Wheels and Tyres - Yet again

[Peter Hills]

Sorry to raise an old chestnut again but I think I need some new tyres! I’ve noticed an increase in ‘bump-thump’ on English roads but this got very much worse when on a recent trip to France – the pave struck back! My wheels are standard 14” alloys and my suspension is in good condition with Spax adjustable dampers and recently replaced blue polybushes. But, my tyres are old – 2002 or 2004 Kumho or Arrowspeed (believed to be a Goodyear sub-brand) - with between 20,000 and 25,000 miles on them however they still have about 3-4mm tread depth. I think that the sidewalls have lost their flexibility as, probably, has the tread. Generally, I don’t think they owe me anything.

My ‘boy-racer’ days are long behind me! As I see things, I want tyres with good ‘bump-thump’ and good safety characteristics but I don’t care about wear rate - 10,000 miles would be fine.

Would 15" wheels with modern budget tyres be worth considering?

Does anyone have any reccommendations I should consider?


Peter

Oops - forgot tyre size - 185/70R14

[m9fdb]

I have 15 inch wheels to go on my Stag and they are running 225 50 ZR 15 Fulda tyres

I haven't fitted them yet so cant comment on the ride they give but i am sure others on here will.

[V Mad]

Peter, you dont say what profile tyres you are running but I would guess they are 70 or 80?

Going up to 15 inch means fitting a lower profile, probably about 65 which I think will only worsen the bump thuimp problem.

If you can get some old style 80 profile tyes for your 14-inch wheels you are probably best off with those.

[mjb67]

I use Contintental 175/80R14. I'll try to remember to take a photo when I get home.

[Peter Hills]

Thanks guys.

I've added my existing tyre size - 185/70R14 - to the original post.

Peter

[Gresley]

I have 15" Minilites with Yokohama 195/65 tyres. I am very pleased with them, good grip and a comfortable ride... very smooth over bumpy surfaces!

Brian.

[Nambo]

Anybody tried Uniroyals on the Stag?
I did have them on a Herald and was very pleased with them, especially in the snow.
http://www.citytyre.co.uk/tyre-706-1...E_680_UNIR.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Un...Rallye-550.htm

Said to have the best grip in the rain, seems though they have soft sidewalls, on a review of another model, a couple of people said they failed due to potholes, so maybe the Stag is a bit heavy for them?

On the rear of my Stag I have Kelly's which I love, they have excellent grip and just dont wear out, which is why I still have them after 20 years and I thought they were nearly worn out when I bought the car, they are getting near the limit now though, and I guess its not advisable to use tyres that might be 40 years old for all I know?
Wish they still made them.

[Nambo]

Reading a few reviews, Michelin Energy savers look good http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Mi...ergy-Saver.htm
78 quid from ASDA http://asdatyres-px.rtrk.co.uk/order...es-and-savings but maybe if they are energy savers, they will save on petrol?, got to be a good thing with the Stag.

[jleyton]

Reading a few reviews, Michelin Energy savers look good http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Mi...ergy-Saver.htm
78 quid from ASDA http://asdatyres-px.rtrk.co.uk/order...es-and-savings but maybe if they are energy savers, they will save on petrol?, got to be a good thing with the Stag.

That's what I've now got on mine and they seem fine. I'm no tyre expert and they've only been on a short while but I'm very happy with them.

I was looking to buy them for a while and the best price I found was from an online tyre supplier called something like 'Opeo' ??

The only thing is that they are only available in aspeed rating that is one below the original tyres - only up to 118 mph -so I advised my insurance company and they were fine with that.

Cheers

Julian

[DJT]

On the rear of my Stag I have Kelly's which I love, they have excellent grip and just dont wear out, which is why I still have them after 20 years and I thought they were nearly worn out when I bought the car, they are getting near the limit now though, and I guess its not advisable to use tyres that might be 40 years old for all I know?
Wish they still made them.

20-year old tyres should have been scrapped by now..........

[V Mad]

Peter, how old are your Spax shocks? Are they set too hard? I had to replace a set on a friends car because the Spax shocks had failed, and they werent that old.

[Stagsongas]

20-year old tyres should have been scrapped by now..........

Dave,

I had a car I was selling marked down on an RAC check for the brand new spare in the boot. They check the date code and if it's more than 10 yrs old they call it 'life expired'. This is mostly done on the basis that UV has an effect on the rubber over time, and I have to agree with that as caravan and trailer tyres suffer so much, and are often scrapped with loads of tread left.

Where I could not fathom the logic is in a case like that spare of mine, where it is shut away in a dark enclosure all of it's life. It had never seen the light of day.

Regards

Steve

[Jeff]

Yet they are still not an mot failure.

[DJT]

Steve,

I had the same conundrum with the tyres on my runabout Civic. The spare in the boot has never been used, so is 13 years old. Normally, when buying new tyres, I use the spare and put the best of the worn tyres in the boot, but in this case I bought all new tyres and left the unused spare where it was. If I have a puncture it will be used, but only until I can get the new tyre fixed or replaced.

There are only 4 very small patches of rubber keeping you, and others, from something nasty happening, so it makes sense for these to be in good condition. I did a skid prevention course a few years ago and believe me it teaches you how easy it is to lose control in wet/slippery conditions. I wouldn't want to compound the problem by using old rubber.

If you calculate the cost of tyres on our cars on a £/year basis, rather than a mile/£ basis, then replacing them when old but before worn out makes more sense.

[mjb67]

Here's a (poor, sorry) shot of one of my Continental Eco Contact 3. (175/80R14 88T).

20130918_193702.jpg