General Time for a new tyre thread?

[Sloper]

I've searched the forum, but any posts re. new tyres all seem to be pretty old!

I have my Doblo booked-in for a few jobs on Tuesday ( new cambelt, aux belt, tensioner, water pump and wicks - rear suspension bump stops). If I have enough cash left I want to replace all four tyres, so I want to know which are recommended, ta.

I'm not a high-mileage driver so longevity is not much of an issue. I'm a fairly hard driver though, so I want grip and something perhaps with stiffer sidewalls to help reduce that bloody roll.

My Dobby has 14-inch Fiat alloys with 175s fitted. Can I go to 185s for a little more grip?

What are you using and what did you pay? How are lesser-known makes like Kumho etc. regarded?

 

[T14086]

My Dobby has 14-inch Fiat alloys with 175s fitted. Can I go to 185s for a little more grip?

What are you using and what did you pay? How are lesser-known makes like Kumho etc. regarded?

was thinking about this earlier! there was a thread where fellow member put alfa wheels on, i'll try and find it later.

I use 'hankook' tyres, best of the cheap(er) brands.

 

[Sloper]

Cheers T.
I believe van tyres are better for the Doblo? Which Hankooks are you using? I've been looking at the RA08.

 

[choc1903]

I have uniroyal rain master tyres on my taxi ,they are reinforced van tyres,50 quid a tyre fitted by my local supplier.175/75/14 in size,they are excellent

 

[murphyv310]

I have been running 185/65x14 Barum's since last year. Excellent grip and quiet all for a good price. Mine were NOS and made in the Czech Republic.

 

[Sloper]

I have uniroyal rain master tyres on my taxi ,they are reinforced van tyres,50 quid a tyre fitted by my local supplier.175/75/14 in size,they are excellent

Ah, I've already strongly considered these tyres. They do them at the local National Tyres depot, and you can purchase 4 with their online discount for £224. Who supplied yours Choc.. is it a national chain?

 

[DoubleO]

My dobbie came with Pirellis form new which lasted about 18 months before I wore a hole in one (oops). I switched to Continentals which only lasted 13 months, so I'm back to Pirellis now. If anyone can recommend some cheaper but just as good tyres I'd be interested in trying them next time.

 

[choc1903]

nah i got mine from my local garage which is owned by a friend of mine .the size was 175/70/14 not 175/75/14 as my first post says ,sorry for the mistake

 

[TwyRob]

On my old doblo I started using the Marangoni tyres from Kwik Fit towards the end (cheap and free puncture repair). They were good. Wore well and gripped nicely.

Just got Firestone front tyres for my 06 Doblo, they were on offer at Halfords Autocentre. They seem ok. As they were half the price of Pirellis then I don't mind if they last less time!

I would have always recommended Pirelli P3000 for the 14" wheels. But with the current prices it really doesn't make sense anymore!

 

[crinklebender]

go up to 185/70/14

I did and massive difference. These are close to van tyres with a higher profile. They have 88 load rating usually. The last longer, vans feels better on rough roads. I pump these up to about 37 and they are harder wearing. More speed and fuel economy.

 

[Sloper]

Update: I bought a set of four Uniroyal RainExperts (175/70/14) from Kwik-Kit for £220. They should have been dearer but they offered to beat National Tyres price. They're XL (extra load) tyres and atm I'm running 38psi all round. The fronts look a little soft at 38 though.
I don't carry any heavy loads so may up that to 40psi in the hope of a little more mpg as on the trip computer I'm only getting 39 mpg. I realise the computer isn't so accurate but many others on here seem to get better results

 

[ozzy Doblo]

hi,
don't know if you have sorted the tyre thing out yet?
the doblo seems to wear out the inner tread on the front wheels very quickly when compared to other vehicles i've had.

there's lots of opinions on why this is... after having chats with numerous owners and garages and having tracking and camber checked, i just accept this as part of the character of the doblo - shame that fiat decided on 14 inch wheels rather than, say,
16 inch 225's...

anyway, the tyres i'd recommend are the Vredestein Hi-Trac 175/70R14 88H XL.
These are extra load van rated with deeper tread than car tyres.

The car came with some part worn budget front tyres that wore out in less than 3000 miles, so fitted new pirelli P3000's to the front and they were bald in 11000 miles @ 30psi.

As the rears were old/cracking i put on a set of four of the Vredestein's.
Cost in 2007 was £200 inc fitting and balancing at my house (event-tyres.co.uk)

The first set only lasted about 26000 miles because i did three things wrong.
Firstly, i ran them softer - at 30psi.
Secondly, i drove aggressively and cornered harshly...
and finally, instead of replacing just the fronts and leaving the rears on, i swapped the front and rear, so i wore out them all in the 26000 miles.

So when i fitted this latest set 37000 miles ago (£240 inc from event tyres again),
1) i set the pressure to the max recommended on the tyre (using an accurate gauge, not a petrol garage one!);
2) altered my driving style and am learning to drive more smoothly (cheaper);
3) will be replacing just the fronts and leaving the rears alone!
BTW, the rears still have 7mm of tread and should last for another 20-30,000 miles.

hope this is of some help,

oz

 

[topcat5]

I use Wanli tyres 175 x 70 x 14. 88T rated. Wearing well and around £40 or less from independants.

 

[crinklebender]

quick word of warning.


If you fit 185/70 14 88 rated you will have to use your wheel jack for force the spare wheel catch under the doblo to engage. But at same time this means its firmly on and there is no need to bother unwinding the catch using the plastic bolt turner. does not appear to be forced so much as the tyre itself will be damaged.

Also looks as if that is the maximum tyre size you will get underneath without fabricating a whole new tyre holding bracket.

 

[crinklebender]

I use Wanli tyres 175 x 70 x 14. 88T rated. Wearing well and around £40 or less from independants.

I got brand new 185 70 14 on ebay for £9.99 + 10 post ... At these prices im keeping all tyres pumped up near 40 and saving on fuel.

 

[duplo]

I ran hankook M&S tyres over the winter in 175/70/14, the car performed faultlessly, I've swapped the fronts to some fuldas for the summer.

heading to france soon fully loaded so would appreciate some feedback on tyre pressures, running 38 all round but thinking of upping to 40/42 - thoughts?

 

[crinklebender]

I ran hankook M&S tyres over the winter in 175/70/14, the car performed faultlessly, I've swapped the fronts to some fuldas for the summer.

heading to france soon fully loaded so would appreciate some feedback on tyre pressures, running 38 all round but thinking of upping to 40/42 - thoughts?

Im at 40 and it feels faster, more steering responsive, of course you feel road bumps more. Also when you up it, the pressure seems to stay high for some reason, so less trying to find some garage with air in it abroad.

I went round france fully loaded, bikes etc and found suspension sagging so upgraded with spring assisters now.

 

[duplo]

Cheers, never had any problems with the suspension though, maybe it's uprated a bit as it is the seven seater model?

 

[TwyRob]

I run mine at fully loaded pressures from the handbook all of the time, seems to work ok.

Also when you up it, the pressure seems to stay high for some reason, so less trying to find some garage with air in it abroad.

As for air when you're abroad, it's most often free. Lots of places have wierd cannisters that you disconnect from the air pump and carry over to your car. I spoke to a guy in Sweden that nearly fainted when I told him that we have to pay for air over here!

 

[jimboy]

Duragrips all the way for a very good road holding tyre , & they don't wear quickly.