Kingpin Tyres ?

[andisnewsyncro]

Has anyone any experience of Kingpin tyres. I'm looking for a new set of tyres, mainly for road use, and these do seem to be ridiculously good value if they're any good.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/x-4-Kingpin-advan ... tsupported

I know they're retreads but if anyone has used them I'd be interested in how you got on with them.
Any other suggestions for reasonable "budget" road tyres in a 205 or 215 15" fitting very welcome

Cheers

Andi

PS I'm particularly pleased to read on the ad that they're easy to fit with no drilling required

[syncropete]

bfg at are quiet running and are capable of 50,000 + . They are expensive, but will pay for themselves.

[Simon Baxter]

I used to fit them years ago.
They were comparable to Colways, but admittedly I havn't fitted one for about 13 years!
retreads and remoulds are 2 totally different things and shouldn't be confused.
They all have to be made to British Standards, only trouble with remoulds is that you have no choice of what the carcase is, so you could get a wonderfully flippy floppy Michelin on one and a uber stiff Dunlop on the other, but you can tell what they are from the inside, or at least I could 13 years ago!.

[andisnewsyncro]

Cheers chaps.

Yep in an ideal world BFG ATs I guess, but I need something to tide me over whilst I save up.

I've had another look and they do what appears to be a good AT copy for £165 for a set of 4. The only snag is they're 215R15 ie 80 aspect ratio.
I understand that I should be ok on 215 75 15 but will that extra 5% knacker the job up? From the calculators it says it will add an extra 22 mm to the diameter. I'm wanting to fit them to a 14" Syncro, which is un-modified apart from the rims.

Thanks for your patience, I've read & re-read as much as I can about tyre sizes but would appreciate any specific answers

Andi

[syncroandy]

215/75R15's are ~27.8", and fit and run fine without contacting the bodywork (on my 2 vans), whereas 215/80R15's are 28.54" and may possibly rub at the rear of the front arch when offroad. I think the rears will just clear the swingarms.

PS. If you haven't already, renew the radius rod bushes, when these wear out the front wheel sits nearer the rear of the arch than it should. If necessary the rear arm flange can be taken back slightly with an angle grinder.

[Aidan]

215R15 will rub rear of front arches especially but also the rears at quite small suspension movement but will go on

[toomanytoys]

What engine have you got as it will raise the gearing over the 185/14's.. I notice it quite a bit on the 205/70r15's.. with my 1.9 DG... off road it isnt a prob.. but road... makes it work hard..

[andisnewsyncro]

Thanks fellas

Looks like the 80's are not a good idea then. I'll let you know what I end up with.

What engine have you got as it will raise the gearing over the 185/14's.. I notice it quite a bit on the 205/70r15's.. with my 1.9 DG... off road it isnt a prob.. but road... makes it work hard..

It's a re-con 2.1 from Remtec which I put in just 2 years back now, got about 14000 miles on it (and goes like wotsit off a shovel), I don't think I'll notice it to much. It will loose on acceleration is my understanding (?) and that won't be a bad thing, and town driving I often find 2nd too low and 3rd too high so hopefully...

Andi