Hi I'm planning on getting some decent tyres for my 01 fiesta since I aquaplaned the other day, the tread on all 4 is getting very low and there is balding on the front drivers tyre. Is it worth getting a well rated tyre or am I just reading into this too far and giving in to marketing?! Is £172 a good price for 4 Goodyear GT2 tyres, fully fitted, or are the Duragrip ones any better? I can't find any reviews for these. Also been looking at the good Continental Premium Contact 2 and especially the Eco Contact 2 tyres since they are reviewed very highly but what kind of price should I be looking at for these and will independent garages give me a better price for them? Thanks
New tyres
- Thread starter andyj941
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You mention aquaplaning so I take it you are in the mood for a good, rather than a cheap, tyre.
Michelin Energy is an expensive but very good tyre for a family car, it has an unusually long life so you get your money's worth in the end.
If you ring round a few independents and chains, they will mostly try to price match. You will probably get a better price if you buy a set of tyres.
When phoning, be sure to ask for exactly the same tyre, including balancing and VAT, or you can't compare (sometimes they sneakily add extras on to what you thought was a good price).
There are hundreds of tyres about so there are very few comprensive and unbiased information avauilable. "Which" tested 97 premium and economy tyres, spanning eight different sizes in their February report (you can read it at the library). The worst ones tend to be brands you have never heard of.
If you tell me your tyre size I will see if there were some best buys.
Goodyear Duragrip was not a Best Buy, and GT2 is not tested. GT3 was not a Best Buy.
Continental PremiumContact2 was a Best Buy in size 195/65 R15V
Michelin Energy is an expensive but very good tyre for a family car, it has an unusually long life so you get your money's worth in the end.
If you ring round a few independents and chains, they will mostly try to price match. You will probably get a better price if you buy a set of tyres.
When phoning, be sure to ask for exactly the same tyre, including balancing and VAT, or you can't compare (sometimes they sneakily add extras on to what you thought was a good price).
There are hundreds of tyres about so there are very few comprensive and unbiased information avauilable. "Which" tested 97 premium and economy tyres, spanning eight different sizes in their February report (you can read it at the library). The worst ones tend to be brands you have never heard of.
If you tell me your tyre size I will see if there were some best buys.
Goodyear Duragrip was not a Best Buy, and GT2 is not tested. GT3 was not a Best Buy.
Continental PremiumContact2 was a Best Buy in size 195/65 R15V
Check out Kwik Fit sometimes have good offers on when you are buying 4 tyres i.e buy 4 pay for 3 it can be quite a saving on the likes of michelin or pirelli tyres, I wouldn't normally recommend kwik fit just make sure they don't try and sell you shockers brakes etc.
As John says michelin are a very good wearing tyre, just treat them gently initially and they wear very well, on my astra van the rear tyres (michelin) lasted 88,000 miles.
As John says michelin are a very good wearing tyre, just treat them gently initially and they wear very well, on my astra van the rear tyres (michelin) lasted 88,000 miles.
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I used 'et' for a tyre puncture survey - repair or replace.
Tyre in use following repair 2.5 yrs to date, loses no more pressure over time than other tyres fitted... Balancing feels fine no difference in driving experience.
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Thanks I think I'm going to treat myself to the Continental EcoContact 3 as I suppose they are the only 4 things holding it onto the road! I've got a quote for £180 from a local chester garage for fitting disposal and balancing. The only other question I have is I have alloy wheels but don't know how to get them off - can someone have a look at my photo album titled 'other' or the image on this page (if it comes up) and tell if this thing i got with the car helps thanks. I don't want to pay extra or have them damaged! Cheers
That looks like a locking wheelnut key, it fits over one of the wheelnuts which has a pattern on it which looks similar to a clover leaf. The key is placed on the locking wheelnut allowing a spanner to be attached in order to remove it. The other 3 or 4 are normally just bog standard wheelnuts.
You should keep this key in your car in case you have a puncture.
You should keep this key in your car in case you have a puncture.
If I were you I'd chuck that thing in the bin along with the nuts that it fits and replace them with bog standard wheel nuts. I'd sooner take the chance of getting my wheels nicked than get a flat and be unable to find the key for the locking nuts. Those things don't get a good grip and if the nuts have been put on very tight you usually only get one chance of getting them off before the key is too worn to fit properly.
I'm guessing an independent garage couldn't do itIt is a problem when they are put on with a windy gun, I tend to use just a normal ratchet/bar for the locking wheelnuts as to not overtighten them.
