Lassa Tyres - 205/50/R16

jprboy

Am considering putting Lassa tyres -205/50/R16 - on a 04 Volvo S40. It appears that this size tyre is not in widespread use and some places don't have them in stock.

Don't think I have any options on putting different size tyres on.

Any thoughts on/experience of the Lassas?

dgt

jprboy wrote: »

Lassa tyres

Owned by Bridgestone iirc...

Cheap and cheerful like Kormorans. At least they ain't chinese sh*te!

Nissan doctor

jprboy wrote: »

Am considering putting Lassa tyres on -205/50/R16 - on a 04 Volvo S40. It appears that this size tyre is not in widespread use and some places don't have them in stock.

Don't think I have any options on putting different size tyres on.

Any thoughts on/experience of the Lassas?

They are economy tyres, made in Greece or Turkey IIRC. Not great, but likely better then the Chinese stuff.

I wouldn't buy them just because they are all that's in stock though. Any decent tyre center will be able to get you any available brand within a day or so.

Its not the most common size but its certainly not rare either.

jprboy

Thanks for the replies.

I've been quoted €95 for Lassa, €100 for Nankang and €120 for Bridgestone.

Interesting thing is that I already have Nankangs on the car and only paid €80 each for them from the same centre in Sept 2011 :eek:. Have tyre prices gone up in the last year or so? Or did I get a good deal back then?

And how do the above prices relate to others experience for this size tyre?

bazz26

OP, Camskill are selling 4 of these Kumho Ecstas for around €315 delivered:

http://camskill.co.uk/products.php?show=4077

Allow another €50 or €60 for getting them fitted & balanced and you are still talking about well under €100 per tyre. I would rate these above anything you have mentioned so far. Now do a bit of ringing around the various tyre centres and see if they can match or come close to the online price as I would prefer to spend my money locally if there ain't much in the difference.

Cee-Jay-Cee

jprboy wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I've been quoted €95 for Lassa, €100 for Nankang and €120 for Bridgestone.

Interesting thing is that I already have Nankangs on the car and only paid €80 each for them from the same centre in Sept 2011 :eek:. Have tyre prices gone up in the last year or so? Or did I get a good deal back then?

And how do the above prices relate to others experience for this size tyre?

That is ridiculously expensive for cheap budget Tyres. Why are you getting 205/50/16? Why not get 205/55/16 as they're much cheaper. You can get Bridgestone Turanzas in that size for 75-80 a corner.

Tragedy

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, Camskill are selling 4 of these Kumho Ecstas for around €315 delivered:

http://camskill.co.uk/products.php?show=4077

Allow another €50 or €60 for getting them fitted & balanced and you are still talking about well under €100 per tyre. I would rate these above anything you have mentioned so far. Now do a bit of ringing around the various tyre centres and see if they can match or come close to the online price as I would prefer to spend my money locally if there ain't much in the difference.

I wouldn't rate Kumho over Bridgestones (in general, obviously), in particular they're fairly well known for being substandard in the wet.

bazz26

Tragedy wrote: »

I wouldn't rate Kumho over Bridgestones (in general, obviously), in particular they're fairly well known for being substandard in the wet.

I was really referring to the Lassa and Nangkangs. I would take Kumho over them any day.

corkgsxr

i use lassa all the time and find them brilliant grip in wet dry and ice. cant fault grip and i would be a faster driver.

they also last bloody ages. iv never worn out a set myself. (upgrade or scrap car etc)
but on herselfs 2l diesel avensis they lasted well over 20k miles and had thread left. but was well into a very wet winter. if it was heading into summer theyd have stayed on another few months

Tragedy

bazz26 wrote: »

I was really referring to the Lassa and Nangkangs. I would take Kumho over them any day.

I'm not sure I'd put Lassa in the same category as Nankangs either. Girlfriends car has no ABS and Nankangs on the front, the nankangs will lock in moderate braking on even slightly moist ground, truly awful tyres and it's horrifying to think about how many cars are driving around with them fitted.

creedp

Tragedy wrote: »

I'm not sure I'd put Lassa in the same category as Nankangs either. Girlfriends car has no ABS and Nankangs on the front, the nankangs will lock in moderate braking on even slightly moist ground, truly awful tyres and it's horrifying to think about how many cars are driving around with them fitted.

