Tyres - price I should pay, best brand, why prices so secret?

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Reply # 1207706 3-Jan-2015 15:45

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TLD: I have found it false economy buying cheap tires. I tried it just once, and they lasted just over a year! :-(

depends on which ones you get and the tread wear rating

timmmay

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Reply # 1207707 3-Jan-2015 15:46

Jase2985: every year you should rotate/flip your tyres of maximum life

Tony's did put a sticker on the window with a rotate date but I didn't notice until now. Of course that way you have a set of tyres that lasts longer, but on average are you better off tread wise? This way it wears down but then gets fresh tyres where it needs them most.

When rotating you may be best having the wheels balanced or aligned too, extra cost.

TLD: I have found it false economy buying cheap tires. I tried it just once, and they lasted just over a year! :-(

Unsure what your point is. I'm looking to work out what good tyres should cost, not buy cheap tyres. My tyres are over 3 years old, they're the type recommended by consumer at the time. 3 years not rotated is probably not bad.

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Reply # 1207718 3-Jan-2015 16:39

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timmmay: NOTE - PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE POSTING: I don't need "tyres are important" advice, I know that. I'm not looking for cheap tyres. I'm interested in what good quality tyres should cost given there's so much difference between advertised prices and what the tyres are occasionally sold for.

Fail ; )

insane

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Reply # 1207741 3-Jan-2015 17:24

timmmay: We don't need this thread to be another "tyres are important, don't buy cheap ones" thread, that's obvious. I was asking about what good tyres should cost and why tyre companies are so secretive about prices.

If you want to find the cheapest price then call around, tires are often priced differently as some shops provide free rotation of tires, discounted wheel balancing or alignment etc depending on how many you buy, trade ins of old tires etc that it makes it hard to list a deal price online. Other times they just want to get rid of old stock or improve cash flow.

The cheapest online prices normally refer to the rubber only, no fitting so read carefully.

Honestly if you value your time just head out and get the best listed price and move onto more important things ;)

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Reply # 1207746 3-Jan-2015 17:34

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I like the Bridgestone ecopia, done 15k so far on a little Fiesta. Still smooth. I chucked away the original continental tyres (came with new car) despite it still has 5+ mm thread. I found the ride is too hard.

I rotate the tyres regularly. By the time it needs changing, all 4 has to be changed.

You also tend to get better deal as well when buying 4 of them.

I do prefer Bridgestone/Firestone products.

Hint: Tony tyre and Bridgestone/Firestone stores are owned by the same company. But they will compete each other quote. I managed to get all 4 Dueler D697 for just less than ~1k

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Reply # 1207747 3-Jan-2015 17:38

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Did you look at priceme ?

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Reply # 1207753 3-Jan-2015 17:52

timmmay:
Jase2985: rotate the fronts the the rear :) im guessing you have never done that?

Nope, I just drive it and leave others to worry about the details. The two front tyres really need to be replaced, I'll leave it up to the tyre store to decide where which set of tyres go.

As someone else has said you would have got a better per tyre deal on a complete set if you had balanced the wear out. Saying they lasted 3 years is meaningless without distance travelled.

Leaving it to the average tyre fitter and they'll stick the new on the front because it "seems right" even though all major tyre manufacturers agree that the rear is where the better tyres sbould be for the average "my car is an appliance" user. If the rear tyres aren't as grippy as the front the car can have a tendency to lose it. Not many have the ability to bring the back end under control. Of course you may be a sedate driver and that scenario will be less likely.

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Reply # 1207756 3-Jan-2015 17:53

Also don't forget two new tyres must always go to the rear.

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Reply # 1207759 3-Jan-2015 17:57

blakamin:
Bung:
Leaving it to the average tyre fitter and they'll stick the new on the front because it "seems right" even though all major tyre manufacturers agree that the rear is where the better tyres sbould be for the average "my car is an appliance" user. If the rear tyres aren't as grippy as the front the car can have a tendency to lose it. Not many have the ability to bring the back end under control. Of course you may be a sedate driver and that scenario will be less likely.

As an ex tyre technician and wheel alignment specialist (actually had to do a course, surprisingly) I'll just say "WHAT A LOAD OF BOLLOX".

You should have defend this case in the court then?

http://www.feldmanshepherd.com/123-results-85-Million-Recovery-for-Injuries-Caused-By-Improper-Tire-Mounting.php

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Reply # 1207762 3-Jan-2015 17:59

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blakamin:
As an ex tyre technician and wheel alignment specialist (actually had to do a course, surprisingly) I'll just say "what a load".

Tyre manufacturers recommend you replace all 4 and rotate. You'd be driving like a maniac, or have absolutely bald tyres to be "losing it" in a fwd car.

totally agree there, put them on the front

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Reply # 1207763 3-Jan-2015 18:00

nakedmolerat:
You should have defend this case in the court then?

http://www.feldmanshepherd.com/123-results-85-Million-Recovery-for-Injuries-Caused-By-Improper-Tire-Mounting.php

because that applies in NZ

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Reply # 1207764 3-Jan-2015 18:00

Jase2985:
blakamin:
As an ex tyre technician and wheel alignment specialist (actually had to do a course, surprisingly) I'll just say "what a load".

Tyre manufacturers recommend you replace all 4 and rotate. You'd be driving like a maniac, or have absolutely bald tyres to be "losing it" in a fwd car.

totally agree there, put them on the front

Honestly, you should have defend this court case.

http://www.feldmanshepherd.com/123-results-85-Million-Recovery-for-Injuries-Caused-By-Improper-Tire-Mounting.php

timmmay

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Reply # 1207765 3-Jan-2015 18:01

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There was a huge thread on this, let's not get into front/rear rotate/not again, unless y'all like to argue.

Priceme was useless, only came up with one possible tyre at $200 each, but thanks for the link. Good to know about Tony's Firestone too.

Guess I'll call around and see what people say.

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Reply # 1207767 3-Jan-2015 18:03

Jase2985:
nakedmolerat:
You should have defend this case in the court then?

http://www.feldmanshepherd.com/123-results-85-Million-Recovery-for-Injuries-Caused-By-Improper-Tire-Mounting.php

because that applies in NZ

quote from AA NZ (does this apply to NZ?)

Should you fit new tyres on the front or rear axle?

Every time we encounter questions on this subject it causes heated debates. Opinions differ for various reasons and most of these explanations, for or against, have some merit.

The tyre industry states when replacing two tyres on your vehicle to fit them on the rear axle. Their reasoning is fitting new tyres to the front can result in oversteer and loss of control especially when braking or swerving sharply.

In the past we mechanics used to believe fitting newer tyres to the driving wheels was the right thing to do. Front wheel drive cars had new tyres fitted to the front and rear wheel drive vehicles had them fitted to the rear. It sounds logical as most of the wear will occur on the drive axle. Most people also believed a front wheel driver had better handling with new tyres on the front.

If your tyres are in such poor condition that this is a big cause for concern, then you probably should be replacing all four tyres.

Back on topic.

Jase2985

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Reply # 1207768 3-Jan-2015 18:04

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nakedmolerat: Honestly, you should have defend this court case.

http://www.feldmanshepherd.com/123-results-85-Million-Recovery-for-Injuries-Caused-By-Improper-Tire-Mounting.php

where does more of your braking occur? where do you steer from? where is the most weight in a FWD car?

do you actually know how hard you have to be driving to loose the rear in a FWD car? not within the speed limit

Quote the AA all you like, this is straight from 2 lifetime tyre and alignment techs.

AA get there info from one place and treat it as gospel

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