Tyre advice

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FuLL_MeT4L

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I bought my 2006 Ford Fiesta in 2011, and it came with a new set of tyres. I've never rotated them or anything of the sort.

The front pair are looking a bit shoddy now and clearly need to be replaced. The tread is in line with the wear indicator, which I believe signals imminent danger. The back pair look fine though, and to my untrained eye still seem to have a reasonable amount of life left in them. The current tyres are Bridgestone MY01 195/50 R15.

I have no experience in buying tyres.
1) Can I simply replace the front pair, and then the back in a year or two?
2) Where is the best place in Cape Town to get tyres?
3) What tyres should I buy?

Update:

Went with the Continental Premium Contact 2 195/50 R15. All inclusive for all 4 tyres and installation/alignment this came to a R3,318 from Tonnesen ContiPartner, Diep River. (July 2014)

Initial review is that they're noticeably better in the wet than my previous set even in their days of healthy tread, and manage corners as well as my little 1.4 can throw them. All in all I'm fairly satisfied thus far.

Will report back on mileage next year if I remember. :)
 
Last edited:
FuLL_MeT4L said:
I bought my 2006 Ford Fiesta in 2011, and it came with a new set of tyres. I've never rotated them or anything of the sort.

The front pair are looking a bit shoddy now (I corner with enthusiasm) and clearly need to be replaced. The tread is in line with the wear indicator, which I believe signals imminent danger. The back pair look fine though, and to my untrained eye still seem to have a reasonable amount of life left in them. The current tyres are Bridgestone MY01 195/50 R15.

I have no experience in buying tyres.
1) Can I simply replace the front pair, and then the back in a year or two?
2) Where is the best place in Cape Town to get tyres?
3) What tyres should I buy?
Click to expand...

1) Switch the rear tyres to the front, and put newer tyres on the rear.
2) can't help you there
3) personal preference.
 
FuLL_MeT4L said:
I bought my 2006 Ford Fiesta in 2011, and it came with a new set of tyres. I've never rotated them or anything of the sort.

The front pair are looking a bit shoddy now and clearly need to be replaced. The tread is in line with the wear indicator, which I believe signals imminent danger. The back pair look fine though, and to my untrained eye still seem to have a reasonable amount of life left in them. The current tyres are Bridgestone MY01 195/50 R15.

I have no experience in buying tyres.
1) Can I simply replace the front pair, and then the back in a year or two?
2) Where is the best place in Cape Town to get tyres?
3) What tyres should I buy?
Click to expand...

1) rotate and do your alignment when you service. always crossing, eg RB -> LF for even wear.
2) choose 3/5 places near to you and call them and get prices. its worth your while believe me.
3) your pricing should start with your current tyres. and then just ask what the guy recommends. but some googling should give you an idea. I do this so that when I speak to the sales guy I know a little of it at least.
 
Had the same issue. Decided to put the back tyres in the front and front to the back. But I need to buy a new set.
I got several quotes and these guys were the cheapest:
Speedy Cape Town
88 Buitengracht Street
 
Do stick to the more common brands like Bridgestone. Pirelli, Goodyear, Dunlop, Hangkook and the likes. There's lots of dodgy Chinese imports that come with mag wheel bundles which fitment centers try to push first to the unsuspecting buyer.
 
FuLL_MeT4L said:
I have no experience in buying tyres.
1) Can I simply replace the front pair, and then the back in a year or two?
2) Where is the best place in Cape Town to get tyres?
3) What tyres should I buy?
Click to expand...

Go to your local Speedy, HiQ and Tiger Wheel & Tyre and ask for quotes on a similar tyre to what you have now and ask what the costs include (you need to do alignment and balancing). Once you have the quotes and what it entails, phone the shops again and tell them about the cheaper quote that you received. 10-2-1 they'll give it to you at "discounted" price. Have been doing this for many years between Speedy and HiQ and they always manage to beat each other's prices by a couple of hundred Rands (quite a bargain as a set already costs R2k+).

As for tyres, that depends on personal preference. I've used Bridgestone, Firestone, Pirelli and Yokohama and can't really feel a difference. Dunlop sucks IMO. Just make sure that you use the same tyre tread for each set (front vs back).

Also, whilst you're there, ask them what the correct tyre pressure is.
 
akescpt said:
1) rotate and do your alignment when you service. always crossing, eg RB -> LF for even wear.
2) choose 3/5 places near to you and call them and get prices. its worth your while believe me.
3) your pricing should start with your current tyres. and then just ask what the guy recommends. but some googling should give you an idea. I do this so that when I speak to the sales guy I know a little of it at least.
Click to expand...

Why do you cross rotate your tires?you change rotational direction as well if you cross change.Some tyres have a direction arrow I think.
What kind of road surface are you driving on OP?
I was driving thru Benoni a few years back and got high tread-wear,soft,high water displacement tyres for those intersection in which it was impossible to stop a car when it was raining.

Now I use small cheap tires that I can overinflated to reduce rolling resistance.For most people a tire is just a tire.there is almost no difference to the normal user except the price difference they see.
 
Your car's tyres will have an expiry date.
Check the back ones.

