Collected the 2019 Vitara SZ5 from Brum yesterday...glad I had Apple Car Play to get me out of and around Spaghetti junction ...all new to me, as were 4 lanes of stop/ start traffic on the M6, and 3 notable rear end shunts within 20 miles. Pootling along at 50/60 then traffic stops. Apart from a few individuals.
Rear Conti EcoContacts have plenty of tread, but the one on the front is worn down a little to 3.0/3.5mm. Tyre on the opposite side has a totally different tread pattern, but more tread, a Triangle Sportex TSH11.
Im minded to get two new tyres...put the new ones on the rear, move the ContiEcoContacts to the front and fit Bridgestone Turanza T005 at the back.
I think it’s frowned upon to fit all season tyres on one axle and normal summer tyres on another. Ideally I’d fit 4 all season tyres but unnecessary given the condition and tread left on the Contis. The Skoda dealer put a new MOT on a few days ago, and gave it an oil change, so pretty much good to go once I get the space saver kit.
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If the Contis at the rear are OK I'd leave them and replace the fronts so the type/tread match. Which is what you say except fitting the new ones at the rear.
Years since we had enough snow/ice down here to make me think about tyres, like all seasons, that nod towards better grip in snow etc. Appreciate that, on the edge of the Pennines, YMMV.
Is the Triangle worth moving to the spare - should you have one?
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I think I’d be inclined to treat it to two new tyres (wherever you put them) a nearly worn out one and a ditchfinder wouldn’t be my first choice for a long trip.
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I don't know the specifics of the Suzuki 4WD system but in general the rule is that 4WDs should have 4 tyres of the same diameter i.e. the same tyre all round with wear evened out as far as possible.
The Triangle should be down the tip, it's just a cheap and potentially dangerous bodge to throw in a tyre like that with decent equipment like the Contis.
I'd be having a pair of matching Contis. Or if I didn't like them a full set of something else.
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On reflection, if you have any plans to take that car abroad during the winter months, there are some regional requirements for winter or all-season tyres to consider.
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I’m aware of that thanks....during the winter months the nearest it will get to abroad is Sentinel parking at LBA .
Or Lancashire.
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>> I don't know the specifics of the Suzuki 4WD system but in general the rule
>> is that 4WDs should have 4 tyres of the same diameter i.e. the same tyre
>> all round with wear evened out as far as possible
Manatee...I specifically bought the 2WD system. I did consider the 4WD ( there is one , in the colour I wanted, White, at my nearest Suzuki dealer in Keighley...and it’s the SZ5 model.
I went for the 2WD for the reason you quote, and it’s cheaper to buy and run, and I don’t plan on going in muddy fields....bone dry unmade surfaces on mountain tracks is the nearest I hope to get to off roading, and my friends in Spain cope ok. Normally.
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>>Manatee...I specifically bought the 2WD system
My mistake. I was surprised the other day to hear or see an advert for Suzuki that said they were all four wheel drive. Obviously I misheard or misread.
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4 x EcoContacts on the ole woman's hybrid auto awd Vitara.
I find them too hard and noisy - I'd like to replace 'em with 4 x Mich CrossClimate 2's
I'd be suspicious about buying a used car with odd tyres, 'specially if they were cheapo jobbies.
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>> I'd be suspicious about buying a used car with odd tyres, 'specially if they were
>> cheapo jobbies.
If everything else looked good I'd not reject a car 'cos it prevoious owner was potless or went for cheapest option 'cos the knew no better.
I would though point out mismatched tyres and use them as a negotiating issue.
If you're spending several grand on a car that, bar the tyres, is all good £250-£300 to replace them is just part of the deal.
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The reason I would be a tad suspicious of a car with odd and/or cheapo tyres is I'd be a'wondering what else has been scrimped on. I speak from experience :(
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Me too.....when I bought it unseen I was told all tyres were good. They are. Passed its MOT two days ago. I didn’t ask the make.
I was assured it had a FSH one owner...service book had no info since October 2021, so I rang the main Suzuki dealer ( Halesowen) with the reg. They immediately told me it had a service September 2022, all filters changed etc etc but the book wasn’t present to stamp, although it’s on their system.
It’s been serviced annually at that dealer from new, so no scrimping there.
Spacecsaver spare and kit ( jack , securing screw) now in the wheel well...£172 delivered, genuine Suzuki part from a different dealer.
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Replace the fronts with the same as on the rear - they'll likely all be ready for replacement at the same time.
Would certainly be binning the oddball pairing.
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I like to have a matched set of four too. However, I can see how it might have happened and I suspect pothole or puncture damage that necessitated a distress purchase.
