Summer tyres

[First_Lexus]

I’m going to put a set of new Summer tyres onto my NX when I swap back from my Winter wheels and tyres in April. The OEM Yokohamas aren’t brilliant, have 5mm tread remaining, and one is punctured (not repairable) so needs changing anyway. Current Winter rubber are Bridgestone Blizzak which are excellent.

My previous ‘go to’ brand has been Falken, based on years of positive experiences. However, I’m interested to know if members have good or bad experiences of other mid-range brands, specifically Avon, Cooper and Kumho.

I’ve had Vredestein (bloody awful), Continental (expensive without benefit), and Michelin (poor durability) on my daily drivers before, so not interested in any of those. My dry use MINI was running Pirelli, but now has Dunlop which are pretty impressive but not available in the right size for the NX.

So, looking to hear your brand experiences please...thanks in advance.

[Las Palmas]

2 hours ago, First_Lexus said:

I’m going to put a set of new Summer tyres onto my NX when I swap back from my Winter wheels and tyres in April. The OEM Yokohamas aren’t brilliant, have 5mm tread remaining, and one is punctured (not repairable) so needs changing anyway. Current Winter rubber are Bridgestone Blizzak which are excellent.

My previous ‘go to’ brand has been Falken, based on years of positive experiences. However, I’m interested to know if members have good or bad experiences of other mid-range brands, specifically Avon, Cooper and Kumho.

I’ve had Vredestein (bloody awful), Continental (expensive without benefit), and Michelin (poor durability) on my daily drivers before, so not interested in any of those. My dry use MINI was running Pirelli, but now has Dunlop which are pretty impressive but not available in the right size for the NX.

So, looking to hear your brand experiences please...thanks in advance.

Continental are excellent except for noise. Have had them for all cars untill we got a car that is running silent. Road noise was not heard in the other cars anyway.

Pirelli P7 (on the CT) are not coming on wieh needing new.

Michelin Primacy 4 or Dunlop SP Sport Bluresponse are what I am looking for when the P7 no longer are good enough.

[scudney]

He has already ruled out top brand names so no point in telling him that,he's more interested in middle of the range tyres

[paulrnx]

On 3/9/2021 at 5:52 PM, First_Lexus said:

I’m going to put a set of new Summer tyres onto my NX when I swap back from my Winter wheels and tyres in April. The OEM Yokohamas aren’t brilliant, have 5mm tread remaining, and one is punctured (not repairable) so needs changing anyway. Current Winter rubber are Bridgestone Blizzak which are excellent.

My previous ‘go to’ brand has been Falken, based on years of positive experiences. However, I’m interested to know if members have good or bad experiences of other mid-range brands, specifically Avon, Cooper and Kumho.

I’ve had Vredestein (bloody awful), Continental (expensive without benefit), and Michelin (poor durability) on my daily drivers before, so not interested in any of those. My dry use MINI was running Pirelli, but now has Dunlop which are pretty impressive but not available in the right size for the NX.

So, looking to hear your brand experiences please...thanks in advance.

I put Goodyear Efficient Grip SUV tyres on a previous NX. They transformed the car. No bump thump, very quiet, supreme in the wet and good in the dry. It’s what I’m going to put on my current NX as soon as the Yokohamas wear down a bit more. I was thinking Michelin Cross Climates but I feel they’ll be too much of a compromise for 90% of my driving.

[Phil Catterall]

4 hours ago, paulrnx said:

I put Goodyear Efficient Grip SUV tyres on a previous NX. They transformed the car. No bump thump, very quiet, supreme in the wet and good in the dry. It’s what I’m going to put on my current NX as soon as the Yokohamas wear down a bit more. I was thinking Michelin Cross Climates but I feel they’ll be too much of a compromise for 90% of my driving.

Also had the Goodyear Efficient Grip 17" SUV tyres on the 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout 4X4 I just sold, and excellent tyre, quiet when running, lovely ride, had 900 mile son them before I sold the car on last weekend. I just went by the performance reviews on the tyre before I put them on. I can't blame you for going for them on your NX Paul when the time is right, I would do the same. When I get my NX on April 1st its got the Yokahama's on I noticed on the video I got sent. Fraid I'll have to put with them for a few years on costs grounds, unless they run really bad that is. Cannot recall what the orginal tyres on my Octavia Scout where, but they lasted 36500 and were still legal when I changed them in July 2019. 

All the best

Phil 

[Martin J]

5 hours ago, paulrnx said:

I put Goodyear Efficient Grip SUV tyres on a previous NX. They transformed the car. No bump thump, very quiet, supreme in the wet and good in the dry. It’s what I’m going to put on my current NX as soon as the Yokohamas wear down a bit more. I was thinking Michelin Cross Climates but I feel they’ll be too much of a compromise for 90% of my driving.

