You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
My MOT is due and I know my tyres are going to need replacing, so I'm looking at ordering them in advance via blackcircles or mytyres rather than just doing what I usually do which is get the garage doing the MOT to replace them and pay through the nose for it.
My car is a 57-plate Ford Focus Ghia which currently has 3 x worn [b]Continental Sport Contact 2 205/50 ZR17 93W[/b] and 1 x fairly new Sport Contact 3 that was a replacement after a prang in February.
Should I just be looking to buy 3 new Sport Contact 3's ?
(I'm very much not a car bloke and I have no idea about such things 😳 )
I was a bit concerned that the [url= http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brands/continental/sport-contact-3 ]blackcircles site describes them as[/url]:
"a summer tyre for ultra high performance sports coupes, powerful cars and luxury sedans. The perfect summer tyre can only be driven on dry roads and it is not intended to be driven in sub zero temperatures on icy and snow covered roads"
which sounds basically ****ing useless for pootling about in a not ultra-high performance Focus in the usually wet (and currently snowy) UK.
But [url= http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/uk/en/continental/automobile/themes/car-tyres/standard-car-tyres/contisportcontact/contisportcontact-3/contisportcontact-3,tabNr=2.html ]the Conti site says[/url] [i]"unique tread grooves give maximum grip in all conditions and outstanding performance in the wet."[/i] and points to various awards from Auto Express, Which? etc
Also these tyres come in at £140 a corner. Would I be better off with something cheaper (though I might need to buy four to avoid being left with an odd tyre)? Would I be better off with All Season tyres?
Very confused. 🙁 Help!
i got a set vredestein quatrac 3's end of last year they have done c20k still have life left in them, handle snow and dry roads ok. There are better tyres for each specific job but as a general tyre i like them.
my attitude is that a car is a tool, and i want to be able to go from a to b and not worry about the conditions to much.
Yeah I mean I guess I want the same thing that most non-car people want: decent grip, good stopping distance, fuel efficient, quiet road noise, reasonably hard wearing, cheap.
But I suspect some or all of those may be mutually exclusive! 🙂
Quite happy with my Kumho KH17s, not tried them in the snow yet though but they've been fine for everything else. Inexpensive, reasonable performance, unremarkable get-on-with-it kit just like the car.
I'm loving the description of the Kumho 31 on mytyres:
The Korean ultra-high performance tyre manufacturer Kumho presented with the scent tyres another sensational new development.The Kumho KH 31 is in the four fragrances orange blossom, rosemary, lavender and jasmine. The tyres are not well known to smell is one thing that is not only with a car and thicknesses much hp under the hood can specify, is the other thing. How about times with the opposite sex instead of roses, with beguiling smells of jasmine or orange on points. Let simply Kumho KH 31 and assemble a balance of fresh scent.
😕
The lease company on my last car would only allow Kwik Fit to fit Dunlop SP Sport 01
They weren't my choice but pretty good TBH
Try blackcircles.com
Graham - overkill for your car. I have them all round on my BM and they are great but pricey. For similar performance at a much lower price, check out Goodyear Eagle F1s.
Overkill G, but now we know...added awesomeness 🙂
not being funny, but it's a family hatchback.
buy something black and round, at the appropriate speed rating, not a 'fuel/energy saver', at a price you feel happy paying.
Yeah, but it's a GHIA.
I replaced the Contis on my '09 3-series with Yokohama something or others at £60 a corner. I drive enthusiastically and haven't noticed any significant loss of performance, wet or dry. All fat tyres are crap in the snow, of course.
Graham - overkill for your car.
Overkill in what way tho? I don't mind paying the extra if it makes the car any safer (shorter stopping distance, more corner grip etc) as I'm a bad enough driver as it is so I'll take what extra safety I can. But I don't need tyres capable of 200mph or any such nonsense as I never go over 90.
not being funny, but it's a family hatchback.
Yep, I'm asking for advice because I know **** all about cars and tyres, not because I want the ultimate performance for my souped-up roadster 🙂
Yeah, but it's a GHIA.
Distinction made because it seems to alter what the tyre websites recommend - not because I'm trying to willy wave about my decidedly mundane car 🙂
The Conti SportContact 2 were the factory spec.
