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Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - NickosWirral

Hi all,

Would you replace a set of budget/no name but new tyres on a second hand vehicle purchase? How much of an issue is it these days? I assume all tyres on the market must be relatively safe, but is this the case?

Cheers!

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - bathtub tom

As long as you don't 'hoon' it and drive responsibly, they should be fine. If you don't like it, walk away or negotiate a price for premium tyres

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - Theophilus

For me it would depend on the intended use of the car.

If only expecting to use for local trips at low speed I would keep the budget tyres and see how the car handling felt, but if planning to use for motorway / higher speed driving or on long-distance continental trips I should want the security of quality tyres.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - gordonbennet

If you've bought it already then try it, my experiences of such in recent times have been that i the first year the tyres were quite acceptable but even with little if any wear by year 2 grip became an issue in both cases and they were immediately replaced.

Hopefully they'll be OK, lots of makers and main dealers now fit what would once have never been seen.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - skidpan

In normal every day driving any legal tyre would be fine.

But

When things begin to go bad especially when the roads are in less than perfect condition a "better performing" tyre could be the difference between having an accident or avoiding one.

I have for many years bought mid range tyres most of which are made by "premium" companies under different names. My recent preference has been for Uniroyal tyres who are a brand of Continental and are made in Germany (well my size are). About 20% less than the Continental equivalent and are known for prowess on wet roads. They also have a relatively soft sidewall which makes for a quiet, comfy ride.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - Engineer Andy

For me it would depend on the intended use of the car.

If only expecting to use for local trips at low speed I would keep the budget tyres and see how the car handling felt, but if planning to use for motorway / higher speed driving or on long-distance continental trips I should want the security of quality tyres.

It also depends upon where the car is going to be used - geographically-speaking. A car used just in a town or city setting should have the benefit of well used roads that don't get muddy or iced up. In a more countryside setting, that wouldn't be the case so much (fewer roads gritted in winter either) and a higher quality tyre, maybe even an all-season or summer/winter combo if the OP lives in an area that regularly gets snow and very cold conditions in winter.

A car's tyres are the only contact with the road, so why scrimp on them to save £50 - £100 when it could mean the difference between having an accident (serious or otherwise) or not, and would likely pay for itself through lower insurance premiums for avoiding just one minor bump.

Aside from the ethics issue, many people also fit cheapo tyres if they have to prior to selling a car. To me, buying a second hand car fitted with high quality non-OEM fitted tyres, especially on an older car, means that the last owner likely looked after it well.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - SLO76
Try it over a few weeks and see. Some budget brands are ok, some are awful in the wet - like the ones fitted to SWMBO’s Leaf. The Mazda is a fun car to hassle down a twisty road, I wouldn’t waste your enjoyment of this for a few hundred quid. But when buying I would normally put into the deal that I’d pay extra for premium tyres over budget on any that are replaced.
Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - DavidGlos
See if you can find the tyres online (Black Circles, all the usual fast fit places and other outlets) and see what the wet weather grip score is. Best is A and I think it goes down to F.

If the wet weather score isn’t too far behind Good Year, Michelin, Continental et al and they drive OK, perhaps stick with them. If the score is poor and/or they handle badly I’d get rid and replace with a decent mid range or premium brand. Might get some money for them if you sell them online?

Edited by DavidGlos on 04/01/2024 at 21:27

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - skidpan
and see what the wet weather grip score is. Best is A and I think it goes down to F.

Don't take too much notice of the ratings. They are not independent, manufacturers rate themselves.

Best to look at the tests that publications such as Auto Express carry out. They do concern me in one respect (they are carried out at Continentals facility and Contis always seem to perform well!!!) but one fact is the cheap unknown imports always perform perform poorly in the wet and wet braking tests.

But some of the brands that were considered to be cheap imports years ago are very much mid range now and perform very well.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - madf

Lots of rain, mud on roads/ frost and snow here.

I would NEVER EVER use budget tyres: too many steep ditches to fall into. Unsafe.

Now use Cross Climates.Much safer.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - Maxime.

From bitter experience many years ago, lots of damage.

It's your life and that of your loved ones.

Pay the difference and get the best you ca.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - Bromptonaut

From bitter experience many years ago, lots of damage.

It's your life and that of your loved ones.

Way back around 93/4 I had a Citroen BX estate. Approved used from the local Cit franchise but it had been used by a company for one of their techs and while the rears were (OEM?) Michelins the fronts were some eco brand I'd never heard of from Slovenia.

