Hi all,
I always thought you were more likely to get a flat when it was raining because when it was wet, foreign bodies were lubricated by the water and therefore more likely to penetrate your tyre, however having just got a flat and it is bone dry but 1.5 degrees C I have decided it is actually due to sods law that you are more likely to get a flat when the weather is not ?ideal? for changing a wheel !!
My question is, having decided that the rear tyres are past there best, I will be replacing the pair, rather than get the puncture fixed, does anybody recommend a particular tyre (currently using Michelin Pilot 195/65 R 15 91V) for a 98 1.8 16v GLS Vectra? Also I seem to remember that Vauxhalls can be particular about where trolley jacks are placed, any body have any further info about this?
Is there a name for the stick on style balancing weights as opposed to the hammer on ones some knuckle dragging meathead has used on my alloys in the past?
Thanks in advance
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Vern
Having had Goodyear NCT3 (noisy, but good grip), Dunlop SP Sport 200 (Awful wet road grip, lasted ages) and Michelin Pilot HX (Quiet, good grip and life) on a Vectra SRi (205/60 VR15), I'd stick to the Michelins.
Regards
john S
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On my last SRi I changed from the standard Pirelli P600s to Yokohama A520s. Transformed the handling! As for the balance weights, they don't have a special name that I know of - just adhesive balance weights. Mention alloys and most good fitters get the idea.
Andy
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I can back Andy up on the Yokohamas. I have them on my Audi and they grip and ride well, and are good in the wet.
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Yokohama's very grippy but sometimes their life is a bit short.
Michelin's a bit more expensive but last a long time. They claim to improve mpg but never found this.
I run Continental's. Good all rounder
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Big Vern wrote:
>
> My question is, having decided that the rear tyres are past
> there best, I will be replacing the pair
Goes without saying that the best thing to do is to put the new set on the front.
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Why new on front?
I think this has cropped up before, but the newer tyres will have less dry road grip but better ability at shifting surface water. So older at front gives better grip / handling / traction for FWD most of the time and in very heavy rain you won't get the back end trying to overtake the front, but can simply lift off a bit to cure aquaplaneing (a natural response).
Anyway - go for Conti EcoContacts. They are showing hardly any wear on my Escort (rwd) and give incredible grip for such a narrow tyre.
Piers
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I got into this debate last year, I always thought New on the front, but HJ and others including Quick Fit tell me New to REAR!
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This could be debated all year but I will have the new tyres on the front every time.
I know what it does for the handling in real life driving situations, that's why I do it.
David
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This issue was tested using a Corsa with barely legal rears and new fronts, so it was an extreme case. On a wet test track lifting off on a bend caused significant oversteer. I suspect it would be less dangerous with some more tread at the back.
Even so, Vauxhall still recommend keeping the best tyres on the front. Just to confuse things though, I recall my Saab recommended fitting the new tyres at the rear - despite using GM floorpan! I have heard this advice, but in the context of maintaining stability when braking.
You pays your money.....
Regards
john
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John,
Yes as I rarely let tyres go below 2.5mm, and always dump any with worn edges, the lift off oversteer would be less dramatic and easier to control. Give me a nice bit of lift-off oversteer any day rather than terminal understeer with worn fronts and a limpet grip at the back.
In fact front wheel drive cars don't need the same tyre sizes front and rear due to the huge differential in the way they share tyre workload front to rear. I think something with 185 at the front would be quite happy with 165 at the rear.
But I'm getting drawn into debate....
David
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Vern,
The Michelins are a good choice. I just got two (same size as yours) at Costco for £51 +vat each.
Cheers,
Peter.
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Thanks for the advice, I'm going for the Michelins again, my local ATS has a promotion on at the minute £108.52 all in (fitting etc & including VAT), which is very competitive and the bloke on the phone was very helpfull.
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Which? magazine is testing tyres and the results will be published in the April edition.
A little way off I know, but if you are not in any hurry it may be worth seeing what they have to say.
I will let you know their main recommendations. I like the Michelin Pilotes that I am using at the moment, but would dearly (whoops, no pun) like something cheaper.
Don
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BV,
I have recently purchased two Michelin Primacy tyres for the rear axle of my MB C class, and they are the same size as your Michelin Pilots.
I only have limited experience of them so far, but notice that if the pressures are set to the "light load in car" range, they get noticeably more noisy! Handling is more than satisfactory for me.
Regards,
Julian L
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Both on our Xantia and my Cousin's we've found the latest Michelins have seemed more noisy and given a harder ride than the earlier Michelins they replaced.
David
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I switched from Michelin Pilot HXs (good wear, great grip) to Pirelli P6000s on the grounds that the Michelin web site was still being built (the same as it was the previous time I'd needed new tyres !) and the (slow) email reply said that they were still making Pilots but had no UK stock. The P6000s were great. Much quieter than the Michelins, just as much grip and good wear. But if there's a special offer on on a good brand...
John
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