Best Make Of Tyres For Wear

[markie]

Need 2 new tyres around Easter time. Have used Michelin in the past, getting about 22,000 out of the fronts. However, would like any other people's opinions of whether I should stick with this make. If not, what other makes are good for wear and would give similar or better mileage? Edited March 2, 2009 by markie

[seatkid]

What size?

[stevie m]

I had dunlops on mine but i was getting a bit less than that iirc about 18000-20000 miles. Edited March 3, 2009 by stevie m

[Richard gal]

Had a pair of these on the REAR for 30,000 miles and still 40% good

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?deta...&LoadRange=

 

They are now on the front with another set on the rear, they do give more road noise than michelin pilots i have now found!

[markie]

Size is 215/55 R16 97H.

 

If I bought the Michelins, they are about

[seatkid]

Size is 215/55 R16 97H.

 

The best tyre for wear by far on the meerkat is the Michelin ENERGY SAVER (Not to be confused with Michelin Energy, energy 3 or other variants) and this is backed up by independent tests. I'm running them on my sons skoda at the moment.

 

The bad news is that they are not available in your size (or most galaxy sizes)

 

Continental Premium Contact 2 is a good wearing tyre with extremely good handling/performance/safety and my choice for the galaxy. I would expect to get 30,000 miles on the front.

 

Eco Contacts are harder wearing and Sport Contacts are the ultimate tyre but dont think they're available in galaxy sizes.

Tyres are too important a safety item for me to consider much anything less than a premium brand, and certainly not one with a name that sounds like a chinese doorbell.

 

Avoid all tyres made in China. I've always managed to negotiate a good price at my local Kwikfit. e.g. last two Conti Premium Contacts (215/60/15 98H RF) for the Alhambra were

Edited March 3, 2009 by seatkid

[sepulchrave]

I too would recommend Contis for superior wear and wet weather characteristics.

 

However concrete tyres would probably understeer slightly less in the dry!

 

As an aside I have been using Nankang tyres for some years now and they are frankly excellent for absolutely no money at all, dunno if they're Chinese or even if they ring any bells for you. :huh:

[neiluk]

Have you seen this table? It seems quite comprehensive. Further info is given if you click on each tyres make/model.

 

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Grid/

 

Neil.

[seatkid]

understeer

 

otherwise known as grip, something I think Chinese tyres tend not to have and so give you that light oversteer feeling....

[tiny]

understeer

 

otherwise known as grip, something I think Chinese tyres tend not to have and so give you that light oversteer feeling....

 

Ive got to admit it, I'm with Seatkid 100% of the way here (and not just because I work for Pirelli).

 

I know how much we invest in R&D, testing etc. not just in the finished tyre but every single component. I wouldn't trust budget tyres, with mine or my kids lives.

 

I dont doubt for a minute that they may drive quite well 99.9% of the time, but i want to know that the 0.01% when I need it most somebody has spent a lot of time and effort ensuring that the product that is keeping me in touch with the road is performing exactly as it should when it matters most.

 

I dont think i'd like to be doing 70 on the motorway after say a 3hr trip fully laden and need to change lanes in an emergency situation (perhaps because that foreign LHD truck has pulled out of the outside lane unexpectedly) if my tyres were "Huflungdung" at

[mzokk]

Kind of a personal thing tyres. I would usually go for a mid range well known brand tyre. However, the first set of front Michelins (215/60/15)that came with the car new lasted 16,000 miles and I replaced them with Wanless (i think) chinese tyres as they were the only reinforced tyre the depot had in when I replaced them (i was off to france). They seemed to exibit the same characteristics as the Michelins and lasted 16,000 miles. The current fronts are bridgstone and charateristics are the same to me as the previous sets but they are wearing more quickly. The rear michelins are nearing 40,000 miles and I'll have to replace all four. I might go for the cheapies at least in a car you've got four wheels! I always use premium rubber on my motorcycles and you can detect different charateristics between makes much more easily than a car.

[markie]

Thanks for responses ! Seatkid, how miles would you expect fro the Continental Eco Contact? Would these be the same as the premium contact 2, i.e. 30,000 miles? What is the difference here between those two tyres ?

