Im about to replace the worn out original Michelin Pilot Exalto tyres with something less expensive. I notice they have "extraload" embossed on the side walls.

The Octavia manual makes no mention of ther need for "extra load" tyres.

Are tyres designated as "extra load , XL" necessary for the estate ?

On the Event Mobile Tyres website the Michelins are about £148 each and Id like to try the Falken FK452 (heard good about them) which are £82 each but are not designated as XL tyres - does this really matter ? I doubt it. But happy for your opinions.

I also noticed that Toyo T1-R are not designated as extra load but the according to Toyo the "R" indicates reinforced sidewalls which is what "extra load" tyres have I think.

So do I just make sure the new tyres have the same load index and ignore all the "extra load" stuff ?

I always tend to replace like for like, but I think that's just my way of doing things.

If you do it that way I tend to think if that's what the manufacturers put on then I'm staying within their specifications, I find it tends to keep me out of trouble.

The Falkens are extra load rated.

The key is the 2 digit number, in this case, 92, which is the load index of the tyre.

For example, 225/40/18ZR 92W

Thanks Carlos. I thought it would be down to the Load index and not the other scribble written on the sides.

I about to save myself £264.

Ok the Falkens probably wont last as long as the Michelins but as along as I get at least proportional mileage from the Falkens then I'll be happy.

I always tend to replace like for like, but I think that's just my way of doing things.

If you do it that way I tend to think if that's what the manufacturers put on then I'm staying within their specifications, I find it tends to keep me out of trouble.

Which is why they put really expensive tyres on new cars - the car manufacturers get them alot cheaper than we do. But the tyre guys know alot of people just put the same tyres on again later - and make money in doing so.

Ok the Falkens probably wont last as long as the Michelins but as along as I get at least proportional mileage from the Falkens then I'll be happy.

I've got the 452s. They were half the price of the Michelins, and you can be sure they'll do more than half the mileage of the Michelins.

if anything cheaper tyres tend to be harder and last longer, just saved myself a packet by replacing the pirrellis on my with verdestein ultrac sessantas, £108 fitted - doesnt help with mine been 18" 40 235

Personally i'd rather pay for a name that I know & is reputable than use a cheap brand that I've never heard of.

After all & ultimately it's you & your families lives on the line, I'd rather spend the extra on quality tyres rather than cheap tat.

i can vouch for the vredestien (excuse spelling) sessantas they are rather quite grippy for the money quiet too..

Personally i'd rather pay for a name that I know & is reputable than use a cheap brand that I've never heard of.

After all & ultimately it's you & your families lives on the line, I'd rather spend the extra on quality tyres rather than cheap tat.

I understand what you're trying to say, but I think that inferring that the brands referred to are cheap tat is grossly unfair - especially given Jules pertinent point about the big brands and their big marketing budgets. I've got Conti SportContacts on mine as standard and I am extremely unimpressed - very noisy and relatively poor wet grip. Won't be replacing like for like, then I'll look at what's out there and what other people have to say about their experiences.

Personally i'd rather pay for a name that I know & is reputable than use a cheap brand that I've never heard of.

After all & ultimately it's you & your families lives on the line, I'd rather spend the extra on quality tyres rather than cheap tat.

Vredestein are far from cheap brand they are excellent and have a massive reputation in classic car circles and with performance car users.

Some of the best tyres I have ever used

I understand what you're trying to say, but I think that inferring that the brands referred to are cheap tat is grossly unfair - especially given Jules pertinent point about the big brands and their big marketing budgets. I've got Conti SportContacts on mine as standard and I am extremely unimpressed - very noisy and relatively poor wet grip. Won't be replacing like for like, then I'll look at what's out there and what other people have to say about their experiences.

Indeed , for example the Toyo Proxes T1-R and Falken 452 have a very good reputation. Quite a few magazine reviews have rated the "tat" above big name brands for wet/dry handling and braking performance.

I think spending the most on tyres will most likely get you good tyres but you may well be able to get equal or better performance for considerably less. It all depends on whether you want to do the research etc.

if anything cheaper tyres tend to be harder and last longer, just saved myself a packet by replacing the pirrellis on my with verdestein ultrac sessantas, £108 fitted - doesnt help with mine been 18" 40 235

Dan

I have considered buying the 235/40/18 instead of the standard 225.

Does the 235 fit OK?

Does it look any better? I think the 225 looks narrow on the rear . This may be better sorted with a wheel spacer - but Im not really that keen on these (dont have any evidence -just feels unsafe to me).

Any handling/noise pros or cons ?

Vredestein are far from cheap brand they are excellent and have a massive reputation in classic car circles and with performance car users.

Some of the best tyres I have ever used

I'll second that. I have just purchased a full set of the new Ultrac Cento's (17") after having great success with the original Ultrac's. I have yet to have them fitted but I am positive that they will be great. They look very similar to Conti's and my dealer automatically got me the "extra load" model.

What tyre size are you running? I'm assuming 225/40 18s (from the load indexes your quoted). The 'load index' of a tyre is its capability to handle 'load' i.e. weight and is expressed with a number followed by a letter (that indicates the speed rating).

Michelin Pilot exalto 2s in 225/40 18 are 92Y; these are one of the OE fitments and therefore an indicator of the load index required. If you look at this list of tyres Discount Tyre Search For Car 4x4 And Van - 225/40R18 Performance Branded & Budget Tyres you will see that they are either 88 or 92 with some of the 92s marked as XL (extra load).

Bottom line you should get a tyre with a 92 index or higher but not lower. If you frequently drive with a loaded car or very briskly a higher index can be beneficial.

