Not the usual what's best for smokey burnouts in front of Maccy D's question

Tyre size: 195/65/R15 (small fat donuts)

Fronts: Avon ZV5 - wearing out

Rears: Prestivo 2000 - nearly new

The Avons started out ok but they're wearing (quite early IMO) and now have a tendency to 'tramline' and have got quite noisy - won't be getting again The Prestivos have been on since Oct/Nov time last year. Nothing special but not produced anything dangerous, loads of tread left. So I need 2 tyres but I'm wondering if I should just get 4 so I've got a matched set again and keep the Prestivos as spares. I don't need the best rubber in the world just something that's comfortable, wears well and is not dangerously ungrippy. Mid-price is ok but I don't want to be replacing them at less than 20k miles like the Avons.

I've looked at the usual tyre sites (but I would prefer to use one of 2 local tyre places or mobile fitting by Event Tyres) there's a load of big brand tyres with non-descript names and nothing to know what's good and what's bad. Do tyres like the Michelins really give you a more comfortable ride and better economy? Would the Energy Saver or E3A be better? IIRC the Kumho KH15/31s get mixed reviews off people and the Falken 912 was never as good as the 452 it seemed to replace. the OEMs were Yokohama A349s which are quite pricey and I never thought they were significantly better than the Avons although they laster longer. I'm getting older and petrol's getting dearer so economy has as much priority as grip. Or if I'm looking at a new set of 4, maybe I should look at some all-season tyres ready for next winter.

So not being able to make a genuinely informed decision, I'm tempted just to get another pair of the Prestivos on the front. At least if I put them on the front I'll get an idea of whether they're utter crap or not. I'm popping out at lunchtime to try to get a local tyre place to swap my fronts to back for a trial and see what they can offer me.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Depends what you say not much.

The Conti Premium Contact 2 I've just fitted to the octy are excellent and they were also excellent on a mini (non run flat) which is much closer to the size you're talking about.

Not cheap at about £50 a corner in that size, but not too bad.

Failing that Vred Sport-Trac and Hi-Trac are not bad and the falken 912 seem to get reasonable reviews on here.

If it's the main car, your mileage isn't huge and you don't mind some all season tyres, I think you could do far worse than some Vred Qudtrac's

Unlike the summer tyres, they actually have some grip in the snow, but obviously they are not a performance tyre in summer or winter.

I'll advise against pirelli P3000, as while they are long lasting, they are noisy and really didn't inspire confidence.

Just had a quick look and they all come in around £50 a tyre when you take one.

On that basis, if it was my money, I'd probably go with the Conti'sor quatrac if you want all seasons.

Edited 7 April, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

I had those Avons on my Audi A4, found them quite good, certainly not noisy

I had those Avons on my Audi A4, found them quite good, certainly not noisy

Been up to the fitters, the tyres are worn on the inside shoulder which may be why I'm getting certain symptoms at the moment. Will need to get someone take a look at that. When the Avons were new they were a load better than the worn original tyres but if felt like they quickly lost their 'edge' and I was never that confident in the cold with them so I've taken it easy with them for quite a while.

Chatted about the Prestivos, he seemed to think that they're at least as good as the Avons and I haven't killed myself on the rears yet, quoted £102 all in for a new pair so deciding whether to go with those or try something else. However, sorting the alignment and new front pads mean I'm only looking for 2 tyres (summer) not a set of 4.

Personally I just replace the tyres when needed, I'm not too fussy about having a matched set

Just get some Goodyear F1 eagle gsd3 - they are the BEST thing in the wet (and dry)

They could save your life.

Just get some Goodyear F1 eagle gsd3 - they are the BEST thing in the wet (and dry)

They could save your life.

And the new wheels I'd need to fit them?

Following a short discussion I've stuck on a pair of Prestivo PV3000. As b efore, very little known about these but my tyre place are happy with them. I was previously told they are the budget arm of Yokohama but I don't think its that simple. From googling it seems the brand belongs to one of the major UK tyre distributors (Stapletons) who in turn are owned by a Japanese company and the tyres are made to their 'spec'. Also seen "made by Avon" on the interweb. Strangely the tyres are also marked M+S for no obvious reaosn.

The car is immediately much quieter and more settled on uneven surfaces so definitely an improvement on the very used Avons. The front wheels were out a little on their toe angle so thats been tweaked back to norm so hopefully they'll wear more evenly. Dry grip easily surpasses what it has been recently and was enough even when brand new for anything I'd expect from them, wet grip will have to wait for some rain (probably won't be long).

They'll do for a bit anyway.

I have to say at £51 a tyre, I'd have wanted something a little more known.

As above you could have had a few known brands for that money, fully fitted.

Edited 7 April, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

I have to say at £51 a tyre, I'd have wanted something a little more known.

As above you could have had a few known brands for that money, fully fitted.

Like the Avons? I appreciate I could have got a branded tyre but instead I’m trying a tyre from a tyre distributors own brand. Yes they’ll be incentivised to sell their own tyres but they can easily be cheap and more than adequate as clearly they’re not wasting much money on promo material :lol: Is that any worse than “I picked XYZ tyres because they’re famous�

I can do a review in due course but the previous version on my rear tyres, the 2000, hasn’t put me in a hedge backwards and these 3000s so far have more dry grip than I need, stopping is fine as well as being quiet and comfortable. Wet grip will be the key test though. Do I trust my local tyre fitters? (Recommended by a Briskodian and by work colleagues). Yes and hopefully I never find out if that’s right or wrong.

No i don't disagree that some brands sell some cr*p, I was just thinking known good tyres.

Anyway as you say the wet test will be the important one.

Edited 8 April, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai