Tyres for Leaf 17"

goz83

I just ordered 2 tyres for the Acenta (16"). They are Dunlop SP Sport Bluresponse 205/55R16 91 V. They were €69 each with free delivery, so happy with that.

I expected the 17" boots for the Tekna to be a bit more expensive....but they are €123 a corner. I've to have a look around the car later and see what's on there already. I'm sure there are mixed brands, with 1, or 2 Dunlop Bluresponse. I don't like mixing and matching tyres on every corner, considering how important they are, but I am feeling a bit ripped off in the price difference. I checked camskill and the price difference is similar. Anyone have recommendations? I want them to be at least B rated in efficiency and wet weather and 70dB or below.

I'm on the market for 17" too and the cheapest I have seen are Pirelli Cinturato Blue which seem to be a bit less (117 a corner at oponeo.ie). On a recent tyre test I read they had a bit lower rolling resistance and less noise than the Dunlop Blueresponce which were fitted as standard on my Leaf.

The test was for 205/55-16 tyres. Pirelli got mark of 8.7 it said:

Good grip in wet, accurate streering. Slighty abrupt but good grip and quick response to steering help to keep thing in check. The noise level is average but the rolling resistance was lowest in test.

About Dunlop Sport BluResponse (which scored 8.3) it was said:

Good braking grip in warm weather but poor in cold. Handling at the beginning is relaxed and logical but under emergency manouvers the rears can suddenly lose traction. It has the highest road noise of the test but rolling resistance is one of the best.

Nokian Hakka Blue 2 wont the test (9.2): Good handling both dry and wet, ample warning when the grip is about to go but can be controlled even when skidding. Surefooted. Least noisy tyre with very low rolling resistance.

Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 (9.1): Good wet grip but somewhat lost under low ambient temperatures. Surefooted and good response to steering once you don't push it too much beyond the limit. Very low noise and better than average rolling resistance.

Barum Bravuris 3HM (8.5): Positive surprise. Very good under breaking in cold weather and ample warning that grip is about to be lost. Less good in dry and somewhat vague handling but good grip. Average noise and one of the best rolling resistances.

Hankook Ventus Prime 3 (8.3), Kenda Emera A1 (8.3), Linglong Green-Max HP (8.3), Wanli Harmonic H220 (8.2), Maxxis Premitra HP5 (8.1), Davanti DX390 (7.3), Duraturn Mozzo Sport (6.7) all had high resistance so definitely avoid all these.

Duraturn: Worst wet grip in the test. Difficult to contol as the tyre won't steer and loses traction without warning. Pretty good resistance to aquaplaning. Bit less nervous in dry but steers slowly an in unprecise way. One of the highest noise levels and rolling resistances. (Sounds like a winner ;-) )

KCross

I used 17" Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance and bought them from tyreleader.ie (€114)
https://www.tyreleader.ie/car-tyres/goodyear/efficientgrip-performance/215-50-r17-91w-499278

A rated for grip, B for resistance.

The 205/50/R16 do seem to be about half the price for the same premium brand. The 215/50/R17 must be an odd size or something. You just have to suck it up!

There are budget versions of the 17". I bought one for €75 to use as a spare. I don't know how it would last or grip if used full time.
e.g. https://www.tyreleader.ie/car-tyres/nexen/n-fera-su4/215-50-zr17-91w-65238

You can get them cheaper again if you want an E-rated resistance tyre! Some people say these ratings are all a load of tosh anyway.

Goodyear in the test I refer to was rated 8.5 and: Pretty good wet braking performance but deteriorates in cold. Logical and relaxing handling but slightly slow responses especially when the road is cold. Good steering feel especially with low steering angles. On large turn angles and quick steering inputs rears are on the limit but don't break free. One of the quietest and low rolling resistance too.

goz83

samih wrote: »

I'm on the market for 17" too and the cheapest I have seen are Pirelli Cinturato Blue which seem to be a bit less (117 a corner at oponeo.ie). )

There's a deal on Pirelli P7 Cinturato Blue for 95 a corner on oponeo.

My cousin is a tyre fitter so I am waiting on a price from him. They have a crap energy rating though.

Yeah, seemingly similar tyres can have very different efficiency ratings. I rang to Dave McCann tyres just over a week ago looking for A or B rated tyres and they promised to ring be back but nothing since. Probably the best to just order online and then get them fitted locally.

Now just need to find a tyre fitter that doesn't lift the car using metal trolley jack directly under the sills but that's another story.

KCross

samih wrote: »

Now just need to find a tyre fitter that doesn't lift the car using metal trolley jack directly under the sills but that's another story.

What difference does that make?
Its not any different to using a normal jack to change a wheel for a puncture, is it?

The difference: The jack that comes with the car is rounded and fits around the sill. The garage jack damages the paint or even worse can bend the jacking points as seen on many cars I have had over the years.

KCross

samih wrote: »

The difference: The jack that comes with the car is rounded and fits around the sill. The garage jack damages the paint or even worse can bend the jacking points as seen on many cars I have had over the years.

Understood. I thought you were saying that using a trolley jack was bad as a rule somehow.

