Exellent Tyres

[teddycatkin]

Just noticed the question of which tyres to use crops up again and again this post may be helpful?
Having used Goodyears for the last 10 years -usually NCT as the cars are all older classic MB,s.--We tried Goodyear Exellence for the last set and they have proved to be the best yet by far.
Only one place to buy from nowadays -E-tyres--they come and fit and balance whever you are look them up on web --and also check out the tyre tests--Uk and German tests are there for road holding comfort noise and price ect.,

 

[television]

Always hard to quote a firm as being the cheapest as it often depends on the size of the tyre in question.

The German test are good and well done usually

 

[jberks]

Tyres are so subjective its really hard to say whats best. There are official tests but even they have numerous variations that mean their results may difer for you.

Case in point - I swapped from premium Continentals to budget Federals and found them gripyer, just as quiet and just as smooth. Another set of federals later and I felt I had to agree with some online reviews that said they were a bit noisy so I'd try Khumo for a change. They seem such a revelation. Much, much quieter, much smoother, better ride than the federals, the slight grumble at low speed has vanished and they're just as grippy as far as I can tell. Possibly a very slight directional vagueness at high speed, not certain but that could've been the road surface and she went precisely where pointed so the jury is still out.

On that basis, Khumo is superior to Continental. But I know they aren't. There is my subjective view compounded by the fact that the conti/federal comparison was between new Federals and worn out continentals and khumo-federal comparison was equally skewed. Had the federals been as noisy when they were new as they were at the end, I'd probably have noticed. Whether the khumos will remain quiet remains to be seen. Worn tyres will give a poor ride so new ones will always feel superior.

We almost never compare new with new and a car on new tyres always feels better.

 

[television]

Tyres are so subjective its really hard to say whats best. There are official tests but even they have numerous variations that mean their results may difer for you.

Case in point - I swapped from premium Continentals to budget Federals and found them gripyer, just as quiet and just as smooth. Another set of federals later and I felt I had to agree with some online reviews that said they were a bit noisy so I'd try Khumo for a change. They seem such a revelation. Much, much quieter, much smoother, better ride than the federals, the slight grumble at low speed has vanished and they're just as grippy as far as I can tell. Possibly a very slight directional vagueness at high speed, not certain but that could've been the road surface and she went precisely where pointed so the jury is still out.

On that basis, Khumo is superior to Continental. But I know they aren't. There is my subjective view compounded by the fact that the conti/federal comparison was between new Federals and worn out continentals and khumo-federal comparison was equally skewed. Had the federals been as noisy when they were new as they were at the end, I'd probably have noticed. Whether the khumos will remain quiet remains to be seen. Worn tyres will give a poor ride so new ones will always feel superior.

We almost never compare new with new and a car on new tyres always feels better.

Re the test of tyres, if on a straight line braking test the continental premium Contact 2 stops on a wet road at 60mph 10 metes shorter than the Kumho Ecsta SPT, the Bridgestone ER300, also the Toyo Proxes CT01 then how can these cheaper brands be as good. The test were done on the same car, same driver and only the wheels were changed.

On a wet elk test, the car fixed to a guide rail the same results were shown. A wheel rev count was fitted to all 4 wheels and the 3 cheaper brands, though the break away figure does not show that much difference the conti managed 72.5 kmh before loosing grip and the other 69kph.

The comfort test was done with the engine turned off, the car being pulled along, once again the Conti got 10 points, and the others 3, 3,3 and 1 respectively.

Sure the on fuel consumption test the Conti was the worst with 2 point and the other 3 the best, purely because of the fact they they offered almost no grip at all.

You can turn your nose up at tyre testing, and you can ignore the results to justify what you have on the car, but the above figures are real, and fact
.

 

[britnordic]

Jberks

similar experience except originals were Dunlop Sport, now on my second set of Khumos. I speak as I find, the Khumos are very much quieter, good ride but perhaps not quite so grippy in the wet.

You pays your money etc etc!

Tony

 

[jberks]

Re the test of tyres, if on a straight line braking test the continental premium Contact 2 stops on a wet road at 60mph 10 metes shorter than the Kumho Ecsta SPT, the Bridgestone ER300, also the Toyo Proxes CT01 then how can these cheaper brands be as good. The test were done on the same car, same driver and only the wheels were changed.