Years ago, I had a tyre irreparably punctured while hundreds of miles from home and on a tight time schedule.
Had no choice but to get an “odd” tyre of the correct rating and size but cheaper brand fitted as that was all that was available at short notice.
It irritated me to look at it but I’d have to admit it didn’t make the car feel any different to drive despite it continuing to be heavily used in all weathers.
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As with Runfer I prefer 4 matching but given different wear rates front/rear they can be out of kilter at change time. By then brand x/type y has either disappeared from the market/ costs way too much or is in backorder.
In which case I'll pair them on the axle but different pairs front/rear.
The 'lingo has 4 BF Goodrich but rears are new and fronts pandemic era. Treads slightly different. Being French and a bit weird it wears rears faster than fronts. I'm told 'they all do it sir'.
Fabia has matching 4 as fronts were down to the markers and rears (OEM fit?) were showing signs of age. If I keep it long enough I suspect the fronts will go waay before the rears.
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>>Spacecsaver spare and kit ( jack , securing screw) now in the wheel well...£172 delivered, genuine Suzuki part from a different dealer.
Yeah, I must one of those - I had a puncture recently and it was a bit of a faff to get done without having a spare.
The ole woman has a spare tyre but we'll leave that one there for now.
:o)
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Sounds great. I assume the well is too tight for a full size spare. I can’t recall if you intend to take it to Spain but if you are then I read somewhere that local law requires tyres to fully match (manufacturer, tyre model etc). Mind you locals seem to disregard this so it may be that it’s inaccurate advice given to tourists.
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I had that “discussion” in Paris once. Irreparable puncture on a back tyre. Right outside a Merc dealer oddly enough. No spare or spacesaver, they had one tyre in stock to fit but not two and told me they weren’t allowed to only fit one. I persuaded them that as the car wound be back in the uk within hours that it was unlikely to come back on them in any way and they reluctantly agreed to fit the single tyre. I equally reluctantly paid their €390 (yep one freaking tyre) bill and headed for the channel.
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Yes...too tight for a full size spare.
Plenty of room around the space saver for boxes of Yorkshire Tea.
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I don’t have a spare and can’t fit one because of the placement of the 48v battery pack in my Tucson - it fits where the full sized spare sat on my previous one.
Had a puncture on Tuesday. Damn furniture tack just on the edge of the tread where it meets the side wall so it’s un-repairable. 4mm of tread on it - I’m so annoyed!
Had a new Continental fitted today for just under £170! A ditch finder would have cost about £100!
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>> >>Spacecsaver spare and kit ( jack , securing screw) now in the wheel well...£172 delivered, genuine Suzuki.
I can recommend the Suzuki Shop...Basically the Parts Dept of Levoi’s Suzuki Chelmsford.
My two nearest Suzuki dealers quoted £395 for space saver kits.
Ewan was very helpful....so I’ve ordered rubber mats from the same company and an owners manual, which they are obtaining from Head Office as its not a ‘listed spare part’.
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My son’s Aygo has a full sized spare, which is great.
However, somehow he has managed to engineer a situation where including that one, he has five perfectly legal but all quite different tyres!
I have frequently pointed out to him that this is not regarded as best practice, but he doesn’t seem to be in any rush to rectify the issue.
Again though, to be honest, the car drives and handles just fine so he may have a point.
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Miss Z’s Aygo has premium brands fitted. Won’t let her fit anything else.
Master Z has no inclination to learn to drive! I’m sure he’s a Martian! Mate’s lad is the same.
Too much Dads taxi when younger me thinks!
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Oh to be fair, one of them is a Continental no less! The rest however…
;-)
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My son has been driving since he was 17, couldn’t wait to get his licence. He’s 23 now and has been driving for nearly 6 years. His girlfriend who is the same age as him shows no signs of wanting to drive. She’s happy enough to let him ferry her about though!
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Miss Z wanted to drive but it didn’t come easily and living in a large university city didn’t help with lessons and hectic drivers all over the place.
So on recommendation we found a specialist driving tutor, for nervous pupils, who was patient and excellent and produced the required results. Ex-military got to Sargent apparently and learnt to teach driving whilst serving and trained special driving skills.
Miss Z is now a very confident driver.
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It was sort of the opposite with my son. He had half a dozen pro lessons to start with but didn’t really seem to gel with the instructor, so we switched to just me or my wife supervising him as a learner whenever he needed to go somewhere. We’d bought him an old car to practice on. Passed within 12 weeks of his 17th birthday. Might have done it earlier I’d guess if he could have got an earlier test date.
I was the same at his age, couldn’t wait as indeed was his mother.
