Tyre recommendations- Mk2

[insanitybeard]

Just wondering if anybody has any recommendations for decent rubber for the Mk2? I had a pair of Dunlop sport 01's fitted to the (front) factory fit 16" rims (215/55 16 97 XL) of my Mk2 Gal about his time last year, and after 8000 miles there's not masses of tread left..... I haven't swapped them front to rear yet so that'll prolong their life but I was hoping for a bit more in truth.... I don't pootle around all the time and do like to 'open her up' fairly frequently (helps stop the turbo vanes seizing, ahem) but I wouldn't say I'm heavy on the throttle, and I've made an effort to keep the revs down pulling away in the lower gears as no doubt the 310 odd nm of torque will shred tyres fairly quickly if care isn't taken. The wear is typical and fairly even (the inside edges are more worn than the rest of the tread which I believe is fairly normal, with front wheel drive anyway) and the track was adjusted when the tyres were fitted.

Any experiences, recommendations etc welcome! 

[Mirez]

Dunlop do seem to wear quickly in my experience, same as Avon. I've had Kuhmo on mine for some time and its doing well.

[insanitybeard]

Interesting you should say that, Kumho aren't the first name that springs to mind but I think I'm right in saying that they're using them as O.E now on some vehicles, and indeed I've just had the partner's Fusion fitted with 3 of 'em! The local tyre fitters certainly rate them anyway.

Has anybody any experience of how other premium brands such as Michelin, Goodyear etc fare on the Galaxy?

[sasquartch]

Have used Michelin Primacy on mine since new.

Gals do seem quite heavy on tyres but I reckon I get perhaps 24-25k miles front and maybe a bit more on the rear

I've found over the years that premium tyres almost always work out cheaper in the long run (I've had my Gal 10 years now so I will get through quite a few tyres in my ownership of a car) and obviously you also benefit from better stopping performance and less noise with a decent tyre

Whatever you choose please avoid cheap Chinese rubbish eg Wanli, Event etc

[insanitybeard]

25k on the front?! Is that with a front to rear swap somewhere inbetween?! If I leave these tyres on the front I reckon they'll be scrap by 12k! Maybe I'm not being gentle enough on the throttle but I don't want to have to drive treating the throttle pedal like it's an egg and I'm trying not to crack it!

[sasquartch]

Definitely over 20k on the front

I could check for you but I think nearer 25k on the front, but that's to pretty much the legal limit.

Michelin are usually the most expensive tyre to buy but reckon they could be the cheapest in the long run.

Driving is mixed, wife does lots of pottering around but it gets a few long runs as well.

[insanitybeard]

And that was without doing a front to rear swap during the tyre's lifetime? Do you recall if Michelins were factory fitted from new on your Galaxy?

[Mirez]

Blimey, I don't think I've ever gotten above 14K on any of our Galaxy's!

[insanitybeard]

Blimey, I don't think I've ever gotten above 14K on any of our Galaxy's!

I'm glad it's not just me!

[gregers]

cor wish i got that in the smax

[sasquartch]

No swap over.

Yes, the car came from the factory with Michelin and have used them ever since.

I'll look back over my receipts and I'll be able to tell you exactly how many tyres I've bought in the 96k miles from new.

My other car is a E39 BMW 530i and I've currently done nearly 35k on the tyres - again Michelin Primacy (not reinforced on BMW, but similar tyres) - will need changing soon though.

As I said earlier, Michelin are usually the most expensive to buy initially but probably amongst the cheapest in the long run.

I drive reasonably gently and never intentionally wheelspin which helps - my boy racer days are a [very] distant memory :-)

[sasquartch]

Well I've gone through all my receipts (have had car from new) and can give you some accurate figures for tyre wear for Michelin Primacy on a bog standard 115 TDI manual with 215/55R16 97W XL (reinforced)

The car has 96k and the current tyres will comfortably last until 100k, the rears probably have 5-10k left on them)

The tyres are changed when down to the wear indicator so still just legal when replaced.

I've never had any alignment issues or uneven wear that would cause premature wearing of the tyres

One rear tyre was replaced with perhaps 40% tread remaining due to an unrepairable puncture.

The spare has been used (was swapped for a just legal tyre off the rear at 40k)

I have bought 9 tyres in my ownership and obviously it came out of the factory with 5 new tyres (Michelin)

So if we assume in 100k miles (actually it will be slightly more) Ive used 14 tyres (9 purchased + 5 it came with) that gives an average tyre life of 100000 / 14 x 4 = approx. 28500 miles

As I said earlier, fronts will do up to 25k, the rears some more.

