What type of tyres do you go for?

[Benner]

It's that time when I need to get myself a full set of new tyres on my Vitara.    I have done pretty well as these have lasted 3 years now, but it's gotten to the stage where I need to be booking it in to get them all changed.

When looking at road tyres though, prices vary greatly.  So what do you go for?  Here they do "economy" unbranded tyres that are dirt cheap, but are these to be avoided in favour of a recognised brand?  Surely even the cheapies have to fit a certain regulation?  Are expensive tyres a waste of your hard earned cash?

All these questions and more I am hoping will be answered in this thread. 

[Neil]

Heck, I haven't a clue, all I know is that the local garages try and screw me out of as much cash as possible any time I go near them 

[Benner]

Heck, I haven't a clue, all I know is that the local garages try and screw me out of as much cash as possible any time I go near them 

Sign I know that feeling.    Luckily for me, I met Sue and her dad has a friend that is a mechanic who is a genuine stand up guy that charges silly money for his work.

Tyres I now order online from a site called etyres.  I have used them for years on previous cars and with Sue's and they are really good.  The prices are superb, the service is great and they come to your door and do it.  No aggro and no fuss.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I've always gone down the decent tyre's route, as I've only ever had two of them sticking to the road (quite often just the one though ) at any one time

[J-sews]

How is it that you need new tires (by the way, you spelled tires wrong) after only three years? Unless you drive some crazy amount of miles each year a new set should last you 5 to 6 years these days.

[Neil]

Really    I'm lucky if mine last two

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

How is it that you need new tires (by the way, you spelled tires wrong) after only three years? Unless you drive some crazy amount of miles each year a new set should last you 5 to 6 years these days.

We have corner's on our roads

[Neil]

How is it that you need new tires (by the way, you spelled tires wrong) after only three years? Unless you drive some crazy amount of miles each year a new set should last you 5 to 6 years these days.

We have corner's on our roads

  I new there had to be something. 

[Mr. Whippy]

Cheapest named brand is the safest cheap route.  No name branded tires, when tested here in the US, had much higher rates of failure due to:
1.  Tires going out of round (due to warping of the steel belts)
2.  Premature separation of tread.

The cheapest named brand tires are still made in the lowest cost factories, but they are the best quality product from from those low cost factories (Named brand tires REALLY try to avoid bad press)

The next step up generally gives you better performance, quieter ride or better wet/slippery weather handling.

[J-sews]

Really    I'm lucky if mine last two

Okay, I can see who ticked the Black And Round option

[Benner]

How is it that you need new tires (by the way, you spelled tires wrong) after only three years? Unless you drive some crazy amount of miles each year a new set should last you 5 to 6 years these days.

5-6?!?  

As Neil said, 2 is good going with our crappy roads.    The pot holes ATM are just ridiculous.

I probably do 15k miles a year so only average really.  It is all country lane though.

[Neil]

Really    I'm lucky if mine last two

Okay, I can see who ticked the Black And Round option

Actually I've ticked nothing as yet, so neh neh mr. clever clogs

Seriously though, when I lived in Peterborough with its mass of roundabouts I'd have to get new tyres every twelve months.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Our frankly crap roads combined with the amount of braking an accelerating we do on our little road's, it's a wonder they last as long as they do

I know that back in my biking day's I was lucky if I got more than 2000 miles out of my Fireblade's back tyre

[Benner]

Really    I'm lucky if mine last two

Okay, I can see who ticked the Black And Round option

Actually I've ticked nothing as yet, so neh neh mr. clever clogs

Seriously though, when I lived in Peterborough with its mass of roundabouts I'd have to get new tyres every twelve months.

I went through a pair of fronts on my Pug 406 every year.  That may be because I was driving like a tw@t though.

[J-sews]

I drive 12,000 miles per year on average. I just changed tires last year after 70,000 miles, and the ones before that lasted 60,000.


If all you people are wearing out a set every two or three years your roads should be paved with about 6 inches of tire rubber!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I drive 12,000 miles per year on average. I just changed tires last year after 70,000 miles, and the ones before that lasted 60,000.


If all you people are wearing out a set every two or three years your roads should be paved with about 6 inches of tire rubber!

Some roads are

Seriously back in my wilder days I nearly came a cropper a couple of times on rubber marbles when my bike was on my knee

[Benner]

Only MTO could have a poll that reaches the second page and only have one bloody vote. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Only MTO could have a poll that reaches the second page and only have one bloody vote. 

And unsurprisingly it was my vote

[Neil]

Only MTO could have a poll that reaches the second page and only have one bloody vote. 

And unsurprisingly it was my vote

There, I've doubled it

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Only MTO could have a poll that reaches the second page and only have one bloody vote. 

And unsurprisingly it was my vote

There, I've doubled it

Other as in square tyres

[Benner]

Woohoo, 2 votes! 

[cerbera147]

Luckily I have a company car so they pick up the bill 

I remember for four Pirelli tyres it was just over £400 

When I had my 1984 Mini I was putting remoulds on it for £20ish 

[Benner]

Can you even still get those ?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Can you even still get those ?

I think so

[Neil]

Can you even still get those ?

Square tyres 

[Benner]

Can you even still get those ?

Square tyres 

No I know where to get those...

[Craig]

I avoid budget tyres, I had a big slide on some years ago. Articles like this also help put me right off them:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Autocar-Tyre-Test-Budget-Tyre-Performance.htm

[Benner]

I avoid budget tyres, I had a big slide on some years ago. Articles like this also help put me right off them:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Autocar-Tyre-Test-Budget-Tyre-Performance.htm

We need more info    I listen to any of your guys experiences over some website review.

[cerbera147]

Can you even still get those ?

Remoulds? I'm not sure; might be illegal now 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I avoid budget tyres, I had a big slide on some years ago. Articles like this also help put me right off them:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Autocar-Tyre-Test-Budget-Tyre-Performance.htm

We need more info    I listen to any of your guys experiences over some website review.

Schwalbe Marathon's would be my first choice, assuming you can get them in Salon sizes