Okay so I'm a little cheap right now. Scored some P I M P *** wheels for my MS6 and don't want to swap tires off the factory wheels, would rather just find some others for them. The small problem of 119$+ a tire is a slight speed bump, 18s are actually cheaper than some 20" tires I've priced. Sad.

So I found from a google search some other cheaper China tires.. Has anyone ever heard of or used any of the following tires? Don't laugh TOO hard at the names, I did:

BCT
Durun
Lexani
Sunny
Nankang
Linglong
Republic
Blue Streak
Capitol
Nexen
Diamondback
Federal
Achilles
Gislaved
Riken


Found all of those on Tires-Easy.com and they've got some pretty CHEAP prices. Used for an example to search for those 205/40-17 and theres 5 full pages of < $100.00 tires, both name brand and no-name. I've heard that some of the major manufactures like Toyo, Yokohoma, Kuhmo sometimes open up little tire names but make them in house for some reason. Haven't really checked the reviews because they suck on that site, but some seem to have some pretty respectable classifications..


The Achilles ATR Sport 205/40 ZR17 84W X
For example is rated at 400-AA-A as an all season tire.. Thats almost the same rating as my Kuhmo ASX's on the miata now, which even though they've got a harder compound (420) they're pretty good performing tires. They grip pretty well in most temps and are pretty predictable, make a moderate amount of noise when you really push them hard.

Anyway just wondering if anyone has any dealings with any of the brands listed or any insight in the manufactures?

 

My roomate bought some rims with nexen mounted and they were like brand new and it hydroplanes going like 65 and they have deep tread still... so they suck no traction and they are wearing funny to but all the other ones who knows

 

its a sin to cheap on tires on a motorcycle, its the one thing you need to spend money on. I dunno if its different for cars. I've heard of nexan and federal. nothing good though. my friends federal's didn't have the tread cut out all the way in places and it started to peel off after a few hundred miles

 

ghm... Achilles' weak spot was in his FEET. how well do you think that tire will perform??


dont cheap out. you want to know expensive tire, try looking for 275/35/19 in 280-220tw! (for my 350z)

 

i only buy falken 452 for my miata because after hydroplaning into a median at 60mph on some cheap tires- general uhp they had 9 and 10 for reviews on tire rack. those stupid people that dont know anything about sport tires and wrote 9 and 10 suck. trust me after paying over $2500 on repairs and i was lucky i didn't bust my VOLKS. BUY good tires because its way safer. better performing and why risk it. i know i will stick with the falken 452 because they are a good deal and you get excellent performance. the best street tire for the price. the best performance mod other then a turbo is tires for a miata.

 

Think Harbor freight tools, China chargers, and dollar store crap. You get what you pay for.

There's a reason the big name brands spend millions on sponsoring racing for R&D. Cheap tires only have to let you down one time in bad conditions for you to be putting your life and other's lives on the line. I'd rather run second hand tires from the U-needa-tire place than brand new no-names.

 

that's a ringing endorsement if I've ever heard.

 

These are the tires I have dealt with. Not sure what specific models your looking at. I have only installed these, none of them were crappy enough to come back with any complaints though.

BCT-We just got these in. They feel eh, haven't installed any yet.
Sunny-These seem alright. Put them on a bunch of cars with no come backs.
Nankang-Installed a lot of these. They seem pretty good. They usually go on the expensive wheel cheap tire deals.
Republic-Good cheap tire. Installed tons of them.
Capitol-Another good cheap tire. We usually install LT rated on trucks though.
Nexen-Seems like a good tire. One of the mechanics has them and likes them.
Federal-Seems like a good tire. Put a set on a Mercedes with no complaints.
Riken-We usually put these on muscle cars. They look like fake BFG's. Seem decent.

 

The Fed 535 and 595 tires are ok for the price. The 535 did well in the rain, and handled some light track abuse.

 

I have used nankang on bikes in the past as have a few friends of mine. We all had 70's hondas and used to bomb around the french quarter in New Orleans a few years ago. Cant say I/we really found any fault with them and in fact I dont notice a huge improvment with the metzlers I have on the current old 70's honda. Mind you these are slow bikes and I ride like a sissy.

 

Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. I buy the cheap tires anyway.

But not for my bike. And both tires have to be the same brand and match series. Your life is worth the extra 50 bones.
I find my tires on sale. They may not be the latest top of the line. But they have been the top somewhere in the last 2 yrs. They need to be name brand, and for race, not touring.
I never know when I might fly 180mph.

But for cars..... I'll cheap, as long as they look the way I want.

 

HA!
For those wondering WTF: Ministry-Psalm 69-Jesus Built My Hotrod

 

Nexen 3000s aren't horrible...about the only ones I've heard of.

 

I've had federals before, but they were on my moms Focus. So didnt really get to test em out haha.

 

If there's ONE THING I could pick on my car I would NOT want to be made in China...