I have always stuck to the originally supplied tyre brand - Continental Contact Sport 2 - because I've never needed to replace more than 2 at a time and have been happier to always keep the same brand all round.
A combination of two worn tyres, a dodgy spare and now a great big screw in the tread (very close to edge) of a good tyre means I'll soon be getting 4 new tyres. The good remaining one can then be the spare.
Dilemma - just go and spend £335 on 4 of the same or maybe make a change. The tests I've read don't seem to help much. But, I suppose I could do with better wear performance - Michelin ??
Does the panel have any opinion please in the price range £85 or so a corner ?
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£85 but what size are the tyres/wheels/rating?
A4's tyres differ- tyres differ in size and power/speed rating
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Size is: 205 / 55 R16 91W
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This octy i have came with Conty CS2's. Man i hate them. Dry grip is just average. Wet grip isn't good enough.
The handling is the real problem, they have stupidly soft sidewalls, completely spoils the turn in on the car. I hit a pretty small pothole and it felt like the end of the world, can only think the wheel rim made contact with the road (thankfully no signs of buckling or damage though) because the sidewalls are so soft, although no doubt the relatively low profile contributed.
The CS3s are supposed to be improved, and they are the poster child for just about all the magazines currently but i won't be risking it for the ~£10 / corner difference.
Michelen PS3's for me!
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On the advice of Cheddar several years back I bought Falken FK452s and found them to be a lot better than the previous tyres I had (which I think were Conti) as well as being a fair bit cheaper.
Current set, based on several independant reviews I read on the internet are Kumho Ecsta, handling is good in wet or dry conditions as well as during the snow. They are pretty quiet and so far are wearing well. They are also available at pretty good prices- I think I got them through Black Circles for about £65 each fitted.
HTH,
Nick
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Skoda, thanks for the advice but I think we inhabit different worlds. I have no idea where the limit of grip is and my last set of front brake pads lasted 75,000 miles.
I just want good, safe, long lasting, quiet, smooth running and economical tyres. I accept that there has to be a compromise in that list.
My typical driving is around town with maybe a bi-monthly 130 kph 1600 km round trip to SW France.
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How about going for Vredestein Quatrac 3s? That's what I'm going to get next time I have the opportunity to replace all 4 at once. All season tyres, and they get very good reviews.
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Auto Express 2010 tyre test here:
www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/259498/verdict.html
Results:
1. Continental ContiSportContact 3 bit.ly/hL7Hfl Doesn't look like this comes in 16".
2. Michelin Pilot Sport 3 bit.ly/hwndgX
3. Goodyear Eagle F1 assymetric bit.ly/i15AK0
4. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT bit.ly/gpcoRY
5. Hankook Ventus S1 evo bit.ly/eerCah
Hth.
EDIT: Same size as my Mondeo, although they won't need changing for a couple of years yet. Goodyear on the front, Dunlop on the rear. No idea about the handling, they grip much better than the ditchseekers that were on the Escort but I drive more like DE than Skoda :)
Last edited by: Dave_TDCi {P} on Thu 14 Apr 11 at 13:39
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205/55 16 91W is the same as my S60, which must be similar size and weight to the Audi, and is also FWD. Michelin Primacy HPs work very well for me - I've bought six of them over three or four years and will buy the same again when the time comes. And if brake pads are a useful guide, mine lasted 108,000 miles. };---)
I've only Pirellis for comparison, but the HPs offer quieter cruising and better directional stability, as well as about 50% longer life for a 20% premium on price. £98 each last time round, in Dec 2009; Mrs Beest today is paying £95 each for the same size in a 91V for her Verso.
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>> 205/55 16 91W is the same as my S60, which must be similar size and
>> weight to the Audi, and is also FWD. Michelin Primacy HPs work very well for
>> me
I have the same tyres on the Golf GTI. They haven't visibly worn at all in the last 7,000 miles. And the grip in both wet and dry conditions is first class. Probably the best tyre I've experienced, although a good £15 a corner more than most of the other "premium" options. Based on life alone, they are worth it.
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Kwik Fit are doing 25% off a set of 4 Contis at the moment. Check their website.
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Both my A4 B7 and 330d had Bridgestone Touranzas on them as OEM - 235/45 R17 and 225/45 R17 RF respectively IIRC. Both wore well, rode well and gave decent wet and dry grip although it was noticeably worse when they started to wear out (by around 3mm tread).
Come to think of it my Mondys had Touranzas in the same 205 R16 spec the OP cites too.
