Tyres for an A4

Hay_man

What sort of tyres would ye recommend for a B6 A4 1.9 130 bhp?

From reading treads on this forum lately The more you spend on a tyre the better it is....

I used to always buy the cheapest tyres for my car

The size of the tyres are 235/45/R17

I want good grip but I always want a set to do decent miles aswell (if that is possible)


What do ye reckon would be the best make of tyre for this car ?

Thanks

George Dalton

235/45 is an expensive size unfortunately.

In my opinion the best compromise of price vs quality out there in that size at the moment is Uniroyal @ approx €135 each.
Next best maybe something like Falken @ €115 each.

Ring a few local tyre places and ask them for prices, then compare with camskill.co.uk. When comparing the local price with the camskill price, don't forget you need to add a few quid onto the camskill price for fitting.

bazz26

They are an awkard size alright. The exchange rate is not good at the moment so buying online will probably not be cheap either but you might have a better selection in that size. Local tyre centres should be able to order them for you too though as I'd say not many will stock that size due to their limited demand.

Hankooks are also worth looking at:
http://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s312p15219/Hankook_Tyres_Car_Hankook_K110_Ventus_V12_Evo_Hankook_K_110_-_235_45R17_97Y_XL_TL_

Probably cost in or around the same price as the Uniroyals.

Media999

Have a set of Vredestein on mine

Not this model but similar Hi-Trac 2 is what i have.

Best tyres ive ever had. Still look brand new after 10k.

http://www.tomgeraghtytyres.com/ matched the price of that site with free fitting.

Highly recommended.

Hay_man

Thanks


I think I'll buy them off an Irish supplier

would fitting and balancing cost much then?


Is it also worth getting the tracking done when getting new tyres fitted?

George Dalton

Usually when you are dealing with a local supplier the price they quote will include fitting and balancing.

ARGINITE

Media999 wrote: »

Have a set of Vredestein on mine

+1 for Vredestein, have a set of Sessanta on the Rex and they are great.

dmc17

Matador are good tyres made by continental I think

Popoutman

Tyres that have served me well over the years (and up to 300,000 kms) on my A4:
Continental Premium Contact 2 - good tyres, but a little lacking in longevity.
Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 - Great grip wet and dry, but the good grip went away after <10,000km and they became very slippery with ~3mm left on the treads.
Michelin Pilot Primacy - Best non-winter tyres I had. >25,000kms and grip was within 5% of the Goodyears.
Bridgestone Turanza ER300. Similar performance and longevity to the Michelins, but utterly crap in cold <7 degree weather. No ice /snow grip at all

The current tyres are Goodyear Vector Four-Seasons. Slightly less stiff sidewalls but equivalent grip to the Michelins in both wet and dry. The wear appears to be low enough at this point but I've only got about 6,000kms on them so far. These tyres have been the best overall performers on my A4 so far.

I'd steer well clear of Matadors. Nothing more than ditchfinders. It's always well worth paying that extra bit for tyres as the extra cost is a lot cheaper than the results of 5m longer stopping distance with worse tyres when you really need it!

Always get the wheels and tyres balanced. No advantage in not getting them done, as the vibrations will get on your nerves eventually.

-Corkie-

ARGINITE wrote: »

+1 for Vredestein, have a set of Sessanta on the Rex and they are great.

They are a great tyre both for grip,wear,etc etc BUT they take zero abuse. I live in the country and you will cut them very easy with a sharp stone or the likes also if you get a puncture the sidewall will self destruct in seconds from driving it on the flat..

Chuck_Norris

All depends on what you want to spend
o/p.

I've Conti SC3's on my car at the minute. Phenomenal grip in wet and dry. Very little road noise. Wear has been quite good. Just shy of 20,000km done, and still 5mm thread left.

Precious to that had Conti Eco Contact 2 on it. Grip was quite good in dry, only slightly less in the wet. Lasted forever (just shy of 50,000km).

Bit both of these would be premium tyres, with the SC3's being the more expensive of the two. My tyre size is 225/45/17, and was getting quoted €145 a corner.

My auld mans old A4 was 225/50/17, and he was getting quoted €225 a corner for the same tyre, all because it wasnt as common a tyre size.

enumbers

Wouldn't put the uniroyals on a tdi A4 there a brilliant tyre on lighter cars but they wear really quickly on the front of heavy diesels we fitted a few sets a while back and already close to needing changing.

Hay_man

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

All depends on what you want to spend
o/p.

I've Conti SC3's on my car at the minute. Phenomenal grip in wet and dry. Very little road noise. Wear has been quite good. Just shy of 20,000km done, and still 5mm thread left.

Precious to that had Conti Eco Contact 2 on it. Grip was quite good in dry, only slightly less in the wet. Lasted forever (just shy of 50,000km).

Bit both of these would be premium tyres, with the SC3's being the more expensive of the two. My tyre size is 225/45/17, and was getting quoted €145 a corner.

My auld mans old A4 was 225/50/17, and he was getting quoted €225 a corner for the same tyre, all because it wasnt as common a tyre size.

I would be prepared to pay €130 a corner maybe 150 if I got a deal.......before this I used to spend only €80 a tyre

Chuck_Norris

Hay_man wrote: »

I would be prepared to pay €130 a corner maybe 150 if I got a deal.......before this I used to spend only €80 a tyre

Well, I paid a bit less. Got them through the company the old job used to get their tyres from.

Vectra who's on here swears by a particular type of Hankook tyre. I think it's the Ventus Primes, but can't remember exactly. You'd probably get them for around the €130 mark, if not a bit less. Where are you based?

sean1141

Could you fit 225s instead of 235s?? 225 would be a lot more common and cheaper. I would recommend hankook evo 12s. I had two sets on my 150bhp Leon and found them great in both wet and dry. Also long lasting. Almost 30k miles to a set and all driving on bad twisty roads and never drove too easy!!

Hay_man

sean1141 wrote: »

Could you fit 225s instead of 235s?? 225 would be a lot more common and cheaper. I would recommend hankook evo 12s. I had two sets on my 150bhp Leon and found them great in both wet and dry. Also long lasting. Almost 30k miles to a set and all driving on bad twisty roads and never drove too easy!!

I suppose I could.....but it was just there 235 always on it so I kept them on it 😄

Would it have any effect fitting 225 instead of 235's ?

Them hankooks sound just like the job as I do about 20k miles a year ....

How much were they a tyre sean?

sean1141

They would be a few mm narrow compared to the 235 and slightly less side wall. I think they are about 115 a corner

bazz26

-Corkie- wrote: »

They are a great tyre both for grip,wear,etc etc BUT they take zero abuse. I live in the country and you will cut them very easy with a sharp stone or the likes also if you get a puncture the sidewall will self destruct in seconds from driving it on the flat..

Totally agree there, have them on my e90 and they are a great tyre but they are very fragile, already had to replace one of my rears due to sidewall damage. Not cheap either at €190 each but there you go.

Hay_man wrote: »

I would be prepared to pay €130 a corner maybe 150 if I got a deal.......before this I used to spend only €80 a tyre

The only tyres you will buy in that size for €80 will be rubbish ditch finders. Unfortunately anything that is different to the common sizes are expensive.

Hay_man

bazz26 wrote: »

The only tyres you will buy in that size for €80 will be rubbish ditch finders. Unfortunately anything that is different to the common sizes are expensive.

I have triangles on it at the minute they were 80 euro a piece to be fair I never had any issues with them and the car was not drove easy either...

I suppose I just want to see will a decent tyre really change the way my car handles etc....

Will be ringing a few places tomorrow to get a few prices