Budget Tyres

[n1k85]

Hi Guys,

I know it's blasphemy to mention budget tyres on a BMW forum, but I have ran budgets on every single car I've ever had and never had an issue. On the E46Zone the mere mention of budget tyres would result in a 7 page thread with the usual keywords like "widowmakers" "ditchfinders" etc etc

Although most of the people using these keywords freely admit that they themselves have never actually ever tried budgets, but they are very quick to state how you will definitely be killed by running anything less than premium.

You of course get the obligatory "the only thing between the car and the road are the tyres... etc etc" (you all know the routine). I've also read many similar threads over here on xdrivers and i'm aware the most of you guys also feel the same way, which is understandable and 'each to their own' and all that.

I was actually told on the E46Zone that if you can't afford premium tyres then you can't afford a BMW. I categorically don't agree with that, especially when you can buy an E46 for less than a grand now, so spending three quarters of the car's value on tyres just doesn't make sense. If I had run budgets and found them dangerous, scary, unstable etc then I of course would ditch them immediately, but I never have.

My point is that I don't wan't to create another one of 'those' budget tyre threads. I have personally run budgets loads of times on a variety of cars, and saved thousands in the process. I've never 'spun out' 'saw the wrong side of a hedge' or had any issues with them.

Anyway... I needed 4 new tyres, so last month I went for a full set of Acceleras in 20" (275/40/20 & 315/35/20).

I have seen a few of you guys on here running the 'Nexen' brand 20's which were £105-ish for the fronts and £120-ish for the rears. I was going to go for these, but I ran Acceleras on my 3 series and was quite happy with them, so I went for these instead. I paid £113 each for the fronts and £121 each for the rears.

I've had them on for about 3 weeks now and so far I'm very impressed. They've been absolutely spot on. We've had some pretty nice weather recently and of course they were sweet as a nut in the dry. I had tried them a number of times in the rain and again they seemed great. But on Bank Holiday Monday they were really put to the test! I drove to RAF Cosford Air museum and got caught it the worst downpour I've seen in ages on the way back! The whole road (A41) was totally waterlogged and they were absolutely great! Cornering in the rain was spot on, drenched motorway was spot on, generally very impressed with them in the dry and the wet.

Feel free to comment, I have noticed quite a few of you running budgets on pictures you've put up here but nobody ever seems to want to admit to it! I'd be interested to hear your reviews on those Nexen's or other brands.

In the mean time here are some pics:

[barnowl930]

I sell tyres and I've got a new set of Accelera's (20") on mine.

They are narrow for the size though.

Nice and quiet compared to my previous nexens.

Most of the budget brands are backed by the major players, I have a list at work of who owns who and it makes for interesting reading!!

[n1k85]

[quote=""barnowl930""]I sell tyres and I've got a new set of Accelera's (20") on mine.
Most of the budget brands are backed by the major players, I have a list at work of who owns who and it makes for interesting reading!![/quote]

That would be interesting!

The quality of the Acceleras seems great. (Rubber quality, ride quality, noise, quality of the logos/graphics on them)

The only budgets I've had and not really got on with were 'Triangle'. I had them on my Z4 and although I didn't find them unsafe, the rubber didnt seem that great quality and the writing/logos etc seemed a bit wishy-washy, they were also really loud. They were really cheap though

[JonW]

Pick the tyre that suits your needs and budget.

When the time comes my X5 will be getting part worn or budget and either will do just fine. I don't see the point in spending fortunes on tyres for a car that will be piddling about town or have an occasional blast along the motorway.

My Z4 will get decent rubber because it does get horsed along a bit.

My Astra estate runs on beach balls with nobly bits.

No tyre snobbery with me!

JonW

[Raj]

Tbh fair play. I've run Avon's once, Falkens and Toyos. But I guess they're more mid range tyres.

The tread pattern is similar to Michelin's as I'm sure they have some affiliation.

If your happy with them then that's all that matters. Oh and we should hook up as I'm in Wolves too.

[shadrack]

ive always run budget tyres as like with a £50 bike helmet they still have to run a standard, ive xsport cross grip on one set of 22s, desert hawk on the other 22s (excellent) and delintes on my 20s and never had a problem other than they cost half the price, dont get me wrong ive had good tyres in the past but been as tho i cant tell any differance i dont buy them!!!!

[JonW]

[quote=""shadrack""]ive always run budget tyres as like with a £50 bike helmet they still have to run a standard, ive xsport cross grip on one set of 22s, desert hawk on the other 22s (excellent) and delintes on my 20s and never had a problem other than they cost half the price, dont get me wrong ive had good tyres in the past but been as tho i cant tell any differance i dont buy them!!!![/quote]


Very true and if you only need standard then why pay for more?

JonW

[shadrack]

exacly no matter how cheap something is they have to meet a set of safety standards therefor rendering them all the same!