Driving locally on roads with a bit of standing water and my 1yo daughter in the back the front end lost all grip. Only momentarily but it scared the pants off me. Known brand (BF Goodrich?) fitted the following weekend.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - NickosWirral

Sort of confirms me pre-existing view. Though if budget tyres really are this bad, I can't fathom how on earth they can be legal? Surely MOTs are failed for far less safety critical reasons that this?

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - Engineer Andy

Sort of confirms me pre-existing view. Though if budget tyres really are this bad, I can't fathom how on earth they can be legal? Surely MOTs are failed for far less safety critical reasons that this?

I suppose that it's similar to a NCAP 1-star rated car and a 5-star one - both a legal, but one does far better in the tests, and of course, those tests get more stringent as the years go by.

What would be interesting to see is a 15 year old top brand tyre vs a current 'cheapo' brand one for the same 'performance' bracket go up against one another (the same with cars).

As some have said, some 'cheapo' brands have been around a while now, and may well have improved sufficiently to be considered fine for certain types of use, and may yet break into the 'mid-range' bracket in another few years or so.

That's why it's always a good idea to source as many (hopefully independent or at the very least honest) reviews, both from the car mags, websites like TyreReviews.co.uk, including the user reviews for gauging real-world experiences, even if some have to be discounted because they don't match up with our requirements, driving style or usage pattern.

What I never understand is how people can spend £00ks on a flashy new or used car (often a high performance one) and then buy cheapo tyres when they need to be replaced. Tyre are, after all, the car's only contact with the road surface.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - Andrew-T

Pay the difference and get the best you can.

I reckon there may always be a subconscious counterbalancing effect - my kit is safer (I paid for it) so I can take a bit more risk ? Paying extra presumably buys some peace of mind, that is why some people do it.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - NickosWirral

In fairness, I am the world's most boring driver

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - shauncwalsh

See if you can find a review of the tyres here.

www.tyrereviews.com/

Two things I never skimp on, tyres and brakes. Avoiding one accident will save you more than the cost of four tyres.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - NickosWirral

One thing I have just realised after a few phone calls is how much cheaper the independent fitters are for decent tyres compared to the big chains, and even the online ones!

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - Andrew-T

Two things I never skimp on, tyres and brakes. Avoiding one accident will save you more than the cost of four tyres.

Well yes, but you don't always know whether you have avoided an accident which might not have happened anyway. On the same argument you might buy an extended warranty for anything you buy.

Life is full of choices, some involving expense, which amounts to laying a bet. Usually one is lucky, occasionally not.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - John F

Would you replace a set of budget/no name but new tyres on a second hand vehicle purchase?

No.

How much of an issue is it these days?

Not much.

I assume all tyres on the market must be relatively safe, but is this the case?

Yes. They mainly become unsafe when they don't have the correct pressure. Personally, whenever we get a different car (a very rare occurence) I take the opportunity of a quiet wet greasy large roundabout to see how well it holds the road to get some idea of their grip. (Mrs F is not present during such manoeuvres;-)

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - Adampr

I'd say it depends on what 'no name' they are. Presumably, there are words written on them? They're variable. They could be terrible in every way, they could be long-lasting but poorly performing or they might be very soft so won't last long but perform fine.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - pd

I've never seen a "no name" tyre. They all have names? What name is it?

Many of the budget ones are quite decent these days and in quite a few cases actually owned by one of the large tyre manufacturers. It's not like it was 10 years ago. Even the Chinese ones are often quite decent as well now - I mean we happily buy the Teslas. Polestars, Volvos, MGs they make so why not tyres?

Give them a go. If they are awful then change them, but they might not be. Some of the "premium" tyres can command higher prices due to branding but aren't always that great.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - gordonbennet

Give them a go. If they are awful then change them, but they might not be. Some of the "premium" tyres can command higher prices due to branding but aren't always that great.

Quite, and one must always remember that a tyre that suits car X might not be as suited to car Y.

Mazda 6 - Budget Tyres - Replace? - Engineer Andy

Give them a go. If they are awful then change them, but they might not be. Some of the "premium" tyres can command higher prices due to branding but aren't always that great.

Quite, and one must always remember that a tyre that suits car X might not be as suited to car Y.

...Indeed, and that some makes that are excellent one year may be average a few later, or produce a poor tyre model or two.

I've changed from one make where the first set of tyres I bought 'frpm' them was brilliant (and great value for money), and the second, which were OEMs on my current car, were adequate at best for the first year of use, and then poor thereafter. All from a 'premium' brand.

Ironically the set I first changed tyres from (OEMs in my previous car) got bad in the wet when they aged (but had 3mm of tread left), and yet the newer versions I got for my current car (middle set of three) were excellent throughout their life.