On a wet elk test, the car fixed to a guide rail the same results were shown. A wheel rev count was fitted to all 4 wheels and the 3 cheaper brands, though the break away figure does not show that much difference the conti managed 72.5 kmh before loosing grip and the other 69kph.

The comfort test was done with the engine turned off, the car being pulled along, once again the Conti got 10 points, and the others 3, 3,3 and 1 respectively.

Sure the on fuel consumption test the Conti was the worst with 2 point and the other 3 the best, purely because of the fact they they offered almost no grip at all.

You can turn your nose up at tyre testing, and you can ignore the results to justify what you have on the car, but the above figures are real, and fact
.

Malcolm,
I don't turn my nose up at them but I do take them with a pinch of salt. Tyres are a vital component of a car but only one of the components. They have to work in concert with all the others. Hence, aspects such as the weight of the car, suspension setup, camber settings, air temperature and even tyre pressures during the test can affect the results wildly. I don't disagree that continental are excellent tyres, lets get that clear, in fact I'd be very happy to run on MO continentals all the time, but I have to justify the extra expense in some way, if only to myself, and thus far, they fail that test. We're talking about a 45% cost difference on a not inconsiderable outlay and I want to see a 45% difference in performance. I do see a difference, but 1-2%, not 45.

All the reviews I have seen and read all come down to very small differences between the test subjects. Yes they show large numerical differences in the headlines but these tend to be mathematical illusions that come down to a fraction of a percent difference in actual performance.

To illustrate my sceptisim, take a look at this test from another well trusted publisher. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/213156/wet_handling.html
In the wet handling test, Continental scored 95.7% whereas khumo scored 96.8%, a 1.1% difference, yet on wet cornering the situation reversed and Conti was 1.4% ahead. On tyre noise and rolling resistance khumo came out ahead (actually won the noise competition which backs up my anecdotal view that they're quiet). Dry handling again Conti came out on top, but only by 1.3%.

But here's the thing that makes me take my pinch of salt. Your review shows
"continental premium Contact 2 stops on a wet road at 60mph 10 metes shorter than the Kumho Ecsta SPT," Fair enough and food for thought. 10M is a lot.
Yet my review has Khumo SPTs as the best tyre in the wet braking results (bar none - yes I'm as surprised as you!) and Conti in the middle of the pack, a relatively huge 5.7% behind. In dry braking, Khumo was behind Conti taking 2nd and 3rd place respectively but with only 1% between them. Michelin were 4% behind Khumo. This would imply that relatively speaking, Michelin are dangerous in the dry. But we all know that would be cobblers, they're excellent tyres.
So here we have 2 respected reviews.
One says that wet braking of contis far exceeds Khumo, to the extent that khumo are borderline dangerous, and the other says that khumos stop better than continentals in the wet. Who's right? Both and neither I suspect. The conclusion has Conti well ahead for reasons I couldn't fathom but there is nothing in the review that said avoid these tyres or think carefully. The only ones they really say that about are Pirelli - a tyre you'd not normally get stick for buying. Sure they're outperformed in some areas but if you believe that, you must also believe that they outperform the premium brands in wet braking.The bottom line is taht within the handling range I inhabit, they'll do just fine. I've done 40,000 miles, mostly at high speed, on Federal tyres and maybe once have I had the ABS cut in to indicate I'm pushing my luck whilst braking. Khumos are allegedly better than Federals and as I say, I haven't needed all of what Federal provided.

Hence, I do read reviews and if several consistently say tyre X is crap, I won't buy them. If however, results are less than consistent, and where there are differences they're minimal, I turn to anecdotal views. After all, I'm not looking for .02 second gains on the track, I just don't want to fall off the road or slide across it and equally I want to be able to afford a set when I need them. Anecodotally, and according to some formal reviews Khumo are well respected. Ask a number of tyre fitters as I have and you'll find they speak very highly of Khumo. Read the turbo nutter forums and they're equally complimentary (and these guys do look for that 0.2.gain). Ask Britnordic above. In fact, try as I did, I can't find anyone with a bad word to say about them. (aside from someone who said they only got 4k out of them but even they didn't critisise the handling).