Interesting. The CrossClimates I've had on for a couple of years also transformed the car in the way you describe for the Goodyears, and really were a step forward over the OEM tyres in the snow this winter. When I first had them on, I detected a very slight loss of crispness on turn-in in fast corners compared with the original Bridgestones, but I hardly notice it now - while the benefits, especially in ride, noise and wet grip, are still apparent. I guess it will depend on driving style. What is clear is that Lexus's choice of OEM tyres does the car no favours. Perhaps they'll research tyre choice more thoroughly for the second generation.

[LenT]

On 3/9/2021 at 5:52 PM, First_Lexus said:

...and Michelin (poor durability)...

Just to comment that it’s interesting how experiences differ. I had Michelin Xs on a Lotus Elan and did 90K miles in three years.  I was just on the third set at the end, so roughly 40K each for the first two sets.

I thought that was quite good.  In fact the Michelin reputation at the time was that the compound mix sacrificed some degree of outright performance for longevity.  We’re currently running CrossClimates on a Suzuki 4x4 but it’s too early to talk about mileage, although they have proved to be excellent in other respects - but probably not the specialist Summer performers you’re looking for.

Mind you, I wouldn’t rule out the chance of rain in the summer!

[Las Palmas]

On 3/9/2021 at 8:42 PM, scudney said:

He has already ruled out top brand names so no point in telling him that,he's more interested in middle of the range tyres

In 1990 I worked a place selling Fulda tyres and they were cheap and most customers had no complaints.

Still sometimes so called premium tyres are not much more expensive than mid range.

[First_Lexus]

10 hours ago, Phil Catterall said:

Also had the Goodyear Efficient Grip 17" SUV tyres on the 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout 4X4 I just sold, and excellent tyre, quiet when running, lovely ride

^^ Interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever had Goodyear tyres so will investigate those. 👍

8 hours ago, LenT said:

Just to comment that it’s interesting how experiences differ. I had Michelin Xs on a Lotus Elan and did 90K miles in three years.  I was just on the third set at the end, so roughly 40K each for the first two sets.

^^ Indeed. I had Michelin put onto my Renault Scenic back in about 2003, and they needed replacement within 12,000 miles. Tracking etc was checked, and I was told I’d been unlucky with a batch. I didn’t use them again until 2010 (ish) when I had them fitted to my VW Tiguan. Same thing - very poor durability, no issues with the car - so I won’t consider them again. I’ve seen the positive reports on Cross Climates, but as I have a separate set of Winter wheels and tyres they are irrelevant for me (and I’d still have the same concerns).

On 3/9/2021 at 8:42 PM, scudney said:

He has already ruled out top brand names so no point in telling him that,he's more interested in middle of the range tyres

^^ Yes I indeed, thanks @scudney

I’m the first to admit I don’t really understand tyres, or mechanicals or anything technical at all! The reason I tend towards the mid-market is simple. A few years ago I had a long chat with a friend of a friend (as you do). He had previously worked in marketing for one of the big brands and by this point he was working for a F1 team. I guess I’d recounted my experience with the Michelin tyres, and his response was that the mid-market brands made most sense as they were only one or two generations behind the premium brands, and that most drivers simply wouldn’t notice enough difference, or drive close enough to the limits, to justify the price.

Broadly, he said the quality and safety of mid-market brands was excellent, and that the extra costs for premium brands simply paid for additional research and development, marketing and advertising. The R&D element filtered down anyway, and the advertising costs were all about convincing consumers that the premium product was worth it. Made sense to me then, makes sense to me now. He was far more cautious about ‘value’ brands that you’d never heard of.

Falken - as my usual brand of choice ever since - have always given excellent service, so I’ll probably stick with them.

[LenT]

On 3/12/2021 at 8:30 AM, First_Lexus said:

Falken - as my usual brand of choice ever since - have always given excellent service, so I’ll probably stick with them.

You might as well, if you’ve been happy with them.  It doesn’t look a though anyone with experience of Falkens has commented.  If you’ve decided then probably no point in looking at tyre reviews.

Out of interest, and not knowing anything about Falken, I did.  At tyrereviews.com they had a 2020 AMS 18” Summer Tyre Test of 11 brands.   Falken Azensis came 8th overall and they summarised it as: Good - affordable product with reduced levels of performance, but no serious defects.

No doubt other reviews are available.

[First_Lexus]

Plenty of reviews - this one is one of the most comprehensive. It wasn’t really the Falken I wanted opinions on - my experience is positive - it was more the other brands in my original post. 

