General Panda 1.2 - tyre recommendations?

[snuffle]

i've just heard from the garage servicing my panda that they recommend i get some new tyres sometime soon as the current ones haven't got much tread left

any recommendations on which tyres to go for? The ones it has at the moment were on it when i bought it, they are Continental EcoContact if i remember correctly and seem decent enough. But i'd like to see what my options are... I'm prioritising economy and low road noise over grip and performance, seeing as the standard panda isn't the greatest of handlers

i'm not sure whether the trim level makes any difference to yours recommendations... if so, its an eleganza, so it has alloy wheels

cheers in advance for any thoughts!

 

[PNL]

Enter your details and away you go..


http://www.mytyres.co.uk/

 

[snuffle]

thanks for the link, looks interesting...

... but i was actually asking for recommendations for makes / models of tyre which people recommend for a Panda.

anyone?

 

[trackdayqueen]

Replace with the same as they are Eco tyres.

 

[306maxi]

Replace with the same as they are Eco tyres.

Agreed. In anything other than 100hp size Panda owners are going to be hard pressed to find anything particularly grippy.

As long as you stick to Continental's, Pirelli's, Michelin's, Yokohama's, Bridgestone, Dunlops, Goodyears etc etc you'll be absolutely fine

 

[doctorchris]

My daughter's 1.1 Active runs well on the Uniroyal RainExpert tyres which we got at a fair price through Tyreshopper.
http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk

 

[Caravadossi]

... any recommendations on which tyres to go for? The ones it has at the moment were on it when i bought it, they are Continental EcoContact if i remember correctly and seem decent enough. But i'd like to see what my options are... I'm prioritising economy and low road noise over grip and performance ...

I considered Conti EcoContact3 (Punto Mk2B) a couple of years back, based on their placings in the ADAC & Which? tyre tests – but there was some negative comment.

“… it’s Eco name is a misnomer, as it returned the highest fuel consumption of any tyre in the test.” Get a grip Which? (Mar2008).

I fitted the Fulda Eco Control 175/65R14 from Goodyear-Dunlop Group.

“… matches the top premium brands for grip and gave an excellent all-round performance at a fantastic guide price of £40.” Get a grip Which? (Mar2008).

I believe the Panda takes a 165/65R14, £42 inc fitting at HiQ – but if the more common 175/65R14 is acceptable on your version then they’re supposedly to be had for £39 inc. fitting.

Dunlop are argued to be `for the quiet life' - but check-out the new regulations coming in re tyre markings, that include noise ratings.

References

ADAC.de
http://www1.adac.de/Tests/Reifentes...ab.asp?ComponentID=209310&SourcePageID=209307

HiQ (Goodyear-Dunlop)
http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/tyres/

 

[306maxi]

I considered Conti EcoContact3 (Punto Mk2B) a couple of years back, based on their placings in the ADAC & Which? tyre tests – but there was some negative comment.

“… it’s Eco name is a misnomer, as it returned the highest fuel consumption of any tyre in the test.” Get a grip Which? (Mar2008).

I fitted the Fulda Eco Control 175/65R14 from Goodyear-Dunlop Group.

“… matches the top premium brands for grip and gave an excellent all-round performance at a fantastic guide price of £40.” Get a grip Which? (Mar2008).

I believe the Panda takes a 165/65R14, £42 inc fitting at HiQ – but if the more common 175/65R14 is acceptable on your version then they’re supposedly to be had for £39 inc. fitting.

Dunlop are argued to be `for the quiet life' - but check-out the new regulations coming in re tyre markings, that include noise ratings.

References

ADAC.de
http://www1.adac.de/Tests/Reifentes...ab.asp?ComponentID=209310&SourcePageID=209307

HiQ (Goodyear-Dunlop)
http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/tyres/

one thing to note on the adac scores. The Eco contact still outscores the Fulda in most categories. A friend of mine works for a large tyre company as a tyre tester and basically says that there are no tyres which are at the top in all categories. A fuel efficient tyre won't be great in the wet because of the soft compound and will be noisy.