If however you are on 225/45 17s (as I am) then 90 or 91 is 'normal' and 94 is XL, see here;- Discount Tyre Search For Car 4x4 And Van - 225/45R17 Performance Branded & Budget Tyres

Finally; at the end of the day you get what you pay for with tyres and you have to look at the balance of quality, performance, grip, mileage and price that suits your needs.

Having run Pilot Exalto 2s and Ultrac Sessantas on my Octavia I would say they are equally priced on a £ per mile basis, Milchelins £150 per tyre vs Vredesteins @ £100 with the Michelins giving proportionately more miles but the Vredesteins give better wet grip and are my preferred tyre.

I'll second that. I have just purchased a full set of the new Ultrac Cento's (17") after having great success with the original Ultrac's. I have yet to have them fitted but I am positive that they will be great. They look very similar to Conti's and my dealer automatically got me the "extra load" model.

I read up on the new 'Cento' recently (and watched the video on Vredestein's website) and they sound a good tyre but would appear to be in the mileage/comfort vein, well suited to your L&K; whereas the Ultrac Sessanta is the sport/performance tyre probably more suited to the OP's, and my, vRS.

I'll second that. I have just purchased a full set of the new Ultrac Cento's (17") after having great success with the original Ultrac's. I have yet to have them fitted but I am positive that they will be great. They look very similar to Conti's and my dealer automatically got me the "extra load" model.

How much did the Centros cost you? I think they may suit the elegance estate better than the Ultracs as SporTrac3s aren't available in my size :(

Hey Jules59, I have a set of FK-452's on my Octavia Estate in 225/40/18 and they are indeed Extra Load tyres. So far I have covered around 7k miles and they still have 6mm of tread remaining, so on that basis I am expecting them to last at least 15k, probably 20k which I will be more than happy with.

Interesting comment from Indiana Jones regarding 'cheap-tat tyres'. Falken are from the Good Year stable, just like Skoda are from the VAG family - using the same "logic" does that not imply Skoda are 'cheap-tat' ? Discuss............

How much did the Centros cost you? I think they may suit the elegance estate better than the Ultracs as SporTrac3s aren't available in my size :(

£86 a corner. That will include fitting and balancing when I get around to it!!

Hey Jules59, I have a set of FK-452's on my Octavia Estate in 225/40/18 and they are indeed Extra Load tyres. So far I have covered around 7k miles and they still have 6mm of tread remaining, so on that basis I am expecting them to last at least 15k, probably 20k which I will be more than happy with.

Interesting comment from Indiana Jones regarding 'cheap-tat tyres'. Falken are from the Good Year stable, just like Skoda are from the VAG family - using the same "logic" does that not imply Skoda are 'cheap-tat' ? Discuss............

Good point and glad the hear that they wear pretty well.

£86 a corner. That will include fitting and balancing when I get around to it!!

Thanks, sounds good

Just been reading this thread with interest having just got new boots on the car yesterday from Event tyres. I wanted Hankook V12s (very good results from reviews and about £62 each without fitting) but I had to settle for Kumho KU31s due to supply issues.

After a few drives out this weekend I'm impressed. They're so much quieter than the 'budget' Federals I had on before and they seem solid for grip.

Haven't tried them in the wet but so far it's a big

Event tyres came to me as well which was big bonus due to SWMBO being ill all weekend and me having to nurse her, and entertain our 2 year old :eek:.

He was a pleasant fella, and to balance and fit them all with new valves cost £316 and took about 45 minutes. Job done

Might be worth a look?

EDIT: The Kumhos were XL as well. Some people say XL is supposed to make them noisier but I have no issues at all with these. They were lovely and smooth on the motorway. Most of the tyres I was looking at were XL so it seems to be a common theme and I didn't really think about it :confused:

Edited 6 September, 200916 yr by Jigger72
Forgot the point of the thread

Personally i'd rather pay for a name that I know & is reputable than use a cheap brand that I've never heard of.

After all & ultimately it's you & your families lives on the line, I'd rather spend the extra on quality tyres rather than cheap tat.

So far, none of the tyres mentioned in this thread have been unknown brands or poor quality.

Vredstein, Toyo, Falken all make good quality, tried & proven tyres.

As a Skoda owner, you should realise there is more to quality than the brand name attached.

Never heard of Vredstein, Toyo, Falken.

All I know of is Goodyear, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Michelin, Avon, Firestone & Continental's.

I've typed my car's registration into the tyre companies websites & it comes up with the Golf that it is & it offers me CEAT, Arrowspeed + a load of others.

It just cheeses me off that I'm getting rid of it (Golf) in 3 months time & they're just about on the legal limit, so I've got no option but to get new tyres. I've seen a special offer for Friday at a local tyre dealers so I'll have to fork out £170 for two new tyres.

PS. I managed to get a brand new & unused 16" Steel Spare + Bridgestone 205/55W for £42 off of Ebay.

Edited 7 September, 200916 yr by Indiana Jones

I've typed my car's registration into the tyre companies websites & it comes up with the Golf that it is & it offers me CEAT, Arrowspeed + a load of others.

It just cheeses me off that I'm getting rid of it (Golf) in 3 months time & they're just about on the legal limit, so I've got no option but to get new tyres. I've seen a special offer for Friday at a local tyre dealers so I'll have to fork out £170 for two new tyres.

CEAT are a budget brand, made by one of the bigger, better known budget brands (can't remember which one). They're not very good, but if you're ditching the car soon, then the cost saving (~£20 a corner for 155/55/R14 about 5 years ago) could be worth it.