[Malc]

1 hour ago, LenT said:

Out of interest, and not knowing anything about Falken, I did

on my Ls400s over the ( 20 ) years and about 250k miles I've used Falkens these past many years when I can get them .......  in my size 225/60/16 sometimes challenging to get hold of it seems 

AND on my 2006 Honda Legend now too .........  blimey, so much quieter and more comfy a drive than the Pirellis they replaced 

Malc

[LenT]

 

1 hour ago, First_Lexus said:

Plenty of reviews - this one is one of the most comprehensive. It wasn’t really the Falken I wanted opinions on - my experience is positive - it was more the other brands in my original post. 

As I said, other reviews are available. 😊

However I don’t quite see how the review you’ve provided helps your decision making.  You originally named nine brands, of which five appear in this test of twelve.  And your preferred brand, Falken, comes an overall eighth.  As one who has no experience of Falken, it wouldn’t get it on to my list.

Also I wonder how old this test is, judging from the prices.  I note that neither Michelin CCs or Goodyear Asy 5s are tested.  Were they not considered appropriate?  Or just not available?

The test I cited from the same source was just last year and specifically about the Summer type you were seeking.  But in the end, as you have already decided, go with the brand In which you have confidence.

Tyre choice is such a minefield that perhaps it’s just as well that car makers make the initial decision for us.  And interesting that so many of us change them at the first opportunity!

[LenT]

1 hour ago, Malc said:

on my Ls400s over the ( 20 ) years and about 250k miles I've used Falkens these past many years when I can get them .......  in my size 225/60/16 sometimes challenging to get hold of it seems 

AND on my 2006 Honda Legend now too .........  blimey, so much quieter and more comfy a drive than the Pirellis they replaced 

Malc

Now that’s the kind of testimonial Falken needs!  You should be on commission, Malc. 😊

[Linas.P]

On 3/9/2021 at 5:52 PM, First_Lexus said:

I’ve had Vredestein (bloody awful), Continental (expensive without benefit), and Michelin (poor durability) on my daily drivers before, so not interested in any of those. My dry use MINI was running Pirelli, but now has Dunlop which are pretty impressive but not available in the right size for the NX.

I agree that Continental, Pirelli are Michelins are rather expensive, but I not sure where claim of Michelin "poor durability" comes from? Primacy and PS4 have great durability, whenever it is worth the price that is different question.

I generally have good experience with Dunlop RT and RT2, but I feel the are now getting to end of their life e.g. Parent company Goodyear has released Asymmetric 5, but there were no update from Dunlop and RT3 is kind of due. I would feel comfortable recommending both (RT2 and Asymmetric 5) as good value options. 

[First_Lexus]

2 hours ago, Linas.P said:

but I not sure where claim of Michelin "poor durability" comes from? Primacy and PS4 have great durability, whenever it is worth the price that is different question.

^^ As I said very clearly in my post, poor durability was from personal experience.

 

[First_Lexus]

@LenTthat’s fair enough. As I said, I don’t have a technical background, but in the review of what was tested, Falken were in his top 3. That mirrors my personal experience.

[ColinBarber]

5 minutes ago, First_Lexus said:

^^ As I said very clearly in my post, poor durability was from personal experience.

It is weird though, Michelin has been known for decades as being more expensive but lasting longer than most.

However just taking about a manufacturer as a whole isn't a good way to make a decision - it is like saying all LG TVs are great and all Sony ones are poor. They make different ranges of products that prioritise certain things over others, and all manufactures have products just arem't where they should have been - but that doesn't mean their entire range is poor.

Bridgestone make some pretty poor budget tyres (and Lexus seem to fit most of them to their vehicles at the factory 😞), but that doesn't mean the SO3 Pole Position wasn't a great tyre in its category back when it was launched.

[First_Lexus]

5 minutes ago, ColinBarber said:

It is weird though, Michelin has been known for decades as being more expensive but lasting longer than most.

However just taking about a manufacturer as a whole isn't a good way to make a decision - it is like saying all LG TVs are great and all Sony ones are poor. They make different ranges of products that prioritise certain things over others, and all manufactures have products just arem't where they should have been - but that doesn't mean their entire range is poor.

Bridgestone make some pretty poor budget tyres (and Lexus seem to fit most of them to their vehicles at the factory 😞), but that doesn't mean the SO3 Pole Position wasn't a great tyre in its category back when it was launched.

Yes, that’s probably fair comment. As I said in an earlier post, I’m not a technical or scientific type of chap.

