Tyre Recommendations?

[Mikef]

HI All

 

I need to get some new tyres on the front (2002 Galaxy TDI)...I've had Toyo Proxes for over a year now, I posted on here about my dislike of them at the time and my opinion didn't change! So I'm not sure where to go next...I've had Dunlop SPs before, which were great but very soft, only a year (10,000 miles) out of them. Bridgestone were OK, but I found them very noisy on motorways.

 

I dimly recall that the Continental brand were recommended in these parts previously?

 

cheers all

 

mikef

Edited September 24, 2010 by Mikef

[Willie Krashitt]

Do a search and you will find lots of recommendations. Avoid these ones though...My link

[shahed]

All depends on how you drive!

 

Having said that, the better brands are much lighter in weight & will save on fuel consumption & should last longer.

 

The cost per tyre between a good manufactured tyre & an unknown make will be

[Mikef]

After reading through a whole host of other notes, I decided to go looking for either Continentals or Goodyear Optigrip...however, for my tyre size (195/60 R16 99/97H) it seems I am limited to either Bridgestones or Dunlop SP 200s. Nothing else seems to be coming up. One garage said I might be Ok to go with not putting re-inforced tyres on it, but I'm unwilling to take the risk to be honest...

 

I've found Bridgestones to be hard wearing but noisy in the past, Dunlops were Ok but soft.

 

I guess with my model (2002 TDI Galaxy) I'm just limited..

 

 

cheers

 

mikef

[sparky Paul]

Are you sure about that 195/60 R16 tyre size? It's not a standard fit tyre, and reinforced tyres in this size are only 91 rated.

 

Tyres need to be 95 rated or better.

[cyborg]

According to parkers the Empty weight of a galaxy is 1724 kg some are few kg lighter.

car 1724/4 =431 tyre load index 79providiving no ones in car

 

Now add 7 Adult people Each having weight of say uk average 56kg

(car 1724kg + 7people 392kg=2116) /4 =529 tyre index load required 86

 

Now if your carrying 7 suitcases 7*25kg 7 average weight people + roof rack 50kg

(car 1724kg + 7 Adults 392kg + suitcases 175kg +roof rack 50kg =2341kg)/4=585.25 tyre index load 90

 

Extrime loading Example.

now add caravan twin axle full of house stuff..say 2000kg + car 7 people 7 suitcase's and roof rack =4341kg

4341/4=1085 tyre index load required tyre load index 111

 

I think if you not towing, don't go fast as speed would equal more brake weight you can put a lighter load tyre so any thing over 90 makes sense although this all theroy. My best advice is put on the best you can't afford ;) keep safe.

[Mikef]

Cheers Sparky, yes that size is correct. I'm pretty sure that the Bridgestone ER30 and Dunlop sp200 are both reinforced in that spec, if you check out blackcircles.com they are labelled up as Van Tyres rather than Car Tyres. The Bridgestone are what Ford themselves fit (I have two on the rear at the moment, I'll have a look this evening to see if they have an R or XL to indicate reinforcement).

 

Theres also a Continental Vanco Contact in that spec, but its not clear that it is re-inforced. So it looks like I am pretty much restricted to a choice of two tyres...hmm...time for a new Galaxy maybe!

 

cheers all

 

mikef