how much more?

[retired_member32]

we now have £400 tax discs(another post) even though only 5% is used on roads,£1000 extra on a new car from a showroom(another post) petrol prices still not gone down even though the price of oil is now at $127 a barrel instead of $134,and below....


Rubber red tape could soon see motorists forced to fit eco-friendly tyres to their cars. Draft European Union regulations have set out tough new noise limits for rubber – meaning drivers may have to switch to tyres with improved rolling resistance, which cut CO2 emissions.

However, Auto Express has highlighted concerns about the braking power of low-noise rubber (Issue 988). Tyre maker Continental warned that it also has less grip, and “reduces wet braking performance by up to 10 per cent”.

Drivers already feeling the pinch with rising fuel prices could find the new rules also have cost implications. Under the proposals, all new cars must have stability control and tyre pressure monitors as standard – effectively consigning basic entry-level models to the history books. It’s also not yet clear whether the rubber rules only apply to new vehicles, or whether all drivers will have to buy them when their tyres need replacing.

It’s now simple to check for noise levels where you live, however. A new Government website shows decibel ratings for towns and cities in England for road, rail and air noise. Visitors to www.defra.gov.uk/noisemapping just need to input their postcode for details.

courtesy of the auto express

 

[developdomains]

this has been in the making for nearly 2 years now. Brands such as Falken & Toyo are under extreme pressure to start producing tyres to meet these ridiculous new CO2 emissions targets, as it says in the quote.

Basically the tyre will become less "sticky" meaning that it will last longer but god help you if you need to stop quickly! Billions of pounds have gone into the development of ultra grippy tyres to help save peoples lives, and now they are having to back track. The cheap budget tyres will disappear soon as they won't be able to produce the tyres required for their cheap prices.

The whole industry has just had a 4% increase from the beginning of June. It will kill itself soon, and the more the tyres cost the more people will let them run down below the tread wear indicators, the more lives will be put at risk. So we'll have more emission efficient tyres, but more people being killed because of it!

but do we see our government doing anything about this or the fuel price? nope, their to worried about trying to justify their big expenses bills.......

 

[stevebrowne]

don't talk to me about tyres. I just had to change mine after 11k miles. £600 - and that was with a £240 discount offer!

 

[developdomains]

don't talk to me about tyres. I just had to change mine after 11k miles. £600 - and that was with a £240 discount offer!

wot were they mate? size/make

 

[stevebrowne]

continental sport contact 2 XL 18" 235/45W18 for a ford smax

 

[developdomains]

thats a good price mate, I couldn't do much better than that

these companies shouldn't put these big wheels on. they should stick with the 16" tyres like the galaxy had

it still hurts though doesn't it, paying the £600

 

[stevebrowne]

yup, I looked everywhere, but they were either not in stock, or £800+ for 4. Surprisingly, my local Kwik fit could get them and at an offer price they had splashed all over their website, which really did surprise me. I was looking to get one of those companies that come to your house to change them.

I must admit that I changed the spec 17" for the 18" wheels though. They go better with the car (2.5T - same as the Focus ST).

Next time it might be cheaper to buy a new set of alloys with tyres included - it was only just more expensive this time, if I hadn't got the discount.

What hurt was this was after 11k miles! It chews through tyres. But it is nice.