Car Tyre Discussion

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mudguard

978 posts

Ultimate Geek

#272761 14-Jul-2020 18:19

Well after looking through five pages of search, there wasn't really a generic tyre discussion thread. So I thought I'd start one, as it's that time of year when I have to replace not only my work car tyres, which unfortunately, is almost annually, but also for my project car.

So I've been diving into the murky world of tread wear ratings, to decide what to put on both cars.

Currently the Toyrolla has the original Goodyear Ensave EC300 which have worn pretty well 40,000km in now, but are surprisingly soft at 240. For the project car, which will see the odd track day I was looking at Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE003, which are only a little softer at 220.

Amusingly, both cars have almost the same tyre size (205/55/16 and 205/45/16 I think) but completely different purposes. Traditionally I've always put Bridgestone Ecopia EP100 on once the original ones have worn on my work cars, the treadwear rating on them is 400, so very hard compared to the others.

So I thought I'd start this, and perhaps any generic tyre questions can wind up in here!

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1332 posts

Uber Geek

#2522904 14-Jul-2020 18:23

Did you search for 'tyre'? 1,510 results vs 707.

mudguard

978 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2522908 14-Jul-2020 18:30

SirHumphreyAppleby:

Did you search for 'tyre'? 1,510 results vs 707.

Well I got 680 vs 1000 so figure it was the same. Plus it was bringing up results for both spellings.

Delphinus

454 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2523142 14-Jul-2020 22:26

I've been running Maxxis Premitra HP5's on my Mazda Axela/3 and really like them. So far good wear, but more important to me, much better handling in the wet and dry. They don't slip and squeal in the corners when driving enthusiastically compared to what was on there before.

Dingbatt

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#2523221 15-Jul-2020 06:48

When you talk about “softness” is it referring to the rubber compound itself? I’m assuming harder means longer lasting but less pliant with the road surface. My hybrid is due for new tires soon and it seems to specify ones with a low rolling resistance which I also think means harder and noisier.

The coarseness of the chip used in NZ roads drives me nuts, so I think I’m going to have to compromise some economy to increase aural comfort. Does anyone have any comment on which tread patterns are quieter?

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sidefx

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#2523257 15-Jul-2020 09:20

I bought a new (2nd hand) car recently. Had Maxxis on it (ma656) - first time I've driven the brand though I had heard of them for MTB tyres before. Pretty happy with them - reasonably quiet on the road, have lasted pretty well, and handled the fairly frequent weekend metal\unsealed\beach and mountain roads I've thrown at them. Approaching 25000km and suspect they were on the car a while before I got it.

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mdooher

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#2523260 15-Jul-2020 09:41

I went with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 on both my vehicles, and must say I really like them. I tend to drive my cars like I stole them, but have always been pussy in the wet. Not with these tyres.

Matthew

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#2523262 15-Jul-2020 09:47

mdooher:

I tend to drive my cars like I stole them, but have always been pussy in the wet. Not with these tyres.

That's a funny comment as a lot of the crashes we read about in the papers are usually stolen vehicles...

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mdooher

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#2523369 15-Jul-2020 10:32

freitasm:

mdooher:

I tend to drive my cars like I stole them, but have always been pussy in the wet. Not with these tyres.

That's a funny comment as a lot of the crashes we read about in the papers are usually stolen vehicles...

Of course they crash, they don't have Michelin Pilot sport 4 tyres ...

Matthew

Obraik

754 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2523472 15-Jul-2020 12:41

I have the factory Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres on my Tesla Model 3. However, they're a slightly special Tesla version with foam inside for noise reduction. I did manage to put a bolt through one of them, though...

Jase2985

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#2523498 15-Jul-2020 13:31

i have good year assurance triplemaxx on my accord (225/45/17) and they have done almost 70,000km and still have about another 15000km left in them.

They been been rock solid handling wise in the wet and the dry, but i dont really push it as its a daily not a race car.

THe car previously had ecopias on it but the triplemaxx were slightly cheaper so i decided to give them a go. i think i worked out to account for the premium over a modestly priced 17in tyre i would have had to have done about 60000km on them so its worked out alright thus far.

