Replacing tyres

Sully

Quick question. When replacing tyres, should you replace them in pairs? Should they be the same brand?

Got two new front tyres recently, and was told those on the back had small cracks on the walls and would need replacing soon but should last. One of the tyres ended up flat due to a nail, got it repaired, but it burst and was beyond repair when I drove it on a motorway not long after the repair.

So I have the spare on (an older tyre) and borrowed another tyre for the new spare (I was away from home on a weekend so needed a spare to ensure I had one on route home) which is a new enough tyre.

Before I replace, I wanted to know whether to just replace the one tyre or whether I should do both? I was told I could use the new spare as my replacement instead but there is a possibility its an inch bigger.

Its a 00 Micra and front tyres are Kormoran Impulse.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Stuart74

As the Captain said, better to replace tyres in 2's or 4's.

I was always advised to keep the tread pattern similar on all tyres including spare. Don't have to be same tyres front and back just similar patterns.

Best not to mix sizes of tyres on your car.

You need to get 2 tyres anyway. Replace blow-out and existing rear tyre that is almost gone. Put the original spare back in the boot.

Sully

Okay..
Can you mix brands on the same axil or should they be the same make?

Is it okay to have a slightly bigger wheel as the spare, for emergencies?

Stuart74

Whe I have always been told was, ideally should be the same brand, but it is ok to mix brands on an axil if the tyre pattern is similar.

You could get away with having the bigger tyre as a spare. Most car manufacturers supply a space saver tyre as the spare now. The only issue I would see is you not changing the bigger spare out if you had the need to use it as it will look similar to original wheels.

Just to double check what you have at the minute: - 1 original rear tyre and original spare on real axil. Borrowed spare in boot. Damaged original tyre.

Sully

Stuart74 wrote: »

Whe I have always been told was, ideally should be the same brand, but it is ok to mix brands on an axil if the tyre pattern is similar.

You could get away with having the bigger tyre as a spare. Most car manufacturers supply a space saver tyre as the spare now. The only issue I would see is you not changing the bigger spare out if you had the need to use it as it will look similar to original wheels.

Just to double check what you have at the minute: - 1 original rear tyre and original spare on real axil. Borrowed spare in boot. Damaged original tyre.

Basically, its the partners car, but in brief;
- I pointed out before going away that the two front tyres were worn and needed replacing. As we were going away for two weeks I just swapped the worst front tyre with the decent spare and got two new front tyres when we returned. I put back the original spare as its good enough for emergencies.

- The mechanic pointed out the back tyres, while the threading was fine, the wall was showing small cracks and would need replacing in a few months. One of these ended up getting flat due to a nail and so I got it repaired. Somehow the same tyre burst on the motorway, ripped in part and was beyond repair (actually on route to her folks house up west) and so I replaced it with the spare to tie us over. Her father had a micra so I planned on getting his as the new spare for the journey home.

- Her father had no suitable spare so he took one from the front of his car, and just took the burst tyre to get his own replaced. The new spare is a new enough tyre but an inch to big.

- Its being suggested that as the tyres are cheaper up where her parents live, that we continue to drive on the old spare and replace it when we are next up with a new tyre he would get us. The new spare would remain as the spare in case of emergencies, despite it being a little to big. Leaving me to just replace the other back tyre down here, just to be safe. This makes no sense to me, and it would be two different brands on the back, so I would prefer to spend the little extra and get two new tyres on the back (€110 cheapest here in Waterford) and perhaps just return his original tyre and get a new spare that's the same size as all four on the car.

I was always of the understanding it should be the same brand on the one axil rather than having two different brands. I don't feel comfortable with the idea of having one tyre bigger than others either.

slave1

I have a similar dilema at the minute but rather than creating a new thread I thought I'd add to this one.

Just dropped the car off for a free "health check", nothing mechanical wise but the following are my tyre depths and comments on the report
N/S Front 3mm, 79% worn
O/S Front 1.6mm, 100% worn
N/S Rear 6mm, okay
O/S Rear 4mm, 63% worn

So I need to replace the O/S (is that right hand side?) front, but the questions are I see it

1. Should I replace the other front one at the same time?
2. Should I replace the rear 4mm?
3. Given the spare is a pretty much 100% worn, should I replace both rear tyres and keep the 6mm for a new spare

Any other suggestions or comments?

