What's the best mid range tyre?

[stripped fred]

I know this might throw up vastly varying results as it deoends on what people want from a tyre but wondered if anyone can tell me what they fit to their cars? I'm looking for midrange tyres, good grip but not costing the earth and average life. I've fitted Kumho Ecsta le sport ku39 to my last few cars. Not looking for full tyre reviews just what people tend to use or is it based on price? I've seen the other thread for cheap tyres but it's a minefield as so much choice! My tyre size is 225/45 r17.

[oldcars]

I used to go for Tigar tyres to the Shuma, they were very good but i could'nt get them in the size i needed this time. Have Then on the caravan. I think they ise Michelins old moulds or something.

[Lacquer Peel]

STOMIL

[HH-R]

I usually go for mid range, nothing too expensive but from a respected brand.

 

I had Toyo Proxes 350s or something on my last Panda and thought they were GR900, even though the official gov rating didn't say they were much cop in the wet. Even in snow I found them very sure footed, though as a summer tyre they had no right to be. As for life, they had almost no wear for the 18 months I had them on, but I was only doing about 4000 miles a year. The car was written off so I dunno how long they lasted.

 

Got Uniroyal Rainexperts the 2nd time, can't comment on wear on those either as I only had them on 6 months before chucking in the towel with the car, might have done about 5/6k. I have no idea how long tyres are meant to last because I never keep a car long enough to wear them out! These were GR9 in the dry and wet, not as good as I remember the Toyos being. Quite noisy too, though the car has almost no soundproofing. Could still make the wheels spin in the wet without trying but on the go they were fine.

 

I think I might look at Toyos again next time, though they can get a bit pricey.

 

I've had all sorts of shite in the past, never suffered any OMG ACCIDENTS as a result, I just usually find they get a bit wheelspinney in the wet and feel like they're gonna let go in the corners.

[HH-R]

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/is good if you have a popular car and a few people have fed back on tyres, you can see a quick chart of highest rated tyres. If you have something more obscure like a Horsey Horseless then sometimes you're SOL.

[Honey Badger]

Hankooks are really good, used them on the S2000 with no loss of grip just slightly softer sidewalls, not sure if they are mid range though.

 

Heard good thinks about Falkens as well.

[Bren]

Falken ziex fitted to my vectra - good balance of comfort and grip, and better than the primewell shite fitted previously.

[320touring]

Cant see past either the

Uniroyal Rainsport or the

 

Hankook ventus evo

 

Had one on a powerful fwd (uniroyal) and one on a powerful rwd car.

 

Both have plenty grip and decent steering feel

[Stanky]

I've stuck 27k on a set of Yokohama Bluearths and currently 22k on a set of Kumho Solus KH17 on the Almera, both were/are good IMHO. They were identical price from Blackcircles at £47 and change delivered and fitted. Never had any wheelspin in the wet and never lost traction despite some heroic* cornering. Also very good on muddy/icy roads despite being summer tyres officially.

 

Overall, the Kumho's are lasting better, I reckon I can get 30k out of them. Both times it was a full set of 4 tyres, and I swapped fronts to rear on the same side at about 15k miles both times.

 

I'd have either of these again, I almost opted for Yokohamas again the second time but thought I'd try the Kumho's to get experience of another brand. 

[AldridgePrior]

Falken / Kumho are always good bang for your buck,

[michael1703]

Firestones are cheaper than kumho/jinyu from my local supplier

 

I find nexen take the piss with prices

[stripped fred]

Thanks for that. Gives me some ideas where to look. I've heard good things about Falken and Hancook before and will also have a look at Firestone, Toyo and Uniroyal.

[I_am_Diesel]

Maxxis aren't too bad. I fitted 4 to my van and so far I have been impressed.

[Albert Ross]

I've just bought a set of this exact size for the Volvo. I bought Matador MP47 in a non XL type, as it means a slightly more comfortable ride, at the expense of a slight drop in sensitivity for sharp handling. (It's a diesel Estate, not a rally car) They're excellent in all conditions. Great in the wet, quiet at speed, and give a confident feel on faster B roads.  Edited to add.. They're Continental's budget brand.  http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?s_p_=&rsmFahrzeugart=ALL&x_tyre_for=&dsco=110&cart_id=47866646.110.9035&m_s=3&suchen=Show+tyres&search_tool=standard&ranzahl=4&tyre_for=&with_bootstrap_flag=1&sowigan=So&Breite=225&Quer=45&Felge=17&Speed=&Load=&Marke=Matador&kategorie=6&filter_preis_von=&filter_preis_bis=&homologation=

[RoadworkUK]

Got Falken Ziex all round on the Rover and Hankook evo V12 on the A4. Can't really fault either of them.

