Szara Tyres Reccomendations

[Guest bob1947]

can anybody reccomend a good tyre for the szara hdi, i seem to have a problem with my steering, maybe a better make of tyres would do the job. any help would be much welcome. thankyou. bob. :rolleyes:

[Jonno]

can anybody reccomend a good tyre for the szara hdi, i seem to have a problem with my steering, maybe a better make of tyres would do the job. any help would be much welcome. thankyou. bob. :ph34r:

 

I have used both cheaper brands and more expensive ones - to be honest I didn't find much of a difference in the handling abilities between a £35 and £75 tyre.

The 55 profile tyres are a bit more expensive than the 50 profile (purely because there are more 50 profile tyres made) Ok, so speedo error will be marginal but not excessive.

Are you sure there are no other underlying problems giving you steering problems. Such things as worn bottom balljoints can give rise to vague steering and can also lead to other tell tale signs like tyre squeal when cornering.

195/55/15 seems to be the normal size fitted to the Xsara. They do look quite good with 17" alloys on but you will need a spacer kit to prevent fouling of the inner wheel arch area with that size wheel.

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Not sure what tyres you have fitted at present but I now swear by Toyo. My Xantia HDi 110 uses 205/60 x 15, and, due to weather considerations here in Shetland in the winter I use their "Snowprox" range. They are actually an "All weather" tyre so I leave them on all year round. They are uni directional and have quite an agressive tread pattern, but despite this they are very quiet on the road. MUCH quieter than the Michelins which came off and MILES Better in the wet. Also quite a bit cheaper. I have nothing but good to say about them and they even wear quite well, despite being a softer compund to give better grip in lower temperatures.

 

I initially thought they would wear out quickly on the mainland motorways at higher speeds but it wasn't so. I had a pair on the front for two years (20,000) miles and there is still a good bit left on them although they're now on the back.

 

I think it's a good idea to have the same tyres all round if you can manage it as there is less likelyhood of different patterns causing different characteristics.

 

There is something else which may cause the steering on your Xsara to feel odd and that is if the front mountings of the rear axle subframe have become worn. These mounts are compliant and allow a degree of "Rear steer" when pressing on. They also Clonk on rough roads when worn so that's a giveaway.

 

Cheers Hope this helps.

[Guest bob1947]

Not sure what tyres you have fitted at present but I now swear by Toyo. My Xantia HDi 110 uses 205/60 x 15, and, due to weather considerations here in Shetland in the winter I use their "Snowprox" range. They are actually an "All weather" tyre so I leave them on all year round. They are uni directional and have quite an agressive tread pattern, but despite this they are very quiet on the road. MUCH quieter than the Michelins which came off and MILES Better in the wet. Also quite a bit cheaper. I have nothing but good to say about them and they even wear quite well, despite being a softer compund to give better grip in lower temperatures.

 

I initially thought they would wear out quickly on the mainland motorways at higher speeds but it wasn't so. I had a pair on the front for two years (20,000) miles and there is still a good bit left on them although they're now on the back.

 

I think it's a good idea to have the same tyres all round if you can manage it as there is less likelyhood of different patterns causing different characteristics.

 

There is something else which may cause the steering on your Xsara to feel odd and that is if the front mountings of the rear axle subframe have become worn. These mounts are compliant and allow a degree of "Rear steer" when pressing on. They also Clonk on rough roads when worn so that's a giveaway.

 

Cheers Hope this helps.

[Guest bob1947]

many thanks for the replies, i have had the car checked in a garage, steering rack was ok,and top mounting on off side shock was changed, it did help, but problem still persists, although not as bad, if the car is stationery engine running and i turn to full,lock the wheel tries to pull back slightly, this also happens when driving round a corner. does this ring a bell with anyone. i was hopeing it was the tyres but this does not seem the case according to feed back. i love the car the hdi engine is very responcive, nice to drive, i would just like to resolve this small problem. hope you can help.regards bob. :rolleyes:

[and y]

hi bob any french car will drive best on Michelin's although i don't think this will help your problem and my xsara will pull back slightly from full lock this is normal when dry steering when you let the wheel go it will naturally release the tension

[Guest bob1947]

hi bob any french car will drive best on Michelin's although i don't think this will help your problem and my xsara will pull back slightly from full lock this is normal when dry steering when you let the wheel go it will naturally release the tension

hi. thanks for the reply, i know what you mean the wheels will naturally return to centre when you let go on a corner, but mine seems to try with to much force before you let go. mind you the tyres are a budget type, kingstar, i will take your advice and get some michelins. thanks again for the reply. bob.