Front Set Of New Tyres ?

[mitch84]

Hi

Bit of a boring subject , just would like some help on a new set of tyres for my focus mk2.5. (16" alloys)

Need a set for the front but not sure what to get , My front set are what was on it when I got the car (think they are michelin) , I got some new rear tyres last year called Uniroyal rain expert.

I'm not to fussed about getting the same brand and type as it can be hard to keep all four tyres the same.

I'm also wondering if I should put the new tyres on the front or rear?

any advice greatly appreciated.

[frostman83]

I take it there budget on the back? If you can afford it get decent tires. Ie Michelin , Goodyear , Dunlop ect. I'd avoid budget tires at all costs although sometimes financially this is hard.

[rnem_uk]

I get mine done in CostCo and they always put new tyres on the rear. It's a safety thing.

If you get decent tyres, they'll last ages. I got about 25-30k out of a set of Michelins.

[johnH]

if your rears are new and your fronts are old, Put your rears on to the front, then buy 2 new tyres for the rear. Tyre rotation.

I just bought two new bridgestones, with fitting, balancing and tracking done for £120...they were 205/55/r16

try www.blackcircles.com - i always use them to find cheap tyres and fitters etc.

[Stoney871]

I recommend Avon ZZ3, excellent grip and wear.

Had a set on for 6 months and 10k and still look brand new.

[Andy H Dibley]

I'm in the Michelin camp I'm afraid. Came fitted with the car new, have great grip and wear excellently.

Budget brands are hit and miss most of the time. That said there are a few that are cheaper options but made by big manufacturers, there's one brand made by Continental, but I can't remember off the too if my head.

I was always of the opinion new tyres go on the front, but I think it was here that I learnt that isn't the best plan for a front wheel drive car. The factors of how easy to control under steer and over steer come into play.

Just remember, at the end of the day, your tyres maybe a costly investment, but you're buying faith that the brand has spent money on the compound and design to make them safe when driving in extreme conditions.

[frostman83]

Yeah agree with what Andy says. I have mitchlins on my rear wheels and IMO I think they are the ones I'd go for again after having dunlops on the front.

[mitch84]

Hi guys

thanks for the replys , I think some of you get the impression my rear tyres are budget tyres , Uniroyal are actually a very good tyre , think there made by one of the well known tyre company's, the only thing I dont like about them is the side wall seems soft.

I may have a look at some Michelins , is there any that you would reccomend from Michelin?

thanks again

[Captain Haddock]

Put the new tyres on the rear; why ?

FWD - Once the rear-end lets go you've got very little time or options to correct it, but if it's gone too far then not even Fangio would get it back.

If the front-end understeers then you can lift off a bit and it should point back towards the correct direction.

RWD - You've the got the option of some power induced correction plus a bit of corrective oposite lock to get it pointed back in the right direction.

Either way having the best tyres on the rear gives the best chance of keeping the car pointed in the right direction.

I'm sure Stoney would agree that don't go practising on public roads; keep that for a skidpan or track day.

[Pitmonster]

In a FWD car the front tyres do a lot more work than the rears, so put your best tyres on the front.

In your case put your new tyres on the front, and leave the existing tyres on the rear - if they are a year old they'll still have around 6mm tread remaining (of the original 8mm).

For a good deal try National Tyres on eBay - yes really!!

National Tyres have a 'store' on eBay, where you can buy tyres as singles, pairs, or sets of 4. It's searchable by size, brand, price etc just like their main website - and all prices include fitting, balancing and new valves etc at your local National branch, and you just book an appointment.

But the difference is that it's 10-20% cheaper than their main website, and when I got new tyres last year it was actually about 5% cheaper than BlackCircles and MyTyres for the same product - plus I have a branch two streets away so it was dead convenient.

* I do not work for National Tyres or eBay.

[mitch84]

been looking at Michelin primacy 3 which looks good in dry and wet conditions , I may put them on the front and keep my older set on the rear as like the above said there only a year old.

[rnem_uk]

Here's a good video which explains the reasoning for rear fit..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rvAJSMT5jc

[mitch84]

rear it is then , As I would want to change the uni royals next ,so putting them on the front will wear them out quicker

[frostman83]

They would put I'd put the new ones on the front.

[jimrex]

I had Michelins from when the car was new and they were fantastic, got about 23k miles out of them which is good for me as I don't take roundabouts as slow as I could! Also had a blow out on one of the back ones due to a six inch bolt...

I now have Good Year Eagle NCT 5's which don't seem quite as grippy as the Michelins in the wet when you're pushing on, but are still pretty decent. I am also reliably informed that the moulds for Good Year tyres come from the more expensive brands like Michelin or Bridgestone when they replace a tyre range.

[johnH]

im a strong believer in putting new tyres on rear and moving the rears to the front. That way your tyres are getting a good rotation and maximum life out of them. Whereas if you keep the same set on the rears for the life, then at one point you will have to buy 4 tyres at the same time, whereas rotation you just need to buy 2....cost effective.

even fitters for a certain bus company i work for, do this, move the rears to the front etc to get maximum life out of them and save money. Oh they use michellin tyres....and its michellin that send a "tyre specialist" to check the tyres and rotate as necessary.

EDIT: i was also informed that the law is 2mm (out ring on 20p coin) minimum for tread, however having 3-4mm is just the same as 2mm...especially in the wet!

[Stoney871]

The legal minimum tread depth for cars and light trailers, including caravans up to 3,500kgs gross vehicle weight, and/or eight seater passenger vehicles is a minimum of 1.6mm. This 1.6mm should be in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width, throughout the whole of the circumference.

[Tyreman]

Uniroyal are made by Continental, used ot be aleading brand in its own right until Continental bought them out some years ago.

If wishing to veer away from Uniroyal, maybe look at Vredestein.....quality tyre without the Michelin price tag..