Car is a 1.6L Petrol Avensis, 205/55/R16, 80% short journeys to work on a straight run.

Thanks all

sean1141

slave1 wrote: »

I have a similar dilema at the minute but rather than creating a new thread I thought I'd add to this one.

Just dropped the car off for a free "health check", nothing mechanical wise but the following are my tyre depths and comments on the report
N/S Front 3mm, 79% worn
O/S Front 1.6mm, 100% worn
N/S Rear 6mm, okay
O/S Rear 4mm, 63% worn

So I need to replace the O/S (is that right hand side?) front, but the questions are I see it

1. Should I replace the other front one at the same time?
2. Should I replace the rear 4mm?
3. Given the spare is a pretty much 100% worn, should I replace both rear tyres and keep the 6mm for a new spare

Any other suggestions or comments?

Car is a 1.6L Petrol Avensis, 80% short journeys to work on a straight run.

Thanks all

off side is the left hand side (for right hand drive anyway)

if it was me i would get two new ones and fit them on the front and maybe pick up a part worn and keep it as the spare.

Compton

You should change the front 2 definately, no real need for the rears but if you have the moeny I would.

Paddy001

Nearside is the left or near the ditch. Personally I'd just get two front tyres and if your spare is down to the limit, keep the front 3mm tyre for a spare. Not much point in changing a tyre at 4mm. Are you sure you have a full size spare? Some of those only had space savers.

slave1

Paddy001 wrote: »

Are you sure you have a full size spare? Some of those only had space savers.

Space saver is in the attic, I bought a full size rim/tyre as a proper spare

Paddy001

slave1 wrote: »

Space saver is in the attic, I bought a full size rim/tyre as a proper spare

Change the two front ones so and keep the 3mm as a spare. Just make sure and get a branded tyre, not any rubbish. PS, just realised this thread is a few months old, not meant to drag up old posts

slave1

Thanks for the advice lads, I'm going to replace the front two and after a few days of research am down to this list

Company A
Continental Premium Contact 2 are €105 each fitted
Goodyear Excellence are €90 each fitted
Michelin Premium HP are €110 each fitted
Another €50 for 4 wheel alignment (a number of guys who I phoned advised the Avensis should have 4 wheel alignment when replacing the front two tyres)

Company B
Vredestein Hi-Trac are €90 each fitted
Continental Premium Contact 2 are €110 each fitted
Another €40 for 4 wheel alignment


Option C
Continental Premium Contact 2 are €80 each with €14 P+P over the net and then €60 to get fitted and 4 wheel alignment (excluding valves which would be €5 each if required).

Any opinions on which one to opt for guy as I'm really out of my knowledge zone on tyres, thanks as always

Paddy001

slave1 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice lads, I'm going to replace the front two and after a few days of research am down to this list

Company A
Continental Premium Contact 2 are €105 each fitted
Goodyear Excellence are €90 each fitted
Michelin Premium HP are €110 each fitted
Another €50 for 4 wheel alignment (a number of guys who I phoned advised the Avensis should have 4 wheel alignment when replacing the front two tyres)

Company B
Vredestein Hi-Trac are €90 each fitted
Continental Premium Contact 2 are €110 each fitted
Another €40 for 4 wheel alignment


Option C
Continental Premium Contact 2 are €80 each with €14 P+P over the net and then €60 to get fitted and 4 wheel alignment (excluding valves which would be €5 each if required).

Any opinions on which one to opt for guy as I'm really out of my knowledge zone on tyres, thanks as always

I'd go for the vredestein and check if it needs 4 wheel alignment. If the tyres have worn evenly it will be fine, if not get it done

slave1

Thanks, the Vredestein were actually hard to locate locally and I agree on the even wear on the tyres comment

bazz26

Two of these delivered for €127:
http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?show=4183

or these for €140:
http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?show=6196

ofcork

I have an avensis with those sizes and got 2 pirellis for the front at 90 each and 50 for the 4 wheel alignment in cork.

slave1

To close off my request, I had a pair of Vredestein's Hi-Tracs fitted today and they swapped the better of the two tyres being replaced onto my spare. No need for tracking.
€171, First Stop, Athlone.