Tyre Choice

[c240yaz]

Does anyone have or know anything positive / negative about these Federal Tyres. been offered a set, new, at £35 each from someone who bought them, never fitted them.

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/start.html

 

[c240yaz]

SS-595 205/55 R16 91W TW .

Link never worked. Here is the make and size.

 

[grober]

They are made in TAIWAN here's their web site. http://www.federaltire.com/

 

[trooper]

Wow, at that price I don't care what they're called.
Sounds good deal

 

[mb240]

Does anyone have or know anything positive / negative about these Federal Tyres. been offered a set, new, at £35 each from someone who bought them, never fitted them.

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/start.html

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=30050&highlight=federal+tyres

I've heard anything bad or good or in fact anyone using this Chinese brand of tyre at all here. The price is obviously very good. Remember they are summer tyres only but reports seem quite good here:
http://www.tirestest.com/pkw_sommerreifen/federal/ss_595/index.html

On principle alone I would not buy Chinese and would preferentially buy European, but that's personal preference about not supporting foreign industry / communisim over local-ish companies

 

[c240yaz]

After reading this report, I do not think these tyres are for me. See below.


205 / 55 R16 V Ford Focus 2.0 Zetec

Would your buy this tyre again? probably not
Remarks
Fair grip, but the tyre is beginning to crack badly between the treads even though it is only 6 months old. Tyre will become dangerous long before tread is worn. Not reommended I am afraid, there are many better budget tyres. First check - then shop:
we recommend: www.mytyres.co.uk

 

[mb240]

If you are not looking to drop a lot of cash (e.g., €200-300 a tyre), I know that the Goodyear GSD3's are meant to be quite good and are more reasonably priced (I think under UK£70 a tyre depending on size of course) and are quite good. I use Michelin PS2's but I think they are worth it lol

 

[pammy]

If you've checked out the news over the past few days with the poor quality of goods coming out of China inclusing car tyres, you might think again!

 

[MBManInKen]

Wow, at that price I don't care what they're called.
Sounds good deal

I must say I disagree. Tyres are the only thing keeping a few tons of steel to the road, at various (and sometimes high) speeds, under a range of conditions, sometimes on difficult road surfaces and in adverse weather.

I would personally never economise on tyres. These ones are too much of an unknown for me to feel safe about using them, after all when our health and safety is concerned, I don't want to make any compromises at all.

In the end, the price of good quality tyres is only lose change in the overall cost of motoring.

 

[c240yaz]

If you are not looking to drop a lot of cash (e.g., €200-300 a tyre), I know that the Goodyear GSD3's are meant to be quite good and are more reasonably priced (I think under UK£70 a tyre depending on size of course) and are quite good. I use Michelin PS2's but I think they are worth it lol

I have Goodyear GSD3s F1s on the rear, on front originally, but swapped them over. Looking for a good chunky tread for the winter.

 

[pluggers]

I did put budget tyres on my old c class once £50 each.They were fine in the dry but once it started to rain it was like driving on ice,there was no way I could control the back end from breaking away on certain corners or roundabouts.Very scary.So now I put on premium brand tyres even tho it does cost about £110 each.Hopefully they will last longer as well.

 

[c240yaz]

Pluggers, had a look through your How To,s. Some good pics here. I also like your C230k.

 

[mb240]

I must say I disagree. Tyres are the only thing keeping a few tons of steel to the road, at various (and sometimes high) speeds, under a range of conditions, sometimes on difficult road surfaces and in adverse weather.

I would personally never economise on tyres. These ones are too much of an unknown for me to feel safe about using them, after all when our health and safety is concerned, I don't want to make any compromises at all.

In the end, the price of good quality tyres is only lose change in the overall cost of motoring.

Have to agree with this. If it was only 1% extra grip on a wet surface that stops you from slipping off the road if you had to break suddenly, and that that 1% extra grip cost €300 but saved your life, would you pay it? Of course!

Go with cheap fuel if you must but tyres are a no no.

 

[duncanh]

New Tyres - Goodyear hydragrip

I recently bought 4 new tyres (from Blackcircles) with a 10% discount, £195 fitted. (195/65 R15V)

They were Goodyear Hydragrip, made in Germany, much quieter than the Goodyear Eagle NCT5 that they replaced.

The NCT5s were bought at Micheldever tyres (about £45 each last December). They were made in China. Its not just cheap tyres that are made in China.

The Hydragrips will be ideal for c240yaz, it always rains in the vicinity of the Mull of Kintyre. (I am a native of Campbeltown, so can speak from experience).

 

[Dieselman]

Have to agree with this. If it was only 1% extra grip on a wet surface that stops you from slipping off the road if you had to break suddenly, and that that 1% extra grip cost €300 but saved your life, would you pay it? Of course!

Go with cheap fuel if you must but tyres are a no no.

Shock absorbers will cost about the same and give about 20% better grip in wet conditions, but nobody replaces them when they should.

 

[C240Sport97]

how do you check to see if shock absorbers need replacing?

Shock absorbers will cost about the same and give about 20% better grip in wet conditions, but nobody replaces them when they should.

 

[fuzzer]

I have Goodyear GSD3s F1s on the rear, on front originally, but swapped them over. Looking for a good chunky tread for the winter.

How about Michelin Pilot alpin's?

 

[c240yaz]

How about Michelin Pilot alpin's?

Too expensive, what about BF Goodrich. They look good tread pattern, V style tread. Around £52 mark each.

 

[Dieselman]

how do you check to see if shock absorbers need replacing?

Bounce the car at each corner and feel and watch the rebound and settle. Not too reliable but the best test you can do.

If the car gives more than one bounce and feels not very resistave then the dampers are well shot.

Most people will say 150K for MB dampers but if changed at 100k a marked difference will be felt.

The problem is that the deterioration is gradual so you don't notice it until after replacement, the same for springs.

 

[grober]

Shock absorbers will cost about the same and give about 20% better grip in wet conditions, but nobody replaces them when they should.

I would second Dieselmans remarks about rear shock absorbers. Although mileage plays the major part in their performance degradation, any major suspension shock loading may seriously degrade their performance. Hitting speed humps or large potholes can destroy them very rapidly. Any sign of leakage of fluid is a sure sign that they need replaced ASAP. You will only need to experience that alarming floating feeling of instability you get on a long undulating high speed bend once to know what I'm talking about. I wouldn't recommend it.

For tyres you cant go wrong with Michelin,Continental or Goodyear provided you select a type with a design/rating/ rubber mix optimised for your type of motoring.