Tell you what, the government could half road fatality statistics overnight if the tightened up the standards on the tyres available to the public. My 4motion is going at the weekend, and the lad who's buying it doesn't want the 18"s so he brought around some wheels at the weekend for me to put on it. Only 16" TT rims, with 205/50 "Infinity" tyres. "Made in the PRC", China in other words. I wouldn't even go out in the car yesterday as it was a bit damp. But I went to donington in it this morning and scared myself silly. I've ran the car on 225.40.18 Pirelli P Zero Rosso's in the 2 years I've owned it. They have been fantastic in all weathers, and i can't unstick them at all in the wet in a straight line. Nothing prepare me for haw truly, tragically poor these cheap tyres are. I nearly hit the crash barrier turning onto the A64 sliproad , ZERO turn in grip, just like driving on ice. I filled up with fuel at donington park services and booted it on the mini roundabout on the way out. I had the car sideways at 10MPH.....waste of time even trying to brake hard, it just kicks the ABS in. And if i boot it hard in 2st and go for 2nd the ESP nearly stalls the engine! turn it off and it'll spin halfway through 2nd. In the dry with ESP off i can light all 4 tyres up from a standing start. Absolutely shocking, I am utterly astounded that this crap is legal, even more so that the majority of the general motoring public CHOOSE crap like this for their cars. No wonder there's so many crashes.
whats your worst brand budgets - idea for a thread.. years back i ran on the fronts a pair of dolphins for a bit - GREAT in the wet
The P6000's on my Polo - ****ing **** in the wet and they are like new... I've ordered some F1's after nearly running off the road on Saturday at about 30mph.
Ran some quick-fits on the 1300, im not normally a hard driver but they understeered around every round about, and squeeled like hell, at 15-20mph!! Couple of goodyears atm and cant unstick them
the best name I heard of were linglong i forgot to say them sunny tyres were in a 225/40/18 on merc wheels why I ask would you buy a 35k merc and put crap on them
Sounds like your asking a bit much from these tyres....hope they arn't sold as a performance tyre! Totally agree tho, if they were removed from the market surly this would up safety statistics.
I'm not driving hard, it's not possible. My 4mo now handles worse than the lupo!! (then again, that's got michelin pilot sports on the front)
When we used to have Falkens on the Leon EVEN the mrs was commenting on the fact the the traction light was "flickering a lot" didn't get that with the rosso's or the f1's Still nice to test the traction control now and then
my brothers 1.2 16v clio came with some insane tyres. no job, that thing could light up coming out of tight corners in 2nd. braking was abysmal. it makes me laugh most when some know nothing numpty goes out and buys the biggest most blinging stupid looking wheels they can find and goes for the remould made in china dodgy option.
I've found with new Falkens on the front of my Escort, it understeers like a ***** on roundabouts, where as the old, bald, Ching Cheng tyres or whatever they were, actually gripped really well, even in the wet. I had some brand new Nexens on my old 16v, 50 a piece, and they sent me flying off a rounabout and into a lamppost!
here's a bizarre thing, i averaged 31.2mpg on the way back from the NEC. best usually is around the 27 mark. no frictional losses you see!
my mums got a new bmw mini with french fat bloke energy star tyres in 175 on a 15" rim, no this car put out 120bhp on normal fuel and about 125 or so on super (what mum runs on) i went and collected it the other night for her from work and my god! island in second the slightest throttle and it went straight on!!!! and then we get to braking the minis brakes are ace, but due to the poop tyres the abs gets a major work out every time!
Margoni are budget but apparently not bad according to tyre test reviews. What makes me laugh is people who are prepared to save 5 a tyre over decent brand! Budget tyres on my old golf were tough as old boots though and lasted ages
