Tyre comparison

Mc Love

Have the car in for a service and the two front Vredestein Ultrac Vorti's need to be changed, and they are a thin on the ground tyre.

Is there any other mid-range tyre out there that would be similar if not better, would prefer sidewalls that arent soft (given our ****e roads). They're going to ring around and get a tyre

Current tyres are 235/45/18

hooch-85

I would recommend Hankook Ventus Evo2, around the same price point as the Vreds, had them on my last two cars and can't fault them. I got a pair recently in 225/40/18 for €110 each fitted and balanced.

Mc Love

If i was buying them and getting them delivered I would have gone, but he's got some Rainsport 3 - will see what they're like and he's a good garage so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Mentioned Barum tyres, saying they're made my Continental I think.

hooch-85

Uniroyal Rainsports are good tyres by all accounts but i've heard off a good few people the sidewalls are quite soft.

Mc Love

Crap - will see what they are like and few months buy a set of 4 of Ultrac's

colm_mcm

Barum are indeed made by Continental. Advance Pitstop push them (think advance are aligned with Continental now)

biko

hooch-85 wrote: »

Uniroyal Rainsports are good tyres by all accounts but i've heard off a good few people the sidewalls are quite soft.

This is right, but I just counter it by inflating a little extra. Have not noticed any handling problems.

uncle_sam_ie

biko wrote: »

This is right, but I just counter it by inflating a little extra. Have not noticed any handling problems.

The XL or extra load version, have stronger sidewalls. At least that's what I've been told. Great tire's. I would defiantly recommend these for Irish wet roads.

CJhaughey

Falken FK510 have very strong sidewalls, I just bought a pair in that size from Tyreleader @ 108 ea.

Mc Love

Thanks all!

slave1

colm_mcm wrote: »

Barum are indeed made by Continental. Advance Pitstop push them (think advance are aligned with Continental now)

Continental own Advance Pitstop so yes, they will push own brand

Cucullan

The majority of tyres have soft sidewalls nowadays due to the labeling of wet grip, fuel efficiency and noise. A tyre with a strong sidewall is going to be heavier and less fuel efficient so will cost you more on fuel over the life of the tyre than that with a softer sidewall.

Spook_ie

Does a stiffer sidewall not give a much harsher ride?

Oops!

uncle_sam_ie wrote: »

The XL or extra load version, have stronger sidewalls. At least that's what I've been told. Great tire's. I would defiantly recommend these for Irish wet roads.

Another vote here for the uniroyal rainsports. Brilliant tyre on our dirty, wet shiney tar.

CJhaughey

Cucullan wrote: »

The majority of tyres have soft sidewalls nowadays due to the labeling of wet grip, fuel efficiency and noise. A tyre with a strong sidewall is going to be heavier and less fuel efficient so will cost you more on fuel over the life of the tyre than that with a softer sidewall.

Its not so much efficiency as the noise rating, the softer sidewalls are primarily a noise rating feature.

I don't think the sidewall strength affects the fuel economy as much as weight does and the two don't always correlate.

I have seen heavy tyres with light sidewalls and light tyres with stiff sidewalls.

Runflats have a harsh ride but they aren't really in the same league as stiff sidewalls they are constructed differently.