Opinions on tyres for Xantias?

xantiav6 · Post by **xantiav6** » 11 Jan 2010, 06:57

The STS website special offers page currently has a voucher for 25% off Michelins (till the end of Jan). That almost makes them affordable?

boristhespie · Post by **boristhespie** » 11 Jan 2010, 10:54

I got a flat in the middle of rush hour last week on a really bad part of Aberdeen (anderson Drive for those who know). Couldn't move the whell so had to call out RAC. Snowing, freezing, 6am. Anyway the tyre needed replaced as did the spare which I found out to be bald.

Got michelines. Tried cheapos but on C5 they ran out fast. I aint a mad driver. One pair of cheapies were changed in Shetland once and ran out in just over a week. The garage never balanced or sorted the tracking as requested. The changed them free of charge.

Since then always went for Micheline or in france Pirelies which have and still work well.

The garage here tried to get me to take Fulda (never heard of the Dunlops) reasonable cheap with 3 year Unconditional replacement guarantee and puncture repair.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 11 Jan 2010, 23:27

Do you get Michelins cheaper in France rmunns?

Just almost every car over there seems to be wearing Michelins, even if its a very cheap car they still have michelins fitted. I have noticed this when visiting France and wondered if they got great deals on Michslin tyres.

Ive used Marangonis before, for the price they are not too bad, though i found them to be hard rubber with a very stiff sidewall (Marangoni Vantos). They were reasonable, gripped well in the dry but wet weather grip could have been better. They wore out very quickly, around 12K miles.

The tyre brands i tend to stick to are:
- Goodyear - ive never had any bad experiences with them, their new range of tyres is superb too.
- Continentals - i find these give a very good ride and are quiet, grip very well no matter what the weather is doing but the squeal when cornering hard
- Pirellies - got these on the Xm and find they are reasonable, though very rarely drive it in the wet. Supposedly they grip drops off as they become worn, but these are still new.
- Toyos - very popular on more perfromance orientated cars, but i find they ride well, very quiet (better than michies in both respects), grip is brilliant in the dry and very good in the wet. Ive no complaints, they even look very nice - i have the T1-Rs on my C5 and couldnt be happier with them. Ive had these a few times now but only do the T1-rs in certain sizes.

3 of our cars have Toyos fitted and even though all are different models they all grip fantastically, even the van tyres.

Im going to get the worn out michelins on the C5 Sx replaced tomorrow, think ill get some more Goodyears for that, as Toyos are not available in the model i like. Goodyear excellence to match its rears.

Michelins are ok, but in my experience not value for money, rarely last any longer than other brands and offers less grip than top rivals, especially in the fuel saving michelin range. Michelins tend to have a soft sidewall which is no good if your like your cornering.

I hate budget tyres and ive not really found a budegt brand ive found to be good. Ive always replaced budget tyres early on, some with 7+mm of tread as grip was shockingly bad. Really does pay to get a good tyre. Not always expensive to do this, as some cheaper brands are fantastic. Toyos for example, brilliant. Kumhos tend to be very good, as go Hankooks.

I do tend to buy tyres for their grip and wet performance, as i like to drive spiritedly, rather than wear rates. I dont like noisey tyres but usually a good grippy tyre is very quiet as its made from softer compound rubber. Silica is what is needed for good wet performance. Chaper brands usually lack this quality as all tyres are made from a different rubber compound it pays to research into what your buying.

I always run my tyres at the softer recommended pressures, but keep a close eye on their pressures, i check around every 2 weeks.

One of the xms has Vredestien sportrac3s, these are excellent tyres, a superb all rounder.

Really all opinions and tyres often vary between cars as different cars seem to get along better with some tyres than others. Though i always say buy the best tyres you can, do your reserach and look for reviews on the net. I always look for reviews before i buy, inless its a tyre ive had before.

This is possibly one of the most comprehensive review sites around: http://www.tyretest.com/ganzjahresreifen/index.html

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 12 Jan 2010, 01:58

spliffy wrote:iv had kumho tyres on my xantia i drive like a nutter and the lasted about 5 months loads of grip thou

I tried Kumho (khumo?) tyres on the 807, it steered like a ship with a broken rudder and they lasted about 3 weeks.

