Within the manufacturer's vehicle ID - VIN (that little strip of numbers affixed to the leading edge of your dashboard) is the coded information for the CV/HP of the engine which your car is equipped. From this the tyre/tire shop can look into a large reference book and determine the speed rating of the OEM rubber. This must be met, or exceeded, or the shop is liable for any ensuing accident caused by pneu failure. They are very adamant about it here. My last such experience had me marching into my local garage with their advertisement for their loss leader "H" rated tire in hand. It was the correct size for my car (195 65 15), but after a look in their VIN bible it was determined that my engine had 5 HP more than was allowed for an "H" rated tire and I could only be sold a "V" rated tire... for considerably more money.
After shopping around I found another store with the correct size/rating tire on sale. they were Uniroyal rain tires for Euro 60.00 apiece, mounted and balanced. I took them. Since then I have become a big fan of the rain tires. They are quiet, provide an excellent ride and exceptionally good handling in the wet - and have far outlasted my previous Michelins.
For correct handling tyres on the same axle should be of the same size (obviously), pattern and approximately the same age/wear. It was in the UK but I knew a guy who had a claim rejected (on the grounds of incorrect tyres) as he failed to stop on a hill behind a line of stationary traffic, the impact causing the car in front's tank to burst and catch fire, the burning petrol descending under several cars and a bus all of which caught fire. It's difficult to conceive that such things happen but apparently they do. However insurance companies and their shareholders (practically everybody) like to retain profits and dividends. Loss adjusters (not sure what they are called here but maybe experts assurances?) will fight tooth and nail. On front wheel drive put your best tyres on the front. They have just been cutting maize here which means lots of mud, and the contractors/farmers never seem to clean the road in this commune.
I have just bought 2 new tyres for my wife`s car & asked for them to be out on the front - the garage advised me that the best tyres should be on the rear to avoid spinning!
I always thought you should have the best tyres on the front wheels which do the steering!
It's worth noting also that you can order online and have them delivered to a local garage who'll then arrange a time to fit them, I would avoid Roady if at all possible and find an independent garage who will likely charge you a lot less than 80 euros. It's only a half hour job after all.
Graham, what size tyres do you need for the Espace? I would like to do some research and see what prices we can find them at with the various online vendors.
I often buy tyres from pneuenline.fr - the local Roady garage fit them for 20 euros each incl balancing & a new valve.
I don`t know what age/model espace you have but I just did a quick search and they have NEW tyres for an espace as cheap as 55 Euros.
Your tyres are the only contact you have with the road - so to fit tyres of the wrong size is in my opinion foolish.
I have bought second hand tyres in the past but it has always been a bad move - you can`t always tell if they have had impact damage & the amount of tread left on them has always seemed to disappear quite quickly!
Debbie, your problem could well be the difference in grip between new front tyres and worn rear tyres. It's the big reason too why you're advised to fit 4 winter tyres, not 2. The problem is that when you brake the weight transfers to the front of the car, and therefore the rear becomes lighter. If the rear tyres have less tread than the fronts (or much less grip, for summer tyres in winter) then you can spin as the rear end loses grip. If, on the other hand, the fronts are worn and the rear's new, the car will tend to skid in a balanced fashion should you get into a skid, or at least understeer which is easier to handle than a spin.
I have front-drive cars, and I always always fit the new tyres at the rear and move the worn ones to the front. As soon as the fronts wear out, same again. This makes good sense because with front drive the front tyres get signifgicantly more wear, and therefore the rears could be on there for years before needing to be changed.
no that's correct - you must have the same make and type of tyre on the same axle, but you can have completely different ones on the front and rear axles, as long as they're legal of course...!
Graham, look in your handbook and you'll have a list of the approved sizes for given rim size ;-)
I was advised against going to my nearest CT centre because he has a rep for being too strict - but preferred to err on the safe side! And *I * am pushing the deadline for the re-inspection - will be in the UK for a few days, so will have to eat humble pie (provided I haven't been nicked in the meantime!).
I'm due this Friday, 18th, for my CT. I had a service at a local Renault garage who have serviced it since I have had it, brought it up to standard to pass. When I had my last service I was told when to get new tyres, which I did a wee bit (couple of months, ahem) later than suggested. So, two weeks ago he said all tyres good, no problem with them. I think it is the way to play it, BUT pushing €400 for the job with the things he did do. In short, never cheap here.
I don't want to hijack your thread but my question is sort of relevent to yours. Last Tuesday I had 2 new front tyres fitted at a well know drive in outfitters. Saturday we had the first lot of rain we've had for months. I congratulated myself for getting new tyres ahead of the weather but still approached roundabouts with caution and probably slower than I would usually. Just as well as on one roundabout I did a slide and spin missing the barrier on the roundabout and thankfully nothing was around. I put the car in reverse got it turned round and facing the right way and set off with a pounding heart. I put it down to gas-oil on the road. 20 minutes later and another roundabout and the same thing except this time I spun faster and longer. Once again no one on the road approaching the roundabout which I ended up facing and no one on the roundabout. Lucky me x 2. I phoned the company straight away and I've got a RV to take it in on Tuesday. ..She did ask me to bring it straight in but there was no way I was driving 50kms with those tyres in the wet. My question is this, What caused this? and what legally can I expect in the way of changing the tyres, will I have to pay extra if I choose a more expensive brand? My apologies for hijacking but I'm hoping your tyre experts could help me :-)