Tyres, round and black.

[Barry Cade]

I need a couple of tyres on the Saab. Easy you might think. I worked in tyre retail for many years, and was always full of helpful advice for punters, but now I'm on the other side of the counter and I'm bewildered! Budgets? Mid range? Premium? Mail order or fully fitted, Mobile service?

 

I've gone round and round all the online sites  looking for bargains and fancy All Seasons- found Nankangs for 48 quid- 215/55/16. These are top of the list for now.

 

Pair of new budgets off Ebay for £59.99. Less than 30 quid a tyre.

 

Or do I just go to the scrappies and find a decent pair on wheels and swap them over .

 

 

I prefer choosing for other people...

[spike60]

I bought some wheels with Nankangs on a couple of years back, they were like chewing gum, soft as shite. Asda tyres were competitive when I wanted some 205/65/15's recently, £67.22 for Continentals fitted.

[Cavcraft]

Have you got a Costco by you? They sell Michelins at a good price.

[Richard]

It's worth seeing if Dave has any lying around.

[garbaldy]

My car came shod with nankangs and the fronts lasted for 6k miles which is pretty shite I would say.

I was recommended nexens so I tried a couple and so far they have covered 9k and still have a fair bit of tread left,

They don't seem as noisy either.

[Tamworthbay]

I am on Michelin cross climates and they are superb. As good as winter tyres on snow and ice (not that we get much) but also brilliant in the wet with lowish wear.

[Parky]

Toyo Proxes are £68 each on Blackcircles at the mo, Camskill or Tyre Leader and will probably do them cheaper. They are meant to be excellent

[Chris2cv]

Although I am naturally mean with spending on myself, I never skimp on safety things like tyres for the car. I always use a brand that I have at least heard of. The Clio had all new Continentals a few months ago, as I have found the fronts to be good for about 25,000, and the rears may have even been original!   My brother had Goldenboy tyres on one of his motorbikes, they lasted about 1500 miles. You pay your money, you take your choices.

[SiC]

I've found F1 Autocentres (if you have one nearby), to be usually the cheapest tyres fitted.

 

My priority nowadays is the lowest dB rating on a brand that I've heard of.

[sierraman]

I've had Nankangs and they do wear quick. Good tyres good grip etc but wear shit. I've gone on before about this but Barums are great tyres. National tyres do them BOGOF

[Lankytim]

Nexen Blu eco (or whatever they're called) are good, they came 3rd in some German test. Bargain price too. I've just bought a full set for the Almera!

[Parky]

I have heard Nexens are very underrated. Tyre Leader always seem to have them at a decent price

 

Nexen N Blue Ecos or whatever are £50.59 each from tyre leader. Tenner for fitting and that's two very good tyres for £120 fitted

[Barry Cade]

Thanks folks, I'm just being a twat and worrying myself for nothing. I'll take your advice and order some Nexen N'Priz 4s.  All seasons, 52 quid a corner delivered. I'll fit them myself!

Nexen N'Priz 4S

read more: http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre/nexen-n-priz-4s
The content above is the exclusive property of Oponeo.pl S.A.

[PiperCub]

Had Nexens on my 406 estate a few years ago, was sceptical at first but they turned out to be better than I thought they'd be.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I just put a pair of Nexens on the front of my Volvo, I chose them based on the 'cheapest tyres from a brand you've actually heard of before' cos they were on special offer from Tyreleader.

[sierraman]

I've heard good reports on Rovello tyres, from actual people as opposed to nutcase Corsa VXR owners claiming they are poor on road holding when you chuck it through a bend at 90. My advice never changes on this, you'll get something satisfactory whilst it's sold by a major tyre retailer in the UK, National, Kwik Fit, etc.. They can't afford to be selling second rate tyres. The local tyre place is the place to be wary of, knocking out 'Triple A' 'Hifly' 'Loveyoulongtime' crap. General rule is, if the major retailers sell them they are likely to be ok. Avoid the Chinese sounding names that would be my advice...

[twosmoke300]

Nope - national chains sell some terrible tyres too !

[sierraman]

As bad as 'triple a' tyres? Seriously? I'd doubt it.

[twosmoke300]

Just looked at the shit fit website and they list "budget" which will be any old shit with the biggest discount at the wholesalers .

 

They usually come out with the old " made by Bridgestone * cobblers "

 

* insert branded tyre here

[twosmoke300]

Didn't ats do their own brand remoulds a while back too (sterling?) just rubbish

[Eddie Honda]

My dad initially thought I was making brands up and being slightly* non-PC when I suggested he avoid Linglongs...

[sierraman]

Arrowspeeds are Kwik Fits budgets, used them they are fine, made by Michelin I think. Could be wrong on that but still a very acceptable tyre. I've probably had experience of every make of tyre going, and I can say whilst Continentals and Pirellis were good they aren't worth the premium. Where there's a big difference is between the absolute cheapest tyres and some well known budgets such as Barum, Avon etc..

[Lankytim]

I had a Rovello on the front of the Multipla and it was awful, wheel spinning in the damp and a horrible feel.it's on the back now.

[Lacquer Peel]

Marangonis are supposedly mid-range tyres but they're some of the worst I've tried.

 

I can't remember the name of them, but my Xantia 1.9D had some teflon PRC-manufactured tyres on the back. They turned a neutral handling, very underpowered car into a drift weapon.

[twosmoke300]

Made by michelin ! See - told you 😀

[HH-R]

I usually buy cars that have 4x part worn mismatched cheapest of the cheap tyres on and not had any issues, other than pulling away quickly if it has rained in the past week just results in wheelspin.

 

I've got Primewells and some other shite on the back at the minute. They get replaced with mid ranges like Toyos or Uniroyals when needed, which isn't very often because the cheap tyres seem to last about 50,000 miles.

[Tamworthbay]

Arrowspeeds are Kwik Fits budgets, used them they are fine, made by Michelin I think. Could be wrong on that but still a very acceptable tyre. I've probably had experience of every make of tyre going, and I can say whilst Continentals and Pirellis were good they aren't worth the premium. Where there's a big difference is between the absolute cheapest tyres and some well known budgets such as Barum, Avon etc..

I have never seen avons as budget, they have always been superb tyres. Just a smaller manufacturer.

[twosmoke300]

Avons have suddenly become v cheap ( at trade anyway ) which makes me suspicious . I've noticed that they all take at least 70 g to balance too which is not the sign of a quality tyre . I've had michelins and contis need no weights at all !

[xtriple]

I was always partial to any make of tyre that had the 'kerb dodger' ridge in the middle of the sidewall. I think Continental used to do them....

 

Avons must be good as they are the approved tyre for big green dollops - CR227/8 but they are sodding pricey! Two of my tyres are Avons, two are Nokians (or Nexens not sure). I really fancy a set of Michelins but all the tyres are good/new apart from the back ones (so er, 50%....)  which have cracks between the tread. A few smoke filled burn outs will soon sort them out!  

[xtriple]

Avons have suddenly become v cheap ( at trade anyway ) which makes me suspicious . I've noticed that they all take at least 70 g to balance too which is not the sign of a quality tyre . I've had michelins and contis need no weights at all !

Just seen this post, how much for a 255/55/17 cr 227? Or even wider.... I am a boy (well old man)racer !