Tread Pattern - What difference does this make??

[merc180k]

Hi,

Got the unfortunate news that I have a nail in one of my tyres today and it can't be repaired!!!

Looking at some ebay replacements but not sure what difference the tread pattern makes - some have a v tread and some don't, some have a centre channel and some don't!?

What is the difference in these and will it affect the way the car handles. I have found a range all for about the same price but would appreciate some expert advice here before I bid.

Tyre size is 225/45/17 and as examples I've seen these....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/225-45-17-94W...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/225-45-17-94W...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bridgestone-R...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

and

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/225-45-17-END...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Thoughts and comments really appreciated please.

Thanks folks,

Simon

 

[Dieselman]

Having a directional tyre on one side of the car and not the other is supposed to make the car wander in that direction.
Best to stick with non directional tyres if the others aren't.
In the main the centre grove is just a water disperser so doesn't matter for this.

 

[wemorgan]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/225-45-17-94W...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Tyres such as the one in your link above, that have a constant strip of rubber around its circumference, tend to be quieter than those of the V grove design.

 

[nigel cross]

Not sure of some of those brands.
I have always gone fr the best tyres I could afford, as you life may depend on them especially in the wet.

 

[gIzzE]

For a start you need to replace both as it is illegal to have mixed tyres on the same axle.

And....being rear wheel drive having a different tread on the back can make the car twitchy too.



My favourites are Michelin Pilot Sport 2's, they are incredible.

However, if buying anything other than that I go for the Falken FK452's, a great tyre, very similar to the Goodyear Eagle F1 in both performance, grip in wet and dry, noise and comfort, but for some reason they are pretty cheap in the UK, not so in Europe where they are classed as a performance tyre.



http://www.falkentyres.co.uk/produc...eHistory=cat&strKeywords=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=46



Don't feck about when it comes to tyres, you are putting your life and more importantly others lifes at risk.

 

[kwakdonut]

For a start you need to replace both as it is illegal to have mixed tyres on the same axle.


Don't feck about when it comes to tyres, you are putting your life and more importantly others lifes at risk.

First statement is incorrect - it is illegal to put a cross-ply and radial on the same axle. The tread pattern alone would not make it illegal. I would always replace in pairs.

The second statement I agree with wholeheartedly!!!

 

[A210AMG]

I always likes goodyear eagle F1's when I had quickish RWD cars. Seem great in the wet and I like the V pattern from the back..

Again don't skimp on tyres.


Read some tests, autoexpress is good and its not always the well known makes that you have to choose.

 

[kwakdonut]

Michelin Pilot Primacy's on mine - wearing very well and excellent all-round tyres

 

[gIzzE]

First statement is incorrect - it is illegal to put a cross-ply and radial on the same axle. The tread pattern alone would not make it illegal. I would always replace in pairs.

Of course it is.

In Europe you have to replace in pairs, so not only does it have to be the same tyre but if the tread is more than a couple of mm different you have to replace both. In france anyway, have been caught out twice now, stats to get expensive.

I am amazed that people do mix tyres, when I collected the E Class, it had two new P6000 and two new no name tyres, however, the P6000's where on the drivers side and the no name brand on the passenger side!! FFS!!

Now, this just proves how important decent tyres are, the other night it was damp and foggy, I came off the dual on a long sweeping left hand bend quite fast and could feel the tyres biting, it then comes to a roundabout, I came onto the roundabout which was putting the grip on the cheap tyres and the back end went!!
I actually thought it must have been grease or oil on the road. So at the next roundabout I pushed on again and sure enough the tyres lost their grip!!

It is quite amazing how much difference it makes. Within 48 hours I had bought some new wheels with PS2's fitted to them, the whole car is transformed. :bannana:

 

[Dieselman]

Within 48 hours I had bought some new wheels with PS2's fitted to them, the whole car is transformed. :bannana:

X-Box would've been better..

 

[kwakdonut]

X-Box would've been better..

LOL

 

[merc180k]

Looking at the Falken tyres mentioned above by gIzzE and have seen a pair at £140ish. Anyone know the best place to get them from or if that deal can be beaten? Looking for as cheap a pair as I can get given this is an unexpected expense I could well do without at the moment!

Cheers,

S

 

[BlackC55]

Try not to buy tyres with a large V pattern as they can make the car wonder. Especially the 203.

Conti's, GY and Pirelli are a good choice.

For a medium tyre try Hankooks as they are better than you would think.

 

[LeighW]

Looking at the Falken tyres mentioned above by gIzzE and have seen a pair at £140ish. Anyone know the best place to get them from or if that deal can be beaten? Looking for as cheap a pair as I can get given this is an unexpected expense I could well do without at the moment!

Cheers,

S

Camskill get good reports, probably the best price you'll find.

 

[gIzzE]

Also, call a local indy tyre dealer and tell them the price you have been offered, mine always match it and include fitting.

 

[BTB 500]

In Europe you have to replace in pairs, so not only does it have to be the same tyre but if the tread is more than a couple of mm different you have to replace both. In france anyway, have been caught out twice now, stats to get expensive.

Is there some sort of exemption for space-saver spares, or are they illegal?

 

[gIzzE]

Is there some sort of exemption for space-saver spares, or are they illegal?

I don't know??

The law seems a bit stupid if you ask me, I needed to buy another 18" tyre as mine had a lump in the wall, drove round everywhere looking for a place that had any on a Saturday afternoon and eventually found someone that had the same tyres, Conti sport contacts.
A tyre I would pay maybe £150 tops for in the UK was just over £300, then they said they would not sell me just one, had to be a pair by law.
So I asked them to put the spare on the one with the problem and put the new one on the now spare wheel. They wouldn't even do that!

In the end I gave up trying to argue with them as 'mon Francais est merde'

So they were happy for me to drive away with a bubble in the side wall, but would not allow me to put on 1 new tyre as the other one had just under 5mm on it.


I thought this might have been them being difficult or company policy, but then on the way to the Geneva motor show I got a rip in a tyre and had the same problem again, this time it was a runflat but again only in pairs, although there was also a 3 week wait for a spare anyway!!

Luckily I had already bought a spare wheel as I was about to ditch the run flats, so I put that on and made it home.

 

[vijilants]

Try not to buy tyres with a large V pattern as they can make the car wonder. Especially the 203.

Conti's, GY and Pirelli are a good choice.

For a medium tyre try Hankooks as they are better than you would think.

Hi Ollie,

When I saw you W202 last at your GTG you had the V patterned Falken FK452s by the look of it.

Are you having problems with these as I was going to move onto them aswell ?

Thanks

 

[BlackC55]

I do have these tyres.

They have a marginal V pattern in the centre.

The sheer width of my rear tyres (9.5) will make it wonder (follow camber) at slow speed anyway so no difference really.

Falken's are okish but they would not be my first choice. I have them on my car due to the shape of the outer bead.

 

[mercman1969]

I switched from pirelli's to toyo proxies on my last car 2.5 X Type jag

they were very very good....very quiet and very grippy

I checked out

www.blackcirlces.com
www.mytyres.co.uk
www.etyres.co.uk

got the best price and then simply went round to my local garage and they matched the price