I saw a nice E class 11-D today and was shocked to find it was shod with 4 Triangles! If you have that much money to spend on a car why not put a decent set of tyres on it?

jprboy

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, Camskill are selling 4 of these Kumho Ecstas for around €315 delivered:

http://camskill.co.uk/products.php?show=4077

Allow another €50 or €60 for getting them fitted & balanced and you are still talking about well under €100 per tyre. I would rate these above anything you have mentioned so far. Now do a bit of ringing around the various tyre centres and see if they can match or come close to the online price as I would prefer to spend my money locally if there ain't much in the difference.

I actually got 4 Kumhos from Camskill for this particular car a few years back and got a great deal on them. Probably the longest lasting tyres I've ever had. Also have Kumhos on our 2nd car and am happy with them.

However, I only need 2 tyres now for the Volvo.

CJC999 wrote: »

That is ridiculously expensive for cheap budget Tyres. Why are you getting 205/50/16? Why not get 205/55/16 as they're much cheaper. You can get Bridgestone Turanzas in that size for 75-80 a corner.

I actually did suggest the possibility of the 205/55/16 to one outfit and was told they'd fitted them to another Volvo S40 and they were rubbing off the wheel arches.......... does this sound feasible??

Am kinda leaning towards the Kumhos at the mo'

corkgsxr

No way it's that tight for clearance. Ill bet money they'll fit

The difference is miniscule

jprboy

corkgsxr wrote: »

No way it's that tight for clearance. Ill bet money they'll fit

The difference is miniscule

Thanks for that.

I was thinking that after I got off the phone to him.

Would it be ok to mix different sizes e.g have 205/50/16 at the front and 205/55/16 at the back? Or vice versa?

corkgsxr

Just make sure and match the axles and you wont go for wrong

Nissan doctor

Are you certain that the size is 16"?

If you have 205/50/16's on now then that the wrong size anyway as there should be 205/55/16's fitted on a volvo.

Only the 17" wheels are fitted with 205/50's

George Dalton

I'd say it's an old model S40 ND. They used 205/50 16 AFAIK.

Nissan doctor

George Dalton wrote: »

I'd say it's an old model S40 ND. They used 205/50 16 AFAIK.

Good point, well in that case 205/55/16's would definitely be too big IMO.

jprboy

George Dalton wrote: »

I'd say it's an old model S40 ND. They used 205/50 16 AFAIK.

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Good point, well in that case 205/55/16's would definitely be too big IMO.

Thanks, folks.

Yes, it's the old model S40.

Right, I've had conflicting advice on this. A previous poster reckoned the 205/55/16s should be no problem and now there's a view that they'd deffo be too big........

Senna

2cm higher.
I'm nearly sure I had 205/50-17 on the 2003 S40, which would be a bigger difference again.

George Dalton

I have seen these cars with 205/55 16 size tyres fitted with no apparent issues. Having said that I wouldn't fit them if it was my own car. I would rather pay the small premium for the correct tyre size.

jprboy

Thanks, George.

That's it, mind made up.

205/50/16 it is.

Now I can focus on which brand to get.

bdeithrick

jprboy wrote: »

Am considering putting Lassa tyres -205/50/R16 - on a 04 Volvo S40. It appears that this size tyre is not in widespread use and some places don't have them in stock.

Don't think I have any options on putting different size tyres on.

Any thoughts on/experience of the Lassas?

There is Kumho's for €80 on eiretyres so why but on lesser makes.
The kankang are very good in wet but wear there shoulders do to softer compound
Grip well wear quicker

Linglong are death trap on wet bends.

mullingar

Senna wrote: »

2cm higher.
I'm nearly sure I had 205/50-17 on the 2003 S40, which would be a bigger difference again.

The wheel may be 2cm bigger in diameter, but the car will only sit 1cm higher.

If OP can run his hand the whole way around the tyres with the steering locked both ways, I would fit the 205/55/16's.

Your economy should go up a touch, but the acceleration will drop a little.

NobodyImportant

Dear Lord God, please stay away from Budget tyres.

Your car is connected to the road via tyre contact patch, of a TOTAL on all 4 wheels, about the the same size as an A4 sheet of paper.