Perhaps I should give Michelin another chance, but my fear is that I’m disappointed again. I’ve had three very poor experiences with VAG products, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to buy them again just in case I was unlucky...

[Linas.P]

21 minutes ago, First_Lexus said:

Yes, that’s probably fair comment. As I said in an earlier post, I’m not a technical or scientific type of chap.

Perhaps I should give Michelin another chance, but my fear is that I’m disappointed again. I’ve had three very poor experiences with VAG products, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to buy them again just in case I was unlucky...

By any chance it was runflat (or similar type)? 

On my old IS I had PS4 and they were great, especially in terms of mileage (had ~5-6mm left after 20k). I would not recommend them as I found PS4 to be "too sporty" for my liking, great mechanical grip and good feeling steering response, but harder, louder and less fuel efficient than say RT or RT2s. I would certainly recommend them for sports car with 300-400hp (and PS4s above 400hp), but for IS250 they were just overkill (same probably would apply to 200t, 300h cars).

Now I got them for free, so the price was not a factor, but if I had to pay money I would say there are better value tyres around. I am not sure why, but tyre reviews tends to skip Dunlop tyres, but I would expect RT2 to perform somewhere in the middle between Goodyear Asymmetric 3 and 5.

[LenT]

12 hours ago, First_Lexus said:

... in the review of what was tested, Falken were in his top 3.

They certainly were and it was an excellent review for the Falken Ziex.  (Mind you, I also note his positive remarks about the longevity of Michelins!)

It appears to be a comprehensive and well run test that confirms the choice of your preferred tyre.  So, no problem then.

Except...in addition to the tyrereview test I mentioned earlier, I also came across the annual Auto Express tyre review, no less, called Best car tyres of 2020/2021 and dated just last month.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/features/91856/tyre-reviews-best-car-tyres-20202021

Now if this was the first, or only, tyre test you read, then you’d may be not so keen.

So, having gently lifted the skirts of the murky world of Tyre Testing, and glimpsed the delights that are revealed, my conclusion is that once you find a positive review of a tyre you like....stop reading tyre tests!

I’m also grateful that at our current rate of mileage the tyres on both of our cars will probably outlast us.  Faced now with the problem of choosing replacements, I too would probably go with the same again.  

[First_Lexus]

53 minutes ago, LenT said:

So, having gently lifted the skirts of the murky world of Tyre Testing, and glimpsed the delights that are revealed, my conclusion is that once you find a positive review of a tyre you like....stop reading tyre tests!

^^ That sounds like bloody good advice 😂

I need to make a decision in the next two weeks. In my mind is that the tyres I choose will be proper Summer use only, as I have the extra set of Winter wheels with Bridgestone Blizzak tyres fitted (which are excellent). On that basis I can make an argument to spend more on a ‘premium’ brand or less on a ‘budget’ brand, accepting that not all are available in the exact specification I need.

I think it will be between the Falken, Avon and perhaps even the GT Radial - which at just £80 per tyre have some positive reviews as well as some less positive. Mind you, Blackcircles are running (as they often do) 15% off Michelin...albeit they are only available with the 104V rather than the specified 100H.

I may just buy something cheaper that I’ve never had before as an experiment!

[LenT]

21 minutes ago, First_Lexus said:

I may just buy something cheaper that I’ve never had before as an experiment!

Spoken like a true pioneer! 👍

[Las Palmas]

Reviews are written by people. People are different. Some are influenced.

Once worked in a company selling BBS wheels. For general use BBS recommended Continental. Both companies are German.

Have had good experience with Continental. Not quiet not fuel economic, but strong and did last for the abuse I was putting on them when younger. Now looking for a quieter ride and tyre reviews are confusing as same tyre can be everything from good to bad.

So though I have always thought that next tyre for the CT (came with Pirelli P7 on) would be another Continental I am open to a quiet tyre with best possibly handling and braking and am confused like many are. Fuel economy is not easy here as too many hills go up most of the time 😇

Living where we live a summer tyre is all we need. Not that the in this forum very recommended ClimateControl could not be OK was it not that it supposedly is great for winter meaning it might be made from sticky and possibly soft components which would explain that some say it is falling apart.

I am confused too.

[First_Lexus]

On 3/14/2021 at 9:25 AM, LenT said:

Spoken like a true pioneer! 👍

^^ I’ve decided to try the GT Radial Savero SUV at £80 each from Asda Tyres. Not a brand I’ve ever used before.

Reviews are fine, they are usually summarised as a perfectly acceptable mid-market tyre, representing good value. We will see! 

Lexus Swindon will fit them for me when I go back onto my Summer wheels in early April. I’ll feed back when they are fitted and while I’m using them to see if they’re any good.