Re: Ultra low profile tyres for sedate drivers only?

#1

Bod <bodron57 (AT) tiscali (DOT) co.uk> wrote:

Quote:

I thought that Watchdog prog was only about some
BMW low profile wheels?

BMW was the specific company that they were taking to task, yes. But they
did have some more general commentary about this wheel type.

#2

Dave Farrance wrote:

Quote:

Bod <bodron57 (AT) tiscali (DOT) co.uk> wrote:

I thought that Watchdog prog was only about some
BMW low profile wheels?

BMW was the specific company that they were taking to task, yes. But they
did have some more general commentary about this wheel type.

I must have missed that, but I'll take your word.

Bod

#3

"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Quote:

I laughed my socks off at this Watchdog article. Ultra low profile tyres
on UK road going vehicles are no different to stick-on boot spoilers.

What profile are the tyres on your Rover, Kevin?

#4

Adrian wrote:

Quote:

"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

I laughed my socks off at this Watchdog article. Ultra low profile
tyres on UK road going vehicles are no different to stick-on boot
spoilers.

What profile are the tyres on your Rover, Kevin?

215/55 R16. Hardly 'Ultra-Low' ! I preferred the 15" wheels on my first
75 - gave a more comfortable ride.

There is a development amongst manufacturers now to somehow *assume* that
owners want low profile tyres. Many 'upper-spec' cars in a model's range
have bigger wheels and lower profile tyres. Why? Don't you think that
prospective purchasers should be given a choice (and given information on
the implications of that choice?) I don't think that many prospective
purchaser fully realise the extra cost they are letting themselves in for
when those 18" ultra low profile tyres require replacing.

It's difficult to do precise comparisons but, for example, a Pirelli 195/65
R15 costs £58.40 A Pirelli 255/45 ZR18 costs £197.00.

I'm not suggesting that those two tyres/wheel sizes would be interchangeable
on any particular car - but there is no doubt that the difference in price
between 'standard' tyres and ultra-low-profile tyres is quite dramatic -
and, IMO, an utter waste of money because on UK roads there is no real
advantage to ultra low profile tyres - but significant disadvantages in
terms of ride, road noise, and expense.

Kev

Kev

#5

"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Quote:

I laughed my socks off at this Watchdog article. Ultra low profile
tyres on UK road going vehicles are no different to stick-on boot
spoilers.

What profile are the tyres on your Rover, Kevin?

215/55 R16. Hardly 'Ultra-Low' !

By the standards of a decade or two ago, very much so.

Quote:

There is a development amongst manufacturers now to somehow *assume*
that owners want low profile tyres. Many 'upper-spec' cars in a model's
range have bigger wheels and lower profile tyres. Why? Don't you think
that prospective purchasers should be given a choice (and given
information on the implications of that choice?)

We've been here before. You clearly don't understand the money that's
spent on market research and customer clinics by manufacturers.

Quote:

It's difficult to do precise comparisons but, for example, a Pirelli
195/65 R15 costs £58.40 A Pirelli 255/45 ZR18 costs £197.00.

A Michelin 125/90 15 costs about £100. So?

Quote:

I'm not suggesting that those two tyres/wheel sizes would be
interchangeable on any particular car

Good.
What's the speed rating on that 195/65 15? What's the load rating?

Quote:

but there is no doubt that the difference in price between 'standard'
tyres and ultra-low-profile tyres

is quite dramatic - and, IMO, an utter waste of money because on UK roads
there is no real advantage to ultra low profile tyres - but significant
disadvantages in terms of ride, road noise, and expense.

#6

Adrian <toomany2cvs (AT) gmail (DOT) com> gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

Quote:

but there is no doubt that the difference in price between 'standard'
tyres and ultra-low-profile tyres
is quite dramatic - and, IMO, an utter waste of money because on UK
roads there is no real advantage to ultra low profile tyres - but
significant disadvantages in terms of ride, road noise, and expense.

Arse. Sent before finished.

Quote:

but there is no doubt that the difference in price between 'standard'
tyres and ultra-low-profile tyres is quite dramatic - and, IMO, an
utter waste of money because on UK roads there is no real advantage to
ultra low profile tyres - but significant disadvantages in terms of
ride, road noise, and expense.

Yes, well. You're the man who doesn't see any reason to buy anything but
cheap shit teflonfred rubbish.

#7

"Dave Farrance" <DaveFarrance (AT) OMiTTHiSyahooANDTHiS (DOT) co.uk> wrote

Quote:

I've just got around to watching my recording of the recent Watchdog that
talked about ultra-low profile tyres. Seems that the rims are prone to
cracking on the UK's roads and that the car manufacturers are loathe to
replace them on warranty, tending to reject the claims and blame the
driver, saying that cars with such wheels require careful driving to avoid
potholes etc.

Yes, mate of mine recently got a new BMW with 19"ers. Looks good but a very
harsh ride. Must have a slightly negative effect on fuel economy too.

Z

#8

Adrian wrote:

Quote:

"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

I laughed my socks off at this Watchdog article. Ultra low profile
tyres on UK road going vehicles are no different to stick-on boot
spoilers.

What profile are the tyres on your Rover, Kevin?

215/55 R16. Hardly 'Ultra-Low' !

By the standards of a decade or two ago, very much so.

And not something that I had any choice about unfortunately.

Quote:

There is a development amongst manufacturers now to somehow *assume*
that owners want low profile tyres. Many 'upper-spec' cars in a
model's range have bigger wheels and lower profile tyres. Why?
Don't you think that prospective purchasers should be given a choice
(and given information on the implications of that choice?)

We've been here before. You clearly don't understand the money that's
spent on market research and customer clinics by manufacturers.

Do you really think that the average uk motorist fully understands the
implications of ultra low profile tyres?

Kev

#9

Adrian wrote:

Quote:

Adrian <toomany2cvs (AT) gmail (DOT) com> gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

but there is no doubt that the difference in price between 'standard'
tyres and ultra-low-profile tyres
is quite dramatic - and, IMO, an utter waste of money because on UK
roads there is no real advantage to ultra low profile tyres - but
significant disadvantages in terms of ride, road noise, and expense.

Arse. Sent before finished.

but there is no doubt that the difference in price between 'standard'
tyres and ultra-low-profile tyres is quite dramatic - and, IMO, an
utter waste of money because on UK roads there is no real advantage to
ultra low profile tyres - but significant disadvantages in terms of
ride, road noise, and expense.

Yes, well. You're the man who doesn't see any reason to buy anything but
cheap shit teflonfred rubbish.

I thought the discussion was about the benefits
(or not) of low profile tyres?

Bod

#10

In article <2e4te5tj885891o0jkmd4dqgn03l38931r (AT) 4ax (DOT) com>, Dave Farrance
says...

Quote:

So the present trend seems to be that "sporty" cars are to be given tyres
that only allow them to be driven hard on a well-maintained race track.
But on UK roads, sporty cars should no longer be driven sportily. That's
what the *manufacturers* are saying. Is this bonkers or what?

No. Its reality. It is a common problem in Spain where a lot of the

roads are shite. Its only because our roads are now as equally shite
that the problem is occurring here.

The simple fact is that if you have super skinny tyres on an alloy rim
with a massive offset, you're going to get bent and cracked rims because
all the support of the wheel centre is all over to the other side of the
alloy. Note that they only cracked on the inside.

--
Conor
www.notebooks-r-us.co.uk

I'm not prejudiced. I hate everybody equally.