I was lucky to pick up 5 new Mabor 135s on wheels for £60 from a yard that had a 2cv taken in on the scrappage scheme (new tyres to get through MOT).

I put them on yesterday in place of the Nankangs and I swear the car goes slower! Normally I'd sit at around 70 on a motorway, but today on the same stretch of road I just could not get her above 65 - and that took aaaaages.

On the plus side, there seems to be less road noise with the Mabors. But the speed thing is weird. Could the tyres really take that much speed off?

Probably worth noting that the Nankangs were excellent in the ice and snow a couple of weeks back. They've done about 30k and there's still plenty of tread on them... apart from the rear right which is slick on the outer edge with 4-5mm on the inner - dodgey portugese rim methinks?

Easily.

It's also worth measuring the total height of the tyre - if that's different, then the gearing'll have changed, so the actual road speed could be less different than you think.



Arm, not rim. The arm's bent, so either the camber or the toe is way out.

hmmm due to complications I ended up having to put a Nankang on the left hand side and a Mabor on the right I should probably get a matched pair at the front ASAP



Sorry, yeah my bad. I'm gonna have a go at changing it myself

(Top Gear Challenge voice...) How hard can it be?

Somebody got done - I'd have just chucked the spare wheel away!

Why bother even doing that? Spares are _never_ part of the UK MOT. You can have as many bald, flat tyres in the boot as you like whilst the car's being tested.

You're quite right. I'd always thought that if a spare was present it had to be in good condition, but according to the Tester's Manual:
"This inspection applies to tyres fitted to the road wheels only. The vehicle presenter should be informed when it is noticed that there is a defective tyre on a spare wheel."

Quite, was a shame, the floors & bulkhead were better than mine. I'm not complaning though

Sadly it looks like the rims may not have been as good as they looked as one of thems bumping and grinding on the king pin, but the tyres are great - well chuffed

Not wanting to spark a debate but...

My offside front is almost bald and the nearside front has a shagged valve (and isn't far off the limit like t'other) so I need a pair of tyres. I've got my eye on the Special offer Toyos on Ecas . I can't stretch to Michelins and the Firestones on the Dyane aren't exactly fun.

Are the Toyos good stuff? there seem to be a few around the same price?

In my opinion yes.

Ive used them on a 2CV saloon and the Acadiane now and they seem to be a good tyre to me. MUCH better than the firestones, which ive never liked, especially when worn as they slide about way too easily.

I will not pay out for michelins personally, they seem over-rated and over priced these days compared to what else is on offer.

Agreed with Matt. I run Toyos all round on Evie and they are excellent for the money. Loads better than the equivalent Firestone imo.