Have not a clue and need 4 new tyres...

kathleen37

So, need some tyres. Would anyone be able to recommend anywhere in Letterkenny/Donegal?

185/55R16

Currently have continentals (suzuki swift) and they are unfortunately too expensive.

Whenever I phone places, I'm just told I can get "budget" tyres and they won't even tell me the make? "What difference does it make?"

I'd really appreciate any advice

Many thanks

Atlantic Dawn

A budget brand like Kumho might be worth looking at, I would avoid any of the cheap Chinese rubbish.

kathleen37

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

A budget brand like Kumho might be worth looking at, I would avoid any of the cheap Chinese rubbish.

Excellent, thanks

Toyotafanboi

stuff that is referred to by tyre fitters as "budget" is generally fairly dangerous Chinese stuff not fit for a wheelbarrow. Actual "budget" brands like Kumho, Kormoran, Federal and Nankang are actually "ok" but most tyre shops would call those a mid range tyre at this stage.

185/55/16 is a bit of an obscure size. if you could (may or not be possible) go to something like 205/55/16 you would probably find it much easier to find good stock at a good price, it's worth asking about.

biko

Uniroyal is my recommendation. RainExpert in particular. Great on wet roads.

The Backwards Man

biko wrote: »

Uniroyal is my recommendation. RainExpert in particular. Great on wet roads.

Not sure if Uniroyal do the RainExpert in rare sizes, they don't in the RainSport anyway. Great tyre though.

VeVeX

Uniroyals aren't made in 185/55R16. If you want Uniroyal you could use 195/55R16 in the Rain Sport 3.

H.E. Pennypacker

Any tyre retailer that won't discuss brands is probably best avoided. At best they're being sexist (assuming that you're female).

195/55 16 may well work as an alternative size. They're slightly larger and will cause your speedometer to read slightly slow - for instance it'll read 1.3 mph slower at 80 mph. Speedometers tend to over-read anyway so its very unlikely to get you an accidental speeding ticket.

I'd second recommendations for the likes of Kumho, Federal etc. I'm not a fan of the Uniroyal Rainexperts as they have weak sidewalls and are more prone to blowouts on potholed roads - I lost two that way.

Pops_20

H.E. Pennypacker wrote: »

195/55 16 may well work as an alternative size. They're slightly larger and will cause your speedometer to read slightly slow - for instance it'll read 1.3 mph slower at 80 mph. Speedometers tend to over-read anyway so its very unlikely to get you an accidental speeding ticket.

195 is the width of the tyre and so won't affect the speedometer. Changes to the tyre profile or diameter of the wheel itself will affect it.

195/55/R16 is a more common size though, so there's more types available. Should be no problems fitting a slightly wider tyre onto the wheel.

shietpilot

Pops_20 wrote: »

195 is the width of the tyre and so won't affect the speedometer. Changes to the tyre profile or diameter of the wheel itself will affect it.

195/55/R16

The 55 means 55% of 195 so in fact it WILL make a difference.

kleefarr

Check prices here as well, may save yourself a few bob.

http://www.eiretyres.com/

Voodoomelon

kathleen37 wrote: »

Whenever I phone places, I'm just told I can get "budget" tyres and they won't even tell me the make? "What difference does it make?"

It's really messed up how the tyre industry works here, I mean seriously, that's diabolical.

Imagine being in any other industry trying to sell any kind of product and telling customers what difference does it make what product you buy from them. Shocking.

Atlantic Dawn

Voodoomelon wrote: »

It's really messed up how the tyre industry works here, I mean seriously, that's diabolical.

Imagine being in any other industry trying to sell any kind of product and telling customers what difference does it make what product you buy from them. Shocking.

Yes the only logical reason I can make from them is they are on bigger margins on the rubbish tyres. Even for repeat custom most businesses will recommend the best and give you reasons why and then leave it up to yourself, last couple of times I've got tyres they first tell me the price for cheapest rubbish and I basically have to drag out of them the pricing for a decent brand.

JohnBoy26

I've found the difference in price between a mid range tire and a budget tire to be only €5 per corner. That is on 14 inch wheels though. It's really worth getting the better tires when the price difference is so small.