[seatkid]

Thanks for responses ! Seatkid, how miles would you expect fro the Continental Eco Contact? Would these be the same as the premium contact 2, i.e. 30,000 miles? What is the difference here between those two tyres ?

The eco contacts are designed with low rolling resistance/fuel economy as a priority and I believe (from experience) have a slightly harder compound than the the premium contact. The Ecocontacts pioneered the use of silica based compounds - which have many benefits over traditional rubber compounds. Longer life and consistent performance over wider range of conditions maintained for the life of the tyre are the principal benefit of silica use.

 

In fact the "secret" ingedient in Michelins Energy saver (and some other ranges) is the use of silica based compounds. The premium contacts are sold more on performance and safety, but they are also silica based. So eco contacts better life but less performance (grip/handling).

 

I dont think you'll get the eco contacts in your size/load rating. They are aimed at small-mid range cars. The eco contact 3 is the latest generation I think, although I got excellent service out of the original fit eco contact EP's fitted to my sons skoda and they are competitively priced.

 

The mileage you get does depend a great deal on your driving style, maintaining the correct pressures (and good suspension geometry) and loads/speeds and whether you live in Milton Keynes........

 

Nowadays I tend to buy with safety in mind.....

[sepulchrave]

My apologies, I am a foetus with only 25 years experience driving cars, vans, motorcycles every day for a living.

 

Tiny, is your response what they call 'emotional intelligence'?

 

mzokk, you make a reasoned and intelligent argument, I can tell when I've had a half of shandy riding my bike but in a two ton shalaxy it makes absolutely no difference if I have a pint or two!

 

I dare to say decent budget tyres are fine on a car that handles like a drunken hippo on stilts!

 

For the rest of you, hey it's your money you're wasting, just don't waste my time with your arguments if you have NO experience (rather common on this forum).

[Bobetski]

Hi

 

Just to let you know a steady result based on the following:

 

I drive 80 miles a day to and from work 85% motorway

I drive to Cornwall (500 mile round trip) at least 5 times a yr

I drive to see family (120 mile round trip) at leat 6 times a yr

 

I have a Galaxy 1.9tdi ghia 55 plate

 

My tyres are 215 55 R16 97W

 

I have now covered 60K at a steady rate of 20 k/yr

 

The rears are original and are now down to 2mm

 

The fronts have been replaced effectively every 20K

 

The first fronts were obviously same as rear fitted from new.

The second set was Hankook

The third set was Kumho KU31

All have done same/similar miles before needing changeing

All handle pretty much the same

 

The next set is due and will be (unless convinced otherwise) Kumho KU31 all round - as they seem to have gained an extra 1k miles or so over the others

they also wear extremely evenlywill be interesting to see how far they go as rear tyres.

 

I find them no different than the originals and they cost between

[seatkid]

My apologies, I am a foetus with only 25 years experience driving cars, vans, motorcycles every day for a living.

 

Tiny, is your response what they call 'emotional intelligence'?

 

Sep, when you have 40 years under your belt , I might take notice of your wisdom. In the meantime, keep your thinly vailed insults to yourself. :unsure:

[familyman]

Had continental premium contacts on mine for a few years now,still loads of life in them,and were a decent price when i got them

[big_kev]

Need 2 new tyres around Easter time. Have used Michelin in the past, getting about 22,000 out of the fronts. However, would like any other people's opinions of whether I should stick with this make. If not, what other makes are good for wear and would give similar or better mileage?

 

First of all I would take into account what some of the others say about safety.

 

Ignoring that then cheaper tyres will give vastly superior mileage.

 

eg

[Richard gal]

otherwise known as grip, something I think Chinese tyres tend not to have and so give you that light oversteer feeling....

 

 

Ive got to admit it, I'm with Seatkid 100% of the way here (and not just because I work for Pirelli).

 

I know how much we invest in R&D, testing etc. not just in the finished tyre but every single component. I wouldn't trust budget tyres, with mine or my kids lives.

 

I dont doubt for a minute that they may drive quite well 99.9% of the time, but i want to know that the 0.01% when I need it most somebody has spent a lot of time and effort ensuring that the product that is keeping me in touch with the road is performing exactly as it should when it matters most.

