Just asking for input from other folks. In March this year our Saab 93 had 2 x 215 / 45R17 Aurora K10's fitted on the front. (deleted (possible naming & shaming removed - DD) did it as part of a service and MOT - and didn't give us a choice of manufacturer - but we assumed as main dealers they would be ok). Monday night, rush hour on A3 by Hook, middle lane, left front has a massive blow out - just the beading left and the rest of the tyre gone. By the time the car can be safely pulled off the road one expensive ali rim is scrap. But we are alive thankyou Saab designers.
Bad luck we expect was the reason.
So anybody else had problems with Aurora tyres? Why are we asking? Because the garage that fitted them (edit by DD as per above reason) is doing the repairs and tell us they no longer use Aurora as they wear quickly and can be more prone to blow outs. Nice to know as there's another one on the driver's side front!! Anybody else had this sort of reaction from a garage??
Please let us know!
thanks,
Nige
{A couple of changes made to both the subject header and text in the main message box - DD}
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you are making too many assumptions im afraid and its not fair on the tyre maker
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Was the tyre in question properly inflated prior to the blow-out? How many miles had it covered since being fitted? Did it still have more than 1.6mm of tread (i.e. was it still legal)?
I agree with BB, you can't just assume this brand of tyre will be more likely to blow-out than any other. I'd be very careful to make sure you can answer the above questions with certainty before you start inferring anything about the tyres in question. Even if the blow-out had been solely down to the tyre, it's a matter of bad luck rather than awful tyres that burst frequently.
Budget tyres tend to be less grippy and less durable than the big names, but there's no evidence to suggest that they go pop more frequently. In fact, if any brand had a reputation for doing so, it'd be in all the papers and nobody would buy them.
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We're just asking for input from others' experiences and not assuming anything. Not at all sure why folks are reacting this way to a straight forward request. If others have found problems they'll say so, if not it's a on off. No problem - that's what blogs are all about. If you experience something don't you ask around to see if others have had the same thing?
To answer, the tyre was correctly inflated, 33 psi checked on Sunday. Miles - the car is 02 reg has 35K on the clock and tyre was 7 months old, and has no recent changes in usage pattern so may have done 4K miles, and was still very legal - it's right side partner is as well.
But what worries us is why would a main dealer stop using them ....... remember our only contract is with the dealer and not the tyre manufacturer.
So if you have positive or otherwise experiences then please let us know!
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But what worries us is why would a main dealer stop using them
It intrigues me that a Saab main dealer would use them in the first place to be honest. Saabs are executive cars - I certainly wouldn't expect mid-range budget tyres to be shoved onto an exec car without prior consultation. Continental/Dunlop/Pirelli, yes.
Anyway, back to the point. It just came across that you might have been inferring that Aurora tyres had some sort of inherent defect, which I'm sure we would've heard of by now if it were the case. Was the sidewall maybe weakened by an impact prior to the blow-out?
I've read many peoples' comments on budget tyres in the BR, and 99% of them are regarding grip, noise, lifespan etc. So, I doubt anyone will have had any problems with Aurora other than these issues. Blow-outs aren't a common thing, especially ones due to an inherent weakness in the tyre.
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It intrigues me that a Saab main dealer would use them in the first place to be honest.
Saab - owned by GM.
My local Vauxhall / Chevrolet dealer also stock and supply Aurora tyres, so it doesn't suprise me that a Saab dealer also stocks them.
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I would not trust a tyre like that anywhere near my car. Get rid and get hold of a well rated, highly regarded premium tyre all round instead.
Don't dice with safety.
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Don't dice with safety.
I trust the cheapest new tyres I can buy. As I said, blow-outs due to inherent defects are very rare, and unlikely if the tyre's up to pressure, and not been knocked about.
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Acording to a previous thread (one that I started incidentally) Aurora is a sub-brand of Hankook.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=45863
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Well my car has 4 Hankooks on at the moment, and I have no doubt that they'll wear out before they go pop.
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>> Don't dice with safety. I trust the cheapest new tyres I can buy. As I said blow-outs due to inherent defects are very rare and unlikely if the tyre's up to pressure and not been knocked about.
I suggest you don't read any of the reputable, detailed tyre tests as you will be simply shocked by the difference in performance between the better and poorly rated tyres. And I'm not talking about dry laptime here, either. I'm talking about aquaplaning and wet braking - something ALL of us should care about.
Until you stop being so miserely, please could you ensure you don't ever drive your car behind me. I'd hate to have to perform an emergency stop on proper tyres only to have a cheapskate pile into the back of me on his two for one specials.
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If the same dealer that fitted the tyre 7mths ago is now saying they don't supply them anymore as they're prone to blowouts then I'd be expecting the dealer to be replacing the wheel and tyre (and the other tyre if it's still on). And I'd also be expecting serious grovelling for the inconvenience, discount off next service etc etc.
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Until you stop being so miserely please could you ensure you don't ever drive your car behind me. I'd hate to have to perform an emergency stop on proper tyres only to have a cheapskate pile into the back of me on his two for one specials.
I bet there are more people out there running on cheap tyres than 'proper' tyres. Same probably applies to brake linings, etc, and everyone who operate to bangernomics standards.
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I find the brakes on my Renault almost excessively strong. Fine for me but I often wonder about the knackered old heap that might be driving behind...
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And I'm not talking about dry laptime here either. I'm talking about aquaplaning and wet braking - something ALL of us should care about.
Yes, but you're also not talking about blow-outs, which are rare regardless of tyre manufacturer.