Usually they use a hard rubber block with a ridge on top of it to fit on the sill but Im sure there are some cowboys out there will just roll the trolley under the car and start pumping without even looking!

DrPhilG

I put Dunlop sport Blu-response on last year and the rears are done after only 15k miles.

I chose them for the low rolling resistance but I think I'll have to get something with a bit more durability next time.

I changed the rears for Bridgestone turanzas that I had in the garage bit I'll have to change the fronts in the not too distant future also.

colm_mcm

Would ye not put 225/45/17 on instead of 215/50/17? It's a much more common size and the same outside radius (well 98%)

Would there be rage concerns by going slightly wider?

zilog_jones

I have 15" Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance on my Prius and they've been pretty good so far, but after about 17k km there's not much left on them (about 3-4 mm on one pair, recently rotated). Unfortunately, if you want low rolling resistance tyres with decent performance it seems they're not going to be very durable.

KCross

colm_mcm wrote: »

Would ye not put 225/45/17 on instead of 215/50/17? It's a much more common size and the same outside radius (well 98%)

Would there be range concerns by going slightly wider?

They might not fit. The normal size is 205 and the 17" uses 215. Going up another step to 225 could have the tyre hitting the inside of the wheel well. There isn't a lot of clearance there as is.

I'd also think the 45 would be quite hard on the road?

I presume there would be some drop in range if you are putting more rubber in contact with the ground. No idea of how much though.

I'm actually also considering 205/55 - 17. They will have slightly larger outside diameter but you can get some A rated tyres in that size. Positive side effect would be a slightly more accurate speedo.

colm_mcm

KCross wrote: »

They might not fit. The normal size is 205 and the 17" uses 215. Going up another step to 225 could have the tyre hitting the inside of the wheel well. There isn't a lot of clearance there as is.

I'd also think the 45 would be quite hard on the road?

I presume there would be some drop in range if you are putting more rubber in contact with the ground. No idea of how much though.

The 45 in the sidewall is a percentage of the width, so 45% of 225, or 50% of 215 makes no discernible odds.
You'd be taking about the tyre being 5mm closer to the inside of the wheel well. Don't know if that would make it too tight.

KCross

colm_mcm wrote: »

The 45 in the sidewall is a percentage of the width, so 45% of 225, or 50% of 215 makes no discernible odds.

Fair enough on the 45.

Its the width I would be more worried about though. I wouldn't buy them without getting confirmation first that you can do a full lock of the steering wheel without them catching. And the range issue as well of course.

colm_mcm

Oh definitely. Does the change from 205 to 215 make much difference to range?

Firblog

Need 2 new tyres, went to tyrecentre today, said that the dunlops that came with the leaf cannot be sourced.

Anyone got recommendations for 17" for SVE?

pavelpro

Firblog wrote: »

Need 2 new tyres, went to tyrecentre today, said that the dunlops that came with the leaf cannot be sourced.

Anyone got recommendations for 17" for SVE?

Recently got those

Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 215/50 R17 91 W

https://www.tyres-pneus-online.ie/car-tyres/goodyear/efficient-grip-performance/215-50-r17-91-w.html

but they were 110 per tyre now 10E higher.

grogi

KCross wrote: »

The 205/50/R16 do seem to be about half the price for the same premium brand. The 215/50/R17 must be an odd size or something. You just have to suck it up!

Get the very popular 225/45 r17 instead.

KCross

grogi wrote: »

KCross wrote: »

The 205/50/R16 do seem to be about half the price for the same premium brand. The 215/50/R17 must be an odd size or something. You just have to suck it up!

Get the very popular 225/45 r17 instead.

Did you do that yourself on the Leaf or just a suggestion?

I'd wonder if the 225 would hit wheel wells etc as its tight enough on the 215's.

grogi

KCross wrote: »

Did you do that yourself on the Leaf or just a suggestion?

I'd wonder if the 225 would hit wheel wells etc as its tight enough on the 215's.

On the inside the difference will be 5mm. Diameter wise the 225/45 R17 is marginally (2%) smaller - by 11mm.

KCross

grogi wrote: »

On the inside the difference will be 5mm. Diameter wise the 225/45 R17 is marginally (2%) smaller - by 11mm.

ok, but did you actually put them on a Leaf yourself?
Just wondering if its an idea or something you've actually done?

grogi

KCross wrote: »

ok, but did you actually put them on a Leaf yourself?
Just wondering if its an idea or something you've actually done?

No, I didn't.

cros13

I like the Michelin CrossClimates for the Leafs... better grip... not too bad in rolling resistance.

I just got delivered today a set of 4 Dunlop Sport BluResponse Tyres.

I had them on the prius and liked them interested to try them on the Leaf.

By the way I've what, 75,500 or close Kms on the Leaf and this will be the 3rd set of tyres.

DrPhilG

I put the bluresponse on last year, barely got 15k miles and all 4 were done.

Went with Goodyear PerformanceGrip this time.

KCross

I don't think you will get much more from the GY's either.

The OEM Dunlops seem to last forever. They looked ready for a change at 50k (km) and now at 56k+ still 0.1 mm until the worst tyre will hit the 1.6 mm marker.