 

Hankook are now fitted OEM on certain Mercedes, for what it's worth.

[fordperv]

I_am_diesel what maxxis have you got fitted? i had map1 on my saph and at the slightest sniff of damp it was like ice skating in slippers on the rear, utter toss, the falken ziex were much better, kumho ecsta are decent tyres, I'm due tyres soon I'm thinking of getting a set of firestone firehawk there was a pair of new ones on the back of my manta, they wouldn't unstick around roundabouts

[I_am_Diesel]

VICTRA 510, I don't drive particularly fast so I aren't pushing them hard but they do feel planted.

[gordonbennet]

My Mercs on that size, 225/45 x 17, its on Uniroyal Rainsport 3, and bloody superb they are too...took about a week to scrub off the releasing agent though.

 

Its been on Toyo T1R's which stuck  like the proverbial in all weathers but the noise and crashing ride ruined the experience, its been on Federal Formoza FD2, an experiment to test if my prejudices against cheap stuff was now unfounded, its not, felt like 4 castors in the wet, they came off with 7mm remaining.

Its been on Goodyear F1's, good when warm but often took 5 miles of threepenny bit juddering to round out the overnight flat spots and spun like buggery in the wet when cold....my sons best mate had a seriously tuned Cupra on the same Goodyears, he could travel half his journey on pure wheelspin when cold.

The merc came on Firestones, which hold the title of bloody terrifying, hit kickdown at about 50 in the wet, which spun both rear wheels straight up, replaced the same week.

 

For what its worth i don't necessarily buy the heavily advertised/sponsored makes unless they happen to be on offer, i usually buy Uniroyal, Nokian (Finnish), Vredestein (Holland), whichever happens to have the best offers on my usual tyre buying sites..

[fordperv]

^ i might give the firestone a miss then reading that and stick with the falken, they work out the same price for the size is need

[gordonbennet]

^ i might give the firestone a miss then reading that

 

Couldn't tell you what model they were and it was 12 years ago when we bought the car, but bloody glad it was a straight road.

Especially as the car was bought for SWMBO, daughter rode with her when she picked it up, coming down the long slip road at jct 4 M6 daughter mentioned mum do you know your doing 120...she's Greek  mad as a box o' frogs.

[willswitchengage]

Hankooks common or garden eco tyres were great on an older car of mine

 

I recently bought Toyos and I can't recommend them. They're already randomly bulging after about 2000 miles

[stripped fred]

My Mercs on that size, 225/45 x 17, its on Uniroyal Rainsport 3, and bloody superb they are too...took about a week to scrub off the releasing agent though.

 

Its been on Toyo T1R's which stuck like the proverbial in all weathers but the noise and crashing ride ruined the experience, its been on Federal Formoza FD2, an experiment to test if my prejudices against cheap stuff was now unfounded, its not, felt like 4 castors in the wet, they came off with 7mm remaining.

Its been on Goodyear F1's, good when warm but often took 5 miles of threepenny bit juddering to round out the overnight flat spots and spun like buggery in the wet when cold....my sons best mate had a seriously tuned Cupra on the same Goodyears, he could travel half his journey on pure wheelspin when cold.

The merc came on Firestones, which hold the title of bloody terrifying, hit kickdown at about 50 in the wet, which spun both rear wheels straight up, replaced the same week.

 

For what its worth i don't necessarily buy the heavily advertised/sponsored makes unless they happen to be on offer, i usually buy Uniroyal, Nokian (Finnish), Vredestein (Holland), whichever happens to have the best offers on my usual tyre buying sites..

Thanks for that. Will definitely check out the Uniroyal's especially on the site posted earlier.

[gordonbennet]

Sod me if you can get away with load index 91, they're only £55.69 on Tyreleader, haven't checked anywhere else...mind you the 94's are only £2 more.

[Junkman]

 

What's the best mid range tyre?

 

The round black one.

[sierraman]

Barum. Great tyres, hold well, last well enough. Made by continental.

[Bobthebeard]

Have had no problems with Nexen tyres TBH.