Car tyres questions

[Colinn]

My 4x4 car tyres are clearly nearing the end of their life and I am looking at a near £1,000 bill to change them (ouch!). It begs a couple of questions for me that perhaps the tyre experts out there might help with.

1) I could wait until they're right on the legal limit before changing, but I wonder if tyres with this amount of wear compromise my safety. Is this the case?

2) The rear tyres look as if they have perhaps six months more wear in them than the front - should I just change the front two for now, or is it better to have four new ones in one go?

3) Which is best for genuine advice re replacements - main dealer or a tyre specialist? I would be happy with straight replacements, but would like to know more about tyres that are maybe longer-lasting, better ride, more efficient, or whatever, so that I can make an informed choice and not just take a particular brand (which may be cheaper, but not necessarily as good in the long run). Is there much difference between tyres, notwithstanding obviously specialist off-roading types?

Thanks in anticipation...

 

[JTS]

Colinn.

You should not only be worried about your safety it could also compromise your passengers and other road users and members of the public. Have you read your manual regarding the use of uneven worn tyres on opposing wheels or back and front regarding 4 wheeled drive vehicles, my understanding that tyres that are not uniformally worn can affect stability. My own attitude to tyres is and always has been is to change them before the legal limit is reached. Towing puts extra stress on your tyres. Good luck. JTS.

 

[RogerL]

There are recommendations from a number of safety-related organisations that tyres should be replaced at 3mm tread depth rather than the legal limit of 1.6mm.

My Tyres http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/details.pl?ID=google&Country=UK and Tyre Traders have useful websites including some of the most competitive prices around.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi Colinn,

Being rather pedantic, I point out the fact that as soon as any wear on a tyre has occurred there is s reduction in its potential safety, basically as the channels diminish, there is less space for water to be removed from under the tread, so there is a greater risk of aquaplaning. There will also be changes to the compliance of the tyre material as it wears and ages.

There is no compulsion to change until the tread reaches the legal limit, but you might feel happier if you were to change somewhat before that limit is reached. Provide the tyres are not worn in other ways such a kerb scrub or crazing, then only replace the pair that need to be done - always keep new tyres on the same axle.

You will almost certainly get a better price for your tyres (of any make you choose) from an independent tyre specialist. And always barter they will usually give 10% without much pushing, and I have been known to get as much as 20% off.

 

[gary]

When you change your tyres apart from the legal limit is a personal choice, personally I think 1.6mm is ok. Having said that, I would not drive the same on such worn tyres as I perhaps would when new! in other words it's another driving consideration the same as when roads are dry or wet.

With the car I go for the best quality I can afford, this gives maximum performance/life and can make a big difference to road noise.

I would never consider a car dealer nor really big tyre dealers, I've been using a small independent in Nottingham for years now, testing him a few times, his 'first' quote has never been beaten

 

[Colinn]

Thank you all for your comments, all very helpful. As John L says, tyres start to go downhill from the moment they are first used - it's just that I was interested in where the line is to be drawn for renewal. I am now minded to go for a full new set - still not sure which manufacturer to go for as they all claim to be the best!! Thanks again.

 

[Thorpedo]

Colinn

After 3.5 years from new I recently changed the front tyres on my Toyota Yaris, obviously not a very good comparison with your 4x4, but :-

I was very disapointed to notice that my fuel consumption increased by around 5%. The new tyres were sort of mid range price.

Food for thought maybe as I'd never considered that the tyre brands could make such a difference. With fuel prices as they are I will certainly investigate advice about the effect on my fuel consumption when I replace tyres on my 3 litre tow car later in the year.

 

[CheapnCheerful]

You have to bear in mind also what use you will be putting the vehicle to. It seems a little known fact that the biggest influence of a 4x4's ability to pull a van out of a muddy field is not fancy electronics/locking diffs/good suspension, but the choice of tyre.