I would buy them again.

boflit

64 posts

Master Geek

#2523515 15-Jul-2020 14:09

I personally don't like Michelin PS4, they grip well, no denying that, but I just found zero feel at the wheel. RE003 I love, have had them on two cars and we brilliant, even in wet. Also Goodyear EAgle F1s Asym, very good, although only last about 20,000kms after I had trashed them on a particularly spirited drive back from the coromandel at new years, they blistered up on the outside, but up to that point, brilliant in wet or dry.

This meant a fair bit of research for replacements, I hate pirellis and continentals, the RE003s weren't on special, the PS4 again, no feel, so I was looking at other brands on Hyper Drive, but none provided the wet weather grip I demand, or the price point, until I found Roadstone Eurovis Sport 04. They hit the price point, loads of wet weather grip, good wear rates and reviews report are much higher than average "buy again" percentage.

Fitted now on the Passat 3.2 4Motion and I am noticing no difference from the more expensive Eagle F1s, handling, feedback, road noise, everything, just $200 cheaper per corner.

Wear rate isn't important to me, its grip, my safety and that of my family is of utmost importance. On my own I do drive, as mdooher said, like I stole it, hence I want all weather grip and feedback. A couple of years ago I did ask our now national party leader, Judith, to look into banning the cheap tyres from NZ as they are quite simply dangerous. It annoys me that we hear of accidents, keep your speed down, I know these roads too, bla bla, what I would like to know to understand the crash, is what tires they were running. I've seen people slide at slow speeds and wonder why, I've seen a woman backwards in a field and given the location, could only assume cos her tyres were made of chinese plastic bags. I've followed someone over the kaimais and wondered why the hell they were driving so slow, is it lack of confidence, ability? Stopping in Matamata near them, I looked at their tires and saw, sure enough, cheap chinese tires, why have a RWD 2.5L V6 if you are going to put the crappiest tires on?

Sorry, rant over, I just hate that accidents could be avoided, and me allowed to drive at 120 rather than 90, if people had decent tyres on their car. You'd think LTNZ and NZ police might have cottoned on to that by now.

mudguard

978 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2523597 15-Jul-2020 16:34

Roadstone Eurovis Sport 04. They hit the price point, loads of wet weather grip, good wear rates and reviews report are much higher than average "buy again" percentage.

I've never heard of this brand? Is it called by something else as well? Looks like they are made by Nexen, who has very, very hard tires, IE 320-400 treadwear rating, that's hard economy stuff. But these are likely to be softer, hard to find info on them though.

Edit, looks like 320 which is a firm tire. It may something different on your tires however.

Wear rate isn't important to me, its grip, my safety and that of my family is of utmost importance. On my own I do drive, as mdooher said, like I stole it, hence I want all weather grip and feedback.

Well this is why treadwear rating is important. You can get ultra sticky but short lasting tires, or hard and long lasting.

I've followed someone over the kaimais and wondered why the hell they were driving so slow, is it lack of confidence, ability? Stopping in Matamata near them, I looked at their tires and saw, sure enough, cheap chinese tires, why have a RWD 2.5L V6 if you are going to put the crappiest tires on?

Maybe simply weren't in a hurry? Perhaps they can push their tires if they want to?

You won't find much sympathy here, if you want to go faster than the speed limit, do track days.

myopinion

906 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2523602 15-Jul-2020 16:52

With tyres you definitely get what you pay for. They are the only thing connecting you to the road so its worth paying more for a good tyre for wet/dry grip, comfort, handling (no slop), low noise and if they are magic, long lasting as well. I’ve found the OEM tyres are usually pretty good as the manufacturer has spec’d them. I’ve also found Michelin to be fantastic tyres but they are at the top end of the budget. The top ones can also handle a few track days without blistering and falling apart :)

ilovemusic

1314 posts

Uber Geek

#2523856 15-Jul-2020 23:44

Why are tyres so expensive in NZ ?

Jase2985

9795 posts

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#2523872 16-Jul-2020 06:18

ilovemusic:

Why are tyres so expensive in NZ ?

small market, low volumes imported higher costs

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