Wheels/Tyres: What Tyre?

[Velorum]

Originally Posted by Angie

Velorum, the only Falkens listed in that size are something like 'Sincera' (without Googling again I can't be sure). They're charging me around £55 fitted and balanced, so that seems fair. The speed letter is 'T', which I think is 112mph, so I don't think I'll have any problems there!

From what's been said I'm rather glad I asked the local garage to return the Goodride tyre they'd sourced for me.

That's a good price fitted Angie - I think that you will be pleased with them.

Goodride seem to be the cheapest that you can get at £30 each - you are far better off with Falkens.

I am sometimes amused by comments from tyre places re fitting 'light van' tyres to the 240. Whats the problem? That is kind of what it is!

[Clifford Pope]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

N.B 185/80 usually means a van tyre(!), .

Only if they are marked 185/80 C (for commercial).

Commercial tyres are usually 8-ply, car tyres are 4-ply. They will be marked which.

There's an old argument here about whether the commercial tyres are OK on a car. The answer appears to be that they are legal but may just possibly be judged by an insurance company as non-standard.
Some people say they give a harsher ride and poorer cornering. on the other hand they have a much chunkier tread, give better grip on snow, mud and squashed leaves, and are much cheaper.
Also, in my experience, they last much longer. I got 50,000 miles out of the previous set.

But as with lots of slightly non-standard improvements, purists don't like them.

[Velorum]

Originally Posted by Clifford Pope

Only if they are marked 185/80 C (for commercial).

Commercial tyres are usually 8-ply, car tyres are 4-ply. They will be marked which.

There's an old argument here about whether the commercial tyres are OK on a car. The answer appears to be that they are legal but may just possibly be judged by an insurance company as non-standard.
Some people say they give a harsher ride and poorer cornering. on the other hand they have a much chunkier tread, give better grip on snow, mud and squashed leaves, and are much cheaper.
Also, in my experience, they last much longer. I got 50,000 miles out of the previous set.

But as with lots of slightly non-standard improvements, purists don't like them.

Good call Clifford

Cant see any problem with them personally

We are hardly talking about Porch 911's here - these old buses are sturdy workhorses not sports cars

[tannachyallen]

Originally Posted by Velorum

Good call Clifford

Cant see any problem with them personally

We are hardly talking about Porch 911's here - these old buses are sturdy workhorses not sports cars

.....even a 911 can benefit from beefier tyres for the rough.........


Dave A.

[Prufrock]

[QUOTE=Clifford Pope;1960064]Only if they are marked 185/80 C (for commercial).
Commercial tyres are usually 8-ply, car tyres are 4-ply. They will be marked which.QUOTE]

Thanks for pointing that out.

You know I thought my 245 was a sports car...

Jon.

[Angie]

Sometimes mine thinks it's a sports car! Even with a 2ltr engine by using the gears it can give the boy racers a run for their money. I was being slightly hassled leaving a 40mph and up a steepish three-lane hill so I thought it wouldn't do the engine any harm to m make it work a bit. Second gear and foot down and said hassler receded significantly! Both my father and brother said it does an engine good to have a bit of a 'blow-out' once in a while. Mine does tend to have a fairly easy life most of the time though.

[hennabm]

I recently bouht 4 new tyres for my Tank.
As the DL was originally specified for 185/14 and these were only in "commercial" range I opted for the 185/80/14 as they are only 2% difference. This kept my speedo reading the same.

I bought the Falken Sincera tyres from Black circle and included delivery and fitting for £55 per tyre.

I have found them to be a reasonable tyre, given the use I put my Tank to.

I would recommend them for "normal" Tank use.

[Reg E]

I fitted 185/14 Falkens 5 years back now on my 240 Estate and although my mileage is only a couple of thousand miles a year I really can't fault them.

No real signs of wear and the ride is quiet and comfortable.

[classicswede]

Tyres are a subject where everyone will never agree and brands change over the years so what was a good tyre once next time might change drastically in how it performs next time around.

Barum I have found to be fairly consistant. In the dry they do the job and not a problem, not amazing grip but work. In the wet leathal with next to no grip. Hate to think how they would perform in the wet. A tyre fitter freind of mine who knew better fitted a set to his car. Couple of months later crashed going slowly on a slightly damp twisty road and could only put it down to the tyres.

Goodyear, only tred them twice and wear was hopeless. they were worn away after 3000 miles on teh back of the car. Grip was good in both wet and dry but wear was hopeless

Stunner, used to be a great tyre and I used them for years. they then changed teh design and the grip was down water dispersal worse and wear was very bad only lasting 5000 miles

Wang Lee, had these on a car that needed a wheel bearing only there was no play in the bearing just a bad rumble. Swapped the tyres and problem solved. Wet grip also poor

Sunny, again lots of road noise and very bad wet grip with no snow grip

I now use Runway Enduro tyres. Wear is ok, grip in the dry is good and the behave in the wet

Just my personal experiance with budget brands

[vandf240]

Just put 4 Nokian Line 195 60 15's on my 240 (on Virgo's). Same price here in Australia as Japanese/Korean tyres and they were the test winner in the 2015 ADAC summer tyre test (185/60 R14 H).

I'll keep you posted on performance, wear etc. They are rated as a summer tyre (which is fine for Sydney as we never have snow or ice here - at least on the coast).

They seem to be available for around 50 pounds in the UK.