Budget car tyres

[sxturbo]

Tyres arrived today,

Feel soft and sticky, the grooves in the center of the tread are reminiscent of the old groovef F1 tyres,

Appear to be better made than the cheap Chinese stuff I've sold and fitted in the past.

Took the passenger side wheel off the car today and that appears to be fine, nice even wear, so must have been the tracking out on the driver's side of the car and we've not noticed for the past 12k miles the track control arm was changed on that side. I'm still getting the pair done as it's 4 wheel drive


Tyres getting installed tomorrow, tracking Friday afternoon.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Now with new selling sources like Ebay, I usually buy slightly used best brands with most of the tread left. Several motor trade have told me that is often a good tactic.

I always like to have matched tyre pairs on the same axle, so can you buy matched pairs like that?

I've bought budget tyres for a few years now, with no issues at all. I do remember the terrible imposts from the 60's, which became slidy in the wet.

 

[Mottie]

Took the passenger side wheel off the car today and that appears to be fine, nice even wear, so must have been the tracking out on the driver's side

I’ve never understood the concept of tracking being out on one side only. I have a set of laser wheel alignment gauges and know how to use them. If, for example, you heavily kerbed the nearside and bent the track arm so that the alignment on that side went 10° out, as soon as you started driving, the wheels would equalise and each wheel would be out by 5° causing equal wear on both tyres. The steering wheel would also be off-centre too. It must be something else such as castor, camber or even chassis alignment.

 

[sxturbo]

Went to the tyre shop today......

Everything was in the red, think there was one green, but that was only just.

Guy was about to start adjusting things when he saw the rear toe adjust bolts looked they would snap if you lent in them, then when I said go ahead with it we'll worry about it if it snaps, he noticed the rear inner driveshaft boot had a huge split in it and flung the grease out, so was decided that to get the drive shaft out to fix it, I've got to take the suspension apart anyway and would require it to be re-aligned again so we left it at that.

As so much needs alignment it's gonna cost £120 for the alignment when I eventually get it done.

The bolts look like they are seized in the bushes so having to get new rear lower arms which are a small fortune each and only available from Audi, at £200 a side.

I'm also going on holiday in a little over a week so don't have time to do it all so going to have to pay to get it all done...

It's going to cost almost what the cars worth to put it right lol.

We've decided next year we'll look at our finances and look to get a new (well new to us) car.

Spoke to them about the wear on the old tyre and they said that looks like the previous garage when they changed the arms never realigned that side.

The front caster and camber were as per spec as this isn't adjustable.

The final advice was that there wasn't any point in getting the front done as the rear is so far out the front would scrub any way due to crabbing,

 

[cdbe]

If you're getting rid next year just chuck on some cheap tyres and a glue on boot.

 

[sxturbo]

If you're getting rid next year just chuck on some cheap tyres and a glue on boot.

If the car wasn't so out it crabs I would..

 

[gman76]

I always like to have matched tyre pairs on the same axle

I wholeheartedly agree with this & would never mix n' match brands on the same axle. I bought a Juke Nismo RS some years ago, great condition but didn't drive very well - pulled to the left under heavy acceleration & to the right under deceleration. No uneven wear. Had the alignment checked & double checked. It was only when I replaced the two (good tread) front tyres for Goodyears, that it drove well. One tyre was Continental & the other some Wing Wang thing, I imagine the sidewalls were differing & flexing at different rates or something.

 

[norseman]

Unfortunately I do exactly the opposite, so good tyres are paramount for me.
Again, Michelin Cross Climate extra load get my vote, no matter the cost.

Just out of curiosity how do you find the road-noise level ... inside car, not the tyre manuf. rating which is a drive-by reading & tells you nothing.

 

[johnny2007]

Just out of curiosity how do you find the road-noise level ... inside car, not the tyre manuf. rating which is a drive-by reading & tells you nothing.

It's a lot better than good year and falken that i tried before.
Although I drive VW and Audi, so the noise inside the cabin is already limited

 

[norseman]

It's a lot better than good year and falken that i tried before.
Although I drive VW and Audi, so the noise inside the cabin is already limited

I drive an old E39 which is well insulated I would assume, but road noise is annoying me. When I bought the car 2 years ago it had a miss-match of 2 Pirelli's on the rear 1 Uniroyal & 1 other (can't remember the brand) on the front. The biggest concern was the advanced age of the tyres, anything between 12 & 19 years. Funds at the time dictated budget tyres, so on went a full set of Chinese Goodrides(?) which were just as quiet. Funds improved as winter approached so the Chinkies were replaced with Cross Climate + & that's when the road noise became audible. After a few months I replaced the Michelins (but stored them at home) with Nexen mid-range summer tyres, hoping the less aggressive tread pattern would be quieter, but no just the same. The car is a lovely comfortable ride, but I still think there is more road 'harshness' than there was on the old tyres or the Chinkies.

 

[Stivino]

My last car had Michelins all round. When they were done, I replaced them with budget tyres, I can't remember the brand. The budget tyres were noticeably quieter and the car was just as good to drive.

 

[JohnD]

I find new tyres are always quieter than old ones.

 

[johnny2007]

My last car had Michelins all round. When they were done, I replaced them with budget tyres, I can't remember the brand. The budget tyres were noticeably quieter and the car was just as good to drive.

Are you one of the proud pious Prius driver going at 20mph on the fast lane of the dual carriageway?

 

[Mottie]

New budget tyres are better than worn brand name ones although I won’t fit them on my cars. I fit and balance my own tyres so it obviously doesn’t cost me as much as the average punter who has to go to a tyre shop.

 

[johnny2007]

Anyone who fits ching-chong tyres on their car deserves to drive a prius and be blown up by a rocket launcher