So, Tyres?

[kiwijohn42]

I'm just about to hit 50k & the Contis are starting to go off.
Shopping around, new contis would be $1100 for 4. I can get Falken ZE329's for half that.
Anyone used Falkens? If I get half the milage of the contis out of them, I'll be ahead.

[Scareybear]

Mileage won't be the problem, the Falkens won't perform anything like the Contis, I'd shop around a bit more, have a look at the Bridgestone RE-001's I've heard a few good things and they'll be cheaper than the Contis.

[Ben85]

I have Falken ZE912's and i'll never buy another Falken tyre again!!!! They are absolutley worthless!!!! I wish i had bought Conti's again.

[kiwijohn42]

Interesting. The bridgestones were an option for not too much more.
Might ask them again before I commit.
Thanks Scarybear.

[LethalLeigh]

What about a Toyo Tyre? I've used a Proxes TR-1 on my old GTV6 and had excellent grip though I wouldn't expect much in the way of mileage. Otherwise the Proxes 4 (I think) would probably give better mileage for a slight compromise in grip.

[FTRXR8]

I have heard good things about Proxes 4?!?

[kiwijohn42]

I cancelled the Falkens, the reviews I found said they'd last for ages at the expense of decent grip.
Don't think any of the shops here mentioned Toyos. I think I'll go back to Bridgestone & see what they can do.
Getting 205s instead of 195s shouldn't be a problem should it?

[LethalLeigh]

The Zetec has 7" wide rims, doesn't it? 205s are fine on them if they are. Curiously none of the tyre shops I've dealt with plug Toyo's but after looking around for reviews I was pretty satisfied they fit my sense of value, performance and longevity.

[kiwijohn42]

The Fiesta has 6.5 inch rims, so 205 should fit ok. I went back to bridgestone ande they can do RE001s for about a grand in a 205, so not much cheaper than Contis.
They also had Hankook, any good? Sound a bit cheap.

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by LethalLeigh

Curiously none of the tyre shops I've dealt with plug Toyo's but after looking around for reviews I was pretty satisfied they fit my sense of value, performance and longevity.

I "think" most tyre shops only plug firstly, what they have the best margins in ... and secondly, what they have in stock.

Nobody wants to order and wait for tyres so rather than lose a customer I get the impression they just talk you into whatever they have out the back.

I have had some tyre shop guys trying to talk me into the biggest load of junk you could ever put on a car and just to add insult to injury at over-inflated prices as well!

I think some work on the assumption that every single customer who walks in the door doesn't know anything and everyone is just easy pickings for them.

Do your homework first ... know exactly what you want in your own mind, then phone around and get the best deal.

As far as I know the Zetec has 16" rims ... $1k for four 16" tyres sounds like a lot of dough to me.

If I was looking for new tyres in that size I would be taking a very close look at the Toyo Teo Plus, I just put got a set put on the wifes Lancer and they seem great!, .... good grip, very quiet and excellent wear ... a bloke at my work has had a set on his Mazda 6 for nearly 2 years and they look hardly worn.

http://www.toyo.com.au/TEO%20plus.htm

Scareybear's the tyre expert here, he could probably point you in the right direction, he plays with tyres all day, every day.

[svo supporter]

The problem with a tyre shop, is we don't know what everyones personal preferences are. We can say one tyre is brilliant and people will think they are the biggest load of rubbish they've driven on. Stuffed if you do, stuffed if you don't.

Tyre shops don't inflate prices just because they think you're a sucker. They have a set margin and generally work to that margin. You have to factor in an odd ball size will cost substancially more, due to the low volume of them produced.

You also have to realise a name brand shop eg Bridgestone have to plug their product. After all, that's what they're paying for.

Lastly. Hankooks are a reasonable tyre for their price. Not just a cheap import. So, read into it what you will

[photn]

By Fitting Falkens to your car it will end up like this =



Trust me i know.......ware do you think i got the picture from!!

[svo supporter]

I think your foot might need adjusting there. I don't seem to see any other cars in the picture or a bend. Makes me really wonder.

BTW Hopefully no one was hurt with that accident

[kiwijohn42]

Think I'll scratch the Falkens thanks Photn.
I do like the look of the RE001, but at $240 each is pretty steep, especially when the brochure I got has someone else's quote for $135. I guess that's for a more common size.
I think the Toyo Proxes need a look into as well.

[photn]

Originally Posted by kiwijohn42

Think I'll scratch the Falkens thanks Photn.
I do like the look of the RE001, but at $240 each is pretty steep, especially when the brochure I got has someone else's quote for $135. I guess that's for a more common size.
I think the Toyo Proxes need a look into as well.

The Toyo Proxes are a great tyre, i personally have the T1-R's and they are great for what i like.

Proxes are just a step down. really good.

[photn]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

I think your foot might need adjusting there. I don't seem to see any other cars in the picture or a bend. Makes me really wonder.

BTW Hopefully no one was hurt with that accident

pffft newbie - Learn the whole story before you pass judgment and make unfounded comments.

Thanks.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by photn

pffft newbie - Learn the whole story before you pass judgment and make unfounded comments.

Thanks.

Where's the unfounded comments mate. Only commenting on what I observed from a picture. Oh and pfft, a newbie. Yes to the forum, but not to life.

[amcqu2]

Can we learn the story please?

[kiwijohn42]

Yes Photn, perhaps you could post a link to provide a little back story.

[Piotr]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Where's the unfounded comments mate.

Its your next sentence :togo:

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Only commenting on what I observed from a picture.

[Bucknaked]

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=109595

Here is a link to Photn's accident thread for those wanting to know what happened.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by Piotr

Its your next sentence :togo:

I have read the thread and I'm not getting into a slanging match over it. The thread placed up did answer the query. :

All I can say, is I am glad no one was seriously injured as a result of the accident and it wouldn't stop me buying a particular brand of tyre.


Life goes on

[kiwijohn42]

Toyo Proxe T1Rs it is. $901 fitted, balanced & aligned. The 205s do look a bit chunkier, but so far they seem to roll a bit quieter & smoother. Haven't taken them for a "spirited" drive yet. Maybe tonight.

[Fi-Fi]

Originally Posted by kiwijohn42

Toyo Proxe T1Rs it is. $901 fitted, balanced & aligned. The 205s do look a bit chunkier, but so far they seem to roll a bit quieter & smoother. Haven't taken them for a "spirited" drive yet. Maybe tonight.

Wondering how the T1-R's are settling in Kiwijohn42?
I put a set on our Zetec only yesterday ($215/tyre, 195/45's) and have done just 120 k's, wet and dry. Jury is out due to the low k's, once they have settled in i should have a better idea. Previously the car had Dunlop SP 9000, but hard to get as apparently discontinued in the size, the only quotes i could get were $415 and $465 a pop, just couldnt justify it.
But they were sensational for grip, feel and response wet or dry, i'll give 'em that. I dont expect the T1-R's to be quite as good as the Dunlops, but i am interested to see how they come up.

[kiwijohn42]

Still getting used to them Fi Fi. They do feel different to the Continentals though. The 195s were $10 more each, so I went with the 205s. Can't lose really.
They grip really well in the dry, very responsive, haven't really tried them in the wet yet.