I've got Conti Sport Contact 3(245/45 R18)on my car and they are rubbish in this current snowy weather.
However they are excellent in the dry and wet.
Go online and get a quote for supply, fit and disposal (decent manufacturer but the correct rating/loading) from the online guys.
Ring a local tyre fitting place and ask for the same.
See if they'll match, if matched or near enough, go local.
Edit
[i] But I don't need tyres capable of 200mph or any such nonsense as I never go over 90. [/i]
Irrelevent, you need the correct rating/loading as stated in your handbook.
I got a pleasant surprise at how cheap Kwik Fit is if you search for your tyre size online, book a fitting and pay upfront. Worth a look.
Get some prices and check the reviews out on Tyre Test to see if they are any good.
Irrelevent, you need the correct rating/loading as stated in your handbook.
Ooh i never thought to check the manual. 😳 Ta!
And cheers I'll check the KwikFit price as it'll probably be going there for its MOT and service anyway.
Ooh i never thought to check the manual.
It'll also be on a sticker on the inside of the door pillar along with pressure info etc
Of course the car is currently under 16 inches of frozen snow - so I'll maybe look for a copy of the manual online... 🙂
[i]Yeah [s]I mean I guess[/s] I want the same thing that most [s]non-[/s]car people want: decent grip, good stopping distance, fuel efficient, quiet road noise, reasonably [s]hard[/s] wearing, [s][b]cheap[/b][/s][/i]
There, fixed that for you.
🙂
Imo, all Conti tyres are poor, either on my car or my bike.
I use to buy Eagle F1's, but now I'm told they are not available in the size I need for my current car.
So I've now got GY NCT 5's
Always spend as much as you can on buying top spec tyres produced by the big brands, imo.
Tyres give you your direction control and your stopping ability, and as such should be respected, treated properly and not skimped on when buying some, imo.
Be safe, get good rubber. I often get the impression from some people that they either don't care, or don't realise just how important having good tyres is.
For the car in question, I'd go Good year, pirelli, michellin, etc, etc.
scarily actually 2nd kwik fit is worth a look online - they were much cheaper for branded stuff for t'other halfs micra even compared with mytyres, black circle, etyres etc..
Oh, very happy with the Michelin Premacy HP's on my Legacy. decent prices online, hard wearing and LOADS of grip in the dry and wet.
most tyres are described as 'summer tyres', except winter specific...
I often get the impression from some people that they either don't care, or don't realise just how important having good tyres is.
i often get the impression that people who think spending a lot of money on tyres will mean they will be able to tell the difference in handling on their run of the mill saloon car. YMMV. 🙂
there is certainly an argument that says buy the best and it might save your life, but the logical conclusion to that line of argument is a light weight sports car, corner weighted every 6 months or 6k miles, with shocks and bushes replaced every 12k or 3 years. 🙂
there is a point of diminishing returns.
Oh, and for the OP, don't get your servicing and MOT done at quick fit. they're fitters, not mechanics. get a recommendation for a local garage.
Overkill in what way tho? I don't mind paying the extra if it makes the car any safer (shorter stopping distance, more corner grip etc) as I'm a bad enough driver as it is so I'll take what extra safety I can. But I don't need tyres capable of 200mph or any such nonsense as I never go over 90.
Just a lot of money for a family hatch (that isn't an RS). No downsides to having them but cost and £140 each is a lot. They are very very good in the wet and win numerous tyre tests. I also find they last ages so if you want the best tyres, go for them. If you're not too worried about ultimate grip, etc, plenty of sub £100 tyres will do the job 90% as well. But not in snow!
I've just bought a couple of tyres made by Nexen to replace some Dunlops on the Honda. Conditions as we know have not been great I have noticed absolutely no difference in performance for normal driving.
They cost 60 quid each fitted.
For a high performace car I expect tyres make a difference but for just driving these seem fine to me.
I usually get Bridgestone (OE on the Focus I have) at £70 per corner fitted. Had a pair a couple of weeks ago. They (and the Primacy's) last well into the mid 20k mileage wise (front) and drive well enough though I aint no Carlos Fandango...
Last pair of fronts did 29k and were not illegal when changed. Had naff all grip mind and the car kept understeering to hell in the rain.
Thanks all for the advice.
I am none the wiser, but at least I'm better informed 😀