Leao Tyres. Do you know them ?

[stratosg]

I am looking for tyres for my Roomster and while searching I found out Leao tyres and more specific Leao Nova-Force HP. I think they are Chinese and belongs to LingLong Group. 

 

The Nova-Force HP comes with an C, B, 71dB EU label and in extremely low price for a 195/55R15 tyre. So may I ask you if some of you have ever tried these? Are they as good as their EU Label states? Or is it too good to be true?

 

I am not advertising them, but I am really surprised by the rating - price combination. 

 

Here is the link from mytyres.co.uk

 

Thank you in advance.  

Edited 5 July, 2013 by stratosg

[grr666]

We call tyres like that ditchfinders over here.

In a hot climate like Greece they may be okay but here where it rains

a lot there's no quicker way to upside down in the ditch.  

Personally I believe cheap tyres are a false economy and I even put

good branded tyres on my scabby old van, currently Yokohamas.

I have Michelins on my car and there are Good Years on my wifes car.

You get what you pay for where tyres are concerned.

[stratosg]

I have the exact opinion as you and believe me, in Northern Greece where I live we have a lot of rain even in summer, even with > 30 degrees centigrade. I have Continental Premium Contact 2 and I am looking for something good too. But I asked just because their EU rating is better than my Contis. 

 

Thanks for replying.

[KenONeill]

Ok, I can't answer the specific query about Leao as a brand. What I can hopefully do is make some helpful general statements:-

 

1) The EU test data is pretty useless because the manufacturers do their own testing.

2) A hard (slow-wearing) tyre will typically have less grip than a softer and faster wearing one.

3) Most tyre noise comes from having a "open" tread (well, other than things like "bargrips" that you find on specialist mud tyres) but an open tread should have good aquaplane resistance so a quiet tyre may be exactly what you don't want if you get heavy rainstorms.

4) Irrespective of brand name, Chinese budget tyres usually finish last in pretty much every category in independant tyre tests. So much so that I've seen brand name Summer tyres beat Chinese Winter tyres in Winter tyre tests.

[stratosg]

 

 

I almost agree with you, but I am really confused as about your thesis #1. This is a bit massive and tends to cancel all manufacturers not only the unknown - budget ones. I can't believe that manufacturers do not follow the directives and specifications of EU. If so every manufacturer is a by default liar.

 

I think that all specific parameters are available for manufacturers to test their tyres and thus the data tests are impressive. Not even independant tyre tests corresponds to real time driving, as all tyres are at least brand new, cars are not fully loaded as an every day  family car and panic braking is not applied while cornering on a wet country road full of potholes.

[Its me]

Stay away from them. Years ago I bought a set of budget tyres for the Mrs car, she only does 1500 miles a year. At first, warm summer day, they felt fine.

When the Autumn rains came they got slightly slippy.

When Winter came and the wet was combined with a cold road surface they were absolutely lethal.

I took them off and fitted a set of Kumhos based on some research I did on the Internet......great tyres that don't break the bank. Used them on both our cars ever since

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

[stratosg]

Thank you very much for your answer.

I don't think I would ever fit such tyres but I was surprised by their EU label. Unfortunatelly tyre market is full of unknown budget tyres and while premium brands are very high priced, many people choose them. The black point in this case is that many fitters privide them and support them telling that they are quality tyres too.

[KenONeill]

I almost agree with you, but I am really confused as about your thesis #1. This is a bit massive and tends to cancel all manufacturers not only the unknown - budget ones. I can't believe that manufacturers do not follow the directives and specifications of EU. If so every manufacturer is a by default liar.

 

I think that all specific parameters are available for manufacturers to test their tyres and thus the data tests are impressive. Not even independant tyre tests corresponds to real time driving, as all tyres are at least brand new, cars are not fully loaded as an every day  family car and panic braking is not applied while cornering on a wet country road full of potholes.

Have you ever driven down a road, gone from an old section of tarmac onto a new one, and noticed a change in tyre noise? I have, and my understanding is that the EU tests do not mandate a standard test surface. Accordingly, a tyre that gets 1 noise reading on my test track could get a different one on yours. Similarly with wet grip tests.

 

After all, we don't rely solely on manufacturer's own crash tests (and if you have any sense don't rely on their ECE fuel economy tests either).

[stratosg]

Have you ever driven down a road, gone from an old section of tarmac onto a new one, and noticed a change in tyre noise? I have, and my understanding is that the EU tests do not mandate a standard test surface. Accordingly, a tyre that gets 1 noise reading on my test track could get a different one on yours. Similarly with wet grip tests.

 

After all, we don't rely solely on manufacturer's own crash tests (and if you have any sense don't rely on their ECE fuel economy tests either).

 

Absolutely true. I am 100% with you. That was the meaning of the second paragraph in my previous answer.  I don't think that manufacturers provides faulty or fraudulent data, I am almost convinced that EU standards have been set very low, or to be more accurate in manufacturers' measures.

Edited 9 July, 2013 by stratosg

[Guest BigJase88]

I was speaking to the local tyre fitter!

Good lad who does sidecar racing and he says 95 percent of customers ask for the cheapest tyres possible for their cars!

Mind boggling

[JoshH]

I was speaking to the local tyre fitter!

