Hi, My wife drives a 51 plate Fabia, it’ a petrol 1,4 engine so not a particularly quick car ! Despite being a 2002 car it’s only done 36000 miles from new! It has 5 tyres (including the spare) there’s aloe? Continental on the car and 4 different makes I’ve never heard of ! What tyres do folks recommend? I’m confused by the choice available? Kumho, Continental, new/part worn? Help !

Best go buy & get fitted New tyres,

Black & Round ones in the correct size from a local tyre centre at the price you fancy paying.

You do not need to buy tyres often so maybe take advice from the place you buy at, tell them what your want and needs are.

@Quaymann - Well, IME "part-worn" often means "came off a German registered car and only has about 3mm total depth left". Continentals are dual compound, with a softer layer turning to a harder and less grippy compound at 3mm.

Depends how she drives, I would imagine a mid range tyre would be best. Budgets are usually fine in the dry but the wet weather performance is considerably worse than the more expensive tyres and being the only thing keeping you in contact with the road I would prefer to spend a bit more and get something I can rely on. Kumho, Avon, Hankook, Uniroyal etc are all mid range tyres which will be perfectly suitable. In the smaller tyre sizes you can often get premium tyres at a reasonable price. Goodyear, michelin or continental would be the more pricey tyres but offer the best grip. I would avoid part worns unless you are on a serious budget. They arent even that good value when you consider your still paying about £15 for balancing and fitting, and seen as they wont last as long as new ones its just a waste of money imo.

Thanks for the input, she’s not a fast driver ( hence the car) I think based on what you’ve said the Kumho’s might be the way forward! Long term plan would be to replace all 4 but for now the 2 front ones! Thanks again, what do you drive?

Another one to consider maybe Falken tyres. I had 2 fitted to my car for a very good price and they would be more than adequate for your wife im sure. I've got a fabia vrs so quite a bit more torque but they still cope ok. The kumhos would be fine if they are easier to get hold of for you. Replacing them in pairs is always the way to go as you could get issues with pulling to one side otherwise. It makes little difference whether you have matching front and rear sets so you can always just replace the fronts first, then if you like them get the same tyres on the rear, if not then fit different ones on the rear. Its advisable and in my experience essential to make sure the rear tyres have at least decent tread (3-4mm) as in this weather it wont take much of a puddle to make the back end loose grip and this isn't much fun especially mid corner! if the rear tyres are wearing down then just rotate them and put them on the front of the car. Understeer is far easier to control than oversteer.

each to his own,  but having always been a Uni Royal fan (continental quality @ sensible prices)  I like"rain expert" they also came out best buy on Which a couple of years back   P. S.  always good practice to put the newest on the back 

Edited 27 December, 20178 yr by cheshire_cat

Quaymann,

?

I take it you have had not had it from new and are the tyres on are not 15 years old if a mixture of brands?

What actually are the tyres on, the brand you have never heard of?

 

?

Are there 2 tyres the same brand on the car now, and are the treads any good or are there just 2 that really need replacing.

 

£300 would get 4 perfectly good not ditch finder tyres fitted and balanced, 

£250 might well get you 4 perfectly good new tyres fitted and ballanced.

Edited 27 December, 20178 yr by AwaoffSki

6 minutes ago, cheshire_cat said:

each to his own,  but having always been a Uni Royal fan (continental quality @ sensible prices)  I like"rain expert" they also came out best buy on Which a couple of years back   P. S.  always good practice to put the newest on the back 

 

Put a set of 4 Rain Expert on one of our cars a couple of months ago. Reviews I read all said nice things especially about wet grip and price but they were a bit critical about life and resultant high cost over the life of the tyre, basically pay less up front but more over 15,000 miles. Since its our 3rd car and does a limited mileage the tyres are knackered by age before they worn out so that did not bother me, same situation for the OP.

 

4 X 185 60 14 fitted with valves, balance and disposal at local indie was £196.

 

So far we are more than happy. Good grip and a comfortable ride, quiet as well.

In 185 60 14 you can get a set of kumho/uniroyal/ hankook for about £190 a set

ditchfinders would be £160 a set

Continentals/goodyear/dunlop are around £220 for all 4.

we are talking a difference of £30-40 between mid range and premium brand tyres for all 4. I would certainly be going for the premium ones at such a little difference in price.  If its the difference between sliding and hitting the car in front and stopping just before hitting it then the extra £40 would be well worth it in my opinion

I have a set of black rubber ones, all four are the same which is the important thing and they're correctly inflated to 33 PSI all round which is a good compromise between grip, economy and stiffness.

Brand is the least important thing frankly, I can't even remember what brand mine are. Four identical cheap tyres are better than four different expensive ones, I suspect you have the worst case scenario which is four different cheap ones!

This word 'Premium' keeps getting used,.   Hyped, Advertised, makes more profit to retailers sometimes.

 

Those famous in the UK / EU Brands like Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone and others make some pretty poor tyres, 

and those companies own other companies that some seem to think make less 'Premium Tyres'.

 

It is like Premium Fuels, the Name ESSO, Shell, Gulf etc Premium does not make.

The op is asking for advice on what brand to purchase. I am offering some suggestions based on what is generally sold and what categories they fit into. I am well aware some of the tyres from the bigger brands can be poor, and some of the cheaper brands can produce good quality tyres, such as the Falken tyres i previously mentioned. I do not see how @AwaoffSki comment is helpful to this post. And also @sepulchraveI completely disagree with the fact 'brand is least important thing'. Why on earth don't we all just buy cheap ditchfinders then? Why do manufacturers spend so much time and money developing improved tyres and bring out new models every few years. Why do people take the time to post on websites reviews about tyres and which are best value for money etc etc?

