Replacement tyres, tyre lifespan

[Tissot123]

Hello,
I'm looking for new tyres for my dads 2010 v70 2.4d. Something between comfort and grip performance. This is what i found so far, the prices are in euro as i'm not in uk, standard size is 225/50/r17 but ill try 225/45/r17 as its 50% cheaper.
1.Continental premium contact 6 : 87eur
2.Goodyear eagle f1 assymetric5/efficientgrip performance 2 : 84eur
3.Kumho HS51(updated better version): 68 eur
4.Falken FK510 : 74 eur
5 Michelin primacy 4/pilot sport4 : 94 eur

If the more expensive ones are much better, then the prices are not that imporant. Now the tricky part in choosing is that my dad isn't going to drive a lot anymore, probably like 3000-4500 miles a year. All of these tyres, regarding reviews, have long thread life, Goodyears even about 30000-35000 miles. Thats all good and nice, but won't be much of use if after 3-4 years the rubber will dry rot and get hard, and the tyres will have to be changed even if theres 80% of thread left. Suggestions on what to pick? Maybe any of these manufacturers/models are known for their rubber compound characteristics being long lasting(rubber being soft for lots of years)?

[green van man]

Originally Posted by Tissot123

Hello,
I'm looking for new tyres for my dads 2010 v70 2.4d. Something between comfort and grip performance. This is what i found so far, the prices are in euro as i'm not in uk, standard size is 225/50/r17 but ill try 225/45/r17 as its 50% cheaper.
1.Continental premium contact 6 : 87eur
2.Goodyear eagle f1 assymetric5/efficientgrip performance 2 : 84eur
3.Kumho HS51(updated better version): 68 eur
4.Falken FK510 : 74 eur
5 Michelin primacy 4/pilot sport4 : 94 eur

If the more expensive ones are much better, then the prices are not that imporant. Now the tricky part in choosing is that my dad isn't going to drive a lot anymore, probably like 3000-4500 miles a year. All of these tyres, regarding reviews, have long thread life, Goodyears even about 30000-35000 miles. Thats all good and nice, but won't be much of use if after 3-4 years the rubber will dry rot and get hard, and the tyres will have to be changed even if theres 80% of thread left. Suggestions on what to pick? Maybe any of these manufacturers/models are known for their rubber compound characteristics being long lasting(rubber being soft for lots of years)?

I am running PirrelI Scorpion Zero all seasons on my xc70. Fronts last about 26000 miles rears I have still not changed yet. Paid £ 88+ vat per tyre from my local independant tyre dealer..
Agreed you are a long way from him in Aberystwyth but don't just assume Internet is cheapest as many independants dealers will do a deal especially for a full set, ring around and ask would be my advise.
These days I just go to Dia, I know he will look after me and is constantly cheaper than any other in the area and often Internet as well.

Paul.

[DaveNP]

These days when considering tyres I look online for tyre tests done by motoring magazines and organisations, I've underlined tests as I mean proper comparison tests rather than reviews which are what people write after they have bought new tyres so they will feel good compared to old tyres and have no long term information. With the better tests they look at a range of features like grip in the wet, grip when cornering, braking distances etc, and wear rates, so you can compare a lot of tyres and concentrate on what is important to you and compare that to the cost.
If you and your dad are only doing 4500 miles per year the wear rate becomes almost unimportant so you can concentrate on grip and ride comfort and price, but then consider the price as a cost per year rather than cost per mile, like paying insurance and road taxes which in the UK is an annual fee regardless of how much we use the car. I expect almost any regular tyre will not wear out before it gets too old and while it will be annoying to throw away tyres with a lot of tread make sure to check and change them when they get old.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Tissot123

Hello,
I'm looking for new tyres for my dads 2010 v70 2.4d. Something between comfort and grip performance. This is what i found so far, the prices are in euro as i'm not in uk, standard size is 225/50/r17 but ill try 225/45/r17 as its 50% cheaper.
1.Continental premium contact 6 : 87eur
2.Goodyear eagle f1 assymetric5/efficientgrip performance 2 : 84eur
3.Kumho HS51(updated better version): 68 eur
4.Falken FK510 : 74 eur
5 Michelin primacy 4/pilot sport4 : 94 eur

