Tyre size and handling

wingnut

I recently traded in my much loved MK II Mondeo for a 2003 MK 1 focus. The Mondeo used to go around the roads like it was on rails.

I am finding the focus a bit more skittish and I think it could be down to the tyres. I always but decent tyres on the Mondeo - Bridgestone, Goodyear etc.

The garage I bought the car from put a new set of tyres on the front of the car. Don';t know the brand I imagine they were cheap - I had wheelspin in the rain the other day taking off, never really experienced this before.

Thing is the two front are 195/65/15 and one of the back ones is 195/65/15 the other is 195/60/15.

196/60/15 is the correct size for the wheels and car so I don't know why they put the other ones on there. Would this be responsible for the drop in handling or would the focus be a little less stable on the road than the Mondeo?

George Dalton

The Mk1 Focus is one of the best handling front wheel drive cars ever made in my opinion. So there must be something wrong with your car. Getting a decent set of matching tyres on it would be a good start. We have a 2003 Focus van at work and use Goodyear tyres on it which seem to suit it very well.

CiniO

wingnut wrote: »

I recently traded in my much loved MK II Mondeo for a 2003 MK 1 focus. The Mondeo used to go around the roads like it was on rails.

I am finding the focus a bit more skittish and I think it could be down to the tyres. I always but decent tyres on the Mondeo - Bridgestone, Goodyear etc.

The garage I bought the car from put a new set of tyres on the front of the car. Don';t know the brand I imagine they were cheap - I had wheelspin in the rain the other day taking off, never really experienced this before.

Thing is the two front are 195/65/15 and one of the back ones is 195/65/15 the other is 195/60/15.

196/60/15 is the correct size for the wheels and car so I don't know why they put the other ones on there. Would this be responsible for the drop in handling or would the focus be a little less stable on the road than the Mondeo?

If I were you I would go straight to the garage, that they sold you a car with illegal tyres.
Car wouldn't pass NCT with those tyres.
If you had accident, insurance company probably would try to use the incorrect tyre setup as a reason for refusing to pay for the claim.

Go back to the garage to sort out you tyres.
Garages are not obliged to sell car with brand new or top of the range tyres, but definitely the car has to be roadworthy and tyres has to be legal.
In your case it's not legal.

George Dalton

Agreed the garage shouldn't have sold the car with odd size tyres but going back won't help much in this case anyway as they will most likely fit a budget or part worn 195/65 which will do nothing to help the handling.

-Corkie-

I put money on that they are Sunnys or triangles...

wingnut

CiniO wrote: »

If I were you I would go straight to the garage, that they sold you a car with illegal tyres.
Car wouldn't pass NCT with those tyres.

Car has a fresh NCT on those tyres . They are MaxTrek if that means anything to anyone. The garage is good and they gave me a great price so I will won't go back to them with a relatively minor issue, would rather just buy the tyres.

I don't think there is a problem with the car, its in mint condition. Just grip seems to be an issue. I don't feel like I can throw it around like I did with the mondy.

wingnut

Lol pays to search. Here is a post about maxtrek:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=73874920

They are Chinese, says it all really. I wonder would a tyre place give me a few quid off a decent pair if I traded them in, they are brand new.

CiniO

wingnut wrote: »

Car has a fresh NCT on those tyres .

Must have been a very slacky inspector if he let vehicle pass a test with different tyre sizes on the back.

Nissan doctor

If your used to having premium brand tyres then you will certainly notice the difference with cheap tyres on the car.

The lack of grip some of these budget tyres is actually shocking.

Ardennes1944

My old alloys had 4 almost new infinity tyres on them. I thought they were good, a small bit sloppy in the wet if I went a bit quick but most tyres would be the same. My new alloys have two 225/35/18 and 225/40/18 . 2 are conti sport contacts another is Dunlop and the other is bridgestone. They are fantastic! I know it is not the best set up but I tested them on a roundabout I know very well next to my house and they were amazing. Never knew the difference could be so great.
I would recommend infinity tyres though for the price. A good all rounder

Popoutman

Check the front suspension bushings - any movement (there may be enough to make it handle oddly but not enough to fail the NCT) will make it feel odd.
Also get your car 4-wheel aligned - sounds as though the geometry is a little bit off.