Had a pair of 205/50/17 Landsail LS388 fitted on Friday (http://landsailtires.com/tires/ls388/), as the tyres that my vRS came with were low on tread, and worn on the inner edges due to a knackered tie rod.

Initially they didn't give much in the first 50 or so miles, giving slip with only light throttle out of junctions, but once past that, not had any issues at all. Since then they have impressed me quite a bit for a budget brand. Quiet on various road surfaces (have done 250+ miles since) - A road, B road and motorway, even the varied surfaces of the M54 and M6. Dry and mildly moist handling are fantastic, roads were quite damp on Saturday evening after the varying amounts of rain/drizzle during the day, not really had any proper wet stuff to see what true wet handling is like though, but so far, very impressed. Cost for 2 fitted and balanced (he even jacked it up in the right place! although may have spotted the damaged sills from previous owners/garages) was a quite reasonable £44 each. Will be getting a pair for the rear when they need replacing (still got Falkens on with about 4mm of tread left)

 

I wish you the best of luck, I fear the first time you need to jump on the brakes or make an evasive manoeuvre in the wet you will regret your purchase.

Land and sailing over it are not something I'd want associated with my tyres.

You are familiar with the term ditchfinder?

There called Landsail 'cos when it rains you'll be sailing.

I am well aware of the pitfalls of budget tyres - have had a few over the years - and researched them thoroughly before committing to them. In a recent test, they were in the top 10, nestled between premium brands, and even outperformed Michelin equivalents. Anyway, so far over 300 miles covered, no slip, no wheel spin from junctions, and good road holding, even on damp surfaces. No sign of any rain yet in the forecast, so will wait and see on the wet performance, judging by the tread pattern, I can't see them being a problem, as in heavy rain on our local roads, which have a lot of standing water, you can't drive fast anyway.

I am well aware of the pitfalls of budget tyres - have had a few over the years - and researched them thoroughly before committing to them. In a recent test, they were in the top 10, nestled between premium brands, and even outperformed Michelin equivalents. Anyway, so far over 300 miles covered, no slip, no wheel spin from junctions, and good road holding, even on damp surfaces. No sign of any rain yet in the forecast, so will wait and see on the wet performance, judging by the tread pattern, I can't see them being a problem, as in heavy rain on our local roads, which have a lot of standing water, you can't drive fast anyway.

That would be no great trick in the tests I normally see, which tend to test 8 to 10 brands.

I am well aware of the pitfalls of budget tyres - have had a few over the years - and researched them thoroughly before committing to them. In a recent test, they were in the top 10, nestled between premium brands, and even outperformed Michelin equivalents. Anyway, so far over 300 miles covered, no slip, no wheel spin from junctions, and good road holding, even on damp surfaces. No sign of any rain yet in the forecast, so will wait and see on the wet performance, judging by the tread pattern, I can't see them being a problem, as in heavy rain on our local roads, which have a lot of standing water, you can't drive fast anyway.

Driver behaviour/conduct is a much more significant safety factor than tyre brand. Driving like an unskilled idiot on the most expensive tyres is less conducive to safety than using budget tyres.

Driver behaviour/conduct is a much more significant safety factor than tyre brand. Driving like an unskilled idiot on the most expensive tyres is less conducive to safety than using budget tyres.

I'd rather be near a maroon that I can see and allow for than an otherwise "good" driver who is going to need 30m "extra" to stop because he decided to save £30 on a set of tyres by fitting "Dark Spins".

Edited 7 November, 20169 yr by KenONeill

Tyres are still giving plenty of grip even with the frosty mornings and the mildly damp surfaces we have had. May see some wet weather later this week if the forecast is anything to go by.

 To all the posters with negative comments - have you actually tried these tyres, or are you all basing your opinions on the fact that they are not a "premium" brand?

Tyres are still giving plenty of grip even with the frosty mornings and the mildly damp surfaces we have had. May see some wet weather later this week if the forecast is anything to go by.

 To all the posters with negative comments - have you actually tried these tyres, or are you all basing your opinions on the fact that they are not a "premium" brand?

I haven't specifically tried Landsails, but I have had experience of other makes of Chinese ditch finders (not on my car).

I'd rather be near a maroon that I can see and allow for than an otherwise "good" driver who is going to need 30m "extra" to stop because he decided to save £30 on a set of tyres by fitting "Dark Spins".

Sadly, the moron may well not give you the chance to allow for his or her driving.

Tyres are still giving plenty of grip even with the frosty mornings and the mildly damp surfaces we have had. May see some wet weather later this week if the forecast is anything to go by.

To all the posters with negative comments - have you actually tried these tyres, or are you all basing your opinions on the fact that they are not a "premium" brand?

