Tomp
Active Member
Its not snobbery, just opinion, was just surprised that after all those running costs the choice for tyres was cheap ones. If you guys like them and they perform ok for you then so be it.
But what does make me laugh is all this talk of there the same tyre, that the big companys just 'overcharge' for what is essentially the same thing?
Its called research and development, they plough money into developing the best tyre they can, so they will be more expensive. The cheap chinese one's, dont have that sort of development,'its black and round' sod it, lets sell it.
Motorsports dont use cheap tyres (ok granted we dont drive as hard as them) but if cheap tyres did the same thing, theyd use them.
Anyone who owns a motorbike im sure doesn't put cheap tyres on it.
But what does make me laugh is all this talk of there the same tyre, that the big companys just 'overcharge' for what is essentially the same thing?
Its called research and development, they plough money into developing the best tyre they can, so they will be more expensive. The cheap chinese one's, dont have that sort of development,'its black and round' sod it, lets sell it.
Motorsports dont use cheap tyres (ok granted we dont drive as hard as them) but if cheap tyres did the same thing, theyd use them.
Anyone who owns a motorbike im sure doesn't put cheap tyres on it.
Whilst it would seem like a good deal....it is a Sport at the end of the day
- I prefer the Real Deal!Also that is just the lease cost, if you read through their small print, the lessee still has to fork out for maintenance, wear and tear and if you do over 30k miles in the 3 years, it is an additional 30cents per mile...I do around 15k a year so in 3 years I would top 45k so thats an additional 15,000 miles at 30c per mile = $4,500 out of my hard earned!
The deal price is a good one, but they will sting you in the small print...they aren't in business to save you money!
+ I don't live in America!
Datatek
Well-Known Member
All tyres sold in the EU today have to pass conformity tests. My cheap Wanli truck tyres on the Transit show better wet grip, better fuel consumption and lower noise than the Firestones they replaced and also better than the Michelins offered as an alternative. Tyre centre price for 2 tyres fitted 386, on line price for my cheapies 155 fitted. No contest. I've neve been inclined to pay over the odds for the snob value of a brand image.
Tomp
Active Member
yes they all have eu conformity tests, but if all you want is 'just' a pass, then fair enough but i would rather have the superior tyre it its class.
Yes on paper may be just as good, but in real life they just aren't. Ive never been inclined to pay over the odds for snob value of a brand image either, but I will pay the right price for safety, and a better tyre.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
Tell me how my tyres get a B rating for grip and the Firestones got an E?
I did not buy the cheapest, I went for a balance between best grip, fuel consumption and price.
Michelin are busy shutting down their factories in France and moving production to the Far East, probably the same factory that made my tyres. Brand image has become a complete con.
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Tomp
Active Member
I dont actually no the testing procedures for for each tyre, but firestones arent a particularly good tyre anyway, so I agree with you on that one
But I do kind of agrre with you on the transit tyre, because I guess you use it for work or something? so you do alot of mileage? You do need to balance all those things.
But on my personal car, if i had better grip over mpg I take that anyday, because for me it would be no compromise.
But I do kind of agrre with you on the transit tyre, because I guess you use it for work or something? so you do alot of mileage? You do need to balance all those things.
But on my personal car, if i had better grip over mpg I take that anyday, because for me it would be no compromise.
Just because something may be produced in the same factory doesn't mean they are the same product, or are constructed from the same materials, or made to the same standards, or have had the same R&D poured into them.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
Very true, and just because a product has a famous brand image it doesn't mean it's good either these days, you are actually paying for all the advertizing and promotional stuff, where do you think Pirelli get the money to support
F1 for example? It's all in the cost of their tyres.
stjohnsmythe
Active Member
I agree to some extent, I've driven cars fitted with Nankang tyres and they are truly awful however, mid-range tyres such as Falkens, Kumhos, etc are pretty good. At the end of the day it's a Range Rover so laps of the Nurburgring aren't a priority
stjohnsmythe
Active Member
Actually, I found it good to read that an L322 isn't a paragon of reliability, just like the P38!
Deasy
Well-Known Member
Tomp
Active Member
Yep, a lot of people ask about running cost, repair costs and reliability in preperation for ownership or 'upgrade' so in the interests of the forum and in the spirit of sharing and being open and honest, I thought I would enlighten those with the benefit of my experience of the last 12 months with my first L322 and my 6th Range Rover....
The thread has taken a turn onto tyres which is bourne out of query and thread evolution as, and has quite rightly been pointed out, that is want contacts the 2.7 tonnes of Range Rover to the black stuff...
I made my case for my tyre choice, which after various large bills on the car and an overly expensive gas/electricity bill from the winter period, I chose cheap rubber....they have been so far just fine even in the teeming rain the last day or two, I drive within the limits of adhesion and available traction and read the road ahead the very best of my ability.
I am well aware of my driving ability, I am well aware of the road surface conditions and I am also well aware and have been taught to drive so I 'feel' the way car is behaving and responding to inputs this way I can drive within the limitations presented.
In comparison to the current F1 tyre issues where they say they are having to drive to the limits of the tyre and not the car...I see no issue with this as this is exactly the way you should drive regardless of what rubber you have under you...if you know you have cheap rubber with potentially less grip you will have to drive accordingly, in this manner it is just as safe if not more so (because I am not on the limits of car/tyre combination) than using expensive rubber.
Drive safe, drive sensibly, drive within known limits and you'll arrive at your destination in fine fettle....
Just my opine is all....
gold rover
Well-Known Member
I have to say Ant, either I have the luck of the Irish (so far) or you've been unlucky. I'm not so precise about mpg and it's cost, as it was one of the things that I decided not to worry about the moment I decided to get a 4x4 BUT so far in 2yrs and 11 months I have laid out :
EAS calibration £25 (local chappy who is a magician, with all things electrical but you don't really want near cream leather )
Fuel pump, supplied and fitted under £150 ( I didn't get a receipt for labour )
Gearbox oil change inc Filtr kit £75.08
7l oil £35 (yes it was the right stuff, I have a permanent discount with the local Motor Factors )
labour £0 ( Did most of the work, with my local indy's help)
total £110.08
New metal brake pipes £150
2x front ride height sensors £176.65
1 x tyre £50 (again it pays to know the owner of the place )
total to date parts and labour £661.73
Fuel for those who want to go into it is approx 3 - 4k mpy @ 25.5mpg average
Fingers crossed that she continues to look after me this well and even if she throws a wobbly I will have done quite well until now
EAS calibration £25 (local chappy who is a magician, with all things electrical but you don't really want near cream leather
) Fuel pump, supplied and fitted under £150 ( I didn't get a receipt for labour
)Gearbox oil change inc Filtr kit £75.08
7l oil £35 (yes it was the right stuff, I have a permanent discount with the local Motor Factors
)labour £0 ( Did most of the work, with my local indy's help)
total £110.08
New metal brake pipes £150
2x front ride height sensors £176.65
1 x tyre £50 (again it pays to know the owner of the place
)total to date parts and labour £661.73
Fuel for those who want to go into it is approx 3 - 4k mpy @ 25.5mpg average
Fingers crossed that she continues to look after me this well and even if she throws a wobbly I will have done quite well until now
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Datatek
Well-Known Member
Really
could not have said it better , if only everyone drove like that
Sorry, data, with all the pain I have had with my door locks. This made me laugh out loud.
Best wishes, to you, hope its 'just one of those things'!