TheShow

good experience with firestones, made by premium brand Bridgestone and not too bad on the pocket.

CJhaughey

Buy tyres on performance not price.
Oponeo.ie, Camskill.co.uk or Eiretyres are all good online retailers of tyres.
Put your car or tyre size into the checker and they will give you a recommendation. You can sort by Budget/Medium or Premium brand.
I can recommend Nokian Weatherproofs as a very good tyre for all seasons and conditions, particularly important in Donegal IMO.

kathleen37

THanks everyone, thats all really helpful.

And the two places I phoned were along the lines of "what difference does it make to you? Know a lot about tyres do you?"

Needless to say I won't be getting any from either...

Budget would be about €70 per tyre if I can do it... with the roads the way they are around here (terrible!) I really want to try and get something half decent. Unfortunately, I know my budget won't do good, but I've heard bad things about cheap tyres so I want to give myself a chance!

Thanks again.

kathleen37

I can get 4 Nankang tyres fitted for €230 at a place more local than Letterkenny. They didn't have any others in the 185 size. Were very nice and helpful on the phone so I think I may go with those as they have them in stock so I could get them done today.

All the other places I've phoned this morning have also been very helpful today to be fair. Looks like the rim size is the issue as no one had any in stock, and I've been quoted about €70 each for MaxTek and Ovation.

Just off to google those now to see if a huge difference between those and the Nankang ones

Toyotafanboi

Nankang have came on a lot. Some of their more recent tyres are ok. by no means top of the range, but you'd have a certain degree of confidence in them.

Neilw

The sad thing is nankang used to be the worst tyres you could buy, now they are closer to mid range because there's such rubbish like stunner, ling long, maxtek and the like available.

Did any of the tyre places offer you a better tyre for slightly more?

Neilw

The sad thing is nankang used to be the worst tyres you could buy, now they are closer to mid range because there's such rubbish like stunner, ling long, maxtek and the like available.

Did any of the tyre places offer you a better tyre for slightly more?

kathleen37

No - keep being told that 16 rim is an odd size...

Seen one review for the Ovation which says it's excellent in the wet. Might fess up the extra cash for those, thought they will have to order them in...

Toyotafanboi

Neilw wrote: »

The sad thing is nankang used to be the worst tyres you could buy, now they are closer to mid range because there's such rubbish like stunner, ling long, maxtek and the like available.

Did any of the tyre places offer you a better tyre for slightly more?

i completely agree, but by virtue of what you just said, they are not the worst tyres out there any more, there is much more dangerous stuff you can buy for similar money, that and Nankang seem to have worked on their game a little. so if you have a strict budget and need tyres, you could certainly end up with worse.

i'd take them over Ovations anyway.

FrontDoor

Where are you based?

Midwest Tyres in Limerick are very competitive.

FrontDoor

Where are you based?

Midwest Tyres in Limerick are very competitive.

Toyotafanboi

Just looking at Oponeo.ie there,

185/55/16 Nankang Eco2 €69
195/55/16 Nankang Eco2 €71
205/55/16 Nankang Eco2 €60

you could knock €3-5 off any of those prices to go from Eco2 to NS2 which are the older, less good thread pattern i think?

so popularity is key to a lower price, size wise. i really don't think you are asking too much to try a 205 tyre on that rim and you will have the opportunity to make a good saving.

kathleen37

Arghhh - I don't know what to do now...

I can get the Nankang ones fitted this afternoon, and 4 for €230 is good price wise.

I only managed to find one review of the Ovation - so not comletely sure on that.

I think I may go with the Nangkang ones and start saving now for some bridgestone or continentals the next change...

Man11

kathleen37 wrote: »

Arghhh - I don't know what to do now...

I can get the Nankang ones fitted this afternoon, and 4 for €230 is good price wise.

I only managed to find one review of the Ovation - so not comletely sure on that.

I think I may go with the Nangkang ones and start saving now for some bridgestone or continentals the next change...

Just pop over the border , they take euros too and cheaper !

MarkR

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/91856/tyre-reviews-best-tyres-2015