Hi folks,

Just reading Mort's tyre thread got me thinking - most of the discussion of tyres on here centres on how well they hang on in the corners etc, and most people come down on the side of the Toyos.

However, call me old fashioned, but I slow down to take corners, and I don't think I've ever skidded in any of my cars.

My question therefore is slightly different. When I come to replace my tyres, which tyre would give me a reasonable level of grip (doesn't have to stick like glue), but more importantly last the longest and preferably not cost an arm and a leg?

Cheers,

Mark.

EDIT: While this may sound crazy to some of you, I'd also like something relatively friendly to the environment too!

Michelins

:iagree: When I got rid of my old Megane, it was still on its first set of Michelin Energies, which had lasted over 36k with being switched front-to-rear at 18k. All four were still well over the legal minimum, although (and I know you say you're not bothered about this!) they were average at best round corners in the dry, and completely hopeless in the wet...

But they did last almost twice as long as the Proxeses I have now on my Fabia.

Used Michelin Energies in the past and agree with the comments above. Most tyre manufacturers have an "Energy" or "Eco" line so just pick one of those. I suspect they'll all have pretty similar wear/grip/price.

When you mention relatively friendly to the environment, what did you have in mind?

Chris

Environmental friendly, I like that

One of the risks with tyres is cancerogenous HA (high aromatic) oils. HA-free winter tyres and re-threaded standard tyres have been there for some times, but ordinary tyres are still rare. The following list is from 2006, so there are probably more brands on the market now. HA oils in tyres will be banned in 2010 (EU regulations):

Conti EcoContakt 3; Conti Premiumcontact 2; Conti SportContakt 3

Firestone TZ 200; Firestone FHSZ 80

Dayton D 210; Dayton D 300 SPR

Kleber HYDRAXER

Nokian NRT 2; Nokian i3; Nokian NRHi; Nokian NRVi; Nokian Z; Nokian NRY

I'm an "old fashioned driver" myself so I've been quite happy with Nokian tyres both for wear and grip. Never had trouble with Firestone either, but they're not exactly cheap.

fulrun tyres mate are a good price and have the same v tread as the goodyear f1 very hardwearing and last a hell of a longtime my mates corsa has them and they have covered 33k

another for Michelins , still got some original Primacys on my VRS , they were on the rear for about 45k , and have been on the front for about 5k at least

Im going to try some Avons, stepdad had them on his evo and he recons there the best hes had on it, they last a while too

iv got something like aventus on mine atm not the worst but iv put it in a situation or two should i say

just priced up Yokahoma peradas today £60 count me in for 4 of those bad boys

Have heard good things wear-wise about Michelins from a collegue with a diesel Citroen.

I put a pair of Dunlop SP Sport 2000Es on the front of my last Fabia and they still had some meat on them when I traded it in 32000 miles later so I guess they must be OK too.

A friend got similar mileage on a set of Contis on the front of a diesel Corsa. Although lots of people on this forum seem to utterly despise Contis for their alleged lack of grip!

Yup, I've still got my original Michelin Premacy's on the back of mine after 3.5 years and 56k!!

4mm left but they're starting to crack a little, time to *think* about replacing them.

but more importantly last the longest and preferably not cost an arm and a leg?

Unfortunately I think you'll generally pay more for better wear characteristics, or perhaps just to have the name 'Michelin' on the sidewall, they're not cheap!

EDIT: While this may sound crazy to some of you, I'd also like something relatively friendly to the environment too!

Continental Eco Contacts. I had them on my AX GT. OK but no where near "grippy in the dry". They were utterly terrifying in the wet. No matter how I tried I couldn't wear them out.

Whatever you do, please, please don't get ECO tyres for one axle (usually the rear these days). First time it rains and you back off in a hurry you may find your car tries to overtake itself!!!

J.

Edited 5 September, 200817 yr by DGW
Redundant quote deleted.

Long life and good grip Michelin Energy or Pilot Primacy or HX MXM if they still do them.

I've had Michelin Energy equipped cars easily do 40k on a set of tyres.

i managed almost 80 k out of a set of michelins :eek:

but it was on a 309 d:O

On my Mk1 octavia the Michelin Pilot HX lasted 40k on the front and 60k on the rears , but they aren't cheap so in a £/mile comparison they aren't anything special.

I had some Yokohama tyres put on after and they lasted just as long as the Michelins on the front but cost a lot less.

Im going to try some Avons, stepdad had them on his evo and he recons there the best hes had on it, they last a while too

hey fella...

I had avons on my vRS... and you (and your stepdad) are right, they have good grip in both wet and dry... however my vRS was 'only' running 155bhp, and one of these tyres fell apart (ZZ3's) I had a vibration, and rumbling noise, that couldn't be accounted for, when I had the tyres changed, the tyre bloke sai "come look at this" from the outside, no signs of problems, on the inside there was a crack, at about the level where the sidewalls meet the tread, and the bloke said "these were deforming and going oval, thats where your vibration has been comming from, they could have blown at any time.."

ssoooo my advice, is don't use the ZZ3..... :( (and you're running even more power and torque than I was remember, and my car was driven around at 30mph for most of its life!

Continental Eco Contacts. I had them on my AX GT. OK but no where near "grippy in the dry". They were utterly terrifying in the wet. No matter how I tried I couldn't wear them out.

Whatever you do, please, please don't get ECO tyres for one axle (usually the rear these days). First time it rains and you back off in a hurry you may find your car tries to overtake itself!!!

J.

Seconded - eco contacts, great for wear but bloody frightening when it's wet or heading towards 0 degrees :eek: Mind you, it goes give a reliable indication as to whether the ABS is really functioning...

it is known that eco tyres (like the one fitted to the pius) take about 20% londer to stop in the rain! :(

it is known that eco tyres (like the one fitted to the pius) take about 20% londer to stop in the rain! :(

You can sleep soundly at night in the knowledge that they're doing their bit to save the planet though

Chris

You can sleep soundly at night in the knowledge that they're doing their bit to save the planet though

Chris

lol.... not gonna bite..... besides, polar bears are the only mamal to hunt humans, so maybe we're better off without 'em

Kumho KU31, a good allround tyre and cheap.

it is known that eco tyres (like the one fitted to the pius) take about 20% londer to stop in the rain! :(

In theory it means less of these fake planet savers on the road

In theory it means less of these fake planet savers on the road

lol... yeah, notice my spelling... pius, not prius

edit: was watching on old top gear on Dave, and they chose five of the worse handling cars they knew, to get the "worst handling car" award..... the smart car won, but the toyota pius was in it, due to the tyres alone, and they ran them round the hammerhead in the rain... the smart car didn't even make the corner, but the pius was pretty bad!