Tyre Recommendations - Xantia Hydractive

[XantiaExclusiveHDI]

Hi all

Well my Vredestein Sportrac 3 tyres are getting close to the limit - and are nigh on 9 years old. They have been fantastic on my Xantia and felt like they suited the suspension really well. Alas on searching they have been discontinued for a while now. So I'm looking for replacements that are similar to the Sportrac 3's in performance and suitability.

Any recommendations and the cheapest place to purchase?

Thanks

[white exec]

For sheer comfort, and perectly matched to Hydractiive, it would be Michelin Energy Saver+.
Other recommendations will surely follow!

[daviemck2006]

Uniroyal rainsport 3, buy from camskill.com I have had them on a few different cars, including two xantias and find them unbeatable for grip, wear and value. I dont get the desire for michelins, Chris knows my reasons! I think the uniroyals as as good for a lot less money and will last the distance while you will be throwing the michelins because they have deformed and split after 5 years with still near full tread left

[xantia_v6]

I am another who habitually buys Michelins (Energy Saver+). I did try a set of Falken Ziems on a Xantia V6, but they did not ride as nicely, and I think were a bit noisier.

[Peter.N.]

If you want some relatively cheap tyres that are quiet and with a good ride I find Nexen are very good.

Peter

[oscar]

Hi Just logged in and saw this Uniroyal rainsport 3 gets great reviews in both wet and dry with a good wear rate uniroyal is Conti's budget brand! lol.
Firestone firehawk TZ 300 are good think being/been replaced though
Avon are another good brand again Conti's budget brand but stood on there own merits for years was the choice for road rallying.

Much depends on your driving style also along with how much feedback you like? when had Zanty estate had Uniroyal think was 970? XL's on the back stiffer side walls with 660's then F TZ200's on the front in 195/65/15 the xl's on the rear made driving at speed more precise with handling in bends as Zantys are nose heavy!. made it a joy to throw round bends!!! surprise many meant to be more nimble cars.
Goodyears wasn't somewhere i'd go back then as ok when first got but once worn a bit esp in the wet very unpredictably they would just let go without any signs or being constant about it.

Front wheel drive has different demands to rear wheel drive one to look for in reviews are from Audi drivers A4/5/6 as front wheel S and RS are four wheel drive quite heavy on the front

[XantiaExclusiveHDI]

Thanks for the replies

OK I'll give the Uniroyals a go! Might as well get all four replaced. Even though the Vredesteins have some decent tread on the rear (they have been swapped front <> rear a couple of times) there are now splits appearing on the rims.

Thanks again!

[daviemck2006]

Let us know what price the uniroyals are, and what your first impressions of them are

[Gibbo2286]

Since I bought my last two 'cheapies' from 'Tyres on the Drive' I get regular email offers from them, this morning's effort offers some new Bridgestones with an Amazon gift card attached among others.

Tyres on the drive worked fine, and cheap, for me, always worth asking.

https://www.tyresonthedrive.com/?msclki ... nt%20Tyres

[GiveMeABreak]

Uniroyal rainsport 3, buy from camskill.com I have had them on a few different cars, including two xantias and find them unbeatable for grip, wear and value. I dont get the desire for michelins,

I can’t speak for the Uniroyal Rainsports Rainexperts on a Xantia, but have had the RS2 and RS3 on the MK II and X7 C5s and had constant issues with them. They wear badly and couldn't get on with them. I mentioned it to my Citroen Tech of 30 years and he said the last for some reason they just don’t work well with the C5 and had the same complaints from others. So reluctantly I stopped using them. I now just switch about from budget to mid range brands as none of the premiums were well on the stone chip roads here. And at £150 plus a pop for a Michelin they can swing for it!

[electronmirror]

Uniroyal gets my vote on the Xantia.

Have used them for the last 10 years, recently bought a set of four 'Rainexpert 3' , £240 all in from the local tyre & exhaust place in Binfield, Berkshire I've used for the last 20years.

[XantiaExclusiveHDI]

I can’t speak for the uniriyal rainsports on a Xantia, but have had the RS2 and RS3 on the MK II and X7 C5s and had constant issues with them. They wear badly and couldn’t get on with them. I mentioned it to my Citroen Tech of 30 years and he said the last for some reason they just don’t work well with the C5 and had the same complaints from others. So relevantly I stopped using them. I now just switch about from budget to mid range brands as none of the premiums were well on the stone chip roads here. And at £150 plus a pop for a Michelin they can swing for it!

I ordered RainExpert 3 tyres not RainSport 3

Having just searched - it doesn't look like UniRoyal offer the RainSport 3 in my size (205/60/15) only the RainExpert 3. Is there much difference between them?

Cheapest I could get after a day ringing around was £272 fitted / balanced. Worked out cheaper than buying online & getting them fitted locally. Part of the problem was that my alloys don't have the centre hole and only three outfits in my area had the relevant adapter for their balancing machine which greatly limited my options.

Oh well - I'll let you know what they're like when they're on...

[white exec]

I've had the "centreless" alloy wheel issue too, when it comes to balancing.
For what it's worth, I was told that only following used such wheels:
- Citroen (even back to the three-stud 2CV)
- Peugeot

With a huge number of C15's here (thousands of them in southern Spain), tyre depots here tend to have and regularly use a centreless adaptor on their balancing shafts.
Last year (as Davie will attest), I had to travel from Inverness to Spain before I found anyone who
(a) had one of these
(b) knew how to use it - complete failure in Warrington (twice) and Bordon, Hants. (The adaptor can be set for 3-, 4-, or 5-stud wheels).
(c) could fit in the job of balancing a couple of re-shod wheels (Peugeot Inverness "One week, sir...")

I now look after my local Euromaster dealer, who just doesn't understand why anyone should find a problem with this attachment. In fact, they just purchased a brand new one.

[GiveMeABreak]

I ordered RainExpert 3 tyres not RainSport 3

Having just searched - it doesn't look like UniRoyal offer the RainSport 3 in my size (205/60/15) only the RainExpert 3. Is there much difference between them?

My mistake on the typing - was using my phone at the time and didn't take the electron microscope out with me to use the keyboard! I meant Rainexperts.

[XantiaExclusiveHDI]

My local ATS Euromaster were one of the outfits which had the adapter but were more expensive than a local independent who had the adapter but only for 4 stud wheels.

I recall taking the wheels when they were reshod with the Vredesteins 9 years ago to a dealer who had the adapter. The original tyre fitters couldn't find their adapter as I recall. Anyway the second dealer with the adapter failed to balance them. They had three guys have a go and none of them could get them balanced. They apologised and sent me on my way! I think I went to ATS who sorted it.