Previously I've preferred Michelin Pilots which wear very well but are perhaps a little noisy, IIRC I got 35K miles out of the fronts on my Vectra CDX many years ago and 70K miles out of the rears using Michelin Pilot Sports.
Last edited by: idle_chatterer on Thu 14 Apr 11 at 14:34
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Thanks Alanovic, but their (Kwik Fit) price is easily beaten by up to £11 each in several places.
Last edited by: Dulwich Estate on Thu 14 Apr 11 at 15:02
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The Vredestein Quatrac 3 seems to come with a H speed rating rather than W. Is this critical?
I like the idea of all-season tyres.
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It might be, but I've had difficulty finding a definitive answer. An H tyre is rated up to 210 km/h, a V to 240 and a W to 270. My Volvo, although certainly incapable of 240 and probably even of 210, came on Ws and I've replaced like with like. The Verso, similar in size, weight and performance, has Vs. I've wondered whether the difference is because there are much faster derivatives of the S60 than my D5, but not of the Verso - but still not sure why that should matter.
Kwikfit's advice page says that it's 'not illegal' to use a lower-rated tyre, but I'd still like to know what an MoT inspector would say if he found one.
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If you have access to Costco then Michelin Primacy HP's are about £85 for the size indicated (same as the fronts on my Merc). They will help the ride too.
But you can get similar or even cheaper prices on Michelin tyres than Costco in other places now - they really ony come into their own during their 20% off periods.
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I took a look at the Michelin Primacy and there seemed to be strong advice that they were not recommended in cold conditions around freezing temperatures. The emphasis was on summer use.
I then thought that as I have a non-matching spare you can guarantee a puncture in the near future ! ! So, in the end I boringly went with 4 of the same.
The best web price was £317 and my local man offered £312, thats £78 each. Tyres ordered for fitting on Monday. I could have today or Sat, but don't need the hassle of busy queues.
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>>but I'd still like to know what an MoT inspector would say if he found one.
Nothing.
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Thanks, NC. Funnily enough, while Mrs Beest was paying for her new 91Vs, she must have mentioned that I'd be in soon for some 91Ws. The proprietor of the independent shop, which also does MoTs - although I'm not sure if he's the inspector - told her that Ws were unnecessary for my car and Vs would be quite adequate. Must be a new scruple he's developed - he was happy to sell me Ws before.
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He got a job lot of "V"s!
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IIRC a few years ago I wanted new Touranzas for my Mondy and the independent only had W rated versions (otherwise identical) in stock, they didn't charge any more for them than for the V rated ones.
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To expand on my answer a bit, the speed ratings aren't a part of the MOT for passenger cars.
At least part of the reason for this is pragmatism. Keeping authoritative listings of minimum tyre specs for all car variants would be an absolute nightmare.
On the other hand, a check of size, condition, rotation direction, etc, can be kept as a generic, quick, easy, difficult to dispute check.
However, MOT inspectors aren't the end of the problem. Insurance assessors, and police may take a different view.
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I would recommend several makes for all round driving, and without any hesitation Vredestein is near the top of the pile, well priced too.
The Quatrac 3's should be quiet and will be competent, might not find them at affordable prices for another couple of months though...seeing as they are winter specced (not every all season tyre is winter rated) they sold exceptionally well as did every other winter capable tyre worth buying during the last 4/5 months.
My daughter ran the previous model Quatrac 2's to 45ishK miles on her little 106, still over 3mm left....thrashed and abused miles too, and they kept her out of trouble, i see no reason the new tyre should be any different.
I believe Goodyear have a good all season (Vector or something), and Nokian are highly respected in this sector, i use NRG2's in winter on the old MB, quiet smooth and very safe, but i understand others use them all year with good results.
Uniroyal RainSport or RainExpert worth checking out, young un has the latter on her Civic which again gets merciless treatment (girls and cars eh?) and all good, quiet comfortable and wearing slowly too....'Tyremen' take some beating for Uniroyal and Vred's if you have a friendly local fitter.
When i'm searching i tend to have a shortlist of researched tyres and keep me eyes open till the right bargain appears then snap them up.
www.tyremen.co.uk/tyrefinder.aspx
Last edited by: gordonbennet on Sat 16 Apr 11 at 06:58
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I've been checking the net earlier today for a price for two Continental Sport3 225/45 R17 91Ws - generally worked out at around £97 per tyre delivered, plus just under £14 for fitting at a local tyre specialist.
Rang up the main local tyre specialist after the research and got a quote for £117 all-in each. No contest, especially including missing all the hassle ordering on-line would involve for the saving of a few quid...:-)
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Tyre Choice - Audi A4 - Falkirk Bairn
