Was looking at sessantas but couldn't get a decent price so I've changed from the average factory fit Conti's to Michelin PilotSport 3's, and they're great allrounders, would definitely have again.

Just can not see the sense in why some people want the cheapest tyre on their car?! IT'S THE ONLY BIT THAT KEEPS YOU CONNECTED TO THE ROAD, SO WHY SKIMP?! Madness!!

Just can not see the sense in why some people want the cheapest tyre on their car?! IT'S THE ONLY BIT THAT KEEPS YOU CONNECTED TO THE ROAD, SO WHY SKIMP?! Madness!!

I wonder if those who instantly dismiss budget tyres and bought their Octavia new payed extra for curtain airbags?

I wonder if those who instantly dismiss budget tyres and bought their Octavia new payed extra for curtain airbags?

Better to avoid the crash in the first place than rely on airbags to cushion the blow

My only experience of budget tyres was a pair of Nankang HongKongPhooey Ditchfinder Specials on our MX-5 (the car came with these almost new on teh back and Bridgestones up front). The tread pattern was lovely, but the slightest hint of a damp road saw the tyres let go at the drop of a hat. It wouldn't have been so bad if they had just poor grip full stop, but one minute you had grip and the next you had none with no warning whatsoever. Needless to say they were swapped out for some proper Bridgestones to match the front tyres.

Back on topic, our dealer suggested Kumhos and a friend at work has always used Kumhos on his Audis over the years. In the end we went for Contintal Sport Contact 5s which we're very happy with - our experience of Sport Contacts on our old A6 showed they performed well and lasted far better than Dunlops, so we stuck with them.

As for speed rating it sounds ridiculous, but over on the Audi forums people have been stung for the full cost of a new set of tyres by their lease companies for handing back their car with anything less than the Y rated tyres it was supplied with.

I wonder if those who instantly dismiss budget tyres and bought their Octavia new payed extra for curtain airbags?

I paid extra for my side air bags in my vrs, due to the fact i put my life above all and the fact i would be putting my new born in the car when she arrived. that choice has nothing to do with the choice of tyres i use, yes i will never use a unknowing brand or remould but thats a choice i have always had even before i had cars with airbags.

My only experience of budget tyres was a pair of Nankang HongKongPhooey Ditchfinder Specials

LOL

I've had a fairly mixed experience with tyres to be honest. Currently running Michelin Pilot Sport 3's all round as the standard Dunlop MAXX ones were bloody awful. Noisy as hell, only gripped in the dry and I had the sawtoothing thing also hence why they were all replaced at the same time (along with a 4WA).

I've had:

Avons - they ended up falling apart at the tyre walls.

Uniroyal Rainsport. Good but noisy again, short lived and don't do near any pot holes/ kerbs - the side walls are so thin driving over a pea will cause them to bulge and need replacing.

Pirelli P6000. Ha ha ha....had these on a BMW 320i straight 6 and could even lose grip in the dry and that's with nack all torque. Quiet though.

When the wife needed new front tyres on the Fabia we went from Rainsports to their budget ones as it's all we could afford at the time due to moving house and they actually aren't that bad. Even with 300ft/lb they don't struggle for grip, and I've pushed them hard in the wet too and they hold on well. Hard to tell on feedback as the Fabia is like driving a bathtub anyway, it's that vague.

Only ones that have been consistently good were Michelins. I had PS1's on my 306 HDI DTurbo, PS2's on my BMW 318iS and now PS3's on the Octy. An excellent tyre, just hellish expensive. About £143 a corner at Costco and Motorsports Wheels in Leeds.

Not tried Goodyears yet - might give F1's a try.

As for insurance, as stated I think the load rating has to match what the manufacturer states otherwise they'll wriggle out of a claim. Asking why is naive - these are robbing ******* insurance companies who are happy to take huge premiums and not pay out unless it's a rear shunt resulting in a 'neck injury' and the ambulance chasers/ injury lawyers get involved.

For the record I DESPISE insurance companies. Biggest con of the last 2 centuries and annoying that it's a legal requirement but it's hardly governed at all to keep it fair and sensible.

I wonder if those who instantly dismiss budget tyres and bought their Octavia new payed extra for curtain airbags?

L&K. Standard.

In answer to your comment though, yes I would have.

Better to avoid the crash in the first place than rely on airbags to cushion the blow

That's assuming no none crashes into you, you never know they might even have branded tyres on!

As with all tyre threads peoples perception of the same tyre on the same car can vary hugely. From what I've read branded tyres aren't always as good as you think especially when it comes to grip.

I've always driven on branded tyres and never really noticed any difference with any of them. I'm now on budgets and haven't noticed any difference with them either.

Remember non-branded budgets are often the previous design of branded tyres. When the big boys change to a new tyre they sell off the tooling or rebrand them and sell them cheaper under a different brand.

In 2012 anyone assuming all products (including tyres) from the Far East are inferior is is out of touch.

I'm assuming most people on here drive Skoda's - the budget product of the VW Audi group!

Having read a number of tyre related threads over ther last few days and with my tyres down to between 5mm - 3mm I've started looking around.

I really rate the Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas having had them twice before. Grip is excellent in wet or drip, the only downside is they tend to wear quickly compared to the Contis. Camskill have them for £102 which isn't bad.

http://www.camskill....0R18_92Y_XL_TL_