Hope this information is useful and is based on real life figures over around  10 years and 100k of ownership.

So definitely a recommendation for Michelin from me, despite the fact ive paid around 140 quid each all in.

[sasquartch]

Ã,£125 each here with discounts if buying 2 or 4

http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-detail/michelin-primacy-3-215-55-16-v/

[insanitybeard]

Thanks for the info, I can only assume that I'm somewhat heavier on the throttle than you are!  I'm sure tyre brand has a bearing on tyre life but I can't believe a simple change of brand will double my tyre life, still, at least my turbo vanes should never seize up  ..... I will fit another brand of tyres to the front when they're up for replacement, which won't be far away based off of how they've worn so far.... I've got Falkens on the rear and they've not worn much in the 12 months they've been fitted but then they're not going to wear fast on the rear are they!

[Galasz1]

Ã,£93.79 from Tyreleader.co.uk for the Michelin Primacy 3.

[sasquartch]

Thanks for the info, I can only assume that I'm somewhat heavier on the throttle than you are!  I'm sure tyre brand has a bearing on tyre life but I can't believe a simple change of brand will double my tyre life,

I disagree, you will definitely get substantially better wear with better tyres. My figures speak for themselves.

All based on real world experience.

[insanitybeard]

I'm not disputing what you're saying, and for that very reason I always try to fit decent tyres to my motors, indeed, I'd assumed and hoped by fitting Dunlops- which I've always regarded to be a decent brand- that they would last and give decent grip/performance!

[sasquartch]

On my BMW when I bought it  it had a new set of Dunlops which lasted only about 23k - like you I was a little disappointed that a premium make like Dunlop didn't last a bit longer.

Tyres must be one of the biggest expenses of running a car if you do your own repairs and servicing - and its probably one of the most discussed topics on the BMW forums. Everyone has an opinion and I guess that's why so many brands of tyre are available.

[insanitybeard]

Ah well, maybe I'll give the Michelins a try when it's time to replace, the Dunlops will be scrap within another 4k by my estimates. I'll likely get the front alloys properly refurbed and powder coated at the same time (I've already had the rears done), they've already had a cheap refurb done by the previous owner to hide the horrible factory finish (lacquer on bare metal) which ages terribly- turning milky, flaking off and corroding, generally looking awful!

[sasquartch]

Yes, noticed the Ghia style alloys don't age well compared to the painted type alloys on mine (Zetec style)

[insanitybeard]

Yeah, the Zetec (7 spoke?) alloys are finished in the much more durable silver paint finish which lasts well. The lacquered metal finish on the Ghia alloys looks great from new but doesn't stand the test of time, Ford decided on the same finish for the Focus ST170 and Mondeo ST220 / ST TDCI (Mk3) alloys and they suffer the same fate.

[Chrispb]

Had quite a few of the Dunlop sp2020 which were fitted when new, averaged around the 25000 mark on the fronts.
When I had the alloys refurbished had two Avons on the front, they only lasted 18000mls and were cheaper than the Dunlop.
Then Kumho's on the front, good price but still around 18000mls.
Current  tyres are Autogrip been on a few months so early days.
Always tended to think Michelin as being the best tyres for longevity but comes with a price and are still as vulnerable to sidewall damage and punctures.

[bigdave982]

Quite like my pirelli p7s on the front
To early to tell as took them off to stick winter wheels on, but still got the little bits of moulding rubber on them after about 4000 miles
Got en off ebay for Ã,£115 the pair pleased with that

[insanitybeard]

Blimey Chris, if you've managed to get 25k out of Dunlops on the front then it's got to be at least partly my driving style.... that 310nm of torque must have gone to my head! I wouldn't say I'm constantly heavy on the throttle (though I do open her up fairly frequently, though not in the lower gears), though I do a lot of stop start town miles.

[bigjeeze]

I have Dunlop sp2020 on the rear of my MK2 and Dunlop Blue response on the front. The fronts now need replacing at around 14k which for me is quite good. I am looking at the new pair in the next week or so at Ã,£98 each fitted. They have an excellent rating for both economy and wet grip. It isn't worth getting tyres too cheaply as it is no good thinking I should have bought the better tyres when you have jus hit the car in front!.

Never worth economising too much on brakes and tyres.  Your life and your family's is worth more than Ã,£40 or so.