If the more expensive ones are much better, then the prices are not that imporant. Now the tricky part in choosing is that my dad isn't going to drive a lot anymore, probably like 3000-4500 miles a year. All of these tyres, regarding reviews, have long thread life, Goodyears even about 30000-35000 miles. Thats all good and nice, but won't be much of use if after 3-4 years the rubber will dry rot and get hard, and the tyres will have to be changed even if theres 80% of thread left. Suggestions on what to pick? Maybe any of these manufacturers/models are known for their rubber compound characteristics being long lasting(rubber being soft for lots of years)?

I'd only consider the Kumho or Falkens out of those options. Some years back i had some Continentals that turned out to be fake, i know of at least two people on this forum who have had bad experiences with Goodyears (cracking up in a very short time - the tyres, not the owners/members!) and i was put off Michelin products 50 ish years ago and every car i've had that has come with Michelins has reinforced everything bad i believe about Michelins.

It's your money and choice though and while i agree with DaveNPs view about reviews, check some reviews of people in your area to see if there's a reason why those tyres don't perform on your local roads.

For example, round the south of England, i would have Pirellis all day long, not so much where i live and if i lived in the west midlands, wouldn't go near them - all down to different road surfaces. I run Falkens on one car and Invovic on my Volvo, i'd not heard of Invovic until about 4 years ago Chinese but not DitchFinders. They're certainly as good as the Kunhos i've had on a few Korean cars (Hyundai and Daewoo).

The reviews on Pirellis from the west midlands confirm what i've just mentioned about Pirellis, especially if you look at the reviews from the south of England.

All the knowledge you can find on your choice of tyres is good, even if you find it gives you reasons not to choose a particular tyre that was on your shortlist.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Tissot123

Hello,
I'm looking for new tyres for my dads 2010 v70 2.4d. Something between comfort and grip performance. This is what i found so far, the prices are in euro as i'm not in uk, standard size is 225/50/r17 but ill try 225/45/r17 as its 50% cheaper.
1.Continental premium contact 6 : 87eur
2.Goodyear eagle f1 assymetric5/efficientgrip performance 2 : 84eur
3.Kumho HS51(updated better version): 68 eur
4.Falken FK510 : 74 eur
5 Michelin primacy 4/pilot sport4 : 94 eur

If the more expensive ones are much better, then the prices are not that imporant. Now the tricky part in choosing is that my dad isn't going to drive a lot anymore, probably like 3000-4500 miles a year. All of these tyres, regarding reviews, have long thread life, Goodyears even about 30000-35000 miles. Thats all good and nice, but won't be much of use if after 3-4 years the rubber will dry rot and get hard, and the tyres will have to be changed even if theres 80% of thread left. Suggestions on what to pick? Maybe any of these manufacturers/models are known for their rubber compound characteristics being long lasting(rubber being soft for lots of years)?

I would think twice about changing the size .. Cars are a lot more complex these days and their computers are set for the tyre size .. speed and mileage wont correspond to the navigation for example . and steering racks have up to 3 sets of internal stops to suit different tyres , Electric racks from 2013 also are software dependant on tyres and there is software to down load to correct any optional tyre sizes listed in the catalogue ... Then insurance companies have to be informed of course .

Yes tyres cracking between the treads is now common after just a few years on various makes ...

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Clan

I would think twice about changing the size .. Cars are a lot more complex these days and their computers are set for the tyre size .. speed and mileage wont correspond to the navigation for example . and steering racks have up to 3 sets of internal stops to suit different tyres , Electric racks from 2013 also are software dependant on tyres and there is software to down load to correct any optional tyre sizes listed in the catalogue ... Then insurance companies have to be informed of course .

Yes tyres cracking between the treads is now common after just a few years on various makes ...

