Hi folks, after a bit of advice, I need 2 new front tyres on my Octy ii 1.9 TDI Elegance hatch. At the mo I have the standard Dunlops fitted, they've lasted 21,000 miles so I can't complain. I'm looking at fitting Michelin HX MXM tyres, which was standard on my octy i L&K, loved them, really quiet, grippy and lasted 40,000 miles. My question is this, at present the speed rating of the Dunlops are W can I go for H with the Michelins as the car won't do 130MPH !

'H' are rated to 131mph. The 1.9Tdi has a max speed of 119mph, well within the limit. Just how you'rs came fitted with 'W' (rated to 168mph) is a puzzle!

There's been a few threads about tyres and Michelin seem to come out top of the mainstream suppliers. Please let us know what you think of the Michelins verses the Dunlops if you get them.

thanks for your reply, yes I agree it does seem strange that the Dunlops are W rated, even the Michelins I had on my octy i L&K TDI were W rated ! weird I know. I'll let you know what I think of the Michelins, once again many thanks

please don't fit HX MXM.

They are awful tyres IMHO, and the pilot exlto 2 or pilot primacy are much better tyres and about the same price.

In my experience the HX MXM are quite noisey compared to the newer mpodels and don't provide much grip.

In terms of rating, i found very little price difference between the H & the ZR so went for the ZR tyres.

Yeah I must admit there's not much price difference regarding the speed ratings or infact between HX MXM/Primacy or Exalto's. Sorry gonna ask this one again, my car came fitted with W rated tyres as standard does this mean I have to fit W rated ones as they were supplied from the factory on this car. I only ask due to insurance/law reasons really. Many thanks

No. As long as the tyres are suitable for your vehicle it doesn't matter if they are lower speed rating than the ones you took off.

You don't need to put W rated ones on just because that's what was fitted before.

ok thats great, many thanks chaps, much appreciated

Probably what they pay for factory fitted tires does amount to much when it comes to speed ratings, but not so when you come to replace them privately. If the tire makers have a large stock of W rated tires they would very likely knock them out to Skoda at the same price as lower rated tires.

As to Insurance, if your replacement tires meet the required ratings for your vehicle then you have met your obligations, why pay more for some thing you can not use to the full.

I paid more because the price difference per tyre was 7 pence.

I kid you not

pilot primacy are much better tyres and about the same price.

I will not be replacing my Pilot Primacy's with the same - much better tyres out there for the money

Chris

ScoobyChris, why won't you use the primacy's again ?

ScoobyChris, why won't you use the primacy's again ?

They don't offer as much wet weather grip as the Pilot Sports they replaced and they were damn expensive! Saying that, they do have more grip than the Conti's on the back of the car so, on the limit, my FWD car will oversteer!

I shall be looking at the Pirelli PZero Nero's as a replacement or possibly some more Pilot Sports if I can find them at a good price

Chris

ok thanks for the info Chris, have you looked at Event Mobile Tyres - Your Local Mobile Tyre Fitting Service, I found their prices really good and they come to you and fit them

Personally don't rate pirelli as have had sidewall failure on two sets, although that wasn't on an octy.

The inner wall just buldged and who knows what would have happened if it had gone at speed.

On tyres i think it's follow the reviews and find a tyre you like to suit your driving style in some ways.

ok thanks for the info Chris, have you looked at Event Mobile Tyres - Your Local Mobile Tyre Fitting Service, I found their prices really good and they come to you and fit them

That does look a good site. Unfortunately my tyres are a silly size (205/50/17) which means I pay over the odds anyway - I think I'll be moving to 215/45/17 to increase my choice and lower cost!

Chris

Personally don't rate pirelli as have had sidewall failure on two sets, although that wasn't on an octy.

The inner wall just buldged and who knows what would have happened if it had gone at speed.

On tyres i think it's follow the reviews and find a tyre you like to suit your driving style in some ways.

Me too! Had a rear let go at 2am on a (thankfully) deserted M3. Wasn't doing silly speed either, 75 in a Volvo 850 T5. Next morning looked at the other side, same problem, inner side wall had chunks out of it all the way round! Outer side wall looked perfect. Never trusted them since.