Tyre recommendations for small car
Discussion
Hello,
I've recently purchased an old Suzuki Swift GLX (08) and it has come equipped with some budget tyres (185/60 R15). I'd obviously like to upgrade them to a better set, however, I'm struggling on choosing the best for regular driving e.g., around town and motorway. I'd appreciate your advice.
Bridgestone T005
Continental Eco Contact 6/Premium Contact 2
Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance
Hankook Ventus Prime 3
Michelin Primacy 4
I've recently purchased an old Suzuki Swift GLX (08) and it has come equipped with some budget tyres (185/60 R15). I'd obviously like to upgrade them to a better set, however, I'm struggling on choosing the best for regular driving e.g., around town and motorway. I'd appreciate your advice.
Bridgestone T005
Continental Eco Contact 6/Premium Contact 2
Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance
Hankook Ventus Prime 3
Michelin Primacy 4
Edited by Eddy_444 on Wednesday 15th September 16:34
Eddy_444 said:
Hello,
I've recently purchased an old Suzuki Swift GLX (08) and it has come equipped with some budget tyres (180/60 R15). I'd obviously like to upgrade them to a better set, however, I'm struggling on choosing the best for regular driving e.g., around town and motorway. I'd appreciate your advice.
For a relatively small and low-powered car like a Swift, I don't think you need to worry about specific tyres and any tyre from a decent manufacturer would be an improvement on what you have. I've recently purchased an old Suzuki Swift GLX (08) and it has come equipped with some budget tyres (180/60 R15). I'd obviously like to upgrade them to a better set, however, I'm struggling on choosing the best for regular driving e.g., around town and motorway. I'd appreciate your advice.
We have Conti Premium Contacts on our Renault Captur and they seem like decent tyres with good wet weather grip and low noise.
spreadsheet monkey said:
For a relatively small and low-powered car like a Swift, I don't think you need to worry about specific tyres and any tyre from a decent manufacturer would be an improvement on what you have.
We have Conti Premium Contacts on our Renault Captur and they seem like decent tyres with good wet weather grip and low noise.
Cheers. It appears the Premium Contacts 2 are the only ones suitable for my car. I was looking at the Turanza T005 specifically as Halfords have a 15% discount on them. From that list, what tyres are the most durable? We have Conti Premium Contacts on our Renault Captur and they seem like decent tyres with good wet weather grip and low noise.
stevieturbo said:
driving where ? when ? what environment ?
clearly ultra high performance not needed, but select for, the environment too.
Dry ? wet ? sunny ? snow ? other ?
My apologies for the vagueness. I'll only be driving around town and on the motorways, so normal driving if you will. I live in Birmingham, so a mix of awful and decent weather hence the preference for the summer tyres. clearly ultra high performance not needed, but select for, the environment too.
Dry ? wet ? sunny ? snow ? other ?
I've narrowed it down between the Turanza T005s and the EfficientGrip Performance 1. The issue with the latter is that its the older EfficientGrip, so is it good value?
GreenV8S said:
It isn't obvious why you want to upgrade them. What problem are you trying to solve - are the current ones worn out?
I've just received the car, and driven it very briefly. The tyres are fine, if I'm being honest, they're just some really cheap branded tyres (Duraturn) which I simply don't trust. Do you suggest I keep them?If you're prepared to go as expensive as Michelin Primacy then I'd be minded to fit Michelin Cross Climate's. We have them on a couple of our cars and they inspire a lot of confidence and last well.
CC2 has just been released with far more sizes than they used to have - it's listed for the size you need.
CC2 has just been released with far more sizes than they used to have - it's listed for the size you need.
Sheepshanks said:
If you're prepared to go as expensive as Michein Primacy then I'd be minded to fit Michelin Cross Climate's. We have them on a couple of our cars and they inspire a lot of confidence and last well.
CC2 has just been released with far more sizes than they used to have - it's listed for the size you need.
The CrossClimates 2 are only available in 88H, but my car's spec is 84H. Would that make a significant difference positively or negatively? CC2 has just been released with far more sizes than they used to have - it's listed for the size you need.
Eddy_444 said:
The CrossClimates 2 are only available in 88H, but my car's spec is 84H. Would that make a significant difference positively or negatively?
They only used to be available in XL, but they do offer non-XL in some sizes now. I was a little concerned they might be harsh (stiffer sidewalls) but both the sets we've got are XL and we can't tell any difference in ride or noise.Eddy_444 said:
Sheepshanks said:
If you're prepared to go as expensive as Michein Primacy then I'd be minded to fit Michelin Cross Climate's. We have them on a couple of our cars and they inspire a lot of confidence and last well.
CC2 has just been released with far more sizes than they used to have - it's listed for the size you need.
The CrossClimates 2 are only available in 88H, but my car's spec is 84H. Would that make a significant difference positively or negatively? CC2 has just been released with far more sizes than they used to have - it's listed for the size you need.
Eddy_444 said:
That’s a fair point. It’s just that, from what I’ve read online, budget tyres can be unreliable and thus very dangerous.
unreliable ? not sure how that applies.Most will probably stay round, retain air etc etc.
Just lack in grip, safety, comfort.
If in doubt, seek out what the original manufacturer supplied new on the tyre, and source that again, or whatever would be it's current equivalent.
But sticking with the main brand names and a tyre of suitable design for your usage, you will hardly go wrong
GreenV8S said:
... when a replacement is needed. That doesn't mean replacing existing tyres in good condition just because they're a budget brand.
If I bought a car with tyres I thought were s
te, I'd replace them. And when buying, it would also factor in to any price I paid for the car.It's a topic that came up locally too, recently.
I've been looking to buy another car for a few months ( just did a week ago ), and one think I noticed when looking at the various pictures. Over here in NI, all too often the cars would be shod with wan-kings and similar chinese crap. And often you'd be lucky to have 2 tyres the same, nevermind all 4.
Yet the same type of car in England etc, more often than not they would have a decent brand name tyre,
The car I bought locally did have a full set of Goodyears ( although it came from England 6 months ago ).
In some respects, it seems a lot of people there do take a bit more care over what the put on a car than they do here. Although that's referring to a decent luxury cruiser type vehicle, so not the cheaper end of things.
It was one thing that put me off a load of the cars for sale. If someone is fitting cheap s
te to the car, they're probably seriously lacking in overall care and maintenance too.Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff