Rav4.2 Help Needed To Decide On Which Tyres To Buy

[grahammichael]

A simple question, but I suspect not an easy answer. I need to replace all 4 tyres on my 2004 XT3, the size being 235-60R-16-100H.Having looked at various tyre fitting websites, I am completely confused with the different brands and specifications.I only drive about 4000 miles a year and my driving is mainly main road and town driving with the occasional journey down the motorway with no off road.As a senior citizen,'times are hard and friends are few' so I cannot afford high spec tyres,but want something that suits my style of driving and will be safe in all weather and a comfortable ride.I know you 'pay your money and takes your choice'but any advice to help me make the right decision with a tyre you can recommend will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

[RedRoss]

Go expensive. Cheap tires will wear out quickly and let u down when u most need them.

Only doing 4000 miles, u cud eadily get 4 yrs out of a set of michelins, pirellis, continentals etc.

[Mike JD]

A simple question, but I suspect not an easy answer. I need to replace all 4 tyres on my 2004 XT3, the size being 235-60R-16-100H.Having looked at various tyre fitting websites, I am completely confused with the different brands and specifications.I only drive about 4000 miles a year and my driving is mainly main road and town driving with the occasional journey down the motorway with no off road.As a senior citizen,'times are hard and friends are few' so I cannot afford high spec tyres,but want something that suits my style of driving and will be safe in all weather and a comfortable ride.I know you 'pay your money and takes your choice'but any advice to help me make the right decision with a tyre you can recommend will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

I fitted Nexen tyres to my 4.2 and was very pleased with them. I then sold the car to a friend and have just emailed him to ask his thoughts and he is still happy with handling/grip/mileage. I liked the price. Others in earlier discussions here have praised Falkens for the same reason. So there are two reliable mid priced brands for you to research. I see no need for premium tyres given that your usage is a lot less and a lot gentler than my my daily trundles on Dartmoor lanes and tracks.

And out of the squillions you will save, you can buy me a pint to say thank you the next time you venture into these wild parts!

Cheers

Mike D

[El Bee]

I am completely confused with the different brands and specifications.I only drive about 4000 miles a year and my driving is mainly main road and town driving with the occasional journey down the motorway with no off road.

It's probably worth your while to phone Saxon Gate Motorists Centre at Biggleswade on 01767 314125 try to speak to Kevin Courtney, he is the tyre dealer who supplies the tyre dealers. Very busy bloke (he owns the business) and he sometimes comes over as a bit abrupt but he works on high volume/low margin, I've known him best part of 30 years and would recommend him to anybody!

As an example, on my last car he fitted 4 Pirelli P7s (225 x 60 x 16) and the whole job with fitting, new valves, 4 wheel tracking and tax was £240 - Quickfit wanted nearly £400! I'd guess it's best part of an hours drive from you but worth it if you save loads! They're a couple of hundred yards of the Biggleswade South roundabout off the A!.

Lee B

[RedRoss]

I always use www.etyres.co.uk

Very good service, cheap and is done within the hour at your house whilst you sit on your rear end watching the telly.

Ive currently got Goodyear Eagle F1's on my Audi and they are superb, albeit pricey. The Rav has Falkens (which were on it when we bought the car) and they seem ok, although they havent been tested yet in adverse weather.

[El Bee]

Sorry, the bit I didn't fully explain in the first paragraph was that you can trust Kevin totally to recommend the right tyre for what you need, he even tried to talk me out of the Pirellis saying he had some for two thirds of the price that were just as good.

Just I'm dead funny about tyres, my old granddad used to say "never skimp on what goes between you and the ground"

Lee B

[redlew]

Loads of choice at blackcircles.com -but buy cheap and you buy twice. I don't skimp on brakes, steering and suspension.

I get between 25&30k out of a tyre so spread over 6 years the cost of a quality one over a cheap one isn't that much.

[greenwidow]

Good tyres are not always expensive and expensive aren't always good. Check the ratings of any tyres you intend to use. The ratings are on the sidewalls of most tyres though some leave them off for reasons known to themselves.

Tyre ratings are:

Traction- AA best C worst.

Treadwear- low numbers (160 or less) poor, high numbers (240 and up) last longer.

Temperature- A-C This is only relevant if you do lots of motorway work in hot climates, A is best.

You can get a good combination of traction and treadwear on 'budget' tyres if you hunt around for them, you can get a poor combination on expensive tyres.

Check ratings and their meanings here (not all makes are listed): http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyres-ratings-nhtsa/tyre-ratings-yokohama.htm

[beadsage]

I've had Pirellis that lasted two trips to the corner shop, Michelins I love but can't afford, I finally settled for the original Bridgestones, which, with a bit of rotation now and again, seem to be lasting forever. This is on a 4.1.

[RedRoss]

* oops repost *

[El Bee]

I've had Pirellis that lasted two trips to the corner shop, Michelins I love but can't afford, I finally settled for the original Bridgestones, which, with a bit of rotation now and again, seem to be lasting forever. This is on a 4.1.

