Are cheap tyres really that crap?

[SMOKEY]

I put Achilles ATR sports on my E39 - justified it as it was only a 525i and I never really drove it that hard. But that didn't matter as they showed their true colours when I tried to pull up for a traffic light in wet weather, not even braking hard - maybe 50% - and the ABS was kicking in and shuddering as the tyres slipped down the road.

The only good thing about them (other than the price) is that they have stupid high treadwear rating (rated over 800 vs a performance tyre that would be around the 200-300 mark) so they last forever. But because the rubber compound is like a rock, they grip to bitumen with about the same effectiveness as said rock.

[briankerrys47]

[quote="shadrack"]
i had 22" achilles desert hawks on the x5 and drove it like i stole it, they were £75 a corner fitted and never had an issue at all, had 2 sets in 40k miles
[/quote]On memory lane here  1960 Ford Consul M2,Goodyear G800's 38000mls used to swap them around once a year,then 1971 NSU 1000 Prinz O:-)  £800 new ,a set of tyres from Asda £16 fitted  O:-) :blink: sold for £150 1979 200,000 on clock.
Don't all laugh I don't get out much )

[X5Sport]

I'm sure tyres used to last a lot longer back in the day.  I had Goodyear's on my '78 Cavalier and I'm sure they last 30k+ Miles a set, and we're only about £80 a set fitted and balanced!

Now I get 18k a set and £80 is not much above a full balancing, fitting and disposal (of the worn tyres) charge.

An I don't get out much either... ) )

Richard

[MSPORTBMW]

The tyre debate wakes up again !!!!!

I've got a E70 3.0s MSPORT with Bridgestone run flats on. When they are knackered I intend putting non run flats on.
I'm looking at the more budget range of tyres for instance....Nexen.....nankang.....etc.  My tyre sizes are....285/45/19 on the rear and 255/50/19 on the front.
I've always used the budget end of tyres in the past and have to say I've had no probs.
My reasoning for not paying £200-£300 per corner is the fact that for one, I don't drive like an idiot, and only do a max of 8000 miles per year, plus 90% of the time I'm town and A road driving. 
I've read many threads on different forums about budget vs premium tyres. Some people say that they had premiums on and when they changed Their worn out ones, they put on nexens or similar and didn't notice any difference....admittedly some say the budgets were rubbish.
Sometimes I think it's down to tyre snobbery.
So has anyone here had nexens.....as that is the one I'm leaning towards....if so what were your thoughts....also please chip in if you have had similar tyres.....nankang etc etc.

Cheers

[535dboy]

You might know you need them until it's too late.

[99ron]

Agree with 535d. I just ran a set of Falken 453s which drove ok and felt fine but it's the differences like stopping distances that you are never going to know. Independent tyres tests I've read (Evo do a few) tend to show the top brand are fairly close but drops off a bit with the medium players and off a cliff with some of the budget makes. Falkens cost me £600 a set were knackered at 12000 miles on the rear.  I've now gone to a set of Michelin Latitude Sport 3s. Very nice. Another £140 more expensive but be interesting to see if they last longer. And I bet they stop shorter should some idiot cause you to need them to!

[rj1986]

Well to update, i went with Achilles Desert Hawk UHP - and so far, i've flipped 7 times, skidded 8 and died 19 from going 4mph round a corner which had some spit on it.

Or

I got them put on, on a morning where it was about -7.
Didn't falter, and haven't in downpours, icy mornings or a few cm's of snow. A tiny bit of wheelspin when reversing up a snowy incline, but couldn't tell what corner it was coming from.

Driving on Motorways, you can say they are a bit louder and firmer than some brands, but after a month and a bit, they seem great.

[X5Sport]

Eh....what?  Can't hear you over the tyre roar

[Tommy]

[quote="rj1986"]
Well to update, i went with Achilles Desert Hawk UHP - and so far, i've flipped 7 times, skidded 8 and died 19 from going 4mph round a corner which had some spit
[/quote]

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