Tyres

[Big Mouse]

OK, where do you get your tyres from?

I need a new set of boots for the merc; 255/35 18's on the rear and 225/40 18's on the front. Its a 320 CLK on 18" AMG rims

I've looked at the Mercedes 'recommended' tyres - conti's - which are staggeringly expensive even for mercedes. I want to keep it safe, I tend not to drive silly nowadays, but by the same token I don't want chinese paper thin rubbers that will shred the first time I accelerate or brake.

Pirellis are too expensive so far; Michelin Pilots are coming up as not bad but I'd like to save a bit more so how do Falken rate? I might be able to find Koumo's for a similar price but where the best place, local or internet?

Oh, I dug out my costco membership and went into their tyre shop. They must have a deal with merc because they were even more expensive!!!

[Cunning Plan]

I went with Falkens for my girlfriend's Fiesta..

This thread might help a little for you:

http://www.mkb.cc/forum/index.php?action=vthread&topic=10533&forum=3&page=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.mkb.cc/forum/index.php?action=vthread&topic=10533&forum=3&page=0

[ianjpage]

Try Tires direct down in bletchley - barton road i think it is - always use them and they do a varied select of budget to brand names!

Always had kumho's on the GT / SVT and they very good

[Incursus]

Just bought a pair of Avon ZZ3 from blackcircles. 235 45 R17
hopefully be ok.
Had Kumho's before, very good can't fault them.
Couldn't find them in my size though, this year.

[Andy]

Quoting: Incursus

Just bought a pair of Avon ZZ3 from blackcircles. 235 45 R17

The black petrol mondy I have now came with a set of these on and it tended to wonder a bit, whacked on the bridgestones from the derv and it drives like a dream.

I always check out prices I've been quoted versus what http://www.bestbuytyres.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">www.bestbuytyres.co.uk/ can offer, the price they give you is all in, including valve, balance and disposal. Our local fitter is just down the road so it works out quite nice.

ETA I'm running Bridgestones basic tyre, as yet it's bloody good, didn't give me any grief in the snow, no trouble in the wet, and the wear rate seems very good.

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: ianjpage

Always had kumho's on the GT / SVT and they very good

The guys running super low-profile elastic-bands on the front of their busses rate these.

[EDGE]

I usually buy tyres from mytyres.co.uk then have a local garage fit them cash in hand which is nice and cheap :)

We bought a set of veredestien quatracs which are incredible in the wet/snow and dry for the wife's corsa to replace the firestones which were shit in all conditions!

Ive got continental sport contact 1's on the back of the focus with uniroyal rainsports at the front, the uniroyals are excellent but a little noisy on hard cornering.

The fox has Goodyear eagle f1 assymetrics on the front which tuen in very well and nitto 555s on the back which seem to cope ok :)

Thera web has the smar goodyears as the fox but on the back and pirellis on the front, sticks like shit to a blanket :)

But, in answer to your actual question, mytyres.co.uk :)

[ianjpage]

Quoting: EDGE

Thera web has the smar goodyears

What language is that lol!!!

[Shifty]

For the 255's Take your pick

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m61b0s22p0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m61b0s22p0

For the 225's See below

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m61b0s134p0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m61b0s134p0

I'm a bit of a fan or Toyo's but I wouldn't go for them in this instance...

[Titsy]

Quoting: ianjpage

What language is that lol!!!

Probably iPhone.... I just works

[Big Mouse]

Falken 452's ordered at a saving of nearly £100 on ebay prices  speed and load rating are more than sufficient for the old girl, she only does 4-7k per year

[philoldsmobile]

just make sure the speed rating falls in the recommended bracket, otherwise your insurance can be invalid, due to 'unsuitable' tyres, even if an accident has nothing to do with them..

I think you'd be hard pushed to find tyres that wont have a suitable speed rating in that size though, for my 235 45 17's no one seems to make them in anything other than 168 mph (recommended) rating..

Don't forget - insurance companies will do anything to get out of a claim.

those Falken 452's seem very well reviewed. more than can be said for the universally loathed Pirelli P6000's that actually cost far more.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Falken/FK452.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Falken/FK452.htm

[Fieldy]

I buy all mine from EBay lol... In fact, got one for the Blazer arriving tomorrow!

[Incursus]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

just make sure the speed rating falls in the recommended bracket, otherwise your insurance can be invalid, due to 'unsuitable' tyres, even if an accident has nothing to do with them..

Umm even the lowest speed rating 'N' is 87 MPH and the speed limit in the UK is 70 MPH.  So unless I'm missing something and I quote "in the UK, with a national speed limit of 70 mph, it is quite safe and not illegal to fit a tyre with a lower speed rating, provided you do not exceed this reduced rating. "

[philoldsmobile]

nope, if the manufacturer says fit (for example) Z rated tyres, you must fit a minimum of Z rated tyres, otherwise you are running on 'unsuitable' tyres, and can be invalidating the insurance. you can fit higher rated tyres, but never lower rated.


http://www.blackcircles.com/general/speedrating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.blackcircles.com/general/speedrating

Here is another odd one for you, USA made tyres can't be recycled, and the depots will now ask you to take them away, was told this recently by Gardner and White.

[EDGE]

the recycling thing is odd, wonder if there's a different makeup in the rubber...

[philoldsmobile]

yes, Paul said it was to do with the compound.

[Big Mouse]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

just make sure the speed rating falls in the recommended bracket,

MB require a W rating at 168mph, these are Y at 186mph

The load rating is more important than the speed rating.

Quoting: philoldsmobile

Here is another odd one for you, USA made tyres can't be recycled,

Thats due to a lot of US tyres being made from 'dirty' oil  See following:  http://www.etrma.org/pdf/201007%20ETRMA%20Q&A%20-%20Replacement%20of%20HA%20oils%20in%20tyres.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.etrma.org/pdf/201007%20ETRMA%20Q&A%20-%20Replacement%20of%20HA%20oils%20in%20tyres.pdf

[Jamieg285]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

Here is another odd one for you, USA made tyres can't be recycled, and the depots will now ask you to take them away, was told this recently by Gardner and White.

Quoting: Big Mouse

Thats due to a lot of US tyres being made from 'dirty' oil See following: http://www.etrma.org/pdf/201007%20ETRMA%20Q&A%20-%20Replacement%20of%20HA%20oils%20in%20tyres.pdf[/quote\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">]http://www.etrma.org/pdf/201007%20ETRMA%20Q&A%20-%20Replacement%20of%20HA%20oils%20in%20tyres.pdf</div>

I was aware of the dirty oil issue and not being able to import them - not all USA tyres, but certainly quite a few.  

Interstingly, reading Ray's link, it looks like it would be OK to import them for personal use.


My local tyre place didn't know about the non-recylcing thing though, as they took my old ones away.

then have a local garage fit them cash in hand which is nice and cheap :)

My local that I've used for years charged £17 a corner.  I think I'll shop around next time.

[Big Mouse]

Racing tyres were originally included in the bag but are now exempt if they are purely for racing and not for any other use. MoT thought that racing wouldn't release as many carcingens  as normal driving - haven't seen one of my burnouts obviously.

[Incursus]

Avon's were fitted today.  Slightly noisier (sp) than the Kumhos but thats probably because they have tread on them
Not tested them out properly yet

8500 out of 12000 words done though

[Big Mouse]

New tyres on courtesy of Fast Fit at Kingston, £80 all in inc balance

Much better, a bit quieter and less vibration through the wheel