The time is approaching for the black round rubbery things at the back of my car to be replaced :'(

My car is an Octavia Combi 1.6FSi Elegance on 16" Vega alloys - so high performance isn't the main concern here. I'm more interested in long-lasting tyres that will keep me on the road in the wet on slippery corners (I live in the UK).

Since new, my car has used only Bridgestone Turanza ER300 in the 205/55 R16 91V size. The original rears are now nearly down to 2mm after 25,000 miles. The fronts only lasted about 20,000 miles. To replace with the same will cost £74.11 per tyre.

Reading the forum, I see that Michelins are rated for their long lives. There are three options:

• Energy Saver - long life, improved fuel economy @ £84.47
  
• Pilot Exalto - grip and cornering ability @ £89.04
  
• Primacy HP - grip, long life, wet weather handling and braking performance @ £83.98
  

So the question is - which one?

Then, looking at another premium brand, Pirelli (which I'd though would be dearer - they certainly cost enough when I used to put them on my Jaguars):

• P6000 @ £66.08
  
• P7 @ 72.34
  

Has anyone used these and have any idea of the mileage I could expect?

I don't drive like a nutter but then with a 1.6FSi Combi you knew that already didn't you

Thanks in advance - Stuart.

I've got to change my tyres on my MK1 Octavia TDI 110bhp and I thought I'd go for some Cooper Zeon CS6.

I've got 16" alloys, with currently economy 205 55 16 tyres but I'm gonna go for 195 55 16 which should put my speedo right, 'cause for some funny reason it reads slow, where as most read fast.

I think they'll be lighter so it should go better to the gallon and being slightly lower gear I should be able to get into 5th sooner.

Primacy HP.

Works mondeo did 30k, as did our Octavia. Both are still on original rears at over 36k with more than 4mm remaining (5 on the octavia)

Something very odd going on with your rear tyre wear, with my VRS estate I would hope to get well over 25,000 miles out of the rear tyres. My old Fabia VRS did ~21,000 with the front and in the 61,000 miles I had the car I didn't have to change the rears. I can't remeber the tread depth when I sold it, but was definetly legal as it had just passed it's first MOT!

To answer your question I think the bridgestones would be ok. My Fabia originally had Bridgestone Truanza tyres fitted and were used to replace the fronts. I then got some Khumo KU31s (think that was the model) for the front which seemed to be lasting well and might have lasted longer thean 21,000 if I had kept the car.

Pirelli P6000 - Uhhh. Possibly the worst tyre ever produced and should be banned from manufacture at all costs. I really don't know why thet are still around. A quite old tread design and almost certain to help you find the nearest ditch when a little bit of dew hits the tarmac. Horrid, horrid, horrid tyres. I had them on a Golf and hated every mile of them being on. Big mistake. I cannot believe that they are still factory spec tyres on some big saloons.

If you want wet grip then Uniroyals are possibly the best tyre I have used. Rainsport2 or Rallye 550 and cheaper too.

See: Black Grippy Stuff

Cant comment on their longevity though. I had them a on Golf GTi and drove it quite rapidly hence wearing them out and having to buy the P6000 ditchfinders

I've got 16" alloys, with currently economy 205 55 16 tyres but I'm gonna go for 195 55 16 which should put my speedo right, 'cause for some funny reason it reads slow, where as most read fast.

I think they'll be lighter so it should go better to the gallon and being slightly lower gear I should be able to get into 5th sooner.

No. The 205 and the 195 are the width of the tyre and have no impact on the rolling radius. Might have less rolling resistance and hence a slight improvement in mpg. To change your speedo you need a slightly smaller circumference so a lower profile like a 50 (not 55) will have an effect

No. The 205 and the 195 are the width of the tyre and have no impact on the rolling radius. Might have less rolling resistance and hence a slight improvement in mpg. To change your speedo you need a slightly smaller circumference so a lower profile like a 50 (not 55) will have an effect

But surely if his speedo reads slow he would need to increase the circumference which would increase the distance travelled per revolution of the wheel?

No, the speedo goes by the rpm of the WHEEL. If his is reading too slow he needs MORE rpm for the distance travelled. Hence a smaller circumference will give MORE rpm for the distance covered.

HTH

No, the speedo goes by the rpm of the WHEEL. If his is reading too slow he needs MORE rpm for the distance travelled. Hence a smaller circumference will give MORE rpm for the distance covered.

HTH

Doh, of course, need to engage the brain!!

No. The 205 and the 195 are the width of the tyre and have no impact on the rolling radius. Might have less rolling resistance and hence a slight improvement in mpg. To change your speedo you need a slightly smaller circumference so a lower profile like a 50 (not 55) will have an effect

Ah that's where you're wrong me old fruit 'cause 55 is a percentage of the width so 55% of 195 is less than 55% of 205 thus the diameter is smaller.

Yaaar OK then, maybe a 45 profile....