You pays your money and makes your choice. Personally to me grip is more important than fuel consumption.

 

[miura74]

My Panda 1.2 had 13" Cont. Eco ones too, but I had mine changed around 60,000kms. All four worn out.

Didn't get a choice here they fitted Toyo135 summer tyres. 16,000kms since and they seem just as good as the originals.

 

[robjnr]

Grip = life saver

Economy Tyres = tight pocket

make your choice wisely

 

[snuffle]

Grip = life saver

Economy Tyres = tight pocket

make your choice wisely

btw by economy i mean fuel economy, not cheapness to buy

 

[306maxi]

btw by economy i mean fuel economy, not cheapness to buy

As pointed out above, performance and fuel economy are pretty much polar opposites when it comes to tyres. Grippy tyres won't be fuel efficient and fuel efficient tyres won't be grippy.

Now I'm not saying it's a bad thing to go for a little economy but you won't find me putting the hardest tyres that i can find on my car.

 

[joe1962]

My MJ has the optional alloys & I recently got avon cr322 fitted big mistake they are £10 cheaper but squealy low grip rubbish. They are on the back now & have gone back to Conti. Which recommend Conti for similar size in their tyre test.

 

[pandasam]

my original wheels have the eco tyres still on them and i use them for winter use.

on the wheels i use daily i have arrowspeed wheels. they are £40 a tyre and are very good in the wet and i havent noticed any drop in fuel economy and i think they are also slightly quieter dry grip is average but the active is no sports car

 

[306maxi]

my original wheels have the eco tyres still on them and i use them for winter use.

on the wheels i use daily i have arrowspeed wheels. they are £40 a tyre and are very good in the wet and i havent noticed any drop in fuel economy and i think they are also slightly quieter dry grip is average but the active is no sports car

The eco contacts will be terrible as winter tyres. Sell the tyres on their own and fit some proper winter rubber to those steelies. You want soft tyres for winter, eco tyres are hard like plastic and will be truly terrible when it gets cold, let alone if you're driving on ice or snow.

 

[Geddes]

Has anyone here tried Hankook Optimo 4S's?

According to the marketing blurb they are actually magic and are great in snow, rain, dry, high speed and they are also fuel efficient eco tyres.

Common sense says there's compromises in there, but all the reviews I can find are quite positive.

 

[306maxi]

Has anyone here tried Hankook Optimo 4S's?

According to the marketing blurb they are actually magic and are great in snow, rain, dry, high speed and they are also fuel efficient eco tyres.

Common sense says there's compromises in there, but all the reviews I can find are quite positive.

Hmmmmmm. Great in snow and the dry. Gotta be a lie! That;s like having a tank that's good at flying

 

[Geddes]

Hmmmmmm. Great in snow and the dry. Gotta be a lie! That;s like having a tank that's good at flying

Magic tyres

Antonov KT-40 flying tank

 

[Caravadossi]

one thing to note on the adac scores. The Eco contact still outscores the Fulda in most categories.

It might also be argued that no one tyre is at the bottom of all the elements (or categories), as who would buy them? … but then again, someone from FF perhaps? However there are tyres consistently in the top, middle or bottom envelopes when comparing most of the elements. Selection from those envelopes is then a compromise of personal wants or needs.

As expected, the (silver medal) Conti EcoContact outscores the (bronze) Fulda EcoControl – but I held the variation didn’t justify the extra spend (25%+?) for the Conti or the (gold) Pirelli Cinturato P4. A variation that doesn’t fit with “most categories” – but only two from five, wet performance & noise. In three from five categories the Fulda was equal to or better than the Conti. The Fulda (or any tyre tested) was never going to beat the wet performance of the Conti – & wet performance is 40% of the marking scheme.

.

 

[306maxi]

Magic tyres

Antonov KT-40 flying tank

Whale oil beef hooked (say it out loud ) those tyres do look promising but looking at the tread I still wouldn't be confident on them on a warm summers day on a long drive. I'd still much rather have a dedicated summer tyre for summer and a dedicated winter tyre. But needless to say I am impressed