'Budget' tyres... What do you recommend?!

[generaldogsbody]

Barum Bravuris for me. Always have them fitted to my Hyundai. "Barum is a joint venture with Continental AG."

[thorne]

I work in a tyre place and personally I'd rather go for branded part words than new budgets, having said that we sell autogrips and runway enduros which people seem quite happy with but never tried em myself, if you want to buy new, stuff like toyos are usually not much more money than budgets and much better quality

[ChasR]

The only issue with part worns is that some people (and vendors) are all to happy to take advantage of selling you rubbish. A car of mine ages ago had its previous owner spend a small fortune on part worn premium tyres, only to find that they gave him a number of issues (including me!) due to:

-both tyres being out of shape (I initially thought it had a drivetrain issue!)
-both of the tyres were no longer in production and once were I assume spare tyres. Going off the date stamps they were at least 10 years old (Michelin Pilot SX and Pirelli P700-z anyone?).

It is unsuprising that in the above example fitting some Toyo CF-1s up front transformed the grip and handling of the car.

That said there are some reputable garages out there willing to sell you good part worns where the above attributes will be checked but of course it comes down to price...

Another thing to bear in mind that new tyres come with 8mm(or thereabouts) worth of tread, leaving you with 6mm (or 6.4mm for the smartarses ) of legal tread to wear down. On most part worns I have seen with 4 to 5mm you are only left with 2-3mm worth of useful tread. It doesn't take long to figure out that half of the tyre's life has been passed.

Some budget brands are not too bad IME although some middle of the road companies are not too bad. Nankang have a variable reputation (unless you mention the NS-2R ), with Uniroyal being great but not long lasting.

I'd say go with newish Michelins myself if possible (and if the price is right). My Porker is still on its Pilot Sport IIs at the rear with well over 13k on them. Falken are worth considering.


Anyway enough of the opinions! On a Dolomite Sprint the stock size is 175/70R13 with many owners going for 185/60R13. When I had mine the Nexens I fitted were not too bad at all! Better than most budgets if I am honest, and possibly on a par with some premium stuff of an older design.

I shall check out the choices in your size later but now I may brave a local show if the rain calms down!

[grifterkid]

Thanks for all your help folks, it is hugely appreciated...

I think that part-worns are a tad risky so I'm going to go for a budget brand. I'm not going to go dirt cheap but I am not going to be getting anything that will be worth more than my car!!!

Thanks again to one and all...

[mylittletony]

I just re-read this thread and all bar one are either recommending part worns or Nankang/autogrip or better quality tyres, yet you have decided to go for budget tyres - why bother asking?

Still, you should be able to get something relatively decent in a small size for £30-40 a tyre...

[tineca]

If you go on etyres you can have 4 falkens with a rated grip for 160 fitted. There are some for 143. Cheers. Jed

[grifterkid]

Aug 19, 2014 15:28:38 GMT mylittletony said:

I just re-read this thread and all bar one are either recommending part worns or Nankang/autogrip or better quality tyres, yet you have decided to go for budget tyres - why bother asking?

Still, you should be able to get something relatively decent in a small size for £30-40 a tyre...

I know what you mean, I am still not 100% sure I'm making the right decision...!!!

It's just that you cannot guarantee anything with part-worns and you're not getting a 'full life' tyre as in they've already seem some action!

Anyhow, there are some sites that have been recommended that sell reputable brand-name new tyres for a good sum so I may still get some trusted rubber...!!!

I'm just on a budget so I have to buy wisely...

[mylittletony]

Tyres are one part that should be considered an investment. I fitted some Kumho tyres to my 205, I NEVER managed to unstick them, they worked brilliantly in the wet and they lasted for 30,000+miles with occasional swapping front to rear. £40 a corner, bargain!

I've also had linglong and Wanli already on cars I bought and they were positively dangerous at times.

Recently I've resorted to £20-30 a corner part worns cos I'm tight and drive slowly.

Get a quote from the place I linked to previously, they genuinely do offer a great service and let you check the tyres before fitting them. I could get there and back from Weybridge in my lunchbreak...

[grifterkid]

I shall do just that...

Strangely one of the guys that works at that place used to be my manager when I had my first Saturday job many (MANY) moons ago...!!!

[Curtis]

I've had budgets and part worns, I'd say part worns every time! I've got autoguards on my IS and they're great in the dry, I fear for my life in the wet! I think thats the key difference is wet performance. I may be so bold as to suggest nankangs, they're a decent tyre but dirt cheap, again though, wet performance is not quite up to par

[octagonalpaul]

Another vote for Nankang NS2 from me, have had them on my Nova for a while now and they really are great. I've had Yokohama's on it previously and there is not much discernible difference, so they're certainly great on a light car.

[hkr91]

Nankang NS2. Check out camskill