I know having 2 matching tyres on the same axel is important but how much of a difference will all 4 matching have. I have pirellis p1 centauros on the back and cheap and now worn tyres on the front. I was planning to get the same pirellis on the front however they have gone up in price quite a bit since I bought them. I like to do some spirited driving sometimes. Should I bite the bullet and buy the pirellis or buy some kumohs which I have read are good for the front 2 wheels. They seem better value

The answer is always variable balance of the car, particularly in an emergency situation.  The grip will be different, f2r, and very different in the wet.  Cheap and worn vs Pirelli equals a very big difference.

Keep the better tyres on the back (as this means you have to deal with understeer) otherwise if you a driving god, put the cheap/worn on the rear and enjoy endless wet oversteer.

What size wheels do you have?

The wheels are 15". The full tyre type is 195/55/r15/85v. Yeah I know the cheap worn tyres vs newish pirelli will be very different, the car feels quite floaty and loses grip easily atm. So I know at least that putting new kumohs at the front to replace the cheap worn tyres will will be a lot better. However, buying the matching pirellis will be the best I assume but I dont know if its different enough to warrent the quid price difference. I've never driven a car with 4 matching tyres 😂

You should try it 🙂

195/50/15 were factory fit as well, maybe for pre-facelift, but your 2013 *might* have had either.  Do double-check the tyres you have already.

Either will physically fit, so it's down to you on what profile you prefer

Bit hard to comment as you haven't mentioned the specific Kumho you're considering, or the price differential.

However, from general reviews I've seen, they're not "ditchfinders" but a reasonable mid-range tyre for the money.

Plenty of review sites like this: https://www.tyrereviews.com/ or just Google the specific tyres and you'll probably find a review somewhere, eg: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product-group-tests/91856/tyre-reviews-best-car-tyres-buy-now-2023/kumho-ecsta-hs52

 

 

 

I always look on Camskill to get a good idea on price.

As it happens, 195/50/15 are significantly cheaper than 195/55/15.  I'd prob get Vredestein Ultracs, but as Eric the Viking suggests, look on tyrereviews for comparing actual tyre performance/lifespan/wetgrip/whatever..

36 minutes ago, orangecurry said:

195/50/15 were factory fit as well, maybe for pre-facelift, but your 2013 *might* have had either. 

Someone posted an early Mk 7.5 price list and brochure a while back. The price list shows 195/50x15, the brochure 195/55x15. I have an idea Ford changed the size quite early on.

19 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

The price list shows 195/50x15, the brochure 195/55x15. I have an idea Ford changed the size quite early on.

Yeah different websites seem to interchange between 195/50/15 and 195/55/15 which lead me to some confusion, I just got 55 because thats what my car came with. 

 

 

51 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Bit hard to comment as you haven't mentioned the specific Kumho you're considering, or the price differential.

 

 

 

 

Kumho HS52 195/55 R15 85 V is what I was looking at. The reviews seem good. They are £75 and the pirellis that would match my rear tyres are £100. My question was more directed at the amount difference between having 4 matching tyres and only have 2 matching tyres per axel on a non performence car. If 4 matching tyres will lead to better mpg and grip. 

 

 

43 minutes ago, orangecurry said:

 

As it happens, 195/50/15 are significantly cheaper than 195/55/15. 

Yeah I noticed thta but my rear tyres are already 195/ 55 / 15 so I assume it would be bad to put a different size tyre on the front axel now.

8 minutes ago, Pigeon12 said:

Kumho HS52 195/55 R15 85 V is what I was looking at.

Lol, that was handy, then, hitting that Auto Express review.

It does seem the 55s were the standard according to the brochure.

As Jon mentioned, recommended practice is to put the best tread (ie  the newest) on the rear. Then when the fronts wear out you can replace them with the ones you have put on the rear, and put new ones on the rear again. And so on.

I've had different brands on front and back (but never on the same axle) on both front and rear drive cars and provided they're of roughly equivalent type, which these are**, you should be fine until you can get them all the same. You'll certainly be in a better position than you are now.

(** The Pirelli P1 seems to get similar "middle of the road" reviews)

8 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

(** The Pirelli P1 seems to get similar "middle of the road" reviews)

Yeah I dont think they are the best of pirelli. I think they are their sort of eco/value tyre. Although the pirelli naming scheme seems a bit all over the place lol. But those pirelli tyres were a good price when I got them, but now theyve gone up in price. They are still good though, I remember when I switched the davanti tyres out on the rear for the pirelles and I noticed a big difference just from that lol. tbh I might just pay the extra 50 quid for both tyres for the pirellis so they are matching. 

11 minutes ago, Pigeon12 said:

tbh I might just pay the extra 50 quid for both tyres for the pirellis so they are matching. 

It seems to me that would give you greater peace of mind, so £50 is probably worth It to you, and that's certainly the fastest way to get the same brand all round if you're happy to stick with Pirelli.