Daft Q Time: Budget Tires?

[Blue160]

Theres a saying 'If you've got a cheap head, get a cheap helmet'. I suspect the same applies to tyres.

ETA the tyres are the limiting factor when it comes to braking. Better brakes resist fade and have more progression, but standard focus brakes are quite capable of reaching the limit of grip for the tyres and activating the ABS in an emergency stop.

 

[TS7]

I can see the point somewhat, but I never agree fully on this.

Yes tyres are important, but what about brakes? There's no point in the OP spending all his available cash on 4 new tyres, when he has 3 nearly new ones already, and not replacing at least his brake pads all round!

Granted, brakes wont help you through cornering but I think a sensible balance should be struck somewhere.

It's a 1.8TDi with ~90BHP, make sure the tyres on the front axle match, and have mismatched rear tyres if you're really short on cash. Otherwise, if you get 2 'better' tyres put them on the front, and leave the Triangle's on the back. IMO.

But he's not asking about brakes. I'm not going to give him a check-list on everything that's important. As a driver, you shouldn't need a forum to tell you that driving with buggered brake pads is stupid. It is, on the other hand, understandable that people who don't take too much interest in tyres (or cars) for thinking a set of SHAI-WANS 7273648s are a perfectly good set of tyres, as they're NEW init'.

 

[Tesla]

Kumho KU31's, got them on my car similiar to the Focus and have been very good so far.

Not to be confused with KH31 which is a harder, longer lasting (lower grip) compound.

I think I am going to go for the KU31 on my Mondeo.

 

[Vonhelmet]

If you get CEAT's from Kwik Fit then they'll repair any punctures you get for free.

I'm sure someone will tell me in a minute that those are crap tyres

 

[Tesla]

Those are crap tyres

 

[Scrutinize]

You mean understeering... right?

Yer, thats the one.

 

[Django x2]

Do not get budget tyres unless you absolutely cannot afford to get better ones.

I bought some budget 16" on my Astra Sri for the front replacements earlier this year and in the dry they are ok but in the wet they may as well be slicks to the point I can't get round an average roundabout without underteering and loosing traction even at normal speeds. This is not even an exaggeration they are seriously that bad in the wet.

The other day when it was raining and roads were pretty slippy, I has the TC control light come on and the front end go loose on the dual carriageway during my 2 to 3rd gear shift. This is on a lowly 123 bhp Astra MK4 so it shows how bad the tyres are. Performance under braking is ok in the dry and debatable in the wet.

If I could afford to replace I would. I have had budgets and mid range before which have been ok and much better than I have at the moment.

#edited as I fail

That's cos you're a cheap ass. proper decent tyres for your car online are about £65. If that!

 

[Spamalot]

Those Falken 912 have become the tyre of choice of older Jag drivers sick of Pirelli P6000's, iv seen a lot of praise for them.

Mark, nothing to do with this thread...

Is this one of your cars?

It's just I saw "Diamond Cars" and thought of you.

What's your email address?

 

[Clarkey]

If you get CEAT's from Kwik Fit then they'll repair any punctures you get for free.

I'm sure someone will tell me in a minute that those are crap tyres

Do NOT buy those tyres, they are absolutely horrendous, no exaggeration. 0/10 isn't low enough.

 

[DM]

Mark, nothing to do with this thread...

Is this one of your cars?

It's just I saw "Diamond Cars" and thought of you.

What's your email address?

No we are going with Kimberley Cars after me daughter

Send me a mail in trust mate, that ones working.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

I can't find them Kunho KU's
KH31s available locally @ £55 fitted

Or Pirelli P6000's @ £125 fitted the pair

a little over budget but am happy to pay it as feedback on both of those seem to be they are quite long lasting.

Anything better to go with in this budget?

thanks for all the help so far guys

 

[DM]

P6000s are rubbish, get some Falkens or something.

 

[InvaderGIR]

P6000s are cack!

 

[Vonhelmet]

Do NOT buy those tyres, they are absolutely horrendous, no exaggeration. 0/10 isn't low enough.

Haha, good job the car we had with them on has been sold. Our new Focus has Michelins and Pirellis on - a pair at the front and a pair at the back. No idea which ones off the top of my head.

Gonna have to persuade the wife that it's worth buying decent tyres for the fuel economy and so on...

 

[TS7]

P6000s have terrible reviews. They just don't get on with wet conditions.

 

[Johnnytoxic]

I really like the Avon ZZ3's

 

[Howard]

We have some Avon ZV5s in 195/60/15 on the Accord and they're a decent tyre IMHO. The P6000s are gash, just to echo about 10 other opinions above

 

[scaza]

I got some Maxxis Victra Z1's on the front and V1's on the back 195/50/15. £41 a corner fitted and i'm chuffed with em, much better than my old p6000's.

The brand maxxis was well know to me as they are a very high performance mountain bike tyre company, and yes, mountain bikes are completely different to cars, but i took a chance and seems to have paid off.

 

[Flibbles]

The Falken ZE912's are an excellent tyre in my opinion, just replaced both rear tyres with them- and I happen to have the same car (diesel tdci) as you, except it's an 03.

Traction is now 100%, even when booting it in the wet.

Turbo just kicked in y0.

 

[Janesy B]

Do NOT buy those tyres, they are absolutely horrendous, no exaggeration. 0/10 isn't low enough.

My dad had a set put on his classic Anglia, one with drum brakes all around, still managed to lock them up

I'm no tyre reviewer, however I am very happy with the Falken ZE-912s fitted to the front of my car. Try as I may, it's nigh on impossible to lock up in an emergency stop situation. (I bled my brakes and was making sure all was okay down a quiet road while making sure no one was behind me No ABS either)