[scooby1doo1]

I've had budgets on the Scoob once, lasted only 6 months and was shocking in any sort of damp weather.

They are budgets for a reason, most will be down to driving style.

As the scoobs corner some what better than an X5 or maybe not with budgets, then you no your on budgets.

Normal ever day driving around like miss daisy, then prob not noticed what rubber your on. Break, corner that bit to fast in the rain then hence the ditch finders rep.

As said if your happy with them that's all that counts, but I had ditch finders once and that was enough.

I under stand that different makes will no doubt make some difference, but side by side test for grip, wet, dry, wear then paying that extra is up to in individual. But at only £120 ish is it worth the extra premium, again upto the individual.

My experience and my point of view is at min, I would get nothing below a mid range tyre.


Sent from the Iphone via talktapa

[Woofer]

These look good but my issue is with wet weather stopping distances , especially on the motorway, I've had the scary experience of an HGV crossing the Central. Reservation of the M1 ahead of me and blocking all 3 lanes , I stopped , just , on new premium rubber , the cars in lane 1 and 2 going slower than me didn't , I don't know whether shonky tyres or slower reactions were a part of why but seeing the aftermath meant that I always fit the best tyres possible and change them at 3 or 4 mm.

I know there are good and bad budget brands but I'd rather read reviews and pick the best wet weather tyre irrespective.

Good luck!

[X5Sport]

[quote=""Woofer""] I don't know whether shonky tyres or slower reactions were a part of why but seeing the aftermath meant that I always fit the best tyres possible and change them at 3 or 4 mm.

I know there are good and bad budget brands but I'd rather read reviews and pick the best wet weather tyre irrespective.

Good luck![/quote]

A Pratchett fan perchance?

I feel the same as you do, but not had to test them any the kind of circumstances you faced. I picked up the 3mm habit from working with the Police in the 80's and have stuck with it..... Personally tyres are a 'safety critical' component and there are some shockers out there, but there are some very good ones too. As you say, it's a personal choice..

[Black X5]

My brother had a new set of budgets on his RRS- within 4 months 3 of them had split the sidewalls to varying degrees. Not Good! Don't know if they were just a bad batch, but I try and stick to the mid-range tyres (toyos etc) where I can.

[shadrack]

[quote=""scooby1doo1""]I've had budgets on the Scoob once, lasted only 6 months and was shocking in any sort of damp weather.

They are budgets for a reason, most will be down to driving style.

As the scoobs corner some what better than an X5 or maybe not with budgets, then you no your on budgets.

Normal ever day driving around like miss daisy, then prob not noticed what rubber your on. Break, corner that bit to fast in the rain then hence the ditch finders rep.

As said if your happy with them that's all that counts, but I had ditch finders once and that was enough.

I under stand that different makes will no doubt make some difference, but side by side test for grip, wet, dry, wear then paying that extra is up to in individual. But at only £120 ish is it worth the extra premium, again upto the individual.

My experience and my point of view is at min, I would get nothing below a mid range tyre.


Sent from the Iphone via talktapa[/quote]
totally disagree as i drive my x5 90% of the time like ive stole it!! there are 23 roundabouts on my daily comute and rain snow or shine im flat out!!

[scooby1doo1]

[quote=""shadrack""][quote=""scooby1doo1""]I've had budgets on the Scoob once, lasted only 6 months and was shocking in any sort of damp weather.

They are budgets for a reason, most will be down to driving style.

As the scoobs corner some what better than an X5 or maybe not with budgets, then you no your on budgets.

Normal ever day driving around like miss daisy, then prob not noticed what rubber your on. Break, corner that bit to fast in the rain then hence the ditch finders rep.

As said if your happy with them that's all that counts, but I had ditch finders once and that was enough.

I under stand that different makes will no doubt make some difference, but side by side test for grip, wet, dry, wear then paying that extra is up to in individual. But at only £120 ish is it worth the extra premium, again upto the individual.

My experience and my point of view is at min, I would get nothing below a mid range tyre.


Sent from the Iphone via talktapa[/quote]
totally disagree as i drive my x5 90% of the time like ive stole it!! there are 23 roundabouts on my daily comute and rain snow or shine im flat out!![/quote]

My nan drives like she stole her car 90% of the time, and she's 76 and never had a problem with budgets, but driving an X5 3.0d is nothing like driving a scoob.

I was giving my point, and my views on the budgets i had, Note i said was shocking in any sort of damp weather.

Googled budget tyres vs premium and at the top come the link below.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/tyre-te ... sts/251766

Please note i had the budgets fitted to the scoob well over 7 yrs ago, and by the looks of the above link budgets have such a fantastic wet grip report.

As said in my first post in this thread, if people are happy with buying them fare enough.

[shadrack]

disagree again, i had budgets on my m3 and it is worse than driving a scooby!!