It's soon going to be new tyres time for my Greenline. All have worn reasonably well so far, being rotated twice now in 20,000 miles. There is still perhaps a couple thousand miles left but I'm starting to think before the VAT gets bumped up again to get some new rubber on the rims. The original fitments is Dunlop SP10A, which has proven to be quiet and economical in service. Whilst the tyre size on this model doesn't break the bank because its not low profile, I'm open to suggestions on various other brands if its not a set of Dunlops. My priority is around the rolling resistance of the tyre, something I'm finding difficult to establish in a lot of manufacturers websites. Michelin seem to suggest the Green X is superior and have some videos and stuff showing testing on Golf. Still, in the past I've found some brands like Vredstein to be excellent too... So any thoughts ?

search auto express website, everytime they do a tyre test, they include rolling resistance.

It's soon going to be new tyres time for my Greenline. All have worn reasonably well so far, being rotated twice now in 20,000 miles. There is still perhaps a couple thousand miles left but I'm starting to think before the VAT gets bumped up again to get some new rubber on the rims. The original fitments is Dunlop SP10A, which has proven to be quiet and economical in service. Whilst the tyre size on this model doesn't break the bank because its not low profile, I'm open to suggestions on various other brands if its not a set of Dunlops. My priority is around the rolling resistance of the tyre, something I'm finding difficult to establish in a lot of manufacturers websites. Michelin seem to suggest the Green X is superior and have some videos and stuff showing testing on Golf. Still, in the past I've found some brands like Vredstein to be excellent too... So any thoughts ?

I have been quite impressed with my Dunlop SP10A's. Really good in the wet or dry. They also market it as having a more bulbous side wall to protect alloys (no doubt you noticed already). I would happily have another set.

You might consider looking at some Toyota Prius forums. They often discuss low rolling resistance tyres and the like.

Not sure if its breaking the forum rules but here is some decent info :

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2009-Tirerack-Ultra-low-rolling-resistance.htm

I offer no scientific proof myself but I am a little sceptical at the marketing of low rolling resistance tyres. Skoda didnt put them on the Greenline. They just took a half decent ordinary tyre and pumped it up a bit.

I would be very interested to know what you eventually go for and how well they perform...........I do have a vested interest myself.

Edited 10 November, 201015 yr by raisbeck

At 20,000 miles, I think you should only be two thirds to three quaters the way through the tread!

Use the rest of your tyres as saving a little on the vat will probably be a false economy! In addition, you will have time to research and find a suitable replacement and get a better deal anyway. The vat is only a few percent different and many retailers will swallow the costs anyway, particularly if you are replacing a whole set at once!!!

At 20,000 miles, I think you should only be two thirds to three quaters the way through the tread!

Use the rest of your tyres as saving a little on the vat will probably be a false economy! In addition, you will have time to research and find a suitable replacement and get a better deal anyway. The vat is only a few percent different and many retailers will swallow the costs anyway, particularly if you are replacing a whole set at once!!!

At my first service they didnt swap the wheels around. My rears are like new and the fronts have about 5000 miles left on them (pure guesswork). They certainly are much more worn than the rears. Normal I know but I may get them swapped about. Probably get another 10000 miles at least that way. I dont drive like an idiot but I do travel at speed on my way to work. 13000 miles on mine so I would guesstimate the max for the fronts is about 20000 miles if driven reasonably. Skinny wheels and bags of torque, I would say they did pretty well wear wise.

It's soon going to be new tyres time for my Greenline. All have worn reasonably well so far, being rotated twice now in 20,000 miles. There is still perhaps a couple thousand miles left but I'm starting to think before the VAT gets bumped up again to get some new rubber on the rims. The original fitments is Dunlop SP10A, which has proven to be quiet and economical in service. Whilst the tyre size on this model doesn't break the bank because its not low profile, I'm open to suggestions on various other brands if its not a set of Dunlops. My priority is around the rolling resistance of the tyre, something I'm finding difficult to establish in a lot of manufacturers websites. Michelin seem to suggest the Green X is superior and have some videos and stuff showing testing on Golf. Still, in the past I've found some brands like Vredstein to be excellent too... So any thoughts ?

Have you changed those tyres yet ?

I discovered the Dunlop SP10 tyres are now discontinued. There are a few left here and there. Apparently they are an older design and rank only average on most review sites as a general purpose small car tyre. My fronts are now low enough to consider a change for winter. I am buying Goodyear Duragrip. Although marketed as a town tyre they get high marks for rolling resistance, wet conditions, low noise and believe it or not score well in snow considering its a summer tyre. Will let you know if they are all they claim to be.

I nearly went for Nokian I3's . They get rave reviews in all areas but seem to be more designed for cooler weather. So duragrip it is !!. If they are rubbish I will put them on the back and get some I3's for the front.

This link is worth a look http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/summer-tyre.html

Its one of many review sites but the general trend for the Duragrips is pretty good. They are also inexpensive.

Have you changed those tyres yet ?