Also, i have driven my car with 4 different branded tyres with little tread all from 'reputable' manufacturers and it was much better performing than when i changed for a set of matching and almost new budget tyres, in fact it was lethal with the budgets fitted.

 

Brands are important, to some, Value Tyres to others, you had rubbish tyres fitted as i remember and now somehow are an expert or an enthusiast with opinions gathered in what seems pretty quick time.

 

Reputable Tyre Brands are all over the World, and anyone that just thinks 'Chinese' means crap knows not much about tyres IMO.

If Pirelli are owned by a Chinese Company are Pirelli Chinese Ditchfinders.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/who-owns-what-tyre-brands.htm 

Michelin also own TIGAR Tyres from Serbia which are available at ATS Euromaster and elsewhere.

 

Edited 27 December, 20178 yr by AwaoffSki

Hey relax man, I completely agree with you about the budget brands and the expensive ones as well, I was simply making the point that EVERY tyre has a brand on it and it's nowhere near as important as online brand bores would have you believe, I just get fed up with "get brand x, it's what I use" type advice, it always pops up in dumb threads about oil or filters or tyres.

“always put new tyres on the rear” !! Since when did that idea surface.I have been in the trade since I was 15 in 1961.We NEVER EVER put new tyres on the rear.You need good tyres on the front to stop.Thats a lot more important than the rear getting squirrelly on a corner.Even if the fronts are only half worn you put new on the front and the original fronts on the rear.(rant over)

9 minutes ago, maccy said:

“always put new tyres on the rear” !! Since when did that idea surface.I have been in the trade since I was 15 in 1961.We NEVER EVER put new tyres on the rear.You need good tyres on the front to stop.Thats a lot more important than the rear getting squirrelly on a corner.Even if the fronts are only half worn you put new on the front and the original fronts on the rear.(rant over)

 

Well it's because SWB FWD (rare in 1961) cars are near impossible to recover if the back end lets go, it's belt and braces H&S stuff really, I must admit I prefer the front to stick because at least I can still steer and brake, but it's really hard to catch the back end if it's gone.

When i was a young tyre fitter / mechanic / tea boy i put new tyres on the rear of rear wheel drives as otherwise they were not going far in the wet, cold, snow, mud or what ever, but then also made sure the front tyres were fit for purpose, steering, stopping and generally staying on the road.

 

For what it's worth I'd definitely stay away from the " evergreen" brand of tyre. Not very good grip and very, very noisy with any speed over 40mph. Had 2 on the front of my 1.4 2002 plate and soon ditched them. 

As I see it, the main consideration here is how fond you actually are of your wife?

 

I just put a set of Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance on my lady's car and they got us home in one piece last night in some hideously wet conditions. I think the old set may not have coped, though all legal. £53 a corner through blackcircles.com, including fitting locally; seemed good value to me.

Edited 27 December, 20178 yr by Wino

Similar feelings to @TripleMcB about Woosong Dark Spin Horse brand.

45 minutes ago, Wino said:

As I see it, the main consideration here is how fond you actually are of your wife?

 

I just put a set of Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance on my lady's car and they got us home in one piece last night in some hideously wet conditions. I think the old set may not have coped, though all legal. £53 a corner through blackcircles.com, including fitting locally; seemed good value to me.

I can second these tyres. I have them and they've been absolutely fantastic.

Wow, seems like I’ve (unintentionally) opened a can of tyre worms here!, Everyone calm down & have a drink (non-alcoholic or don’t drive)

Happy New Year to all !(Especially Skoda Drivers )

Whatever you buy, try maybe Asdatyres or Bestbuytyres for prices.

 

Brand is not important other than it can be an indicator of the type/style/quality of the product. Currently running Sportmax RTs on mine. Previously, Bridgestones and Rainsports.

 

I'd say the Rainsports are a good idea as they grip well and are comfortable. A bit sloppy for sportiness though and loses a bit of steering feel.

21 hours ago, maccy said:

“always put new tyres on the rear” !! Since when did that idea surface.

 

First time I was given that advice was about 20 years ago and told the fitter to fit the new ones on the front. Still alive despite ignoring advice. But having seen the evidence since I would never fit new tyres on the front again. To be honest I rotate front to rear nowadays and always fit in sets of 4 now so its not an issue.

 

As for premium brands not had that much luck with them. Continentals on a Golf cracked within 6 months and were replaced FOC by another set of Contis which were OK but were replaced by Fuldas which were better. Continetals on a Focus were so noisy they deafened you and were replaced by Kumhos which were great for the money. Michelins on a BMW cracked and we were given a 60% refund, replaced them with Kleber (mid range Michelin owned brand) which were possibly the best tyre I have ever bought for life and noise. Michelins on a Kia went out of shape but car was PX'd before I bothered sorting.

 

Never bought a cheap ditchfinder, never will.

 

Chap at work used to buy used with about 3mm left. he could not see that the tyres only had about 1mm of usable tread and would only last  a few months. Over the years he spent a fortune but would never see the error of his ways.

 

The most important thing to remember this time of year is simple, new tyres have zero grip for a good few miles. They have an oily layer which needs wearing away and until then your old knackered tyres will have more grip. Young lad in the office had to buy 4 new tyres since the car had failed its MOT. On his way back to work he was hooning it thinking he was a driving god with his new tyres and lost it on a bend, telegraph pole and concrete post won. Car a write off. He was initially intending to take the garage to court claiming it was their fault but after getting some advice he accepted he was an idiot. Didn't learn though, crashed his next 2 cars as well but never his fault.