There are people who want cheap tyres for their cars that never even get to 30mph, that they use for local commuting, nip into town etc etc.
If you are putting cheap tyres on for performance/grip then I agree with therecommendations. If you are putting tyres on to keep the car for this use then whats the problem?
Horses for courses maybe?
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I had a pair of Tigar's on a car about 15 years ago. They had kerbing rings, which was nice.
What wasn't nice was the horrendously noisy (think outboard motor) racket when they began to self-oscillate at anything above 65mph. Had to get rid of them long before they had any wear. Balancing did nothing.
Hope they're not all like that.
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That was probably a "design feature" to stop them being over-stressed at speed !
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Regarding vibration
Did you check that the tyres were truly round? I had this problem about forty years ago with a Mini. One jacks-up one wheel at a time. Next place a brick next to the tread and rotate the wheel. The gap between the tread and the brick should remain absolutely constant.
I read about a Jaguar owner with the same fault on new and expensive tyres! The tyre fitters cured the problem by grinding or sanding the oval tyre until it was truly round. Obviously if the out of round is more than a couple of millimetres this cannot be done.
That Mini tyre was a real PITA and it took ages for me to find the fault. Wheel balance, brakes, driveshafts and bearings were all beyond reproach but vibration would occur between 50 and 60 mph. Faster or slower than that and it would be OK. It was of course the tyre that got roasted with the heat from the radiator. Grrrrr!
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If you are putting cheap tyres on for performance/grip then I agree with therecommendations. If you are putting tyres on to keep the car for this use then whats the problem? Horses for courses maybe?
The problem isn't the use you're intending to put it to, it's what happens that you're not expecting.
Even a 30mph runabout might, that one time, need to emergency brake. It's that one occasion which matters.
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>>it's what happens that you're not expecting.
To me, this is the vital point.
Perhaps the tyre testing results would be better ranked in order of wet grip expressed as a fraction of dry grip. In this way, the temperamental tyres which are most sensitive to conditions would languish at the foot of such a list.
The idea of not getting what you expect is, again for me, where parallels can be drawn between safety and quality.
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I have no problem with cheap tyres per se just those which are so much worse than others. E.g. for £2 a tyre more than the Wanli, one could buy a Barum which performs adequately (with a score of 57%).
There is no place in the UK for such a poor tyre as this Wanli.
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I am more worried about the Corsa, Clio, Saxo mob with their big exhausts and blue washer jets that ARE zooming around on second/third/fourth hand alloys with such well known and quality tyres as Wanlis, Tigars, Kingstires, Heros, Goodrides, Infinitys and Chengshans.
I've sold a few sets of alloys over the past year (shed clearout due to er indoors giving me the 'sell um or dump um' ultimatum) and the youngsters which have bought or came to view had no interest whatsoever what the tyre make or quality was as long as there is legal tread left. I must add I have then pointed out minimum legal tread is not what they should be happy with, but I dont think it sunk in in most cases.
I reckon you are more likely to be rear ended by one of these youngsters than rear end someone if you are driving with these spurious quality tyres on your own motor.
CBG
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I have a set of Trayals on my Mazda 323TD supplied and fitted by a reliable local fast-fit (£28 each!) and there's 20k on them with no problems at all.
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I have a set of Trayals on my Mazda 323TD supplied and fitted by a reliable local fast-fit (£28 each!) and there's 20k on them with no problems at all.
I dont think mileage is the issue here. In fact many of the cheaper tyres have incredibly high tread wear ratings (400+) and are impossible to wear out. About as grippy as a billiard ball though.
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and there's 20k on them with no problems at all.>>
But he also said, with no problem at all, which i assume he meant, he is happy with their performance/grip?
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 23/03/2008 at 17:18
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(copied from other thread which i wrongly posted this in, sorry mods...confusion reigns)
I'm very inclined to agree with NC that the number one most important thing about tyres is the wet grip.
This far outweighs any other consideration for me.
There are some very capable tyres as well as other products made in the far east, but not everything made there is good, same as not everything made nearer to home is good.
I think its good to see these different reports and tests, and it helps to keep the mainstream established makers on their toes and hopefully stops them becoming complacent.
I will buy products made just about anywhere as long as they are to the standards i require, however i do think tyres and brakes are two very special exceptions in the strive for cheapness, and i will always try and buy the best i can afford of both.
Aside from that, if i can i buy goods from countries who have proper health and safety and pay and pension provision. (A level playing field?) I used to always buy British at one time when we still made things (as against assembling them for foreign owned companies), and i was often made to feel like some sort of madman for doing so
It always amazes me when i've looked at sometimes very expensive cars that someone has fitted with Chinese ditchfinders, i always walk away as i suspect the servicing and care has been equally cheap.
Edited by gordonbennet on 23/03/2008 at 13:39
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I am not a "cheap tyre" fan, despite all my apparant support for them.
However, all i am trying to highlight is that they do have a place and are not automatically bad.
My real point is that tyres should not be a fit and forget product. Whatever is fitted it needs looking at regularly (another reason for regular servicing rtaher than high mileage intervals!). Any problems that do arise should then be spotted before any real problem occurs!
I see too many cars that have famous name tyres on them in such poor condition it annoys me. Hence my apparant support for cheaper tyres. I do believe that at least the people with them fitted are looking at their tyres, are thinking of their safety (right or wrong!) and hence may drive safer (more thought involved)
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Hence my apparent support for cheaper tyres. I do believe that at least the people with them fitted are looking at their tyres are thinking of their safety (right or wrong!) and hence may drive safer (more thought involved)
But why do you feel it more likely that an owner of cheap tyres regularly checks them than the owner of a brand name tyre?
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Because they have got them fitted, means that they looked at their tyres and had them changed.
In my experience its the better known brands that are run to the last possible mile (probably because so expensive to replace).
People can afford budget tyres, so they get changed. they cant afford dear ones, so they dont.
And I know its not an exact science. But look at a lot of cars and form your own opinion?
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I am more worried about the Corsa Clio Saxo mob with their big exhausts and blue washer jets that ARE zooming around on second/third/fourth hand alloys with such well known and quality tyres as Wanlis Tigars Kingstires Heros Goodrides Infinitys and Chengshans.
Isnt just limited to the Corsa/Clio/Saxo mob either. I have seen many BMWs and Subaru Imprezas in the north east with either practically bare tyres or one of those quality brans such as Tigar and co on the lowest of profiles.
Some things never cease to amaze me.
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Quite right - anything other than a 316 or 318 ion something other than properly made and specc'd rear tyres is asking for a whole load of rear end trouble, especially from a pilot who has just graduated from a fwd hatch. Tyres on a Beemer with an engine of note are critical.
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Tigar tyres seem quite popular on cheapie run-abouts sold by small sub-prime dealers.
>>>>>>>> dont come to me then as i will fit a kingpin remould....
to RaineMan :-)
Edited by bell boy on 21/11/2009 at 11:17
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