Often a road tyre has no grip in these situations, and 4 x no grip will get you just as stuck as 2 x no grip, only with twice the embarassment!

It is one reason why BMW X5's and similar are so poor off road - they have fashionable alloy rims, which only wide low profile road tyres will fit.

A good set of all terrain tyres will give both satisfactory on road and off road performance, as they sit ability wise between the mud tyres and road only tyres.

I am currently running Cooper Discoverer S/T's on my Range Rover, and they are only very slightly noisier than road tyres on the motorway, and I have not been stuck yet!

They seem to be wearing well too, and cost me about

 

[Sproket]

Hi Colinn

On our Land Rover Discovery we run BFGoodrich All Terrain

( 235/70/16 ) excellent for grip & high mileage & noise

On my Isuzu Denver Rodeo I have put General Grabber AT2

( 255/60/18 ) excellent for grip & high mileage & noise also

Try these web sites they are easy to navigate,

Take a good look at this site before you make your mind up !!

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html
When I first changed from ( 245/70/16 ) to the 18" wheels I wanted to get one that was closely matched diameter wise so that my speedo was not out by miles

http://www.4x4tyres.com/
http://www.4x4at.com/
http://www.blackcircles.com/
Good luck

Steve.

 

[Nigel_374359752]

Hi Colinn

On our Land Rover Discovery we run BFGoodrich All Terrain

( 235/70/16 ) excellent for grip & high mileage & noise

On my Isuzu Denver Rodeo I have put General Grabber AT2

( 255/60/18 ) excellent for grip & high mileage & noise also

Try these web sites they are easy to navigate,

Take a good look at this site before you make your mind up !!

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html
When I first changed from ( 245/70/16 ) to the 18" wheels I wanted to get one that was closely matched diameter wise so that my speedo was not out by miles

http://www.4x4tyres.com/
http://www.4x4at.com/
http://www.blackcircles.com/
Good luck

Steve.

Hi Colin,

Just to add my two pennys worth here ! I work as a test engineer for a motor vehicle manufacturer and always tell people to NEVER compromise on tyres with regard to cost. Also look at what brand the manufacturer used as original equipment i.e which tyres were fitted from the factory. It's no coincidence that the manufacturers choose a certain brand, they often choose up to 10 suppliers and then narrow it down to 3-4 choices for production and then 'sign off' the final choice of tyres on criteria like ride comfort, road noise, wet road adhesion, ride and handling etc. Your tyres are the only point of contact between your car and the road, it IS the most important part of the vehicle.

Also it's worth remembering that most manufacturers advise that you swap tyres from front to rear at service intervals, it's best done when swapping diagonal opposites, as you then get to even out the wear, and avoid situations like you describe where your fronts are worn out and your rears still have some life left.

Good known brands are worth spending your money on, avoid tyre brands that you have never heard of, they will be cheaper but at what cost ?

Finally tyre pressures are so, so, important always follow the handbook instructions for the vehicle weights and load conditions.

Good luck, Nige.

 

[Colinn]

Apologies for resurrecting an old post, but after much researching of the web on car tyres, brand qualities and suppliers (I had no idea there were so many options!), I am settling on Michelins (with Continental a close second) for my 4x4.

My question is, has anyone dealt with Event Tyres, a national web mobile supply and fitting company whose prices seem far and away lower than any competitor. They are offering to fit (at my home) 4 top quality Michelins for

 

[whitetop]

Might be a bit ate but have you tried

www.tyreshopper.co.uk

the price you pay is the price fitted.........I always go there..

 

[waffler]

I replaced my backs on my Sorento. Main dealer quoted

 

[Colinn]

Hi David,

Thanks for that. Tyreshoppers are asking

 

[Mikey1]

I think tyres on the the same axle should be replaced at the same time on a 4x4.

I rememeber problems with the Volvo XC70 4x4 where tyres werent replaced in pairs on the same axle.I think it was diff problems as one wheel was going quicker than the other due to uneven wear.