Advice on tyres

podger456

My wife got a used golf last week with michelins (80%) on the rear, and nankangs (look new) on the front. Should the fronts be dumped? Or is there any benefit in moving them to the rear? It's a gti and while it won't be thrashed It won't be driven too easy either. Any thoughts appreciated.

Captain Slow IRL

Drive it for a week or two, have them switched around and see for yourself! The OH had Nankangs fitted to her 320d and I found them to be a very good tyre, despite what a lot claim - excellant grip on wet and dry roads.

Nissan doctor

podger456 wrote: »

My wife got a used golf last week with michelins (80%) on the rear, and nankangs (look new) on the front. Should the fronts be dumped? Or is there any benefit in moving them to the rear? It's a gti and while it won't be thrashed It won't be driven too easy either. Any thoughts appreciated.

It depends on what model Nankangs they are, the old directional types are rubbish. The newer asymmetrical type are much better but, personally, I don't understand why people run economy tyres on performance cars at all.

Eric Cartman

Nissan doctor wrote: »

It depends on what model Nankangs they are, the old directional types are rubbish. The newer asymmetrical type are much better but, personally, I don't understand why people run economy tyres on performance cars at all.

I agree with you on not using nankangs but ? the only cars mentioned were a golf and a 320d , dont know where performance came in to that

Nissan doctor

Eric Cartman wrote: »

I agree with you on not using nankangs but ? the only cars mentioned were a golf and a 320d , dont know where performance came in to that

podger456 wrote: »

My wife got a used golf last week with michelins (80%) on the rear, and nankangs (look new) on the front. Should the fronts be dumped? Or is there any benefit in moving them to the rear? It's a gti and while it won't be thrashed It won't be driven too easy either. Any thoughts appreciated.

And also any BMW is RWD so grip is also important as, despite the harping on about the 'driving experience', the average driver won't have a notion what to do if they experience oversteer.

podger456

Nissan doctor wrote: »

It depends on what model Nankangs they are, the old directional types are rubbish. The newer asymmetrical type are much better but, personally, I don't understand why people run economy tyres on performance cars at all.

They are asymmetrical - NS-II. It looks they were put on to nct and sell.

Paddy001

podger456 wrote: »

They are asymmetrical - NS-II. It looks they were put on to nct and sell.

They were fairly poor for grip but they'll last a lifetime! I'd just swap them to the back and wear them out, pair of Michelin will always be far more dependable on the front in my opinion. Just check them for signs of ageing and the date stamp as Michelin were probably the first day tyres and they may be still first day tyres depending on the car.

Nissan doctor

Paddy001 wrote: »

They were fairly poor for grip but they'll last a lifetime! I'd just swap them to the back and wear them out, pair of Michelin will always be far more dependable on the front in my opinion. Just check them for signs of ageing and the date stamp as Michelin were probably the first day tyres and they may be still first day tyres depending on the car.

Not sure about that, understeer is far more neutral and controllable for the average driver then oversteer so maybe leave the nankangs on the front.

podger456 wrote: »

They are asymmetrical - NS-II. It looks they were put on to nct and sell.

The NS2 are directional tyres. Its the NS20 that are asymmetric.

George Dalton

I totally agree with the above post. Cheapo tyres on the rear + quality tyres on the front + wet and greasy roundabout = oversteer, even at very low speeds.

podger456

Think we'll dump them. For the sake of a couple of hundred quid it's not worth the constant worry of losing grip.