Tyre choice

[Bloodnok]

Just been told by the garage that my rear tyres are below minimum tread, and the fronts aren't far off.

Asked what tyres they'd recommend for the car (looking for a set of four - maybe five if the spare needs doing too), and was recommended Nexen CP661s - at $130 per wheel fitted and balanced today.

I mentioned the Kumho recommendation I'd received from here previously, and he can get them (tomorrow, not today), but he doesn't rate them - he says the Nexen option will perform better, last longer, and be a lot cheaper.

This surprises me - as cheaper isn't normally better - that's not generally how the world works, unless you're simply paying for a name.

I've done a quick Google for the Nexen, and there are some mixed feelings - people don't seem to regard them as "cheap chinese tyres of death", but they aren't exactly considered a performance product either.

Given that the Vectra is used predominantly a motorway cruiser, and I'm not in a particularly good financial situation at the moment, I'm inclined to go with the cheaper option if they aren't likely to be a problem. And a matched set of anything is probably better than the mismatched bunch of randoms I have right now (I've got three different types of tyre on the car at the moment). The fact they can get them today, and I can have my car back to go to work tomorrow is also playing on my mind...

What are people's thoughts about this? I need to call the garage back soon if I'm going to get them today...

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[guy 27]

He probably makes a better profit by selling you the nexens.

I'd go the kuhmo's over the nexens any day of the week.

[xplosv57]

what size you looking for??

and +1 Guy, Nexens are awful, have been in two accidents (one driving, one as passenger) where if the car had better tyres, the accident would not have occured!!

[Bloodnok]

Okay, so Nexen are out. I can't remember all of the numbers on the tyres - but the wheels are the factory option 16" wheels on a V6 Vectra B. I'd go look at the car, but it's at the garage at the moment...

[xplosv57]

Go on eBay mate, i guessed 205/50 r16, theres plenty of choices. You can get Michelin Pilot Precedas for $165, a MUCH better tyre.

But confirm the size if you can and post it up, anything to save you from the dreaded Nexens!!

[Bloodnok]

Okay, only other choice he can get me today is a Maxxis i-Pro. Ordering deadline in 10 minutes. On a quick search this seems to be a better choice than the Nexen - and he's really not complimentary at all about the Kumho KU31 - saying it's oughtright not a good tyre to have.

[guy 27]

I have run on ku-31's and they are a dam good tyre for the price.

[sooty]

Okay, only other choice he can get me today is a Maxxis i-Pro. Ordering deadline in 10 minutes. On a quick search this seems to be a better choice than the Nexen - and he's really not complimentary at all about the Kumho KU31 - saying it's oughtright not a good tyre to have.

Just sounds like he doesn't want you to buy kumho's because he won't make any money on them. I've only heard positive things about them and know a lot of people running the 31's or 36's

[Bloodnok]

Just sounds like he doesn't want you to buy kumho's because he won't make any money on them. I've only heard positive things about them and know a lot of people running the 31's or 36's

That's what I'm wondering too - I've not heard anything bad about them on the web (well, maybe they aren't the longest lasting, but that's hardly a major design flaw.)

Deadline for ordering the Maxxis i-Pro has passed, so I've asked for the car back with the existing tyres (they'll finish the rest of the service but not change the tyres) and I'm going to ring around a few places and see what I can get later in the week, or maybe next week.

[Nurb608]

I had the kumho ku36's on the nurb until recently. 15,000k's with 3 track days and there is still tread on them.