Best value tyres for "normal" driving?

[jamesgarbett]

I'm not really interested in the ultimate in handling or track days or anything like that, I drive like I've got Miss Daisy in the car most of the time
Priorities would be safety, comfort, wet weather grip and longevity. Car is only driven for a few thousand miles per year.

Non runflats, 19" wheels

What's recommended? would like to think i could get something decent for £150 a corner but perhaps that's optimistic?

 

[smorris_12]

Any make that isn't Chinese ditch finder spec, really, that fits the budget. Have a dig thru BlackCircles or MyTyres and see what they've got.

 

[B21]

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Vredestein Ultrac

Budget target achieved..

 

[brillomaster]

hankooks are very good tyres, but also very affordable.

if hankooks are a bit much then i'd say Kumhos or Vreds.

 

[sars]

If you use the car all year, why not go for an all season tyre?
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[DonDon]

They are 18", but I got a set of Goodyear Assym 6 for a total of £550.

 

[jamesgarbett]

Thanks all

Interesting point about all season - never considered those - i wouldn't drive the Z4 in snow but it does get driven in the winter

 

[craigdm]

Don't forget Tyres on the Drive.
They have a great selection and do the work at your home or work address!

 

[Pondrew]

Another vote for Kumho Ecstas. Excellent tyres at a mid range price.

 

[tiglon]

Toyo Proxes have always been very good for me and should be about £150 each.

Asda tyres and Blackcircles are always cycling through a variety of discounts, so if you time it right you can often get 10-15% off.

 

[Special Kay]

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Vredestein Ultrac

Budget target achieved..

+1

 

[coldel]

To be honest, over the years, I have found out lots of things about cars, and that one thing I don't scrape a few quid off of is tyres. Tyres and brakes should always take your hard earned over engine mods, aesthetics etc. It is what keeps you on the road and stops you.

So when I look at tyres and see a set of four costing 600 or 800 pounds I take the 800 every time. Assuming there is a difference to be had in terms of how they perform. Owning a car worth thousands if not tens of thousands, why scrimp on a couple hundred quid.

There are always deals to be had out there, I bought and got fitted x4 Michelin PS4's for £440 in a deal on Blackcirlces doing money off Michelins when I had my E86 a couple years back.

Ultimately safety is generally all our priorities, and by paying a couple hundred quid more I can increase my odds of not hitting something should the need arise, then I pay that.

 

[Christopher72]

Goodyear Assym 6

Another vote for Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 (Summer Tires) -- Had them on for about 8 months now.

 

[tiglon]

To be honest, over the years, I have found out lots of things about cars, and that one thing I don't scrape a few quid off of is tyres. Tyres and brakes should always take your hard earned over engine mods, aesthetics etc. It is what keeps you on the road and stops you.

So when I look at tyres and see a set of four costing 600 or 800 pounds I take the 800 every time. Assuming there is a difference to be had in terms of how they perform. Owning a car worth thousands if not tens of thousands, why scrimp on a couple hundred quid.

There are always deals to be had out there, I bought and got fitted x4 Michelin PS4's for £440 in a deal on Blackcirlces doing money off Michelins when I had my E86 a couple years back.

Ultimately safety is generally all our priorities, and by paying a couple hundred quid more I can increase my odds of not hitting something should the need arise, then I pay that.

You could also improve your odds by spending £5k on brake upgrades, or by never exceeding 30mph, but you have to draw a line somewhere. Just by buying a Z4, you've already compromised safety in the pursuit of having something fun to drive. If safety was the number one priority we'd all be driving an Ora Funky Cat.

How much do your odds of having an accident actually decrease by using Michelin over Kumho? I'm guessing somewhere between not at all and very, very small fractions of a percent, if you're a normal driver in a normal car.

 

[DonDon]

To be honest, over the years, I have found out lots of things about cars, and that one thing I don't scrape a few quid off of is tyres. Tyres and brakes should always take your hard earned over engine mods, aesthetics etc. It is what keeps you on the road and stops you.

So when I look at tyres and see a set of four costing 600 or 800 pounds I take the 800 every time. Assuming there is a difference to be had in terms of how they perform. Owning a car worth thousands if not tens of thousands, why scrimp on a couple hundred quid.

There are always deals to be had out there, I bought and got fitted x4 Michelin PS4's for £440 in a deal on Blackcirlces doing money off Michelins when I had my E86 a couple years back.

Ultimately safety is generally all our priorities, and by paying a couple hundred quid more I can increase my odds of not hitting something should the need arise, then I pay that.

You could also improve your odds by spending £5k on brake upgrades, or by never exceeding 30mph, but you have to draw a line somewhere. Just by buying a Z4, you've already compromised safety in the pursuit of having something fun to drive. If safety was the number one priority we'd all be driving an Ora Funky Cat.

How much do your odds of having an accident actually decrease by using Michelin over Kumho? I'm guessing somewhere between not at all and very, very small fractions of a percent, if you're a normal driver in a normal car.

I entirely agree. My car came with Presa and Landsail tyres. Those got unceremoniously dumped, even through the Landsails were brand new, just to get it through the pre-sale MOT.

There are more expensive tyres than the Assym 6 I went with, but unless you are constantly ragging it like a loony or doing track days, I don't think more expensive tyres would in practice be any better.

 

[Christopher72]

How much do your odds of having an accident actually decrease by using Michelin over Kumho? I'm guessing somewhere between not at all and very, very small fractions of a percent, if you're a normal driver in a normal car.

Matching your tires with your driving style and conditions/environment is the correct path. I won't put anything but summer non-RFT on mine, but I don't take it out of the garage unless I can put the top down and enjoy it. A poor pairing is unsafe. What is priced to sell and meets my requirements... is probably a reasonable model.

 

[weegeoff]

I used Falken on my e85 and drove in snow. Never had any problems

 

[plenty]

How much do your odds of having an accident actually decrease by using Michelin over Kumho? I'm guessing somewhere between not at all and very, very small fractions of a percent, if you're a normal driver in a normal car.

Nicely put. Most drivers will never get close to the limits of UHP tyres. And thanks to progress today's mid-range tyres perform comparably to the UHP offerings 10-15 years ago, or when these cars were new.

Avon, Falken, Hankook, Kumho, Toyo, Uniroyal, Vredestein all typically safe choices for most drivers who aren't pushing the envelope. Although if you shop around and buy during one of the frequent promotional periods you can find Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin for not much more. Stick to 18s and your tyres will be considerably cheaper not to mention your ride and handling will be better

 

[2k35is]

Here you go if want to spend some time looking at direct comparisons from 2020 18"
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2020-AMS-18-Inch-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm

or 2022 here 19"
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2022-AMS-Performance-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm

or 2023 18"

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2023-Tyre-Reviews-Performance-Tyre-Test.htm
No doubt B21 will be along soon to say what have I been telling you!!!

 

[Mr Tidy]

I fitted a set of Kumho Ectas 3 years ago and I've been very pleased with them. They only cost about £400 too.