Tyre prices.

Last week my wife went up to Peterborough to visit her mum who is on her way off this " Mortal Coil ". Talking of which she arrived - 186 mile journey then took her mum out to lunch 2 miles away -- came back and reversed into the drive and the o/s/f coil spring broke !! So that was £80 to fix and also needed a new tyre which was £60. The broken spring end damaged the tyre.
Coming home only two miles from the Portsmouth car ferry on the M275 traveling at 70 mph the n/s/r tyre exploded and I mean exploded !!
So out come the RAC to a damsel in distress. Yesterday I went and got another tyre -- a 195/65/15 at Wooton Tyres here on the Island for £28+ vat £33-60 which is pretty damn good I thought.
I have also ordered a set of 185/60/13's for my MPV and they too are £28+ vat each.

How do those tyre prices compare to where YOU are ??

I am curious to know how prices vary around the country. Usually over here on the Island we get stung on prices because of the extra transportation costs. Even the national supermarkets prices here are dearer than their mainland stores. And Petrol prices-- I don't even want to go there. Rip-off Island !!

in the netherlands i always buy from here
http://www.autobandenmarkt.nl/

Thank you Scotia. I just checked that out and prices vary from €47 to €74. Not sure what our exchange rate is though.

the guy i use is normaly very good but wanted £48 and i needed 3 for mot last year so tried a place that does part worn tyres, got 3 almost brand new for £30 cant fault them

That was a much better deal then Ron. I got four 8ply 155x12 truck tyres for my pickup at Wootton Tyres and they were £40 each. Didn't ask about normal 155x12's but will enquire.

the ones i had fitted were comercial rated to match what was on there although i see no reason to use c rated tyres on the little van

I don't take the chance on my Pickups.

I have on occasions on the weighbridge with wet topsoil had 3/4 of a ton on my overworked red pickup. So I really feel that it is important for me to have the commercial tyres on.

How can you compare tyre prices without the make? I can buy a shit tyre way cheaper than a quality one? Car tyres are fine on a Hijet, they're rated as high as the gross anyway.

Sorry Logi. I didn't make that quite clear. It was an El Cheapo make that Gayle was sold up in Peterborough for £60 and I got the same tyre down here to match on the f/n/s for £28+ vat.

I agree you get what you pay for. I never buy cheap tools for that reason. Mot is due this week then it is being sold so not too fussed that they were cheap tyres.
I very rarely find a decent make of tyres on Hi-Jets.
I have got a mountain of tyres with excellent tread
but most are Nankang or whatever. I save the decent makes for my own vehicles.

I just stick any old shit on, it's not fast enough to matter

I personally feel car tyres suit my purposes with the load rating of 80.

80 = 450kg

So 900kg per axle.

The Hijets chassis plate states that the max axle weights are:-

680kg Front
1000kg Rear
1550kg Total GVW

But in my opinion I don't think any of us will load it past 900kg on the rear.

Anyway to load the Hijet upto its GVW you should be increasing the tyre pressures right up to something stupid like 50psi - most people don't bother so they risk blowing out a tyre due to heat and sidewall stress.

Since swapping to 13" SE wheels, buying tyres is much easier.

But I will not use cheap unnamed tyres as they are false economy. I wouldn't use cheap copy chinese condoms while having an affair, and I'm certainly not going to put chinese ditch finder tyres on my cars. Both are gambling with my life.

All the 12" "truck" tyres seem to be all ditch finder specials . you can't do any zesty driving in a jet with nagkangtingtong tyres! found that out 3 times ....at the same roundabout . ( good for smokey burnouts though   )

I've got 165/70/13"s on my MPV - soon to be 185/60/13"s. As you say Matt it gives you a much better choice of sizes and decent makes.

13" all the way . quality brands for sod all monies, and i can throw the jet into a roundabout without the risk of facing the wrong way at 18mph .

I'm running 185/60/13 on the rear and 165/65/13 on the front on my 13x6 rims sticks like S to a B. looks good to as the front has a whiff of stretch going on.

Haven't done that in the van but I have several times in the Pickup at the roundabout at the entrance to Black Gang Chine.

The camber is the wrong way and I did a 180 at about 20 mph and couldn't do a damn thing to correct it. I felt a right twerp with the car that I had overtaken having  to take evasive action.

Very Grey areas.
Sent one in for a MOT last week and got a advisory for running 78T's, it's like everything in life, everything is fine till you have a accident, I certainly would't phone my insurance and tell them I have modified my vehicle by putting lower rated tyres on that the vehicle manufacturer states, but on the other hand if someone run into me and the were running dodgy and their insurance will not pay out I wouldn't be a happy person at all.
1300 GT
Have you tried Yokohama's Delivery Star? Very Sticky and load rated

I'm running firestones at the mo d1 ,just car tyres. those yokes are 70 sheets a corner ! no I've never tried them.

For the moment I stick to the original size as long as I can get 12".
I also don't haven to answer any questions at the APK (=MOT)
I've got a good experience with the Dutch version of the site:
http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/

ive never had any grip issues with whats on the van and as its use just for popping to shops and weekend camping ill proberly never load it much,( plus im an old fart thats happy to potter about at 55/60mph) lol

I'm just about to fit 2 no-name shite tyres to the front of mine, hopefully I'll live to tell the tale...

why didnt you give me a call about the spring, you know its my way and i would have done a shed load cheaper than that for you woody

That's really kind Danny. Thank you my friend. I think you have had enough of your own problems to contend with lately.
Gayle was up in Peterborough when it happened so it wouldn't have even crossed my mind.
The job was done by a garage the family use regularly and I didn't think in the circumstances we were being ripped off. Though still painful on the pocket.

Woody, start doing some side stretching exercises...should ease the pain getting down to the bottom of your pockets   .

Got more serious problems to worry about Oldie than stretching my muscles. I am still not mended from falling down the stairs second week in January . Haven't been able to do any roofing or handyman work since.
I feel very nervous on a ladder now as I have lost a lot power in my leg muscles . Can't afford any more accidents. Too old mate for that.  

doesnt matter how many problems i have had ill always have time to help a mate out

Thanks Danny. Means a lot that.

Takes a long time for old folks to heal.....

How would you know --- nipper ???