More pointless EU legislation

[DSdriver]

Christ, they really don't think it through do they? First the breatherlyser fiasco and now fridge type efficiency labels on tyres. Who sees their actual tyres before having them fitted by a tyre dealer? You just go in and ask what they've got that will fit and choose the best price. Those of us with more interest in the tiny areas that connect our cars to the ground do our research before we go shopping anyway.

Linky to BBC article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18662456

[Ross_K]

I don't see anything wrong with the scheme. Is it going to cost you more money next time you go to buy tyres? No, probably not.

 

There are some real crap dangerous tyres being sold out there that deserve to be sent back to China on the next boat - yes Wanli/Nankang/Goodride/etc I'm talking about you. Maybe the EU could look into that next...

[Albert Ross]

Well I have a vested interest in this scheme. The drive by noise is a biggy, modern cars seem to have a "sideways" footprint, and are really noisy compared to older cars. As for the cheap Ningnangnong radials that will be sent back REALLY soon, good riddance..... wet adhesion is a good one too. I see a lot of really nice cars spolit by cheap rubber. VXR8 on Chinese tyres? Yeah, seen that.... drove like a garden gate.

[Ross_K]

I see a lot of really nice cars spolit by cheap rubber. VXR8 on Chinese tyres? Yeah, seen that.... drove like a garden gate.

 

Par for the course here in IMF-land: an expensive car with 30 quid a corner tyres...

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

There are some real crap dangerous tyres being sold out there that deserve to be sent back to China on the next boat - yes Wanli/Nankang/Goodride/etc I'm talking about you. Maybe the EU could look into that next...

 

 

Indeed. It's a good thing all round really and will expose shit tyres for what they really are. It won't eradicate them, but with luck sales will plummet.

[DSdriver]

Its not the idea of having some sort of quality standards I found daft but the sticking of labels onto the tyres. You don't go into Quikfit and browse the shelves for a tyre you like the look of.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Its not the idea of having some sort of quality standards I found daft but the sticking of labels onto the tyres. You don't go into Quikfit and browse the shelves for a tyre you like the look of.

 

I agree, but at least now you can now make an informed choice which you couldn't before.

[Ross_K]

Yep. The problem at the moment seems to me to be that fact that the tyre place will sell you whatever they've got in cheap from Azerbaijan or whatever. Rather what you're looking for.

 

My boss is a case in point. He's a tight bastard that buys "Winner" brand tyres from "his tyre guy" for a tenner a corner less than I can get Michelins for. The Winner tyres last 20k, while the last set of Michelin OEM tyres lasted 50k. Go figure.

 

I would have got longer out of the Michelins only for the dumb bastard borrowed my van, kerbed it hard, knocked the tracking out of alighment, and wore the shoulders off the tyres...

[gtd2000]

The worst tyres I've ever experienced were Firestone Firehawks - lasted 40,000 miles but you'd almost go straight on in the wet when turning at speed.

 

I got a set of Michelin MXV's put onto the front of my mums old Mazda 121 and they had the same effect - had to swap them over to the rear axle!!!

 

My last Hyundai Coupe had a set of Chinese "Sunfil" tyres and they had fantastic grip in the wet.

 

It's not simply about the brand or where the tyres are manufactured as I see it.

[Pillock]

You almost never get to see the inside of a tyre fitting bay though. H&S nonsense has made sure of that, you can't go near the tyre fitting machine, the balancing machine is far too dangerous, and as for cars sat on jacks..... so you just sit in the waiting room and thumb through a three year old copy of HOLY FUCK! magazine or something.

 

The man behind the desk will then explain your tyre choice which will be pretty much a budget brand you've never heard of, another one you've just about heard of, and one that is priced so high that it only gets fitted to company cars. At no point will he discuss the contents of this sticker.

[catsinthewelder]

I reckon that the tyre fitters would 'loose' the paperwork relating to crap tyres if they wern't required by law to have the stickers, they should have to print the production date on too so we can see if the dealers trying to sell us 5 year old tyres.

[gtd2000]

I reckon that the tyre fitters would 'loose' the paperwork relating to crap tyres if they wern't required by law to have the stickers, they should have to print the production date on too so we can see if the dealers trying to sell us 5 year old tyres.

 

That's on the tyre already isn't it?

[AnthonyG]

h a budget brand you've never heard of, another one you've just about heard of, and one that is priced so high that it only gets fitted to company cars.

 

That's a damn accurate summing up of the 'budget', 'mid-price' and 'premium' tyre market definitions

[Pete-M]

Ever driven something very torquey fitted with Wanli tyres? I recently drove a nearly new Merc C350 CDi with the original Contis on the front and a pair of week old Wanli ultra-cheap budget jobs on the back.

 

In the first rain of June it was like trying to steer a pair of lubricated teflon™ dolphins using bungee cords, a divining rod and some hairy string. The little orange triangle of impending doom* was going utterly postal at the concept of actual acceleration. Shame really, it was great fun with the proper tyres and for the sake of the £80 or so saved by buying the 'budget' tyres the car is gonna be horrible to drive until they wear out.

 

My work is also guilty of this trait. If you get the chance, try a Seat Alhambra 1.9 TDi 130 on the factory 17" wheels with Wanli tyres on the front and the OE spec Contis or Bridgestones on the back. If you wish to actually move, don't switch the traction control off.

 

Ok, nobody is going to read the stickers, but for those who do it's a good idea. It'll also be handy for turning up in work with the stickers from a Pirelli and Wanli. "Remember I said budget tyres are shit? Here's why!".

 

The breathaliser thing is a joke. Eventually it'll be impossible to go through France in any vehicle smaller than a LWB Sprinter with the shit the French want everyone to carry. Last time I got the ferry to France I noted that lots of the UK reg cars had the reflective jackets over the front seats in the most obvious way possible. Nobody else did, just the Brits...

[John F]

I've been using Nankang NS-2 tyres on my Calibra for years, they're ace in dry & wet conditions and last pretty well. Not so good in snow though, which isn't really a problem 'cos I've got Land Rovers for that.

[Lacy]

Who sees their actual tyres before having them fitted by a tyre dealer? You just go in and ask what they've got that will fit and choose the best price.

 

To be fair, my local tyre place is very good. They will make recommendations to those who don't know what they're talking about but will give them sufficient information to make an informed choice. and, of course, if you KNOW what you want before you go in they will either fit those or get them for you.......though I accept that many of the 'Kwik Twat' places may not be quite so accomodating.......

[Guest]

Stomils. Circa 1994. The ones with the tread half way up the sidewall. Made in Poland. That's what you want. Made of old 12" vinyl and socks. The way forward. Sideways.