Thats all, an A4 sheet of paper of tyre on the road. Its practically the most important safety feature of your car. Stick to a well known brand.

bdeithrick

Lassa a turkish manufactor with bridgestones tech and knowledge
http://www.tyrespot.co.uk/page.php?url=lassatyres.php

I would fit these as they are European and not Chinese (linglong) ( triangle)
But I would shop on camskills or Eiretyres first to the same €price €
If your see a semprite or barum or kumho for same money the go with better knkw name .
Eiretyres do slash prices on there so you can get a 130/ price down to €80s
Psl allow €60 to fit n ballance them

Most tyre sheds will only stock know quality so Lassa be ok once you not driving beyond road rules or on a track day

Tragedy

bdeithrick wrote: »

There is Kumho's for €80 on eiretyres so why but on lesser makes.
The kankang are very good in wet but wear there shoulders do to softer compound
Grip well wear quicker

Linglong are death trap on wet bends.

Nankangs are not good in the wet and are not a softer compound. This is well backed up by literally thousands of posts on motoring forums across the net, feel free to look up peoples experiences with them on boards.ie or pistonheads for example.

bdeithrick

Tragedy wrote: »

Nankangs are not good in the wet and are not a softer compound. This is well backed up by literally thousands of posts on motoring forums across the net, feel free to look up peoples experiences with them on boards.ie or pistonheads for example.

Well they are, the NS 2 Is far superior in wet than linglongs & star performers . I think you'll find I have driven many more miles on them and drive bigger Hp 177 - 205ps over the last 10 years.
Kangs never sliped out on a wet hill on the back of the Merc.
I'll feel free to browse these pages when I wish too. I don't have time to live in a forum.

Chinese plastic tyres won't wear anyway quick . This is why the kankang is better.
Your wanting to compare them to premium brands at twice the price, no going to happen .

Lassa will be fine for a Volvo driven window of road conditions .
Obviously a Michelin Continental. Bridgestone Dunlop . Is far superior but we are disgusting price v a odd size for a Volvo.
And Basicly your fine on any thing not from china. The Volvo aint going track day or up Sally gap at 2am looking for ice testing.

Out. B

Tragedy

Kankang aren't a tyre brand, Nankang are - and they're headquartered and made in Taiwan within spitting distance of China. They're also not a softer compound that wears quickly as the two most cited positives for them (including NS2) are they're being a) incredibly cheap and b) incredibly long lasting.

I don't do track days, I don't go rallying up the Sally Gap, I still care about having good tyres that will stop me as soon as possible in the wet. People who spread disinformation about tyres (online and in person) are a blight. There's far too many people like you talking utter nonsense and advocating cheap and cheerful and that tyre choice doesn't really matter unless you drive hard.

bdeithrick

Tragedy wrote: »

Kankang aren't a tyre brand, Nankang are - and they're headquartered and made in Taiwan within spitting distance of China. They're also not a softer compound that wears quickly as the two most cited positives for them (including NS2) are they're being a) incredibly cheap and b) incredibly long lasting.

I don't do track days, I don't go rallying up the Sally Gap, I still care about having good tyres that will stop me as soon as possible in the wet. People who spread disinformation about tyres (online and in person) are a blight. There's far too many people like you talking utter nonsense and advocating cheap and cheerful and that tyre choice doesn't really matter unless you drive hard.

If you bothered to read the text I never recommended the nankangs over premium tyres. Jprboy is not interested in premium tyres he's asking about budget.
I stated fact about them tyres, some better than others, you don't have 10 years driving experience on budget tyres. as i do as a professional driver. I can't afford €2000 for michelins, only to lose one in a pot hole or nails / glass in a cul de sac.
So your unknow waffle about a tyre make is also unwelcome. You spend so much time picking out iPhone typing errors that you don't get in much mileage on the best of the rest in cold Irish nights

Jprboy
I did recommend a premium make if you want to pay out on them. Get better make for the budget price of lesser tyres from China

Senna

So you are driving on Nankangs in a 200+bhp car, I think that automatically rules you out as anyway "knowledgeable" on the subject.

NobodyImportant

Senna wrote: »

So you are driving on Nankangs in a 200+bhp car, I think that automatically rules you out as anyway "knowledgeable" on the subject.

Ah, he might be a drifter and want low grip!

jprboy

Actually went for the Lassas in the end and am happy with my choice.

Thanks to all for the views and opinions expressed.