Yes thanks. See here http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/415078-landsail-ls988-and-ls388-review-score-110/#entry4739981

Car is how fitted with GY F1A3 and it is a different car. No nervous feeling, no spinning of tyres on slight throttle inputs, no feeling of mass understeer and no more droning noise!

I can now drive the car more appropriate manner and not like I have an oil spill under the car.

Yes thanks. See here http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/415078-landsail-ls988-and-ls388-review-score-110/#entry4739981

Car is how fitted with GY F1A3 and it is a different car. No nervous feeling, no spinning of tyres on slight throttle inputs, no feeling of mass understeer and no more droning noise!

I can now drive the car more appropriate manner and not like I have an oil spill under the car.

 

Fair enough - except I haven't experienced half the problems you had though. The only initial slip I had was within 500yds of them being fitted, which I put down to being new. Even this week, with temps below freezing on the way to work, and the roads mildly damp (not wet, but certainly a damp appearance) still not had any slip issues, or even handling issues, in fact on my journey home, there is a junction, uphill at quite an angle onto a main A road, not even had the TC chirp coming out of there, and yet the previous tyres (which were branded, with about 3mm of tread) would easily break traction. Will see what wet weather performance is like, as it's supposed to rain later here.

Plenty of rain last night on the way home, and very wet roads this morning, and still no sign of the problems that have been reported by other posters. Wet grip would appear to be on a par with dry (obviously no where as good - but still plentiful), no signs of aquaplaning either, and no wheel slip, even when negotiating roundabouts. I can only summarise that the bedding in period must have an impact on the way the tyre reacts, as I have done well over 500 miles since they were fitted, and as I said before, the only real slip I experienced was within 500 yds of having them fitted, coming out of the T junction from the fitters, so practically brand new (not unusual for a new tyre either)

I've not driven the land sails, but have used many other budgets (Falken being one I used to use a lot).

I also had hire cars with some god awful sunni and wanli tyres which wanted to go sideways more than forwards.

One thing I do value is plenty of warning before they're going to let go, rather than just the I'm fine, I'm fine oh no I'm not (let go) that you tend to get at the cheaper end.

You don't have to buy premium tyres at all, but there's a balance in it all.

I've not driven the land sails, but have used many other budgets (Falken being one I used to use a lot).

Falken I would say are mid range rather than budget but I would go as far as to say anyone not willing to get premium tyres should go to Falken as they are fantastic for the money and leaps and bounds above any Triangle/AAA/wanli/landsail/linglong/westlake rubbish.

The fk510 however is not the big step forward I was hoping for - the fk453's were much better!

My usual choice of budget or midrange tyres is normally Barums which I find to offer an excellent combination of everything required in a tyre ...

I've driven one of my Xantias after fitting it with Wanli tyres on the front and took it back for a replacement as they where death traps in the dry never mind the wet and my C5 came with Triangle brand on the back that caused the car to spin twice on a roundabout on a slightly damp road... I put it down to maybe diesel spill as its just up from the garage but when it happened again a few days later elsewhere in town I took it straight to National and fitted my Barums and it was like night and day...

My current Octavia I'd to get a pair of Rovello fitted to the front just after buying it and yes I'd consider them again .. They where moved to the back a few months back and replaced with Falkens when I got my 4 wheel alignment done, as the back tyres where suffering with dreaded sawtooth, and I'm not overly impressed with them despite all their positive reports.

My usual choice of budget or midrange tyres is normally Barums which I find to offer an excellent combination of everything required in a tyre ...

I've driven one of my Xantias after fitting it with Wanli tyres on the front and took it back for a replacement as they where death traps in the dry never mind the wet and my C5 came with Triangle brand on the back that caused the car to spin twice on a roundabout on a slightly damp road... I put it down to maybe diesel spill as its just up from the garage but when it happened again a few days later elsewhere in town I took it straight to National and fitted my Barums and it was like night and day...

My current Octavia I'd to get a pair of Rovello fitted to the front just after buying it and yes I'd consider them again .. They where moved to the back a few months back and replaced with Falkens when I got my 4 wheel alignment done, as the back tyres where suffering with dreaded sawtooth, and I'm not overly impressed with them despite all their positive reports.

I would agree with you about Barums except that, due to circumstances my Xantia got Bravaris 2s on the back with Toyos on the front, at which point I had a Xantia that would oversteer!!! (benignly, but still...)

Well, nearly 2k miles on them now, and still not had any of the issues mentioned at the beginning of the thread - in fact I am impressed with the way they are handling, even in torrential wet braking and cornering are fine, not had any aquaplaning, or stopping issues. TC does get upset if I am a bit heavy with the throttle out of one particular junction, which is awkward with any car as it is uphill onto a fast flowing A road.