I have a 66 plate Sportster with 19” low profile tyres. I bought it last year and it’s time to change the 2 front tyres. I have checked the codes and they are different in terms of width and load capacity.   Can someone please advise what the correct tyre spec should be ?

Hello Stuart,

The definitive answer lies in your handbook or inside the fuel cap where you will find tyre pressures and sizes. 
Pardon my ignorance of your vehicle but Sportster isn’t know to me, but would I be right that this 4 wheel drive? If so, fitting new tyres on the front with part worn on the back would not be good news for the 4WD system. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

Thanks for the reply Gareth. Sorry I should say when I got the car it didn’t come with a handbook. I am aware of the the inflation plate on the drivers door pillar but I was after some independent advice. The currently fitted tyres are a mix of 235 and 245 width and two different load ratings. 

Sorry meant to add the car ISNT a quatro

As the sticker states, as long as you have 4x 19" wheels then all 4 tyres should be 245/35 19" 93Y rating.

Thanks Mark. That is what I thought but wanted an independent operation. The single 245 wide tyre is the NF The OF and rears are 235 and 91Y?? Which is puzzling to say the least. Not least that the 2 drive wheels are different sizes. I’m assuming the alloys will all accept 245 width as they all look original. Strangely I have never noticed any handling issues. The existing tyres are Triangle which are cheap Chinese make and not too clever in the wet. Having thought I only need to change 2 tyres (right now) it now looks as if I need to shell out for 4 !! I’m also unclear if the tyres should be run flat ???

 

 

I had Triangle tyres on my Mondeo, they were "interesting" in the dry and horrendous in the wet.

They don't need to be runflat's as far as I'm aware, if you have a spare tyre then I wouldn't bother with them.

I don’t have a spare wheel - ‘modern’ weight reduction/emissions thing. Also the car didn’t come with a reinflation kit which led me to think the tyres may need to be run flat. However, the reinflation kit may just be missing. I carry a can of reinflation foam just in case. 

Hello again Stuart,

With the necessary 35 profile tyres, this car is going to ride like a horse and cart! Add to that the fact that they understandably have to be XL (extra load) rated, means that it will ride like a horse and cart on a rough track. 
I’m afraid this is the penalty of fancy large diameter wheels. 
You have to hope that run flat tyres are not specified, since if they are, you just as well buy some solid hard rubber and wrap that around the wheels. 
Don’t forget that the Y speed rating must also be respected. 
Premium brand tyres are likely to cost you two arms and two legs. In case it helps, I’m currently using mid range Kumho to good effect on a non Audi. Falken may also be worth considering. 
It is important that all four tyres are 245/35/19 /93Y XL. Any deviation may adversely affect any insurance claim.

Regards,

Gareth.

The 35 tyres are Audi standard spec on the SLine Sportster. Yes it’s a fairly hard ride but I accept that on a ‘sporty’ TT. I have had FIVE previous TT Coupe’s - all with ‘sensible’ tyres. 
After finding and downloading an Audi Owners Manual I have clarified that the tyres are NOT run flats. 
 

Your advice that having not standard tyres may have an insurance effect is not something I have thought about - thanks. 
 

I will look at the tyre brands you suggest - thanks again. 

Please let us know what your eventual choice is Stuart, since this may help others to decide in the future. 

Thanks for the chat. I have little choice to bite the bullet so rather than replacing the 2 front tyres - which are almost down to the wear bars - before the cold weather sets in, I’m going to replace all 4 with the correct type. The current rear tyres have plenty of tread left but aside from being non-spec the Triangle male are rubbish. 

Hello again Stuart,

Your choice of course, but it has become very trendy to classify all non-premium brand tyres as ‘ditch finders’. This may well be true if your driving style is ‘enthusiastic’. 
We walk the promenade at the local seaside resort, and  I’ve got into the habit ( yes I know it’s daft) of looking at 3ish year old prestige vehicles, and surprise, surprise - many/a lot  are running on Chinese budget tyres. 
It would be interesting to know:- 

How would you describe your driving style - enthusiastic or not? 
What causes you to conclude Triangle tyres are rubbish? 
I confess I don’t have any experience of them, hence the question.

Regards,

Gareth. 

Hi GaretH

I can assure my driving style isn’t ‘enthusiastic’.  I spend a lot of time driving my grandkids around, touring in  a motorhome and enjoying motorcycles - where caution is paramount. I’m not a boy racer or a 63 year old racer for that matter. 
 

I describe the Triangle tyres as ‘rubbish’ as they are VERY poor in the wet - skid on fairly shallow bends at over 40mph. They are budget tyres and as such quality/performance is bound to be compromised. 
 

Aside from this more than one person - one a complete stranger - have noticed the tyres are Triangle and asked me, with a wry smile, how I find them - luckily not in a DITCH yet. 

That’s fine Stuart (youngster by the way!). If the wet handling is indeed that bad then you are doing the right thing by replacing them.

Interesting last paragraph which obviously demonstrates that a lot of people are brand conscious and can automatically deduce that any spurious brand = ‘ditch finder’. Some are I guess, and your experience has been useful. 

Cheers Gareth and thanks for the chat

Hi.

Hopefully you wont, but if you have any issues with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line.

Regards,

Dan.

Thanks I will but I’m planning to change all the tyres very soon