Good lad who does sidecar racing and he says 95 percent of customers ask for the cheapest tyres possible for their cars!

Mind boggling

But not surprising.

The majority of people I know are adamant they won't notice a difference between branded and budget tyres.

People see them as an unnecessary expense, stupid stupid people.

[ColinD]

EU new labeling for noise, wet, eco are self certified by the manufacturer/importer. 

 

If in doubt, hold up your hand, 4 f those is all that keeps you on the black stuff... normally I'd say buy cheap buy twice, but tyres, less so.

 

On a recent wet pan session we tested two brands back to back in identical bmw 3 series x drives. Premium bridgestone and a dunlop... the difference when pushed into a skid at 30mph was very very noticeable. More so was the recovery and control.

[k.young]

Lads, I normally buy middle of the road tyres (Kumho,Falken etc etc) and always found them brilliant. The last set I had a really low budget and took a chance on "Hifly" the type of brand name that I would normally run a mile from but I have just replaced the front two with the same again because I found them to be perfectly okay!!

 

I am not claiming to be some sort of an expert but I drive an awful lot of miles for a living in a fairly torquey car and I also do track days on my sportsbike so I think I have a good idea as to whats crap and whats not.

 

All I am saying is, have a good read of the reviews available and check the specs, and if your happy, give your chosen budget tyre a try.

The Hifly's will be coming off to make way for Kumho winters, so I will avoid having the budgets on during the bad weather.

 

 

I await my earbashing................

[Its me]

Kumhos are great tyres, used them for the last six years on a variety of cars.

I have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

Edited 24 October, 2013 by Its me

[danny6189]

I had cheap tyres once. Never again. Side walls went before the tread.

[k.young]

It's like everything else, you will find OK cheap tyres and you will find S***e cheap tyres.  I have put about 60,000kms on Hi Fly 225/45/17 and I honestly find them OK. But, if I had the budget I would use a more expensive tyre.

[Nathanio]

Kumhos are great tyres, used them for the last six years on a variety of cars. I have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone Regards all Juan Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

 

Interesting as the Ecsta Spt I had on my Octavia were awful. The grip in the wet was a bit scary and when the tread failed at the weld point on both tyres it was enough to put me off them. Might be fine on a lighter car but would not buy them again for a heavy car.

[k.young]

I have ran Kumho on my car on a good few occasions and found them be great and I have the new Ectsa 39Le 225/40/18 on my wifes CLK Convertible which is a very heavy car and I think they are a great tyre.

Maybe you got tyres from a bad batch??

[Its me]

Interesting as the Ecsta Spt I had on my Octavia were awful. The grip in the wet was a bit scary and when the tread failed at the weld point on both tyres it was enough to put me off them. Might be fine on a lighter car but would not buy them again for a heavy car.

Had them on a Volvo S60D5, Citroen c5hdi, and a Civic, no issues at all.

When the Octavia requires new tyres it will have a set of Kumhos fitted.

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

[Nathanio]

I have ran Kumho on my car on a good few occasions and found them be great and I have the new Ectsa 39Le 225/40/18 on my wifes CLK Convertible which is a very heavy car and I think they are a great tyre.

Maybe you got tyres from a bad batch??

 

Don't think so. Looking around the internet it appears to be an issue with Kumho Ecsta SPT on heavy cars. They split across the tyre at what would be the weld line in the mould tool. It's like they haven't given them enough settle time in the tool and so it gives almost like a cold solder joint. 

 

I'll see if I can dig out the thread on I think it was MB World. 

 

The Falken ZE-912/4 however have been excellent and very pleased with those. 

 

On the flip side the Dunlop Sport Maxx that were fitted to the Octavia when I got it where even scarier in standing water! 3rd gear wheel spin on the motor way on a patch of standing water was not fun. They did not inspire confidence in anything other than bone dry hot weather. They cost 2-3 times more than the Kumhos did. I wore them down quickly and swapped them!

[k.young]

That doesn't sound good. But as I said, I have put up at least 100,000kms on Kumho tyres with my Octavia and never had a problem with them. If you can find the info ,I would be interested in reading it as my wife has Kumho on her (heavy) Merc.

[Its me]

I've googled this and I can find no evidence of this issue, urban myth put out by a competitor ????

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

[k.young]

Don't think so. Looking around the internet it appears to be an issue with Kumho Ecsta SPT on heavy cars. They split across the tyre at what would be the weld line in the mould tool. It's like they haven't given them enough settle time in the tool and so it gives almost like a cold solder joint. 

 

I'll see if I can dig out the thread on I think it was MB World. 

 

The Falken ZE-912/4 however have been excellent and very pleased with those. 

 

On the flip side the Dunlop Sport Maxx that were fitted to the Octavia when I got it where even scarier in standing water! 3rd gear wheel spin on the motor way on a patch of standing water was not fun. They did not inspire confidence in anything other than bone dry hot weather. They cost 2-3 times more than the Kumhos did. I wore them down quickly and swapped them!

 

I don't think I have ever heard a bad word spoken about Falken tyres. I have used many sets of ZE912 (225/45/17) and found them to be brilliant. I haven't tried the ZE914 yet but they would be top of my list of summer tyres (within my limited budget range)