Which tyres should I have? Comments please....have a few choices

[Vaux-Man-G]

Hey folks,

I need new tyres, but always conscious about how they perform. Dont/cant break the bank, but at the same time need some decent rubber.

My choices are:
- Dunlop SP Sport 1, Part Worn with approx 5.5-6mm tread remaining - around £70 the pair fitted;
- Uniroyal Rainsport 2 - NEW - around £120 the pair fitted;
- Nexen N 8000 - NEW - around £120 the pair fitted;
- Maxxis Premitra HP5 - NEW - around £150 the pair fitted;
- Kumho Ecsta Le Sport KU39 - NEW - around £150 the pair fitted;

Let me know please.

Thanks,
G.

[Syko]

I'd go for the Rainsport ones as I know them over the other 3.. never used them before, part worn is a cheaper option for getting you away, but it would be like false economy as you'd likely change them again once or twice before changing new Rainsports in my opinion, however I guess how much and how you drive could swing it differently..

[Vaux-Man-G]

My only concern with the Uniroyal and the online review, which say once they start to wear, they wear VERY quickly, and they have E fuel rating, and also apparently they are noisey??

[NI SRI]

It depends a lot on what your currently used to. I have Maxxis VS-01's on my car and I love them, I get far less under steer in the wet which was my big gripe with my previous tyres. Having said that the previous tyres on my car were budgets so the Maxxis were always going to be an improvement.

If you currently have Conti's or Bridgestone fitted I'd stick with them budget permitting (Not part worn though as previously stated its a bit of a false economy). I've never used Rainsports but people on this and other forums do tend to agree they are well suited to British roads so they might be a tried and tested option. I've heard the wear on them can be a little high so take that into consideration too if you do lots of miles.

[Vaux-Man-G]

We dont do a lot of miles, they are going on the wife's Astra-J Diesel.

We have Michelin's all round at the moment, apparently they are the what come on the car out of the factory. Is there anything to say a certain type of tyre dont suit a certain type of car?

I had Kumho's on the Vectra before and they were superb. Drove about 10-12,000 miles with them over about 1-1.5 years and hardly noticed any wear at all.

[puppet]

Have a pair of Kumho Ecsta Le Sport KU39 tyres on the front of the Insignia at the moment. Only been on a few months, so can't really comment too much on the wear, but very pleased with the handling and quietness.

[NI SRI]

We dont do a lot of miles, they are going on the wife's Astra-J Diesel.

We have Michelin's all round at the moment, apparently they are the what come on the car out of the factory. Is there anything to say a certain type of tyre dont suit a certain type of car?

I had Kumho's on the Vectra before and they were superb. Drove about 10-12,000 miles with them over about 1-1.5 years and hardly noticed any wear at all.

I wouldn't think different tyres are going to 'suit' a particular car any more or less than the next, you may find they suit your driving differently though. I had Maxxis on my previous car, then had to swap for some Avons which I hated. They griped okay but they were overly sensitive (I think down to a really stiff side wall), but that was just my personal preference nothing to do with the car set up interacting with the tyre.

If you are not going to be doing big miles (or racing on B-roads) in the car then the quicker wearing reports on the RS3's shouldn't be too much of a concern and the price is actually pretty good for them as well.

As for fuel rating you'll make a bigger difference with reading the road, rolling of the gas and avoiding braking when you don't need to more than you ever will with different rubber. Noise depends also on the size of tyre and profile that are on the Astra, I have 235/35 R19's and the noise is louder than with 17's or 16's but its not intrusive in anyway.

Ultimately though if it was my wife driving the car most of the time I'd go for the safest option and opinion seems to point to the Rainsports.

[LeeArnold89]

Personally have Nexen N8000 and can't fault them. They have done many a mile (circa 10k atm) and plenty left in them

[Big Dave]

I'm surprised you're still able to get Rainsport 2's, seeing as they were phased out approx. 3 yrs ago. When I tried to get some, no one had any left and they'd been superseded by the RS 3's.

If I were you, I'd check how old the RS 2's are. Sounds like they've been kicking around on a shelf for some time.

[Vaux-Man-G]

I'm surprised you're still able to get Rainsport 2's, seeing as they were phased out approx. 3 yrs ago. When I tried to get some, no one had any left and they'd been superseded by the RS 3's.

If I were you, I'd check how old the RS 2's are. Sounds like they've been kicking around on a shelf for some time.

Thats one thing that concerned me.

Should I be concerned if they have been sat on a shelf?