Tyres in 205/55R16

[Franco Cozzo]

Hello guys,

I'm up for new tyres on my Focus, I had Continental ContiSportContact 2's fitted to my Focus last time, I've got about another 5000km on the fronts before they hit the wear indicators if I rotate them.

Wear wise they've actually been pretty good, I've got about 30,000km on them now which isn't too bad.

Anyways I'm looking at replacing all 4 and I'm after either the same or something better grip wise, the contis have been fantastic but I'm struggling to find the same tyres in my size.

I've been suggested Nexen n'fera SU1, but I'm not keen on cheap Chinese tyres, spparently they are alright but I'm not too sure.

What do you guys suggest?

[Randel]

Damo, the Continentals are a good tyre.

I find it hard to believe that you are struggling to find the same tyres in your size? 2055516 is one of the most common sizes currently.

Just dialled in to work - Continental have something like 20 different product codes for that size in my computer (maybe a couple runouts), so yeah they may have issues over your side of the country with stock. This has been their biggest issue over the last few years. They are probably offering you the CC5 or the PC2. Both quality tyres, probably less 'sport' than what you had - you mentioned you wanted as good grip or better...

Let the tyre guys know that you are happy with 30,000klm life, but want a good performing tyre. Mate, in our day to day life majority of customers want tyres that give them 500,000klm life and are cheap. Tyre guys tend to err on the side of a good value tyre with reasonable life.

As for the Nexen tyres - they are not a bad tyre - I would rate the SU1 pretty highly as a good value for money option. Maybe not in your Conti league, but not a bad tyre. Nexen are OE on quite a few cars nowadays, so they get a bit of credibility. Definitely not cheap chinese crap! The SU1 may not give the 100,000 odd klms that Norm got out of the N5000, but chances are they will handle better

Don't disregard the Toyo T1Sport. I have read in the past about your dislike of the Toyos, specifically the TEO, but in general Toyo are a quality tyre... another option in that size is the Michelin PS3...

Biggest problem with the tyre industry is pricing and the way they run on 'months'. One month a tyre can be $100 cheaper cost price - too bad if you don't need tyres at that time

[Franco Cozzo]

Thanks Randel,

I keep finding the CC5 and PC2, it seems hard to find the CSC2 again, I'm not sure if I want to fit the other two tyres because they seem more touring than sport.

They've been damn good.

I had the Toyo Teo Plus previously, I got about 50,000km out of them and I changed them well before the wear indicators because they were down right dangerous in the wet, but once they get down to 75% tread they get real slippery, its pretty damn easy to spin them up without trying and they didnt take much pushing to get them to understeer. I'm not disregarding Toyo, I suspect those tyres were just cheap entry level tyres but that was what the tyre shop pushed because like you say it seems everyone wants cheap crap that lasts 100,000km and costs nothing.

Any rough prices for tyres you've suggested, what should I be looking at each, just rough ball park figures.

[4Vman]

Honestly cant fault the Nexens, got the N8000's on the car at the moment.

I did a review here:

http://www.falconforums.com.au/showt...ighlight=nexen

I will get around 50000 k's out of them, VERY good wet weather tyre.