Have done a search and seen a few historic threads / comments on this, but wanted to see if there were any current opinions.

 

What have members found is the best tyre choice for 'normal' Fabias like the 1.2 (i.e. not the VRS which has a lot more power / torque to handle)

 

Have seen recommendations for Uniroyal rain master (but high wear apparently... a softer tyre?) and Dunlop Street Response (good 'all rounder' apparently)

 

Any thoughts?

 

Or is the general view that for such a 'runabout' tyres are much of a muchness, not much to chose between them, and there's not much to tell between budgets like Kumhos and more expensive options?

 

Live in the north west of england where it pretty much rains constantly, so stopping power in the wet would be a high priority i guess.

 

Ta

Can't recommend Uniroyal Rainsports highly enough. Impressive in the dry, amazing grip in the wet and the V shape tread pattern gives much better performance than standard linear treads in mud and snow... Wear rate isn't terrible either.

Falken ziex Eco 914 are good for the price. Wet grip is very good.

+1 for the Uniroyals, I have 185/60/14 on the standard steelies for winter use, wear isn't an issue since the tread is so deep to start with and the petrols don't have enough torque to break traction, I simply run them at maximum pressure to reduce sidewall deflection during fast cornering in the dry and to improve fuel economy. I have never driven on a tyre that grips better in the wet and sacrifices so little dry grip, even dry braking grip isn't compromised, only outright cornering speed.

+2 for the Uniroyals. RS2s or 3s or RainExperts

I use Uniroyal Rainexperts in the summer and I'm very happy with them. I prefer them with a bit more air in than it says on the filler cap though.

What size are they? Tyre manufactures don't make models in all sizes.

 

If they are the same size as our other Fabia I'd recommend Vresestein Hi-trac or as above Uniroyal RainExperts.

At this time of year you may want to consider Winter tyres. Continental 850s are very good and always do well in magazine tyre tests. You may only have a 1.2 with little power compared to other cars, but this doesn't matter when you are braking in the cold.

Another for rainsport I run rs3 on my vrs can't fault them very well priced and perform excellent in all conditions I personally wouldn't run budget tyres have done in the past and rainsport aren't that much more than a budget from my experience

Firestone TZ32 are great tyres.  

Kumho's are a midrange tyre and are actually very good.

Midrange is all you need on a 1.2l wouldnt waste the cash on premium! Running kumho's on the rear of my bmw and they do everything i need them to do

Id go for whatever falken / kumho you can find, budget tyres are avoid at all costs.

Budget tyres

Linglong

Fullrun

Nankang

Crap like that!

Edited 13 January, 201412 yr by BigJase88

What size are they? Tyre manufactures don't make models in all sizes.

 

 

For an Ambiente/Comfort model, they should be 185/60/R14, so a lot of the sportier choices will be out, such as Rainsports.

 

At this time of year you may want to consider Winter tyres.

 

 

I agree, although I can understand why not everyone will want to fork out for two sets of tyres for the year. I have Uniroyal MS Plus 6 tyres fitted for winter, and they're also very good, especially for the price.

Look at the winter we have had so far! Wouldnt waste my hard earned on winter tyres!

Totally tropical man

Look at the winter we have had so far! Wouldnt waste my hard earned on winter tyres!

Totally tropical man

 

There's still been quite a bit of ice over the tops of the Pennines. I suppose where you live will have a large effect on whether winters are worth it to you.

I've seen 3 mornings at -1 on the dash and thats been it!

Mildest winter i can remember. Not that i have been around long

I've seen 3 mornings at -1 on the dash and thats been it!

Mildest winter i can remember. Not that i have been around long

 

A bit of patience there please, it is not Spring yet, though I do agree, so far so good, though the cheeky coverings of ice that end up on the pavements does catch you out a bit, still kept upright though!

 

Saw a posting here or an letter in a car mag the other day talking out the logic of needing to use winter tyres which have hard rubber when sticking with summer tyres with their soft rubber would make more sense, I think that someone got their facts completely wrong!!

For an Ambiente/Comfort model, they should be 185/60/R14, so a lot of the sportier choices will be out, such as Rainsports.

 

 

I agree, although I can understand why not everyone will want to fork out for two sets of tyres for the year. I have Uniroyal MS Plus 6 tyres fitted for winter, and they're also very good, especially for the price.

 

Yes, that's right ... i'm leaning towards the rainexperts (available in that size) ... and the tread pattern / reviews indicate they're not bad in the ice and snow (wife's family live in mid wales, in a house a few hundred meters up half way up a hill, often get ice and snow in the winter.

 

Reckon i'll give them a go. 

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

Hoping to get back to enjoying the car after having to get the reverse light switch / connection replaced - and the dreaded rear door carriers resealed.

and the tread pattern / reviews indicate they're not bad in the ice and snow

 

 

Admittedly, I've not experienced many tyres, 'not bad' will depend on your perception of bad, I suppose.

when I changed the mismatch of budgets last winter to the rain experts, they were much better. there is no substitute for proper winter rubber though, and you may still get stuck in ice and snow if it's severe (I had to reroute at least once last year to avoid icy hills). Saying that, your car should be much lighter than mine, so should manage snow much better. The winter rubber inspires confidence much more, plus I do enough miles to warrant two sets of tyres, so it was a no-brainer for me.

I was running Dunlop sp 1. Then changed to some budget prestivo tyres. I've noticed my fuel consumption has dropped by about 5 mpg. I'm going for Michelin energy saver plus next as they last forever 30k miles on my last car there about £65 each fitted so not too pricey.

Edited 14 January, 201412 yr by JC85