When I lived in the UK I always bought Pirelli, they give great wet and dry grip, they're quiet and last reasonably well, dunno if it's still the case but Michelin always got longer life by using a hard rubber compound, fine in the dry (noisier than Pirelli or Dunlop) but they could give some bum clenching moments on wet roundabouts :!Removed!:

Over here many tyres are scrapped through cracking (sun/heat damage) long before the tread is used up, and a tyres performance in wet/mud/snow is pretty irrelevant but it's heat rating quite important - horses for courses I guess..

Lee B

[saffron]

A simple question, but I suspect not an easy answer. I need to replace all 4 tyres on my 2004 XT3, the size being 235-60R-16-100H.Having looked at various tyre fitting websites, I am completely confused with the different brands and specifications.I only drive about 4000 miles a year and my driving is mainly main road and town driving with the occasional journey down the motorway with no off road.As a senior citizen,'times are hard and friends are few' so I cannot afford high spec tyres,but want something that suits my style of driving and will be safe in all weather and a comfortable ride.I know you 'pay your money and takes your choice'but any advice to help me make the right decision with a tyre you can recommend will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

I have used the on-line company Tyre Shopper for my 2005 XT3 and both my Beemers with good results. Last year got 4 Bridgestones for the Rav at £72 each including valve, fitting, balance and disposal of old tyres. Google their website, enter your post code for a fitter near you, order and pay on-line and take the reference number to the fitting station. Hope this helps.

[grahammichael]

Hi,

A big thank you to everyone who has taken the trouble to reply to my query so quickly.I am now armed with a load of valuable information on how to proceed with my purchase.

I'm glad I joined this site

Regards,

Mike

[blackbear]

Hi, I was about to post a similar search for advice when I saw your post . My milage is less than yours. I have Yokohama Geolanders 0-33 235x60x16 100HT and I am having difficulty finding them. I am curious to find out what you have settled on. Will you please post and let me know when you have decided. The more info one has the better the informed choice is . Thank you Blackbear.

A big thank you to everyone who has taken the trouble to reply to my query so quickly.I am now armed with a load of valuable information on how to proceed with my purchase.

I'm glad I joined this site

Regards,

Mike

[jedi134]

Do a Google for my tyres I always cheap Chinese made tires and I swear by them. Pound for pound they beat expensive premium brands. Although looking on that site there not that cheap anymore.

[grahammichael]

Lastest update,

After researching many web sites and forums,my head is spinning with information overload,but I have come up with a provisional choice.The tyre of choice at the moment is a Bridgestone D687.As you would expect,tyres are a matter of personal choice depending on the type and style of driving and some people think these tyres are very good and others don't like them at all,but you can find similar views with any make of tyre.So to be honest I am not much further on in making a decision.If anybody has any views on this particular tyre,I would love to have your opinion.

I took the advice of El Bee and rang the bloke in Biggleswade who gave me a good price on the tyre,and armed with that price I rang a garage in Lincoln and they said they would beat the price,quoting £97 fitted on the car,(seems a good price)

Hi Blackbear,hope this post is of some use to you

Mike

[Sensei]

You might want to have a look at this site:

http://www.tyretest.com/4x4_tyres/bridgestone/d_687/index.html

Lots of reviews and opinions, but take it with a pinch of salt. B)

[El Bee]

You might want to have a look at this site:

http://www.tyretest...._687/index.html

Lots of reviews and opinions, but take it with a pinch of salt. B)

That makes interesting reading - sounds like those Bridgestones ar OK as long as you stay on dry roads.

My RAV came with Yokohama Geolanders on (dunno if you get them on UK models) they seem a good tyre and get a decent write up on that site too, no idea what they're like in the wet coz it's not rained since I've had the car. Our roads have much less grip though than UK roads - I think it's the stuff they put in to stop them melting in summer, but the grip levels and general performance are fine.

Lee B

[RedRoss]

You might want to have a look at this site:

http://www.tyretest...._687/index.html

Lots of reviews and opinions, but take it with a pinch of salt. B)

That makes interesting reading - sounds like those Bridgestones ar OK as long as you stay on dry roads.

My RAV came with Yokohama Geolanders on (dunno if you get them on UK models) they seem a good tyre and get a decent write up on that site too, no idea what they're like in the wet coz it's not rained since I've had the car. Our roads have much less grip though than UK roads - I think it's the stuff they put in to stop them melting in summer, but the grip levels and general performance are fine.

Lee B

Re Bridgestones. I had Bridgestone Potenzas on my Civic Type R (thats what was fitted as standard when i picked it up brand new), and they were attrocious in the wet - dangerous even.

[grahammichael]

Whoops,after reading these posts I think its back to the drawing board

Mike

[Guest]

This will not help you to make your mind up but I have just hit the 24k miles and after having a good look at the tyres, I will need to replace the tyres, around autumn time. I have decided to stay with the factory fit on my model of the Yokohama Geolanders G91a as they have seen me safely through two lots of winter snow, plus the normal UK rain/light floods that we have had.

So if in doubt it may be best to fit what Toyota recommended when the vehicle came out or if that is too pricey whatever the wallet can afford. and alter your driving style to accommodate their strengths and weaknesses.

Gus