be done by 20k.

I have conti sport 3's on the front and had good year efficient grips (then an eagle F1 thanks to mercedes).

I'm going to go premium and report my findings.

I've got Michelin primacy HP all round and without actually checking, but a reasonable observation, would put them at a little over half worn after 26k miles.

 

[Beno]

I've got Michelin primacy HP all round and without actually checking, but a reasonable observation, would put them at a little over half worn after 26k miles.

Do you find them quieter than other tyres you’ve run-on before? I will probably fit Michelins next time I replace mine.

 

[Peter T]

I can't comment on MB's on cheap tyres since I'm relatively new to MB ownership.

However, about 5 years ago I bought a used BMW 540 fitted with Falkens with about 5/6mm of tread all round. The car has 18 inch Alpina wheels, 235/40/18 on the front, 265/35/18 on the back.

After driving for a while I realised that it felt fine in the dry and terrible in the wet. So much so that on a motorway trip in the pouring rain I actually pulled off, turned round and headed home, it scared me so much. I took the car to a local BM specialist to find out what was wrong with it. He gave it a good check over, told me everything was fine and advised fitting some better tyres.

So, I had Bridgestones fitted all round and could not believe the difference. The car now felt totally planted in the wet.

Frankly you couldn't pay me to fit cheap tyres to any of my cars!

 

[Dieselman]

Do you find them quieter than other tyres you’ve run-on before? I will probably fit Michelins next time I replace mine.

I find them very quiet, much better than the Pirelli's that were on originally and also better than the Michelin primacy that were on before these.

Once the Pirelli's wore down they made a singing noise, which sounded like the diff was whining.
One of them also had the tread peeling off...which kind of put me off them somewhat.
Mrs DM has had Michelins on her car from new and the wear rate appears similar.

I think bang for buck Michelins are good value. I even make a point of sticking them on my old cars.

 

[st4]

I've got Michelin primacy HP all round and without actually checking, but a reasonable observation, would put them at a little over half worn after 26k miles.

Thats pretty good, had them on my E220cdi and got over 30k from the set and I rotated them around half way as the rears marginally overtook the fronts on wear.

In saying that, my budgets did the same on a much more powerful car. However in the damp you got "old school" RWD handling. I found it a laugh but it could be interpreted as dangerous.

 

[grober]

At the risk of being accused of banging on about tread compound the Michelin Primacy is a summer tyre with a large silica content. This is pushed as conferring greater economy and wear rates but as those following the winter tyre saga know also promotes grip at low temperatures in wet and slippery conditions! Budget tyres contain carbon black--- because its cheap, its old technology, and can confer excellent wear at the expense of grip usually! It also confers greater resistance to sidewall damage from UV which is not an issue in the UK but may well be important in the main markets the far east budget tyres are aimed at. The good news is that you can buy high silica content mid price summer tyres Nokian is one make that comes to mind but there are others. Just something to bear in mind.

 

[Mr Nicey]

this thread should be Budget vs Premium - I'd love some new tyres at £1 Each. I change them if they go dirty.

y'know like Paris H does.

 

[Triv]

I've just paid for 4 new cheapies on the shed, £187 fitted, all in. The car is quieter and feels better on the road but it did have 4 different tyre makes on it before.
What I found interesting however, is that tyre prices vary, up and down, weekly. This is according to the fitter. He also said that the majority of tyre sellers don't vary their prices in line with the varying cost. He didn't know why tyre prices vary but that they definitely do.
I wonder if it's to do with raw materials costs, availability or make..?
Can anyone enlighten us?

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

Well I'm looking to find runflats (Bridgestone or the like and all seasons) 225/50/17/95W fitted and valved for below £170 each in south east area if anyone can help?

 

[o2drive]

Hi I think £114.00 dosen't sound that cheap i had continentals (pro contact 2) fitted for £129.00. Check the web first, some companies are cheaper, also some local fitting shops will price match .

I agree with earlier posts cheap tyres reduce your braking ability and compromise safety. What price is your life worth? let alone your or someone else's family member/s.

:bannana:

 

[o2drive]

As an aside my last however many cars have had an air bags fitted none of them where deployed so should I fit a cheaper one? Fortunately i have never been in a situation where they should have been but it's the same with tyres.

 

[Triv]

I don't disagree, if I could afford to fit Michelins to my vehicles I would but I can't and so keep my vehicle above legal limits instead.