Ah that's where you're wrong me old fruit 'cause 55 is a percentage of the width so 55% of 195 is less than 55% of 205 thus the diameter is smaller.

Eh?

The bigger number is the width of the tyre. As in my 17" are 225mm wide. Most 16" are 205mm wide etc

The fronts only lasted about 20,000 miles.......

I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky...

Must be my size 12s. 14,000miles is the best I've recently achieved in petrols or diesels ( I usually change at about 3 mm, when the wet road grip deteriorates considerably). Gentle commute, I have achieved the official combined mpg in the summer time, but the hilly Derbyshire roads require plenty of torque putting down..

O

When I was driving a Octy II 1.9Tdi I experienced excellent wet and dry performance from Michelin Primacy's. The rears lasted abount 35k miles, while the fronts were good for 20k.

By way of comparison, the OE Michelin Energy's fited to my present Superb II 1.9Tdi are even more impressive in that the front tyres have just passed 35k miles and are down to 2mm of tread remaining. The rears have 4-5mm and should pass 50k miles with ease. The economy is also better than with the Primacy's, however, this may be in part due to the Superb's remap.

The only negative aspect of the Energy's is that they don't benefit from rim protection, unlike the Primacy's.

In the end I went for Michelin Energy Savers partly on the recommendation of the supplier and partly because they appear to be a newer formula (from what I could make of the Michelin website).

Thanks for your replies.

I've been very impressed with michelin primay hp's for grip and noise. If you want hard wearing get energy savers, but might not be as grippy.

I agree about the p6000's. Not very grippy and soft as..... wear out very quickly esp on a very torquey front drive tdi.

Michelin Primacy HP without a doubt.

Michelin Pilot Primacy, had the fronts changed at 38,000 and have just had the backs done at 60,000

mine came with the michelin exaltos as standard. more than adequate grip and confort with excellent wear rate. i track my car alot so they wernt upto the job i was asking them to do, but if you only do road hauling, they are a great tyre

I've used Primacys on various cars, found them to be best all round grip/wear/comfort/steering. Wouldn't have Pirellis again. 2nd choice would be Goodyear NCT5

My wifes Focus had Michelin Premacy's from new and were grippy and quiet but did not wear that well. Replaced them with Goodyear NCT5 and seem to be lasting longer but slightly noisier.

Just had to replace one with a Goodyear Efficient Grip as the GY NCT5 was demolished in a pot hole

The NCT5's have now been discontinued

adac.de tested summer tyres, 185/65 R 15H and 225/45 R 17W, comparing cheap brands and others. Very interesting comments on behaviour on the dry, wet, usure, ...

adac.de tested summer tyres, 185/65 R 15H and 225/45 R 17W, comparing cheap brands and others. Very interesting comments on behaviour on the dry, wet, usure, ...

If my schoolboy German has got this right, these are "Summer Tyres" as the Germans tend to have winter tyres too... These tyre are the recommended group (there are several other categories, but I figured people on this forum are only interested in the decent tyres...)

Vredsteins were not tested before anyone says anything

They (Adac) recommend the following tyres for the 205/55 R16 which is the closest they get to my vRS size... but may be more useful to people who have this size tyre on their cars... I am too tired to try and work out the other sizes they tested...

From the text in this section, i think they are saying that the Michelins are the best all round tyre...

Goodyear OptiGrip - in a V rating (the other tyres tested were W rated) - Good all round, very good in the wet, best for fuel consumption? good for wear

Michelin Primacy HP - Good all rounder, least wear, very good in the dry

Continental PremiumContact 2 - , ok in the wet, not as good for ecomony

Nokian Z G2 - Good on wet and dry roads

Bridgestone Turanza ER300 - Good in the dry (assuming as they don't mention it's good in the wet it's not great...)

Firestone TZ 300a - Good on wet roads (assuming as they don't mention dry conditions it's not the best of the bunch)

Apologies now if I've got any of this wrong.... It's over 20 years since I studied German at school...

Just noticed, they have a section for 225/45 R17 and the recommended tyres there are...

Pirelli Cinturato P7

Dunlop SP Sport MAXX TT - if these are what I have on my vRS, then discount all the tests

Continental ContiSportContact 3

Michelin Pilot Sport PS3

Bridgestone Potenza RE050 A

Edited 24 February, 201016 yr by Raglits

I've used Avons for some time now. Good mileage and grip wet or dry. I've run ZV3s on my Mitsu Galant and ZZ3s on the Fiesta ST. Excellent value for money as they are a bit cheaper than 'bigger' brands.

Another fan of the Michelin Primacy HP here.

I also have a set of Michelin Exaltos on a older Porsche (944) and I have to say they are absolutely superb - easily the best tyres I've had on it for both circuit and road use, wet or dry. It was previously fitted with Continental Contisports and Goodyear Eagles (not at the same time though....)

P.