Until you stop being so miserely please could you ensure you don't ever drive your car behind me.
I'll drive behind whoever I want, regardless of how much of the road they think they own just because they have designer tyres on their car. I happen to believe Hankooks are "proper" tyres, as do several manufacturers who fit them as OE.
DD is spot-on - most cars seem to be fitted with non-premium tyres, and I don't see everyone spinning off the road whenever there's a rain shower. My "cheap" brake linings are Mintex too - every brand of pads is cheap for those who know how (or can be bothered) to fit them themselves.
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Are we moving to a situation where if most people have tyres with less than 'premium optimum' stopping distance, those people who have superior braking performance become responsible for causing an accident if their retardation rate is excessive!
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pmh (was peter)
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On my last car, I replaced Pirellis with Federals, and noticed no change whatsoever, except they were marginally quieter. The worst tyres I've had for understeer were Avons, but no tyres have ever caused me any brown-trouser moments when stopping in a straight line. A lot of the tyre debate is down to pure brand-snobbery.
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It's always prudent to drive such that you can stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear - which will obviously vary, depending on absolute vehicle braking performance.
This, and constant observation/anticipation make panic braking almost redundant. I can't remember having to perform an emergency stop in (at least) the last couple of years (doing approx. 25k miles/p.a.).
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I'll drive behind whoever I want regardless of how much of the road they think they own just because they have designer tyres on their car. I happen to believe Hankooks are "proper" tyres as do several manufacturers who fit them as OE.
The figures speak for themselves. In this months Evo Tyre Test, for example, there was a wet stopping distance difference over well over TWO CAR LENGTHS between the best placed tyre and the last placed tyre.
And this was between what they thought were the 6 top end tyres. Goodness knows where your Hankooks would have come.
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>>Goodness knows where your Hankooks would have come.<<
To a safe stop 6 car lengths behind you thanks to superior driver anticipation. :)
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Luckily, I have never had to perform an emergency stop, either.
But I like to know that if I ever did, I'd miss the child that ran out from nowhere rather than mow her down becuase I skimp on safety and buy cheap tyres :)
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I had several Aurora tyres fitted to a Toyota that I owned for over 7 years. I never had any problems with them although I do agree that they are poor for wear.
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Luckily I have never had to perform an emergency stop either.
Well I have, and the car didn't skid or behave in any way other than predicted (i.e. it stopped abruptly before hitting anything). Whether this is down to luck, or ABS, or even the non-designer tyres, who knows. As others have said, defensive driving will do a lot more to save your neck than fancy tyres. Incidentally, Michelin have part-owned Hankook since 2003.
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Nige,
The key thing here is the type of tyre a 215 / 45R17 Aurora is a ultra low profile tyre that is probably R rated. 45 0r 40 series tyre have massive later side deflection made worse by a reasonably heavy car.
Having seen both Aurora, Conti's and Michelin fitted to a Laguna Tourer all these tyres have worn badly the Michelins which were Energy even had lumps in the casing. The thing is big cars and small side walls aren't a good combination.
I would question the garage further as to their statement either this has happened before in which case why weren't you told ? or .... it's a strange statement almost some sort of admission
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MichaelR said: "Goodness knows where your Hankooks would have come."
Well, in a recent independent test by Which? and their german counterpart magazine, Hankooks did pretty well. IIRC, in one size tested, they came about 2nd or 3rd from top and were a Best Buy, and yes this test included all the well-known brands.
Now some people pooh-pooh Which, but at least it's a reasonable-stab at a valid, reproducible test. When were YOU ever able to test 11 different makes of tyre, in the same state of wear, around the same track on the same day?
What I notice with tests done by various bodies is that you never really seem to find one make that consistently comes top in every size.
In the past people on this forum have stated that they've had satsifaction from Hankook's Ventus Prime tyres, where they've replaced Michelin Pilot Primacy. As has been said, Michelin have a stake in Hankook, and we wonder if there is more than just coincidence in the similarity of the designations. And yes, some non-Korean car manufacturers are fitting Hankooks as original equipment.
So all in all, I don't think MichaelR is justified in being so dismissive of them.
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So all in all, I don't think MichaelR is justified in being so dismissive of them.
I've got Hankook tyres on my car and the grip is as good as the Michelin and Dunlop tyres I have had on the same car.
In a recent AutoExpress test the particular Hankooks tested came joint 12th overall out of 16, ahead of Yokohama and another major make (cant remember which). For wet braking they came mid way up the rankings, so outperformed 7 or 8 other brands, many of which were major European brands.
For wet handling they scored a couple of places lower which surprised me as I have never had need to doubt them in wet weather.
Most of my driving is fast motorway commuting so if they had given me any reason for concern I would not have had a second set fitted.
If they were once one of the 'dodgy' budget brands then IMO they no longer are. They are made in Korea but now have a technical centre in Germany so tread patterns and compounds can be tailored to European conditions.
www.hankooktire.com/eur_eng/indexNew.asp
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Just out of interest do you wash your car/wheels with a pressure washer? I had several blowouts all on the M3 on a new jaguar with a very good branded tyre then read that pressure washers can delaminate the side wall of tyres so stopped washing wheels & no more blow outs!. 2 of the tyres blew big time & took all the wheel arch liner out as well!
Just a thought
Doc
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Hi Doc,
Thanks for input. No jet washer to blame - always hand wash and garden hose. Luckly additional damage, other then the wheel was just some rubber on the sill. BTW if you want to see the rest of tyre, the full circle of thread, unbroken, minus side walls is wedged in the central reservation of the A3 just before the Hook underpass!
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