 

I dont think i'd like to be doing 70 on the motorway after say a 3hr trip fully laden and need to change lanes in an emergency situation (perhaps because that foreign LHD truck has pulled out of the outside lane unexpectedly) if my tyres were "Huflungdung" at

[Beyond Help?]

It is simply not true to say cheaper tyres give worse mileage, some will give better mileage as they contain more carbon black. The more carbon black in the tyre the harder the rubber compound is and the better it will wear.

 

So a cheap tyre will tend to have a large block pattern to make up for a poor contact patch design, but in order for the blocks not to be too flexible the rubber must be quite hard.

 

Again, and as said before, this can cause some under-steer if your an enthusiastic driver.

 

Under-steer: When the front of the car hits the fence

Over-steer: When the back end of the car hits the fence

Momentum: How far you end up in the field after going through the fence

Torque: How far you drag the fence with you after you have hit it and carry on down the road

 

Tyres are important, but more importantly is to buy tyres to suit your driving, or drive to suit your tyres. I drive a whole lot of different vehicles in a week and have no control over the tyres that are fitted, and I last had an accident over twenty years ago. And even that was not down to poor tyres, it was down to a poor decision on the part of a third party.

[insider]

For the record my experience with and opinion on tyres for the Galaxy is:

 

1) Tyre wear is almost all due to how you drive it. I've had original premium Michelin tyres, mid-range Falken and currently budget Goodride (from China). I get about 12,000 miles out of a set of 4 whatever the make which I believe is due to my own driving style and the type of (mostly low mileage) journeys I do.

 

2) Performance is always subjective but I have to say that I have noticed no reduction in handling, noise, etc. by having the budget Goodride tyres. In fact I think they corner with more grip than the Falkens. This could be because they have an asymmetric tread pattern whereas the Falkens were directional. However, it could just be that I'm comparing newer tyres with the worn out Falkens, i.e. an unfair comparison. So to conclude I don't believe there is a significant advantage from premium brands in terms of performance on the Galaxy - it's certainly not a sports car after all!

 

3) Safety will always be the emotive persauding factor in buying a premium tyre instead of a budget one. However, unless there is clear factual evidence to support the fact that a premium tyre could have prevented or lessened the effect of an accident then I think a budget tyre does just as good a job. If you drive carefully and within the capability of the Galaxy (again remember it's not a sports car!) then you shouldn't often find yourself in such a situation.

 

So, in summary, tyre choice is very much a personal decision based on what you drive, how you drive it and how many miles you drive. My own experience being that there is no performance, wear or safety benefit for me so I choose the cheapest option. For those that manage many more miles out of their tyres, the percentage saving is much lower so other factors such as safety are considered more. Wouldn't it be boring if we all thought the same way?

 

 

 

And finally . . .

In fact the "secret" ingedient in Michelins Energy saver (and some other ranges) is the use of silica based compounds. The premium contacts are sold more on performance and safety, but they are also silica based. So eco contacts better life but less performance (grip/handling).

This isn't a "secret" and many of the Chinese brands also used silica based compounds in their tyres.

[tiny]

My apologies, I am a foetus with only 25 years experience driving cars, vans, motorcycles every day for a living.

 

Tiny, is your response what they call 'emotional intelligence'?

 

mzokk, you make a reasoned and intelligent argument, I can tell when I've had a half of shandy riding my bike but in a two ton shalaxy it makes absolutely no difference if I have a pint or two!

 

I dare to say decent budget tyres are fine on a car that handles like a drunken hippo on stilts!

 

For the rest of you, hey it's your money you're wasting, just don't waste my time with your arguments if you have NO experience (rather common on this forum).

 

Emotional inteligence? No but opinion based on experience both as a driver (of most things 2 wheels and up) and through my previously mentioned work background.

 

I was not talking about handling in the scenario, but a potential real life situation where you might be driving a fully laden 7 seater car on hot tyres and have to swerve, thereby increasing load on a tyre to way beyond its rated capacity.

 

We as a manufacturer destructively test tyres and engineer them to fail well above their load/speed ratings as do all the the mainstream manufacturers. Yes you pay extra, but your not just paying for a name. The point is that a product built and designed at a budget has the same budget all the way through the manufacturing process.

The compounds are cheap, the components are cheap the reasearch and development is biased towards getting the product to meet the basic requirements rather than exceeding them (which obviously requires greater investment).