My dad was old enough not to have to take a test. He bought a second hand car at 17 (a Morgan 3 wheeler) and a driving licence from the post office. Got my grandfather to show him how to drive it and off he went!
Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Wed 23 Aug 23 at 17:02
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Does she make any decisions on her own? Budget tyres are perfectly safe and a reasonable economy if your driving is mainly urban, short distance and not at sustained high speeds. I dislike the term “dichfinders”. There are no unsafe tyres on sale in the U.K.
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>>I dislike the term “dichfinders”. There are no unsafe tyres on sale in the
>> U.K.
Maybe not unsafe but probably less safe.
Our BX estate was an ex company car and was sold with some Michelins, probably original, at the rear and some Slovenian brand I'd never heard of on the front.
Was on my way to Sainsburys with my 6 mo daughter in the back. Pi**ing with rain and a bit of standing water, but no a flood, on the unclassified county road through to next village and the A45.
With no warning the steerin suddenly went very light and revs shot up a bit. Only a bit of time, less than a second, but not something I'd ever experienced before or since.
They came off the next day replaced by Michelins.
Never bought a budget tyre myself since...
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Years ago, when I had one of my series of Mondeo estates, it needed 4 tyres and I was super skint. So, I bought the cheapest new tyres I could find, can’t remember the brand, but it was something obscure.
They were sort of ok I suppose, but wet grip and noise were noticeably worse. I was doing a very high mileage at the time so I guess I didn’t have them on the car all that long.
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>> Does she make any decisions on her own?
Ask her that when she opens you up without anaesthetic to repair a ruptured artery, a recent occurrence having just arrived at hospital to go to the library. There were no other doctors available and the patient wouldn’t have survived the trip to the theatre.
I suppose like many people, she acknowledges where her knowledge ends and defers to others that know. Might come from the job. She’s a surgeon and refers other medical problems elsewhere in the hospital.
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>> Does she make any decisions on her own? Budget tyres are perfectly safe and a
>> reasonable economy if your driving is mainly urban, short distance and not at sustained high
>> speeds. I dislike the term “dichfinders”. There are no unsafe tyres on sale in the
>> U.K.
I don't object to them per se, within reason. It's the difference in grip between one end and the other or opposite ends of the same axle that can upset the handling very much on some cars. I've always believed this and have found it to be true on occasion (MX-5s are very sensitive to grip differences and hence tyre pressures, lots have discovered this).
My first car after passing my test was a Wolseley Hornet that should have had dampers but didn't. Colway remoulds cost £3 each and lasted 600 miles, but there was nothing wrong with the handling!
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My first car was a Wolseley Hornet too, and yes with Conway crossply remoulds. Two tone green.
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Maroon with grey roof.
Rotten as a pear.
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Yes, mine was 9 years old when I had it and it was dissolving.
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>>I can recommend the Suzuki Shop.
Ta, I might well start doing the servicing myself again. I have a garage here, but full of 'stuff' at the mo.
I've even still got a 6' x 4' shed in there which I must get round to erecting before the black season comes on.
Nice day today, might get another one next year if we're lucky.
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Of course if you are getting new tyres you would do the sensible thing and put them on the axle that is driving and steering the car!
Unless you are going to be taking bends and roundabouts at silly speeds which I doubt in a Vitara!
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I think there's a lot of old BS regarding tyres. One of my first had cross plys on the front and Michelin Xs on the rear. Taught me a lot about 'snap' overtsteer. The back end would grip like billy-ho in the wet, until it didn't!
I like to drive quite 'spiritedly' on occasion, but find myself rapidly catching the 'mimser'. I suspect it wouldn't matter a fig if they'd a mismatch of ditchfinders.
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Exactly!
I've always said this on other forums - I've experienced terminal understeer twice in my driving time all at relatively low speeds - not nice and I was very lucky on both occasions, so the best tread always goes on my front axle - 99% of drivers will never be going fast enough and experiencing the right conditions to provoke lift-off oversteer which I'm guessing is why 'they' would like new tyres to go on the rear.
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I am sure I have told the story of my first "company car", a Hillman Imp. The tyre pressures were 45psi rear and 15psi front.
More than once when the car was serviced, the wheels would be swopped front to rear. The garage usually omitted to adjust the tyre pressures, which made for some character forming experiences until one realised what had happened.
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>> I am sure I have told the story of my first "company car", a Hillman
>> Imp. The tyre pressures were 45psi rear and 15psi front.
Even with the obligatory paving slab/bag of cement in the frunk?
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I’m not a tyre expert or indeed a racing driver, I’m just a bloke who has done a lot of driving in a lot of vehicles in a lot of different weather and road conditions for a very long time. Those are my only “qualifications” to have an opinion, so I’m happy enough to be proven wrong.