Went back to Michelins and the ride and handling were much improved and mile for mile were actually cheaper.

For the Xantia and BX I always used Vredestein sportracs, excellent in the wet and snow even though they are a summer tyre.

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 12 Jan 2010, 11:24

For information, Michelin Energy in France 185/65 15 88T cost about €75 each but that doesn't include fitting. And you can rarely get a deal, although you can be sure that the job will be done properly.

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 12 Jan 2010, 11:34

Citroenmad wrote: Ive used Marangonis before, for the price they are not too bad, though i found them to be hard rubber with a very stiff sidewall (Marangoni Vantos). They were reasonable, gripped well in the dry but wet weather grip could have been better. They wore out very quickly, around 12K miles. I didnt buy them but i didnt feel assured with them fitted.

I'm using the Verso on mine and will say again they are great and suit the Xantia very well. Actually I have found wet grip very good , in conditions where I was expecting to back off they just kept gripping.

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 12 Jan 2010, 11:42

I might try these. But I'd find out what tyres/ratings etc. are supplied.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/15-Ace-C873-Alloy ... 518f7033a0

Does anyone have any views about how these would look on a silver Xantia - any pictures of any so fitted?

addo · Post by **addo** » 12 Jan 2010, 11:46

Hanging on, is part of what the Xantias do exceptionally well with a good tyre and a driver who works in with the Citroën body roll! I've pulled plenty of silly stunts in mine, where the 405 (shod with equally costly rubber) would quite likely be pointing the wrong way.

At equivalent of 75 Euro, there'd be plenty more people trying Michies here, but they're close on 60% more.

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 12 Jan 2010, 15:43

A bit of a mystery here.

I bought my car in UK last Summer. At the time I did think that the tyres looked more worn than I would have thought for a 38000mile, one elderly owner car.

I now see that the tyres fitted are not standard size. They are Michelin Energy 185/65 15 88T.

According to the excellent eBay reference

http://partsfinder.ebay.co.uk/#tyres/vrm

the car was fitted from new with 205/60 R15 91 H tyres, they would have been Michelins.

So someone in the Citroen dealer in ********* took the original wheels/ tyres - including spare - and substituted these from another car.

Another lesson.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 12 Jan 2010, 16:47

Those will give a better ride though!

Post by **RichardW** » 12 Jan 2010, 17:03

185/65 std for most models. 205/60 only on HDi 110, V6, 2.0T and maybe some others (not sure about 2.0i?) Should say on the label on the door post what the tyre size should be. I'd be very surprised if someone would go to the effort of changing all 5 wheels - but you never know

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 12 Jan 2010, 17:33

I was going on what the eBay site told me when I put in the original UK registration number.
So I'll go and look in the car itself, as suggested.
But I have found some most interesting websites about tyre sizes and specifications. I may well try Toyo's.

njr · Post by **njr** » 12 Jan 2010, 18:14

Over the last 6 years in the Lot, France Ive tried loads of different tyres. Ive found Michelin to be good but they are expensive upto 140euros per tyre for 205/60/15. They dont last very long either.

To be honest the roads here are very nice to drive on

and very gritty so most tyres dont last long at all. For economy reasons Im trying cheapos which are great (apart from the wet), they are about half the price and last the same time.

Ive found firestone good in the past and dunlop but again quite expensive and quick to wear.

In france Michelin do another tyre called Kleber which is very good and cheap to middle price wise. I cant quite explain it but it dosnt look very good if thats important.

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 12 Jan 2010, 18:14

Hopefully this will now out this rather pointless post.

The info inside the car (door post label) is......................

185/65 15 88T

So I take back all the evil thoughts............................

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 12 Jan 2010, 18:17

That should be quite a cheap size i would have though?

Though if your wanting a bit wider tyre or a bit of a better ride you could always change the size for a different xantia tyre size, if your changing all 4.

Ive used Klebers before, they are quite good actually, look a little like some michelin tread patterns and grip wuite well. Had them on the front of a Fiat Stilo and they did perform well, wear wasnt th ebest though.