Hi
When I last needed tyres for my Xantia (2 litre, 16 valve, EFI) I was told that I needed special high speed tyres that cost around £100 each. They are marked 185/65 R15 88V. Can anybody tell me if the special high speed tyre is really necessary or beneficial, I rarely drive over 80 mph although I admit my driving can be a bit aggressive at time.
Peter
No of course it isn't necessary. I got a cheap pair of tyres for £80 and I drive at 75-80 with occasional higher speed bursts. They aren't that good in the wet though, fine on corners but lock up very easily on braking. Most tyres are rated for over 100 mph (except remoulds?). Shop around and play one place off against another.
-- Malc
Erm, wherever told you that those spec tyres are "special" should be taken out and publically humiliated - bog-standard is nearer the mark. Vast range of tyres, should be about £50 a corner.
The message from "Malc" contains these words:
Unfortunate choice of words there, Malc!
Always ask for a quote, and leave the smaller businesses till last. Tell them your best quote and they will often better it.
You can sometimes get the same tyre for 30-40% less.
John.
Check the handbook. A downgrading from the manufacturers recommended type of tyre *might* be used by an insurance Co to deny a claim. There's always the arguement, that the tyres would be unsuitable if you took the car to Germany and used the Autobahns, and many insurances cover continental driving. Mike.
I've been quite impressed with tyre4u.com. You put in the size of tyre, and the web site gives you a choice of brands and tyres. Send the order, and they get delivered to your home or work in 7-10 days. I then took them to the local tyre fitter, who only wanted a tenner to fit and balance all four (cash in hand, guv?).
Saved a fortune - I wanted tyres for a Lada, worth approximately nothing, but I didn't want no-name Chop-Suey tyres, which I find a bit frightening in the wet. Got a set of decent Firestone tyres for 20 quid a corner - less than half what Kwik-Fit wanted for the same tyre!
Brian.
In news: snipped-for-privacy@demeter.uk.clara.net, Peter Whitton decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows
Citroen Xantias are very tyre sensitive due to the suspension geometry. Cheaper tyres aren't necessarily a good idea. IIRC the standard fit ones were Michelin Pilot SXs which have a construction which is very well suited to the Xantia. Cheap enough from Costco to make shopping around a waste of time.
On our xantia td we have 195-65-r15 Pirrelli P6 all for £186 for all 4 :) good tyre. braking is ok and good wet performance and cornering :)
words:
Oops.
-- Malc
If you want to know what the markings mean, have a sniff around the web sites for michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear and the like.
You will find on these sites a lot of technical data about their tyres.
The "V" in 88V is the speed rating,if I remember right. Can't remember what the letters all mean but the lowest one is 113mph, then they go something like 125, 150 etc.. The speed means the constant speed i.e. 113mph means the tyre should be good for this continuously without overheating etc.
"V" is a higher rating the "bog standard" (H?).
One word, Micheldever Tyres, ok, two words... Call for a quote & if you can't get there use the price to haggle elsewhere. I *always* haggle for tyres theses days & it's even worked from a main dealer. My Z rated 225/50 16s were "only" £80 last time I bought them.
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