However, I know for sure that I’d far rather have to deal with an oversteer scenario than an understeer situation.
The former can usually be very easily caught and corrected if you’re on your game, whereas the latter just means that you’re heading inexorably and directly towards the thing you’re trying to steer away from.
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Like I say, I’m not claiming to be right, just expressing a personal preference that seems to work for me and I respect and recognise that others will have different views.
Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Thu 24 Aug 23 at 09:40
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The car must have cost £15K upwards
You need to replace 2 tyres BUT worry about where to put them / which brand etc etc
Having spent quite a chunk of money. Looking forward it might be a good idea to dip your hand a wee bit deeper in the pocket & treat yourself and the new car to 4 x new tyres, always assuming assuming you can afford the extra 2 at this moment in time.
That said when I did some 20K a year I would buy them in 2s - new ones on the back, 20K later swap them to the front - all rubber was newish but covered 40K in total -20K on the back (still nearly new) & 20K on the front.
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Yes I appreciate that. I do think though that for most Kwikfit’s advice is good.
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One could be lead to believe that driving was difficult if the internet is to be trusted.
It can’t really be all that hard can it? Just look at some of the people who have managed to obtain a valid licence!
;-)
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Since a good proportion of drivers can’t negotiate a roundabout properly, join a motorway from a slip road safely or are aware they have indicators I rather think driving is a mystery to many.
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I don’t know which is the more exciting...driving through Bradford, watching racing on the Bingley by-pass with the rented wedding Lambo’s, or risking my small local GP surgery cp with the oldies attempting to park.
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Parallel parking in any more than two moves should lead to a public shaming.
;-)
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New Continentals fitted today...gone on the front axle....part worn Contis remained on the rear.
Friendly fitter, relating a past experience in France, advised me to take the (old) single front Conti with me ( plenty of tread on it and room in the Vitara) in addition to the space saver.
He said it’s a belt n braces approach as he got screwed on a touring holiday when needing a new tyre ( similar to Runfers experience).
He also said that he runs Vredestein all seasons on his front axle in winter, leaving the normal summer tyres on the rear.
Last edited by: legacylad on Fri 1 Sep 23 at 21:59
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I got a puncture in Northern Spain 10 years back. It was a Sunday and it was the St James holiday weekend. A bit like Christmas. I didn’t want to use the space saver and was surprised to find a one man tyre outfit open for business. He whipped off the tyre, repaired it and checked the remaining three tyres for pressure. Including waiting time, I was in and out in less than half an hour.
Cost? Five Euros.
Obviously not representative but it does show Johnny Foreigner is not always out to get us.
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Locally to where I often rent on the Costa B there are a couple of tyre outfits and local workshops. On the few occasions I’ve had to use them the service has been exemplary...charged me peanuts and I remember one occasion when they spent 30 minutes under the bonnet diagnosing and fixing a problem. No charge.
I returned a few days later with a dozen bottles of beer.
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>>...... I remember one occasion when they spent 30
>> minutes under the bonnet diagnosing and fixing a problem. No charge.
>> I returned a few days later with a dozen bottles of beer.
>>
Blimey! That was a result.
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When does the great European road trip start LL?
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A tractor garage in very rural Ireland once fixed a puncture on my car for €5.00.
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...cost you £450 to get the car there, but hey, bargain!...
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>> When does the great European road trip start LL?
>>
Only Spain …drive Plymouth next week. Sail toSantander the following day. Head east skirting Pamplona to the Pyrenees, a few nights under canvas in remote spots before joined friends in Vielha for a weeks walking.
Then SE to the Marina Alta. Lovely limestone mountains, hopefully cooler by then, back late October into Portsmouth.
Plenty of room in Suzie if anyone wants a lift :-)
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If only that were possible, I’d be there in the blink of an eye!
Have a great trip and keep us updated if you can. At least we can enjoy it vicariously!
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For future reference..Pyrenees obviously but Marina Alta ( northern C Blanca) is great mountain biking country. Several friends do a lot of that…drive into the mountains and do their thing.
Stunning scenery.
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Yes, we were on the French side of that on our bikes in July. Quite hot then, but lovely.
Here’s an odd thing, we took the little Jeep to France because the Merc was temporarily poorly at the time. After a day or so into that trip I completely forgot to be irritated by it being a manual. Hadn’t driven it since we got back, until today when I just took it for no real reason to nip to Sainsbury’s and immediately got bored with stirring the stick in traffic. I suppose if I used it again tomorrow I’d forget about it again.
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Suzuki - Tyre advice - Bromptonaut
