OMO: car tyre efficiency ratings?

[johnnyrod]

Has anyone really noticed a difference between say D/E and A/B efficiency ratings on car tyres? I think the blurb says each one is a few percent but I am pretty cynical about the testing that comes up with stuff like this.

[Adam Ef]

Every time I've paid attention to tyre ratings before buying them I've found them to be the opposite in real world use. I'm not one of those people who can tell much about the feel of a tyre on a modern car though. I usually feel totally detached from the road via all the traction, abs, etc. Unless I'm in my (heap of a) van. Then I only have a choice of one type of tyre anyway and the rear sliding door being slightly bent and letting in a gale distracts me from anything else.

[Bibio]

i used to use michelin energy but recently started using the cheap ones out of kwiktrik. only difference i have noticed is the the energy ones let the car slide about a bit in the wet but last forever. never noticed a difference in mileage with the new ones a i'm still getting 50-60mpg in the old ghAy class. yes i drive like a grandad on smak.

[Adam Ef]

The one time I really researched it I replaced our old worn out tyres with some new Pirelli Cintrurato green eco compound ultra brilliant MPG TM tyres.. and our fuel efficiency immediatley plummeted from 60mpg to 45mpg at best.

[Luckypants]

This stuff is more affected by tyre temperature and pressures than anything else. New tyres are not as efficient as worn ones due to the extra air expelled from the tread (also causes more tyre noise), so very variable.

[DJ123]

Has anyone really noticed a difference between say D/E and A/B efficiency ratings on car tyres? I think the blurb says each one is a few percent but I am pretty cynical about the testing that comes up with stuff like this.

I look at that rating as more of a wear rating, as opposed to fuel rating. As you say the difference is probably small %'s on fuel, but probably larger on the tyre life if they have a more aggressive pattern/softer compound.

[SV650rules]

Tyre makers come up with their own figures, look at it like schoolkids marking their own homework and you are not far wrong. I found Michelin have longer wear life than most other brands, but due to harder compounds are not so good on damp / wet surfaces, I used Michelin ES+ when I was doing a lot of miles and sort of put up with the lower grip and squishy feel on corners, now doing about 5K a year have Avon ZV7 and much grippier ( unlike the Michelin the ABS hardy cuts in with Avons - no matter how hard I am braking on damp and wet roads ), and directional stability better. Avons a fair bit cheaper than Michelins. On the SV I have Avon Storm 3D X-M dual compound, they are great, never give me reason to doubt them.

[Sir Trev]

I think a lot of it comes down to a car's suspension and power delivery too. On my last two cars I've gone with Michelin Cross Climate tyres. Although they're all season I never noticed any difference in normal driving to the usual summer tyres the car came with. The indie reviews I read all said they were as good as the summer tyres they were based on but better in the coldest weather due to their tweaked compound, and far better on snow as the tread blocks are shaped like winter tyres. They last well and I never found any grip issues so I'll stick with them.

I had some excellent Avons on my Cavalier back in the day, but like most summer tyres the tread blocks were large and were no good at all on snow. We don't get weather bad enough down here to warrant swapping to winter tyres hence me trying the all season option. I'm surprised there are not more choices of them though.

[Dave20046]

I couldn't get my usual Avons so bought some Maxxis that had a good rating but slipped about like buggery in the wet and were chewed out in less than a year (which is really quick for my car). I didn't notice any improvement in fuel.

Went back to the 'C' Rated Avons that I know grip and have longevity - former being my most valued attribute and latter may well offset any fuel savings on the others.

I think I have noticed a difference on sound rating though.

[SV650rules]

I did invest in a set of steel wheels with Nokian winter tyres for both our cars. Alloys take a beating in the winter with salt and possible kerbing on ice, so alloys / summer tyres get waxed and stored in garage come October. I was gobsmacked how good winters are - in the beast from the east we were out in Shropshire hills ( in front wheel drive car ) went past a couple of 4X4 on summer tyres with their wheels spinning for no forward motion and only moving things we saw were tractors and LandRover Defenders.... never had a moments doubt about getting stuck.

[DJ123]

I did invest in a set of steel wheels with Nokian winter tyres for both our cars. Alloys take a beating in the winter with salt and possible kerbing on ice, so alloys / summer tyres get waxed and stored in garage come October. I was gobsmacked how good winters are - in the beast from the east we were out in Shropshire hills ( in front wheel drive car ) went past a couple of 4X4 on summer tyres with their wheels spinning for no forward motion and only moving things we saw were tractors and LandRover Defenders.... never had a moments doubt about getting stuck.

I have the same for my BMW Estate. Winter tyres transform the drivability in cold/wet/snowy conditions. Where other people have to be gingerly, due to their tyres not being suited to the conditions i can drive past quite happily and safely.

[Sir Trev]

Trouble is DJ there is always some muppet that thinks they don't need to slow down when it's slushy even though they have regular summer tyres on. Almost got taken out on the M40 by one such idiot who ended up in the ditch as he didn't think he needed to go at 40, line astern in the clearish wheel tracks of the car in front. They were in a Picasso too of all things.

[SV650rules]

They were in a Picasso too of all things.


In the art of driving, the Picasso method is obviously abstract.

[DJ123]

Trouble is DJ there is always some muppet that thinks they don't need to slow down when it's slushy even though they have regular summer tyres on. Almost got taken out on the M40 by one such idiot who ended up in the ditch as he didn't think he needed to go at 40, line astern in the clearish wheel tracks of the car in front. They were in a Picasso too of all things.

Very true, but it happens in all weathers unfortunately. Some people only learn when they've overstepped the line.

You make it sound as if all Citroen drivers aren't bad already . . . .

[johnnyrod]

Thanks all, one final question. Would ratings from the same manufacturer on different models bear much weight?

[SV650rules]

Thanks all, one final question. Would ratings from the same manufacturer on different models bear much weight?

The weight bearing ( load bearing ) capacity of the tyre is the first 2 of the 3 final characters on tyre spec.

205/55R16 91V

https://www.ctyres.co.uk/general/load-index

( I know this is not what you meant, but could not resist it :rolleyes: ).


.

[Dave20046]

Thanks all, one final question. Would ratings from the same manufacturer on different models bear much weight?
I reckon that'd be an indicator.

Depends on the car & driver I guess but I like Avon (think its Zv3 or ZV7 or something) or had Nexens which were ok too - and I think they have a better energy rating . blu energy or something was the model