I discovered the Dunlop SP10 tyres are now discontinued. There are a few left here and there. Apparently they are an older design and rank only average on most review sites as a general purpose small car tyre. My fronts are now low enough to consider a change for winter. I am buying Goodyear Duragrip. Although marketed as a town tyre they get high marks for rolling resistance, wet conditions, low noise and believe it or not score well in snow considering its a summer tyre. Will let you know if they are all they claim to be.

I nearly went for Nokian I3's . They get rave reviews in all areas but seem to be more designed for cooler weather. So duragrip it is !!. If they are rubbish I will put them on the back and get some I3's for the front.

This link is worth a look http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/summer-tyre.html

Its one of many review sites but the general trend for the Duragrips is pretty good. They are also inexpensive.

No, not changed them yet carefully keeping an eye on the tread levels as had a few big bills for other things over the last month. I'm edging towards a full set of Michelin Energy as they are really getting good reviews and OEM fitment to gain less co2, plus they are reported as long life. My previous Peugeot had Dunlop like the my Fabia as OEM fit, the Peugeot lasted 16,000 miles before being worn out and the Fabia has now just passed the 20,000 so I'm not convinced Dunlops really offer a value for money product these days. On the Peugeot I opted for a full set of directional Nexen which transformed the handling and grip, these are OEM fitment on some Kia. I can't see a suitable tyre in their range, but as the size is small anyway the Michelins are well within my budget.

Edited 25 November, 201015 yr by FabiaGreenline

No, not changed them yet carefully keeping an eye on the tread levels as had a few big bills for other things over the last month. I'm edging towards a full set of Michelin Energy as they are really getting good reviews and OEM fitment to gain less co2, plus they are reported as long life. My previous Peugeot had Dunlop like the my Fabia as OEM fit, the Peugeot lasted 16,000 miles before being worn out and the Fabia has now just passed the 20,000 so I'm not convinced Dunlops really offer a value for money product these days. On the Peugeot I opted for a full set of directional Nexen which transformed the handling and grip, these are OEM fitment on some Kia. I can't see a suitable tyre in their range, but as the size is small anyway the Michelins are well within my budget.

I would be interested to hear what you go for in the end and how you rate them.

My Greenline now has the Goodyear Duragrips on the front. They are quieter and so far the grip is equal if not better. Need some proper rain before I can declare them 'a good buy'

Looking at the weather I may be able to give a decent snow report !

It was quite amusing in the tyre dealers. He just wouldnt accept that nearly 38 psi was normal for these tyres. He picked up one of my old tyres (not completely worn) and was about to educate me on the pitfalls of over inflation only to find a perfect wear pattern.

I cant say if the rolling resistance is bettter because my mpg has taken a hit in the colder weather. Cars running fine, but for some reason mpg is down by about 5 mpg. Cold really seems to affect my car. I dont think anything is wrong. Its probably winter diesel or some quirk I cant work out.

I like the narrower tyres. More expensive brands suddenly become very affordable.

Yes I have noticed again this year the cold has bit back the MPG a lot until the car has warmed up, but my commute is only 4 miles and its warm within 5 minutes so I do think it has the electric coolant heating which is a big load on the electrics. I do notice some voltage variance in the lights when under load first thing.

SWMBO has a Toyota Yaris and we have run it with Michelin energy tyres for several years now. Grip is generally good, get 20-25k out of a tyre if rotated properly. Car is a bit skittish but I think that is more to do with the car than the tyres. Overall getting very close to stated fuel consumption in an eight year old car so feel tyres must be contributing to this. Prices are reasonable at the major tyre centres so I would have no probelm recommending them. Having said that havent a clue about where they are in terms of rolling resistance

so at 21500 miles, a full set of Michelin Energy have been put on the Greenline, so I'll be posting later in the week on how the car is performing with them.

so at 21500 miles, a full set of Michelin Energy have been put on the Greenline, so I'll be posting later in the week on how the car is performing with them.

Talk about timing, mine is having Uniroyal rain experts put on next week. Very high marks on ADAC and Which. Not an eco tyre but I got fed up sliding around the flooded or damp country lanes I go through getting to work. Not that the Greenline is any different in grip to my last car, just slidy roads.

Been driving with the new uniroyals for about a week.

Biggest difference is reduced road noise and a softer feeling ride. Economy is unchanged and the grip is excellent wet or dry. I dont dive like a loony but push the car a bit and the grip is more than up to the task

So far better all round. Just have to see how they wear

Edit: The Uniroyals are on the front with Goodyear Duragrips on the back.

Edited 14 February, 201115 yr by raisbeck

Not a greenline but had a bit of a tyre saga on my wife's 1.9Tdi. She had some Nexens fitted on the front and after a couple of weeks she said there was something wrong with the Fabia and it was making noises pulling off. I had a drive and in the wet it was crap, the torque of the 1.9Tdi just too much for the Nexens, even moderate throttle in 2nd was activating the ASR.

Had them swapped for Uniroyal Rain Experts and the car has been transformed, plenty of grip in the dry and in the wet they are spectacular, even performed well in the snow. As mentioned before they are quite, nice riding and offer plenty of steering feel and better than the standard fit Dunlops.

Not sure about the rolling resistance but the Uniroyal Rain Experts are great tyres for smaller cars.

Cheers

Lee