[wildsdi5530]

Dear fellow BHPians,
I own a 2008 Honda city ZX Gxi which has now run 31K and there is a lot of tire noise and poor handling at speed.
I gave the car to service at Capitol Honda at 23K and asked him to do the periodic maintenance. That was the start of my problems. The tires had been rotated and now there was a rolling noise at all speeds. I took the car back the next day and after a test drive was told that the noise was due to feather edging which manifested after tire rotation. He did another rotation and wheel balancing and alignment again (for which i was charged). The noise improved slightly . I also noticed that the alloys were scratched. With nothing further to do I took delivery of the car. But my driving was miserable. The car was uncontrollable at speeds above 120 Kph ( Previously I was comfortable even at 160 Kph). The car seems to have lost contact with the road above 120 with unpredictable steering response. And my wife was complaining about the tire noise.
I had the tires examined by a tire guy in Tirunelvelli who said that there were in bad shape and showed me some bald patches (at 25K). He also did another wheel balancing and replaced the worst tire with the stepney. Now the car is better (nowhere like before though) and I can touch 140 kph. My car has now run 31K.
Am planning to change my tires. I have shortlisted the following.

• Michelin XM1+
• Bridgestone Turanza ER 60
• Yokohama ES 100
• Apollo Accelere Sportz

Which of these do I go for?
Also my stock size is 175/65 R14 on stock Honda alloys. Can I upgrade to 195/60 R14? Will these tires be too wide for the 77Bhp Gxi? And will the steering become too heavy for my wife to drive? Fuel efficiency, top speed, etc. will reduce but should be negligible I guess.
Or should I play safe and upgrade to 185/60 R14?
I was wondering if anyone else has had similar problems with their car and will replacing my tires cure it?

[predatorwheelz]

I personally believe 195 is overkill for the 77 bhp NHC. Also, the profile you've chosen (195/60) is wrong upsizing.

I'd suggest go for 185/60 R14. The Michelin XM1 is the best bet among the 4 brands you've listed down.

[Nikhilb2008]

195/60 R14 is the correct upsize. But it's overkill for the car.

I would suggest you go in for 185/65 R14. It will give you better ride comfort. 185/60 R14 is too low profile and would spoil the ride quality.

Out of the tyres, I would recommend the XM1+.

[predatorwheelz]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

195/60 R14 is the correct upsize. But it's overkill for the car.

I would suggest you go in for 185/65 R14. It will give you better ride comfort. 185/60 R14 is too low profile and would spoil the ride quality.

Out of the tyres, I would recommend the XM1+.

Err, Nikhil, agreed my interest in tyres is only academic (not professional), but how do you recommend upsizing one size without reducing the profile? 175/65 R14 to 185/65 R14 would lead to a 41 mm difference in circumferrence, wouldnt it? See this link

Tyre Upsizing Calculator - tyrestore

Thats why I recommended 185/60 R14.

Addition: Incidentally, I just checked the tyre upsizing chart that's been followed around on Tbhp. Seems they too recommend 185/60 R14 as the correct upsize.

[Nikhilb2008]

See, theoretically you are right. But you cant constantly live on theories! you need to be practical as well...

185/60 would be very hard and not comfortable. the only consequence of 185/65 R14 is that the speedo error is 2.23%. It is very small and negligible. It's a small price to pay for the huge difference in ride comfort.

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by wildsdi5530

I was wondering if anyone else has had similar problems with their car and will replacing my tires cure it?

For the present, yes, it should cure your problems. As the tyres wear out, you may get all of them back too.

If you have the time, take a look at the following:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-t...ml#post1532330

I have never rotated the tyres. The right rear has what might be 'feathered' wear and creates a racket on certain roads.

[wildsdi5530]

Thanks Nikhil and others.
I guess 185/65 R14 would be the lucky size. With an error of 2.2% my speedo will show a lower speed. Also the wider tire will reduce top-end in itself. Everyone's going to wonder how I became so sedate in my driving style.
And Trrk, why don't you rotate tires. Far as I know it's good for tires and used to be recommended even in the 80's when I used to rotate my father's Premier Padmini tires.

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by wildsdi5530

And Trrk, why don't you rotate tires.

A pet idiosyncrasy of mine, that's all.

Thanks.

[wildsdi5530]

Herewith attaching pictures of my tires. Sorry, Couldn't wash them before taking the pics.



How far do you think I can drive about on these??

[Nikhilb2008]

Another 1000-2000 kms I guess..... But I wish you could put up some more pics from a few different angles!

[sukiwa]

@ wildsdi5530: Tyres show uneven wear. You can use it for another 1000-1500 if driving in dry weather. Change these tyres if driving in wet(rainy) area.

And in order not to repeat your existing experience with new tyres, please ensure that wheel alignment gets carried out regularly at 5000 Kms and tyre rotation & wheel balancing at 10000 Kms. Few persons also rotate tyres at every 5000 Kms instead of 10000 Kms. And lastly, fill air in tyres (preferably in morning) within 1.5/2 Kms from your place of stay.

[wildsdi5530]

Thanks guys,
I do rotate my tires (excluding the stepney) every 10K and alignment and wheel balancing at 10K. I fill nitrogen air in cool tires (32/30 in my NHC ZX Gxi). Other than high speed driving and very rarely panic braking (2 times) I've not abused my tires. They've run 31K till now.

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by wildsdi5530

do rotate my tires (excluding the stepney) every 10K and alignment and wheel balancing at 10K. I fill nitrogen air in cool tires (32/30 in my NHC ZX Gxi). Other than high speed driving and very rarely panic braking (2 times) I've not abused my tires. They've run 31K till now.

I am sure I am better off in comparison to your tyres for the care you have taken to keep them in good condition, especially the rear ones. I have not rotated them and my alignment has not been time bound as you have done.

At 40000+ , my front ones are due for replacement, but the rear ones would / should go for atleast another 40000kms.

[wildsdi5530]

Originally Posted by trrk

At 40000+ , my front ones are due for replacement, but the rear ones would / should go for atleast another 40000kms.

Guess that is the story for front wheel driven cars. The bane of understeer and rapidly disappearing front tires.
I personally loved the rear wheel driven cars-Premier padmini.

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by wildsdi5530

I personally loved the rear wheel driven cars-Premier padmini.

I grew up with Fiats and Premiers as my father was partial to them. I learned driving in one of them. Had one when I was studying in Belgaum. Had a Premier Safari when I was doing my post graduation in Madurai.