Which tyres?

[4lex]

Going to buy some new tyres with the cash I get for my old van, which to go for though?

I'm after a middle order tyre with a good compromise between longevity and grip, in 215/65r14 fitment.

Phoning around I found a budget 'Bolex' tyre, supposedly a subsidiary of Kumho for $78 per corner, Nankang SA603 at $86, Bridgestone RE92 at $99 and P6000 (don't think this is hard wearing enough) for $135 from various suppliers.

Which would you go for for cost-effective motoring?

Cheers,
Alex

[lv619]

bob jane has Pos-A-Traction in 215/65 R14 for $75ea atm... I wonder what the POS stands for though ;)

[chelvdog]

Originally Posted by lv619

bob jane has Pos-A-Traction in 215/65 R14 for $75ea atm... I wonder what the POS stands for though ;)

MAybe it means you only POSsibly get traction???

[4lex]

Never heard of pos-a-traction, I suppose they needn't necessarily be shite? Has anyone tried them?

[Thanatos]

My boss has used pos-a-traction on his EB. His car is 100% clapped out, has a 2.92LSDdiff (instead of the normal 3.27) and it wheelspins from a standing start (without stalling it up!). So grip isn't exactly one of their strong points. :P They seem to last extremely well, though...

[LTDHO]

I thought the POS stood for Piece Of _hit.....

With tyres ya get what ya paid for. The better the tyre the more grip and the quicker it'll wear. Buy the best you can afford.

Remember those four patchs of rubber are the only thigs holding ya car on the road!

[4lex]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

With tyres ya get what ya paid for. The better the tyre the more grip and the quicker it'll wear. Buy the best you can afford.

Remember those four patchs of rubber are the only thigs holding ya car on the road!

Thanks, but I can afford to buy a new car, I just choose not to. What I'm after is good value, regardless of the cost. If it was balls-out performance I was after I'd go the awesome Bridgestone S-03, but I didn't buy the falcon for it's agility on the track, and the last set of these I had did just 3,000km of (spirited) driving. Equally though I'm not keen on the terrible-under-braking Michelin Energy tyres they sell in Europe, which'll do 60,000km.

Obviously I'm not familiar with the market here and what products are available, but the RE92 seemed a good compromise unless anyone has any other recommendations?

[oneredED]

I personally don't like RE92's, but others probably do. I had Kuhmo 769's ("powermax" LOL) on my ED till i got the mags, and they wore really really well, and they had heaps of grip. Not sure on current prices, but i got mine for $110 each fitted and balanced, and couldn't fault them

[4lex]

Cheers. I'll check up on those too

[bindi]

Now I have a set of Pirellis on my rolla and I tell you they aren't that good, I am not so impressed. Little 13" wheels, the most expensive ones I ever bought on that car, at $82 per corner. Don't seem to much better than the last set of tyres I had (Kumhos) and much more expensive.

I was also told that Pirellis, being European, are made for European conditions and therefore are not used to the harsh Aussie conditions. Apparently when the tyres heat up above 13C they have problems. They prefer ice and snow temps... urban legend? But then again what the f*ck do race cars use - Pirellis, so it is prolly a load of shyte

Of course I was told this AFTER I bought them :

Also on the EA atm we have dunlops, they are going bye byes very soon, pieces of utter crap.

And one last thing - don't go Goodyear, weak walls.

[Fairlane]

Tough choice

I have found RE92's to be absolute rubbish, not very hard wearing and not much grip. I also found Dunlop Monza 200's (do they come in 215*14?) to be good wearing tyres but awful grip.

POS-A-traction aren't that bad for a cheapie, my father had them on his EA and they held up well.

Maybe you could have a look at Yokohama's, I ended getting Yokohama S760's on my EL & I've found them pretty good.(don't know if they come in 215*14 though.)

[pepsimax]

to be honest i've never put new tyres on any of my cars,,they last just as long as retreads but are 3 times the price,,i've only ever had trouble with two in 17 years.

being a pensioner $55 per corner is better than $120 plus. and i still get the k's.

[Monty94]

Yeah I got Monza 200s too. Done 20000 on them and they have hardly worn. But as Fairlane said not the best grip wise.

[blueoval]

Has anyone had experience with the Nankang tyre brand?

I've read very positive reviews and they seems to say that they are a surprising tyre for low noise, good grip and low price.

I think the low price comes down to the fact that they are made in China. Obviously they arent going to compare with the higher profile brands, but if your on a budget and are looking for a nice tyre, Id say give them a try!

[InitialD]

Originally Posted by oneredED

I personally don't like RE92's, but others probably do. I had Kuhmo 769's ("powermax" LOL) on my ED till i got the mags, and they wore really really well, and they had heaps of grip. Not sure on current prices, but i got mine for $110 each fitted and balanced, and couldn't fault them

Im about to put a pair of Kuhmo 769 215/60/R15's on my EA soon. Had them in 14" on it when my sister had it. Suprisingly had great grip in the wet. And OneRed is on the money, $110 each fitted and balanced is what i was quoted recently. HIGHLY RECOMEND THEM

Goodyear Eagle GA I&II are both Shithouse. Unless you want everyone to think your car is a performance beast cause you can rip standstill with them in the dry dont touch them!. Ive lost control with those on the back numerious times.

RE92's are crap aswell, had Positraction's, they were not the greatest. The best tyres i can remember having were Yokohama 509's and 539's. Greatest tyre. Would get them again anyday (If i could afford it : )

[AdzT3-146]

this thread somehow go to the top of the page, so i'll say that Yokohama A-046 are the best tyre i've ever had, seriously awesome, great in the wet aswell.

[Kenaz]

In 14" the Pirelli's aren't bad. I had them on my old EA when I first got my license.

[INJECTED_250]

i had bridgestone turansas, on a set of second hand rims i got, They were 225/60/15. Have never had a tire with as much grip, IN the dry they were awesome, in the wet pretty good 2. Im now runing cheapo 17's 235/45/17's Intensas. they Are crap tacular

[EA2BA]

Yokohama A539's now replaced with Yokohama C.Drive is what I have and would recommend, my tyres are in good nick still, plenty of tread left and willing to sell 205/65R15 with turbo blades if you are in Melbourne and interested.

[Polyal]

OK not being a smart ****, but did EA's seriously come out factory with 14's?

I think you should pick up some EB S pak, snowflakes, or just something else and go to 15's.

Ive never brought 14's so I have no idea whats good, but 15's I can recommend pirellis. Didn't motor/wheels have a tyre test last month? Ok 14's weren't in that but maybe its some kind of guide.

[oneredED]

OK not being a smart ****, but did EA's seriously come out factory with 14's?

Even ED's came out with factory 14" stockies...

[Inferno]

I had A539's on my 15's and now I have Yokohama C-Drives on my 17' rims, Awesome tyre, a full set cost me 1000 with fitting, balance, alignment and a few other little things. They hold the road so well, and there's so much tread on them!!! And I got Nitrogen for $8 per tyre, and cool little red air value tips

[BuuBox]

I'd steer clear of the RE92's, had them on mum's V6 camry and it used to get stupid amounts of wheelspin, even when it was bone dry, not a good sign :( If you planted the foot on a wet freeway @ 100km/h, you'd get wheelspin. Admitidly they were worn, but no where near being unroadworthy.

I've got Bridgestone Turanza's on the EB at the moment, and while they have heaps of grip in the dry, they seem a little crappy in the wet. Rear seems to come around way to easily when it's raining...