Technical Tyres - which last longest

[john2443]

Now, I know the front tyres don't last long, but I wonder if anyone has found one make to last longer than another?

Our JTD 115 has 195s, the current ones are Dunlop SP Sport that the previous owner said he put on not long before we bought it, we've done 10,000(??) and the fronts are almost down to the wear bars.

The've worn evenly across the tyre, so it seems like the tracking is OK, I can't understand why they only last such a short time!

Years ago Goodyear had a reputation for long lasting, whereas Michelin had better grip (or was it the other way round?) so I wonder if it's worth trying them.

Any suggestions?

 

[richardwp]

I think you'll find it was the other way round John. Michelins used to last forever but were slippery as hell. Personally, I now use good budgets from my local garage on my Marea Weekend and find they last just as long and perform as well as any big name tyres. Anything between about 18 and 28k on the fronts and at least 30k on the back. Despite what many think, my local garage tell me always to put the new ones on the back.

 

[john2443]

Thanks. I'm in the 'put the new ones on the front' camp on that - the argument for putting them on the back seems to be that you don't want the back to let go and start you spinning.

I would argue that you don't want the front to let go 1) under braking and send you into the back of someone or 2) on cornering and put you in the ditch!

I've always found it easier to get the back end under control than the front, and if I am going to go through the hedge I'd rather not see where I'm going and havd the seat and head rest to take the force rather than the seat belt!

 

[Hellcat]

If you think you find it easier getting the back in line in a FWD car... then the back has never been out of line.

Basically you need the back to drag along while the front brakes. If the back goes light under heavy front braking and you don't have the grip at the rear - then it's coming around and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Well apart from lifting off the brake and hitting whatever it was you were braking hard to avoid.

As for which tyres to get - don't sacrifice performance for long life. They're the only things that grip the road.

 

[the frog]

I've just put a pair of Marangonis (£48ea) on the front of the multipla and they seem ok. They're the budget brand of Pirelli.

Before that I had Vredesteins (£44ea) on there and I was really happy with those, very good grip especially in the wet but my local tyre centre didn't have any in stock. I worked out I did 20k on the last set!

I got about the same out of the original Firestone fuel saver ones but I reckon they only save fuel because they don't grip - they were lethal in the wet on roundabouts/bends.