 

There are at least 8 different compunds of rubber go into making the various components of a tyre and at least 10 seperate components. Tyres built for specific purposes like extreme speeds or loads will have many more. Every tyre has its own specific list of different components, there are probably in excess os 30 tread compounds in general production at Pirelli. Do your typical budget tyres have this diversity or do you think it more likely that the same compounds are used across the board?

 

And no ones wasting your time except perhaps yourself, it is you after all who chose to read and reply to this thread.

 

Richard, Pirelli do have "complementery brands" as do most (if not all) the bigger manufacturers. These unfortunately I have no experience of.

[sepulchrave]

Oooh, teeth marks, terrific. :wacko:

 

Sorry, I was bored and had an aggressive allergic response to sanctimony.

 

'Experience is nothing without reason'

 

Cribbed from an advert with a slogan I liked. :D

[Richard gal]

"""Richard, Pirelli do have "complementery brands" as do most (if not all) the bigger manufacturers. These unfortunately I have no experience of. ""

 

Yes i know they all do it to have a foot in every market and the same applies to batteries (reliably told they came down the production line and cheap/premium stickers are applied according to order!)

 

Obviously tyres are different as the mould has to be changed, but my suspicion is its easier to make them out of the same stuff on the same day in a different mould and make less money, (but save on advertising!), making a poorer quality would be more hassle.

[tiny]

"""Richard, Pirelli do have "complementery brands" as do most (if not all) the bigger manufacturers. These unfortunately I have no experience of. ""

 

Yes i know they all do it to have a foot in every market and the same applies to batteries (reliably told they came down the production line and cheap/premium stickers are applied according to order!)

 

Obviously tyres are different as the mould has to be changed, but my suspicion is its easier to make them out of the same stuff on the same day in a different mould and make less money, (but save on advertising!), making a poorer quality would be more hassle.

 

No! The way its done is......

 

Each factory has a specific product range, ours is SUV so the majority of ours are 4wd (Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover etc) We also make UHP (Ultra Hih performance) which are our P Zero ranges, for anything from Porsche, Maserati down to warmish family saloons. To back up these ranges we also make more conventional lines P7, P6000 etc for "conventional" cars as sticking with merely the high end tyres makes the factory extremely vulnerable to market forces such as the current economic downturn - I am currently on a 4 day week and for feb march and april only working 3 weeks in 4! The plants in high cost countries such as here, Germany and Italy only produce premium products. With our labour and energy costs it would mean we were running at a loss to produce budget tyres.

 

Then you have your low end tyres (upto 15" lower speed ratings etc)where profit magins are much tighter, these are made on "low cost" countries such as Romania where the labour costs are considerably lower thus allowing the company to be more competitive.

We also have factories in Turkey and China among other places making either Pirelli branded or complementery products.

 

As I said in a previous post, we have around 30 mainstream tread compounds, we make runs of between 150 and 400 treads for a particular tyre, then change equipment and compounds and move onto the next size. We do group together those product lines that are made using the same compounds so that we sometimes stay on one compound for 6 sizes, other times we load a compound to run 150 treads and then change over comletely to the next size!

This is terribly expensive, but it ensures that the Porsche tyres you buy for yourself are made from one set of specific and extremely tightly controlled materials every time and the Volvo tyres you buy for your wife are entirely different.

The same can be said for every component on the tyre, each one is custom made for the specific tyre range. No cross contamination of compounds or other materials (all the plies both fabric and metallic are different too).

 

 

 

That is why a premium product (and im talking industry wide here not just pirelli) is more expensive than a budget product where all the tyres are more than likely made with just one or two compounds that are bought in bulk reducing overheads once again.

 

We sell waste rubber which has failed QC, gone out of date (stand times are often just 7 days before a compound is scrap) or even been through the manufacturing process once already then been rejected for any one of hundreds of reasons to places as diverse as the Ukraine and India where it is put back into the "food chain" to make all manner of products including tyres. If a company buy that rubber for tyres, they are getting tonne after tonne of old out of date uncertified and unidentified compound in a mix of Silica and Carbon much of which would never be used in the tread of a tyre and using it to make god knows which part of that "Huflungdung" tyre which is so cheap youd be foolish not to!