

| Subject: | Re: low cost Load D tires found? |
| From: | Andrew Grebneff |
| Date: | Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:21:56 +1200 |
> Do you think these would be ok for a slow diesel Westy? Cheap tires are just that... CHEAP. They not only tend to have a low speed-rating (and please note that their rubber may begin to degrade at constant speeds well below the max rating*), but to have low grip as well, and to wear quickly. You want to live longer? Don't buy cheap tires. Basically a cheap tire is only good for keeping the wheel metal off the ground. Some tires are so bad that they should be banned in any first-world country. * I had a Honda CBX1000 once fitted with a Dunlop Arrowmax rear tire. It wasn't a cheapie, burt rather a midrange-priced tire on the better-quality side of the median. This tire wasn't rated for VERY high speeds (and I can't remember its actual rating, as this was in 1985, but think it was H), but on one two-up trip at speeds only up to 140kmh or so the tread began to "ball" ie little bits of rubber began to pull loose, roll-up on the tread surfaces and stick there, evidfence of rubber degradation. Used later on a racetrack, the tire "went off" thoroughly and became extremely slippery, making cornering a wee bit sideways. Good only for the return trip and a burnout, to be replaced with the best tire available at the time, the new V-rated Pirelli Phantom... and what a revelation that was! I could even lean on corners in the wet! -- Andrew Grebneff Dunedin, New Zealand Fossil preparator Mollusc, Toyota & VW van nut <goose1047@gmail.com>
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