dingg1 wrote:

So far the kumhos are better than the contis I took off, but they were down to the wear indicators, I'll see how the perform when they have the same wear.

So far very impressed with them, I'm in Portugal so not really going to get ice condition where I live but do get some greasy type roads after a period of rain.

Hang on a minute other posts mentioned "snob" long before I did. If anyone is offended then I wish to apologise. However still think that the tyre choice I made was reasonable. Tyres originally on the vehicle were contis and changed to Nexens at the recommendation of this very Forum back in 2013 and not regretted, apart from the slight increase in noise which I got used to within 5 mins of fitting. 😉 Previous cars:
S-Max 2007-2013 (only diesel I've had, good car but expensive when diesely bits go wrong, so what's the point?)
Galaxy 2001-2007
Mondeo Estate 1997-2001
Sierra Estate 1993-1997
Uno Turbo 1987 -1993
Fiesta 1984 - 1987
Fiat 127 1982 - 1984

I would personally stick with manufacturers recommendations, especially with a large heavy car and the potential braking forces and weight distribution and possible off road capabilities. As an aside i have a Bentley GT and they recommend a special "B" rated tyre designed specifically for the g forces exerted by the power of the car and quite frankly i think you would be mad to ignore these things as at the end of the day that is whats going to stop you, similarly my Aston Martin also has the same thing with Bridgestone's. So maybe they have big deals to supply tyres, but generally the tyres are developed with manufacturers.

I also note that a friend of mine recently brought a brand new S class Merc and it had Kuhmo tyres on it. Now that for me if i were so inclined to by a Merc would be a reason not to buy one as in my mind they have always been a budget tyre supplier, however things change and manufactures spend millions (normally) developing tyres specifically for there cars.

So for me, stick with manufacture recommendations.

I was just wondering why there was SUCH a strong emphasis on using usually very expensive and certain brand names of tyres. Clearly, and I'm sure you're right, you want quality, safety, longevity etc, without paying for a particular name: but should we completely throw out the dreaded 'budget' tyre?
I've only done 10,000 miles in my TDV8 4.4 L322, and have been very happy indeed with it's overall performance and handing abilities (OK the 3-ton sway takes some getting used to) wet or dry, and I've not had much in the way of tyre woes, apart from the odd sea salt calamities as we live at the coast. We have indeed had every single car in the past five years (since moving to the south coast) suffer numerous suspension and wheel problems (which we'd never experienced before moving) which I put mainly down to the awful roads almost everywhere 'down here'... Some roads are like off-roading experiences.
I say this as my recent service at a LR/RR specialist had them pin-pointing that the beastie had two budget tyres on it, which must have been on it when I purchased the vehicle from them!
But when they pointed this out, they had that look on their face that would have you standing in the gutter, if only I wasn't well over six feet tall.
But that 10,000 miles on at least two budget tyres have been fairly good - with lots of UK touring, and we didn't crash or skid off any roads.
I remember several years ago when selling my Jag XK8 (or AM DB7) and the purchaser sniffling at the fact that I had what he called two budget tyres on it, which were Falkens, and him wanting to reduce the price offer because of them. So I laughed in his face, told him correctly that I had researched both far and wide, and these tyres had come out tops in my general opinion, plus I had spent some time on race tracks on solo motorcycles in my younger days, so should at least know how a tyre responds. So I upped the lower price in my mind that I wanted for the Jag, and made him pay for his silly remark indirectly.
So are budgets THAT bad?!?

Here’s one of many such videos on the subject:

Brian Considine wrote:

When spotting Budget tyres or mixed brands on a vehicle for sale most of us "TyreSnobs" immediately walk away.

Said tyres tell me that the owner has been cheapskate with maintenance &/or unable to afford to run A RR.

Oh I get the point - but then so too do the expensive tyre manufacturers... and can turn out vids like this much like the Beeb lure peeps in with their own brand of subliminal mind warping. I've never personally had experiences like the guy in the vid on this 'test' using cheaper tyres - but I do keep a wide berth of any piles of boxes or such on the road... wet or not.
Thanks for the link all the same...

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

I cannot remember the last time i saw a Range Rover NOT on 4 matching tyres...

Were all the RRs you saw in the show-room?
Just kidding...

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

I bought the Bridgestone's for my van in pairs from fleabay... For less than One new Bridgestone tyre & far less than 4 new Accelera's

I used to hake around in tsunami type rain in the 70s on many a Suzuki (just two wheels) from 250 to GT750 water-cooled on Bridgestone's and rarely had a slip or slide. Might have been all the motor-cross and trail-riding experience as a young kid that helped a tad though... Bloody buses dumping their DERV on roundabouts had me off twice I must admit - but it did look good, apparently.

Brian Considine wrote:

When spotting Budget tyres or mixed brands on a vehicle for sale most of us "TyreSnobs" immediately walk away.

Said tyres tell me that the owner has been cheapskate with maintenance &/or unable to afford to run A RR.

GraemeC wrote:

dingg1 wrote:

So far the kumhos are better than the contis I took off, but they were down to the wear indicators, I'll see how the perform when they have the same wear.

So far very impressed with them, I'm in Portugal so not really going to get ice condition where I live but do get some greasy type roads after a period of rain.

I had Kuhmo's on a Fiat Coupe years ago - they were fine whilst the weather was warm, got into winter and they became lethal, no grip at all on cold, wet roads. They were quickly replaced

My Dad is a rubber expert, having spent 25 years improving Michelin's manufacturing processes. He once explained to me how tyre grip is temperature dependent - as the temperature decreases, the rubber hardens and becomes more plastic like (the material's 'glass transition' temperature) but that maximum grip, especially in the wet, is achieved whilst operating the transition window

Premium tyres compounds are specifically made by the manufacturer with thought to where in the world they will be sold to account for things like climatic differences and the premium brands have superior technology, giving a wider glass transition temperate range.

Cheap tyres, not so much, hence you may suddenly find, like I did, that your tyre grip has massively decreased, at which point you may be lucky or you may be unlucky (and same goes for the poor unfortunate sod you might hit)

For me, a false economy. Given the potential to injure/kill others, tyres sold in the UK really should be subject to minimum standards for stopping and lateral grip on cold, wet roads...


Some great information here:
http://www.dimnp.unipi.it/guiggiani-m/Michelin_Tire_Grip.pdf

Still happy with the kumhos

Bmw have them as oem for the tyreknobs

RRover wrote:

Oh I get the point - but then so too do the expensive tyre manufacturers... and can turn out vids like this much like the Beeb lure peeps in with their own brand of subliminal mind warping. I've never personally had experiences like the guy in the vid on this 'test' using cheaper tyres - but I do keep a wide berth of any piles of boxes or such on the road... wet or not.
Thanks for the link all the same...

There are numerous tests showing that braking distances are longer with budget tyres and that handling is also compromised. Are they all “sponsored” by expensive tyre manufactures purposely rubbishing cheaper tyres? In my opinion, based on driving a D4 shod with Accelera tyres, no they are not.

I’ve made many motor trade and motor sport contacts over the past 35 years. One thing I’ve learnt from them is not to skimp on tyres or brakes and change your tyres sooner than the recommended legal limit. Which for me means at 3mm.

Each to their own though.

dingg1 wrote:

Still happy with the kumhos

Bmw have them as oem for the tyreknobs