Mad_lad, did you notice any difference in range when you changed your tyres last time? OEMs are rated at B for economy and I'd like to get at least the same again.

I got about 45,000 Kms from the EC300's but they were beyond dirt, good dry grip and deadly in the wet. Could hardly pull out of a junction in the wet with half throttle in D and it would spin the wheels like mad.

The Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance were much better in the wet with a little impact in the dry which was fine really.

Got 30,000 out of those and they will be replaced next week. I do drive a lot harder though since I got work charging.

And I only need these to last until January, so hopefully they'll last the next 4-5 months.

Dunlop are quite "entertaining" in the wet alright although not prone to aquaplaning even when they are worn it seems. But in wet you often get wheelspin without even trying and they understeer badly in wet.

Did you battery consumption stay the same with the "new" tyres.

Battery consumption was hard to tell the difference.

jprboy

I need to get four 16" tyres for the Leaf and was looking at these:

Nokian eLine 2 205/55 R16 94 W XL

They're A rated for both rolling resistance and wet grip.

Currently have Michelin Energy Savers but interesting in changing.

Anyone with opinions/experience of the Nokians?

Thanks.

cros13

I like Nokian as a brand. I use their WR D4 on the i3 as a winter tire specifically to improve wet grip.

Nokian do a number of winter tires designed specifically for EVs like the hakkapeliitta r2.
Not sure about their summers tires though, not what they are known for.

It's worth remembering that there's always a trade off with rolling resistance vs grip though.

DrPhilG

It's that time again. I change my tyres far too much. A combination of crappy country roads and a heavy boot.

Any budget options worth a try? I've been through Dunlop Bluresponse, Goodyear Efficientgrip Performance etc. Cost a bloody fortune and still don't last.

I'm inclined to go for something cheaper provided they aren't complete crap!

grogi

DrPhilG wrote: »

It's that time again. I change my tyres far too much. A combination of crappy country roads and a heavy boot.

Any budget options worth a try? I've been through Dunlop Bluresponse, Goodyear Efficientgrip Performance etc. Cost a bloody fortune and still don't last.

I'm inclined to go for something cheaper provided they aren't complete crap!

Get Michelin Primacy 3 (~€120) - they will last ages. Hankook Ventus Prime3 (~€100) is an excellent tyre, but will last only slighthly longer than Dunlops.

Or consider getting all seasons now... Michelin CrossClimate+ will last long as well, but are a bit more expensive (~€155).

bp_me

grogi wrote: »

Get Michelin Primacy 3 (~€120) - they will last ages. Hankook Ventus Prime3 (~€100) is an excellent tyre, but will last only slighthly longer than Dunlops.

Im pretty sure the Michelin Primacy is the same as fit on the toyota hybrids. I had close on 80k km with some thread left when I traded in the Auris (had changed two in that duration).

DrPhilG

grogi wrote: »

Get Michelin Primacy 3 (~€120)

Where are you seeing them at that price? Cheapest I see is £120 sterling.

grogi

https://www.oponeo.ie/details-tyre/michelin-primacy-3-215-50-r17-95-v-xl#182970442
I took the size from the online catalogue, so that might be wrong...

DrPhilG

grogi wrote: »

https://www.oponeo.ie/details-tyre/michelin-primacy-3-215-50-r17-95-v-xl#182970442
I took the size from the online catalogue, so that might be wrong...

Cheers.

£100 from the UK site too. Going to get the mechanic to check out the car first to see how the rear axle looks.

peposhi

Local tire fitter does Michelin Energy Saver for 110 euro.

DrPhilG

peposhi wrote: »

Local tire fitter does Michelin Energy Saver for 110 euro.

17"?

grogi

DrPhilG wrote: »

17"?

Energy Savers are not available in 215/50/17... Here's your answer ;P

Gumbo

Maybe I’m the only one but after years of buying 19” tyres and sports tyres for various cars and SUV’s I find the 17” tyres on the SVE cheap as chips

Although I foolishly bought Michelin tyres when I got the car last year so next time I will
Buy dedicated EV tyres as they make a difference to range I believe.

g0g

Digging through old threads looking for recommendations for new tyres on a 2015 Tekna Leaf. Pretty sure the tyres are 17"? Bought it with 30K km on it and have around 46K now. Went into local FastFit and they said it's all original tyres and all 4 need replacing. I guess that's decent life to have gotten from them but bloody expensive to replace all together! 120-200+ per tyre from them. They've been good with puncture jobs over the years so I'd like to use the local place.

I see lots of mentions of buying online, but I assume tyre fitting places make their money on selling the actual tyres? So if I show up asking them to fit new tyres I bought online are they gonna be able to price for that?

Looking on Facebook groups I see talk of 10%+ loss of range with "normal" tyres? Is this true? I make the odd drive that's pushing it range-wise so I don't want to lose that extra bit of buffer.

Any latest recommendations much appreciated!

Gumbo

The loss of range is correct.
I found my drive on E tyres compared to standard tyres noticeable on motorway journeys. A couple of % I would imagine.

You should be able to get the tyres a lot cheaper than €200 per corner.