That date is the life expectancy of the tyre.
Do not use if walls are collapsing or cracks are forming.
Should be ok to go over by a bit But not for too long as it will affect insurance payouts should something happen due to tyres.
 
I have just got back from Tiger Wheel and Tyre after replacing all 4 tyres this morning. The Firestones on the car were 2011 and were as hard as hell, despite still having tread.

Tyres should be changed regularly, it's foolish to try and extend their life too much. They go hard and crack up.
 
Fazda said:
I have just got back from Tiger Wheel and Tyre after replacing all 4 tyres this morning. The Firestones on the car were 2011 and were as hard as hell, despite still having tread.

Tyres should be changed regularly, it's foolish to try and extend their life too much. They go hard and crack up.
Click to expand...

Good advice this.

Otherwise as per the above, back on the front, new tyres in the rear.

I've often found Errol's Tyres very cheap, nothing but good service too.
 
I like Michelin, they make quality tyres, but they are expensive, maybe a bit overpriced. If you are replacing all four, get Michelin Energy XM2. I have them on my Ballade and they're great! I've hit quite a few potholes and they haven't bubbled/buckled my rims. I just got tired of fixing bent rims and replacing tyres, so gave the Michelin's a shot. They are more expensive than regular tyres but they're supposed to last 70 000km with proper tyre rotation and alignment every 10 000km and they do have a pothole guarantee. Never skimp on tyres! Your life and safety depends on them! And don't forget the spare.
 
TehStranger said:
I've often found Errol's Tyres very cheap, nothing but good service too.
Click to expand...

Awesome. Much better range than all the dealers I've visited. Paired with ratings on tyrereviews.co.uk I feel like I can make a good judgement here.

From what I can see, about ordering from Errol's, you have your tyres delivered to a fitment partner who puts em on for you. Standard R300 odd for fitment/alignment I assume?
 
1) yeah your back should be fine , just remember to do the alignment also when you replace the front ones.
2) I get mine done at garage next to shell at parow centre , pretty much as cheap as it gets for new tyres. Cost me R1000 for 2 new front tyres with alignment for my tazz.
3) dunlop or goodyear
 
Firstly, stay the hell away from Dunlop. You can tell the difference between Dunlop and a good set of Michellins or Contis. Good Year is a third choice if you can't afford Michellins and Contis.

Tyres are very crucial to your safety. Rotate and align every 10 000KM. Never cross rotate and honestly no decent tyre place will cross rotate for you.

I prefer Michellins, but if they are too pricey for you then go for Continental. For cars like yours the recommended tyres like the Michellin XM2 and the Continental EcoContact tyres are a harder compound and will provide lots of KMs. With the Michellins you will get 70 000KM out of a set if you rotate every 10 000KM. Not too sure about other places but Tyre Mart in Menlyn doesn't charge you if they check the alignment and its not out. Make sure you check alignment every 10 000KM. And if you notice any shuddering get them to check your balance.
 
killerbyte said:
Firstly, stay the hell away from Dunlop. You can tell the difference between Dunlop and a good set of Michellins or Contis. Good Year is a third choice if you can't afford Michellins and Contis.

Tyres are very crucial to your safety. Rotate and align every 10 000KM. Never cross rotate and honestly no decent tyre place will cross rotate for you.

I prefer Michellins, but if they are too pricey for you then go for Continental. For cars like yours the recommended tyres like the Michellin XM2 and the Continental EcoContact tyres are a harder compound and will provide lots of KMs. With the Michellins you will get 70 000KM out of a set if you rotate every 10 000KM. Not too sure about other places but Tyre Mart in Menlyn doesn't charge you if they check the alignment and its not out. Make sure you check alignment every 10 000KM. And if you notice any shuddering get them to check your balance.
Click to expand...
okay...

So what is the difference?
Why not to cross rotate?
(there are many car manuals that say you should rotate for said car)
 
Venomous said:
Why not to cross rotate?
(there are many car manuals that say you should rotate for said car)
Click to expand...

Some tyres are directional (chevron type patterns on tread) so if you move a directional tyre from the left side to the right side (or the other way around) the tread pattern will be rotating in the wrong direction. This means that in wet weather conditions the tyre will be trying to move water from the outside of the tyres to the centre (collecting water) instead of dispersing it.
Hydroplaning here we come ...

The only way to get around that is to either:
1. Rotate directional tyres front to back or
2. Take the directional tyres off the rims and flip them before cross rotating (more work and expense).

Most tyre places will do the first option and in most cases it achieves comparable results to cross rotating with less work involved.
 
Paul_S said:
Some tyres are directional (chevron type patterns on tread) so if you move a directional tyre from the left side to the right side (or the other way around) the tread pattern will be rotating in the wrong direction. This means that in wet weather conditions the tyre will be trying to move water from the outside of the tyres to the centre (collecting water) instead of dispersing it.
Hydroplaning here we come ...

The only way to get around that is to either:
1. Rotate directional tyres front to back or
2. Take the directional tyres off the rims and flip them before cross rotating (more work and expense).

Most tyre places will do the first option and in most cases it achieves comparable results to cross rotating with less work involved.
Click to expand...
Thank you :)
 
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