Before buying them I called my lead footed friend who, admittedly on my recommendation, fitted them to his V6 E320cdi as a replacement to his contis. Did he hate me now? Had I advised him badly? Was he still alive, or berried in a tree? His reply was that he'd had nearly 20,000 miles out of them, they were still legal though worn, he was very happy with them and was looking at ordering a new set in the near future. Would he return to Conti? Nope. Nothing against them but nothing for them either, so why spend the extra £250?.

Hence - a pinch of salt.

 

[benoliver]

Just noticed the question of which tyres to use crops up again and again this post may be helpful?
Having used Goodyears for the last 10 years -usually NCT as the cars are all older classic MB,s.--We tried Goodyear Exellence for the last set and they have proved to be the best yet by far.
Only one place to buy from nowadays -E-tyres--they come and fit and balance whever you are look them up on web --and also check out the tyre tests--Uk and German tests are there for road holding comfort noise and price ect.,

I have just replaced P6000s on my E Class with Goodyear Excellence, and I am really impressed by them, they seem quieter that the Pirellis, and they give a slightly better ride. I got them from a place in Welwyn Garden City for £80 each fitted, the Pirellis were £135 each, so a good saving!

 

[thejap]

I have just replaced the tyres on my E320. I had Avons on but the noise between 40 and 60mph was as if the wheel bearings had gone. I was advised Conti's but my local supplier said that Nexen were a good tyre at a good price. The car was so much quieter with these tyres on and the supplier stated that they had stopped selling Avons due to the complaints of noise.

 

[television]

I have just replaced the tyres on my E320. I had Avons on but the noise between 40 and 60mph was as if the wheel bearings had gone. I was advised Conti's but my local supplier said that Nexen were a good tyre at a good price. The car was so much quieter with these tyres on and the supplier stated that they had stopped selling Avons due to the complaints of noise.

I had the same problems with them on my V70R, they were unbearable

 

[jberks]

Hi,
How do you find the Nexens in terms of ride, grip etc?.
Views of premium tyres are easy enough to come by, and we expect good things from them anyway but the budget tyres are more of a lottery so owner's views can be quite helpful.
Noise is something often missed. I switched away from Federals in the end because of the noise. It wasn't that obvious initially, after Bridgestones and contis but maybe that was because the previous tyres were worn and noisier as I don't think Contis are normally noisy. Towards the end of the second set of Federals, the noise started to get intrusive and when I mentioned that there was had been a wheel bearing noise for ages to the dealer, they came back and suggested it was actually the tyre.
New set on and she's a different car, almost silent on some surfaces, less vibration and a much nicer ride (an the bearing noise has gone!). I don't think they look as nice but then they're for driving on.

 

[thejap]

I had used the Nexen 3000 on my previous E240 they lasted about 15k with no issues. The Nexens I have just fitted are CP621's, as yet no issues but I've only had them on a week or so. In that week its been dry for once so have no experience in the wet. My wife has them on her peugeot and no complaints. They look to have a similar pattern to the Conti's.

 

[dolmen]

I was just about to drop the hammer on a set of Toyo's and now I'm back to being undecided :mrgreen:

I hate to get ripped off ... and paying for Michelins has gotten mighty expensive, but then Toyo's at 80 / corner are not that cheap really!

watching this thread with interest for another couple of days

Cheers

 

[bigasotonuk]

I,m having a pair of 245/40 17" Marshall Tyres fitted on Friday to my AMG, which is replacing the Goodyear GSD 3's, which have lasted no more than 10,000 miles.
I was going to go for the Federals (allegedly the budget arm of Continental), but took guidance from the owner of the tyre shop, who recommended them, apparently a medium compond tyre with some good reports.
Any one have experience of them?
Malcolm how are they wearing on your V70?

 

[Dosco]

Budget Tyres

I am running on Coopers done 23K so far and according to the supplier they could go for a further 8/10K. Good in the wet, noise level for me is far better than previous Pirelli, Conti's and Goodyear.

 

[duncanh]

I am trying Avon ZV5

I have just returned from having a pair of Avon ZV5 fitted. Reviews all seem good, price was excellent. Time will tell if I have made a good decision. They have to be better than Pirelli P6000!

I have never found anywhere that can match Blackcircles.com on fully fitted price for my size of tyre (at least not for a known name tyre) - 195/65x15V. The Avons were £52 each with discount (list price £54.88).

I suspect that Micheldever may be cheaper, but not if I include the fuel to get there.