Can anyone recommend good tyres for a Honda Civic 2003 (old style, 1.6 manual)?
I need two new fronts. Currently on Bridgestone Potenzas which were the original make and then replaced with the same (rears are both the Potenzas and don't need replacing). I drive about 6k miles a year. Ride has always been firm (to put it politely) but I am used to that.
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Try to figure what brand was factory fitted by Honda when new.
Personally, I'd always go for Continental. My current car has factory fitted Pirelli but I'm not happy with grip and noise. Next time I'd change to Conti.
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The Bridgestones were the factory fitted ones. They're not as readily available as some makes though, and as one tyre has totally blown I need a replacement asap.
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>> Try to figure what brand was factory fitted by Honda when new.
I agree. And have a matching set all round.
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I had 4 Falken Ziex www.falkentire.com/Tires/ZE-912-2 fitted via black circles www.blackcircles.com/order
at a garage of my choice, they are mid-range rubber, not budget, I'd buy them again.
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If you were changing all 4 I'd look for another make that comes out well for ride/noise in tests. Often makers fit tyres of a type that suits their commercial relationships as much as them suiting the car.
However I'm keen on keeping all 4 the same so would just phone round for some Potenzas if you just fitting new to the front... touchpaper lit :-)
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Just bought Michelin Energy for the Yaris. very impressed. Which Top Buy.
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>>>Michelin Energy
Our C3 had them on the rear when we bought it and it'll only be a couple of months before we buy a pair for the front to replace worn Ceats. Energys are excellent small car tyres... actually my C5 is on them too so OK for bigger cars as well.
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Surely the original make of tyres fitted to a vehicle are only there due to a business deal between manufacturer and supplier ie we will fit Michelins at a huge discounted price and you will get punters to keep buying them during the life of the car?
A bit like "Renault recommends Elf".
I am sure when I bought my last Scenic, some came with Bridgestones and then later ones came with Michelin?
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Even different models of the same car will come from the factory with different makes. The Volvo S60 SE demonstrator I borrowed had 17" Michelins; I ordered my S with 16" wheels and it came with Pirellis. Similarly, I once had an Astra LS with Continentals but if I'd ordered a GLS instead, the tyres would have been Michelin.
I suspect the makers put each size they need out to tender, or possibly do one deal for cooking tyres and another for premium ones. But you can be pretty sure that below the M5 or Porsche price level, the Purchasing department will have more to do with the decision than the engineers.
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>> I suspect the makers put each size they need out to tender, or possibly do
>> one deal for cooking tyres and another for premium ones. But you can be pretty
>> sure that below the M5 or Porsche price level, the Purchasing department will have more
>> to do with the decision than the engineers.
Exactly right , WDB. I used to sell Fords for a living, and you'd see identical cars being delivered fresh from the factory to the compound over the space of six months with completely different makes of tyre. I saw identical Mondeos, for example, with Continental, Bridgestone, Michelin and Dunlop. I think, as you say, it was whoever was doing the best deal at the time.
My Golf GTI is wearing Michelin Pilot Primacy HPs, and they are brilliant. 150 bhp and front wheel drive, with no traction control, and you have to consciously make the effort to spin them up in the wet, even though the fronts are down to about 3mm now. They are nigh on unstickable in the dry unless you really take the michael. Remarkable tyres. Unfortunately though, they seem to be the most expensive of all the premium brands.
The other Golf has Pirelli P7s on the front and they are so poor in the wet, I can't believe they were allowed into production. The only good thing is they look like they'll be good for 20,000 miles. Otherwise, dreadful things, which won't be replaced like for like when they eventually wear out.
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If you're happy with the Potenzas buy another pair for the front.
If you want a change fit the the different new tyres to the rear and put your original rear Potanzas on the front to finish them off. Come replacement time buy a matching front pair.
Check out tyrereviews.co.uk to see what's good. However, Bridgestone are a premium brand and the Potenza is their sporty tyre IIRC so they may well already be a good match for the car.
DP - I am surprised you saw identical Mondeos with different tyres, sure they didn't have different wheel size depending on spec? I ask because throughout the life of the Vectra C they fitted 16" wheels with Bridgestone Turanzas and 17" wheels with Dave's dreaded Goodyear NCT5s.
Incidentally, I've got P7s on the Galaxy - they are harder than both the previous Michelins and Avons and demand more respect when driving.
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>> DP - I am surprised you saw identical Mondeos with different tyres, sure they didn't
>> have different wheel size depending on spec? I ask because throughout the life of the
>> Vectra C they fitted 16" wheels with Bridgestone Turanzas and 17" wheels with Dave's dreaded
>> Goodyear NCT5s.
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>> Incidentally, I've got P7s on the Galaxy - they are harder than both the previous
>> Michelins and Avons and demand more respect when driving.
Definitely the same tyre sizes, Marc. They were all good brand, decent quality tyres, but the brands themselves varied over time.
I was probably a bit harsh on the P7s, as part of the problem is definitely the car. It has a very nose heavy balance, and has lots of torque at low revs, so all but the most gentle application of power in the lower gears when turning in the wet has the ESP light blinking away.
I don't doubt with a half-decent chassis and an engine with more progressive delivery, they aren't anywhere near as bad as I made out.
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My last 4 cars have had Bridgestone Potenzas of various sizes ranging from 205x16 up to 235x17 and including 225x17 runflats on my much missed 330d, I've found that they all rode pretty well (even the runflats), wore pretty well, were reasonably quiet and gripped in all weathers. I would definitely have them again.
For many years Michellin were my tyre of choice, very hard-wearing but perhaps not that grippy. Pirellis seem to wear quickly in my use but are otherwise OK.
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Easy work out how much longer your going to keep it and buy accordingly.
At 6k those rear ones may need replacing due to age sidewalls cracking at 7 yrs old so might be better to replace all 4x, If you plan on running to death mid range tyres will be fine no need for the best.
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>> At 6k those rear ones may need replacing due to age sidewalls cracking at 7
>> yrs old
I've never seen such a thing on tyres newer than decades.
Last edited by: FotheringtonTomas on Sat 25 Sep 10 at 10:19
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Only on cars that have stood, under-inflated, for a few years.
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Only on cars that have stood, under-inflated, for a few years.
Examine the tyre fully look in the tread for splits or cracks & same with the sidewall it may not show up when inflated as you run your finger over it or deflate it some the cracks show up.
Tyres at 7yrs old really want to be off and scrapped.
www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/tyre-life-and-age.html
Taken from above link
Age is a separate issue to wear – tyres do degrade naturally through exposure to heat, sunlight (Ultraviolet/UV) light and rain. Degradation depends on the amount of exposure and the severity of the weather.
This is a more common problem on caravans, trailers and vehicles only used occasionally. In most cases tyres will wear out before they degrade to such an extent they're unserviceable.
Look for signs of UV cracking on tyres four or five years old on cars parked outside. Tyres should be replaced irrespective of age if cracking becomes severe – any tyre specialist will be able to advise
Last edited by: Bigtee on Sat 25 Sep 10 at 10:49
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Tyre recommendations - movilogo