Good spot on the tyre size, if memory serves 235/45/17 is the closest equivalent to 225/50/17, 205/55/16, 195/65/15 but it's possible Volvo have specified 225/45/17 as an option.

When i got my 760, it had 185/60/15 tyres on for some unknown reason other than Volvo specified them as an option. Thankfully they also specified 195/65/15 as an option so at least the speedo only reads 8% fast now instead of ~12% fast!

As for insurance, if the tyres sizes are as specified by the manufacturer as an option, no need to inform them of the change. After all, it may have started life with the size tyres you are changing back to so it would have already had a change of size.
On my other beast when i had to change the wheels to something non-standard (but same size, offset etc although the centre bore was larger and corrected with spigot rings) i retained the correct size tyres and informed the insurers. Their only stipulation was i retained the locking wheel nuts that were on the car when i got it. Easily done!

[Tissot123]

Originally Posted by Clan

I would think twice about changing the size .. Cars are a lot more complex these days and their computers are set for the tyre size .. speed and mileage wont correspond to the navigation for example . and steering racks have up to 3 sets of internal stops to suit different tyres , Electric racks from 2013 also are software dependant on tyres and there is software to down load to correct any optional tyre sizes listed in the catalogue ... Then insurance companies have to be informed of course .

Yes tyres cracking between the treads is now common after just a few years on various makes ...

Is a 3.5%(658mm vs 635;1inch) difference in diameter really that risky? If there's 1 or 2 mph difference in speedo then its a not a big deal, but if suspensions problems are possible then its a no go ... Damn the the prices are 80 for 45's and 120 for 50's. Sad but probably no other way

[Tissot123]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Good spot on the tyre size, if memory serves 235/45/17 is the closest equivalent to 225/50/17, 205/55/16, 195/65/15 but it's possible Volvo have specified 225/45/17 as an option.

When i got my 760, it had 185/60/15 tyres on for some unknown reason other than Volvo specified them as an option. Thankfully they also specified 195/65/15 as an option so at least the speedo only reads 8% fast now instead of ~12% fast!

As for insurance, if the tyres sizes are as specified by the manufacturer as an option, no need to inform them of the change. After all, it may have started life with the size tyres you are changing back to so it would have already had a change of size.
On my other beast when i had to change the wheels to something non-standard (but same size, offset etc although the centre bore was larger and corrected with spigot rings) i retained the correct size tyres and informed the insurers. Their only stipulation was i retained the locking wheel nuts that were on the car when i got it. Easily done!

225/45/17 are not specified as an option, and 235 on 7" rim is probably too wide . Insurance isn't a problem here.

[Tissot123]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

I'd only consider the Kumho or Falkens out of those options. Some years back i had some Continentals that turned out to be fake, i know of at least two people on this forum who have had bad experiences with Goodyears (cracking up in a very short time - the tyres, not the owners/members!) and i was put off Michelin products 50 ish years ago and every car i've had that has come with Michelins has reinforced everything bad i believe about Michelins.

It's your money and choice though and while i agree with DaveNPs view about reviews, check some reviews of people in your area to see if there's a reason why those tyres don't perform on your local roads.

For example, round the south of England, i would have Pirellis all day long, not so much where i live and if i lived in the west midlands, wouldn't go near them - all down to different road surfaces. I run Falkens on one car and Invovic on my Volvo, i'd not heard of Invovic until about 4 years ago Chinese but not DitchFinders. They're certainly as good as the Kunhos i've had on a few Korean cars (Hyundai and Daewoo).

The reviews on Pirellis from the west midlands confirm what i've just mentioned about Pirellis, especially if you look at the reviews from the south of England.

All the knowledge you can find on your choice of tyres is good, even if you find it gives you reasons not to choose a particular tyre that was on your shortlist.

Thanks, ill try Kumho's as their cheaper and have better test results than Falkons.

[Bonefishblues]

Uniroyal Rainsports are a very good tyre - and as longevity's not an issue for you, very much recommended. Cheap, too, in terms of their performance.