Tyres (arghhh!)

[adg1]

Just put my MR2 in for its first MOT and it failed as the rear tyres are on the limit. I've got to take it back and put another set of Potenzas on it for it to pass. What annoyed me is that I put the Potenzas on only last May and have done only approx 7K miles on them, I don't even thrash the car around, so I can't understand why they've worn so bad. This also happend to the original set of front Yokohamas I had when I bought the car from new, they lasted 7.5K miles. Is anyone else getting low mileage from their tyres?

[GIDDLEPIN]

I have always stuck to Yoko's on mine, they are a softish compound tyre with really good grip (cfc1 will know the type) I return between 10/15k miles and that ain't in granny mode ;)

Les

[cfc1]

Does seem like fairly low mileage to me.. were they worn evenly across the full width of the tyre or worn on one side?

If one side get the geometrics looked at (not tracking)

[Andie_M]

ive got vredsteins or something just now... would need to check back on an old post for the exact name. their actually pretty damn good (if you ignore the chunk missin from one cause i kerbed it LOL!) anyways... way better than the tyres that came with me car when i got it new, which i believe were toyos? someone can correct me if im wrong... which i prob am!

xx

[adg1]

I've grudgingly put the new Potenzas on and claimed my MOT certificate, not really had the time to shop around for a good deal on tyres. I had to pay £320 for the pair and unfortunately after they were fitted I noticed in my service and documentation history the price I paid for the Potenzas last May was £229!! I think that's a bit of a rip-off

[curriedb]

TYRE INFO

In the wilds of North Yorkshire there's only a limited number of tyre fitting companies...so I tend to research prices online - rather than phoning around.

I will soon be replacing the two rear tyres (215 45 16) with Bridgestone RE040s.

The cheapest I could find online (per tyre, including fitting) was:

Best Buy Tyres @ £95.25

Blackcircles price is a close second @ £96.75

At the other end of the scale National Tyres quoted £135.50! Less 10% if ordered online.

If anyone has come across a cheaper price (which includes local fitting!) I'd be pleased to know....

Happy motoring!

[Laura81uk]

Does anyone know if AVON tyres are any good? The front ones on my car are different to the back ones.. the rear tyres are a make i've never heard of? Maytrak? Anyone shed any light on them?

Also a good web site to look at for cheap tyres is tyre-shopper

[curriedb]

Can't help you re tyres Laura - never used either brand. However, Avon tyres have been around for a long time...but I've never heard of Maytrak. Mind you I have led a sheltered life!

I finally got two new rear Bridgestone tyres fitted, yesterday, @ £95 per tyre from the local HiQ Centre...then the sun came out so it was off into the Dales for a quick blast with the top down...roll on Summer!!

[cfc1]

Avons are Brand Name tyres... such as Michelin, Continental, Goodyear and Yokohama etc... good quality tyres, Mytrak... I've only been fittig tyres for 20 odd years.. but so far I haven't came accross these yet, they are obviously an economy/budget tyre, probably the cheapest tyres that who ever put them on could get (might even be re-treads.. I haven't googled for them ). The main issue that would concern me here is the fact that you not only have tyres that I've never heard of fitted, but you have 2 different brands... this isn't a good thing with the MR2 Roadster... all 4 corners should Ideally be the same make and model, with the correct sizing stagger between front and rear (rears should be bigger)

[Laura81uk]

I had another look and they are Marshall maytrak, both at the rear. Avon ones at the front. Gettin them changed to avon ones tomorrow! Checked out the treads on the back passenger side tyre and i really don't know how the hell it got through the mot!! It's completely worn away!

[cfc1]

As far as I know.. Marshall are/were an economy tyre that was once manufactured by Goodyear... I've no idea who makes them now.

[Ullevi]

Just put my MR2 in for its first MOT and it failed as the rear tyres are on the limit. I've got to take it back and put another set of Potenzas on it for it to pass. What annoyed me is that I put the Potenzas on only last May and have done only approx 7K miles on them, I don't even thrash the car around, so I can't understand why they've worn so bad. This also happend to the original set of front Yokohamas I had when I bought the car from new, they lasted 7.5K miles. Is anyone else getting low mileage from their tyres?

I've heard it is a big risk putting different tyres on the front and back in our roadsters.

I seem to remember reading about various incidents where there has been a spin off thought to be due to at least partly to having different tyres on front and back wheels.Think real hard about it-I certainly make sure I keep to the same rubber on all 4 wheels.

Also to those contemplating "budget" or unknown brands for use on their roadsters-please,please,please be careful.Tyres are the most important safety features on our cars.We do not have traction control,ESP,VSC,etc,and the handling characterisics of our mid-engined rear wheel drive car can be demanding at times.

I would not try to save a few quid by getting cheaper tyres-I think our car requires high quality rubber all round.

[adg1]

Just had my third year service and once again my rear tyres have had to be changed. Yes the same tyres I put on a couple of months ago to pass my MOT. The tyres had only done 2K miles. It was only after I requested a second opinion did Mr T say my wheels were not aligned properly and that the rears had been rubbing against the wheel arches. They even said for them to be like this I would have had to have been hit from both sides or that I'd been driving very fast over pot-holes. As I haven't done either, I can only assume that Mr T had never aligned the tyres right in the first place.

I took my car to an independent tyre specialist where the same tyres were cheaper and the alignment was pretty reasonable too. Although one of my rears is still a tad out, apparantly the only way to totally align it would be to "loosen the sub-frame and slack the rubber". Not sure what this means but don't have the cash to splash at the moment anyway.

In the future, I won't be getting any work done by Mr T, it'll be independent garages all the way.

[curriedb]

Just had my third year service and once again my rear tyres have had to be changed. Yes the same tyres I put on a couple of months ago to pass my MOT. The tyres had only done 2K miles. It was only after I requested a second opinion did Mr T say my wheels were not aligned properly and that the rears had been rubbing against the wheel arches. They even said for them to be like this I would have had to have been hit from both sides or that I'd been driving very fast over pot-holes. As I haven't done either, I can only assume that Mr T had never aligned the tyres right in the first place.

I took my car to an independent tyre specialist where the same tyres were cheaper and the alignment was pretty reasonable too. Although one of my rears is still a tad out, apparantly the only way to totally align it would be to "loosen the sub-frame and slack the rubber". Not sure what this means but don't have the cash to splash at the moment anyway.

In the future, I won't be getting any work done by Mr T, it'll be independent garages all the way.

UNLESS you are driving like the Devil - and assuming your car hasn't been squashed between two buses - then I think you have a vehicle which is: 'not fit for purpose.'

Don't rely on a tyre fitter's comments...or a dealer service manager's thoughts... GET AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEERS' REPORT (from a reputable organisation eg AA). Armed with the report you should then be seeking compensation from whom ever sold you the vehicle - via the Smalls Claims Court if necessary...

I assume your vehicle is fitted with original spec wheels? If not you could have a problem with the 'offset' of the replacement wheels - which can cause tyre/bodywork contact...

Well that's my two pennies worth...