Can you recommend tyres for 240 in the UK?

Good morning

I've been lurking here for a while. I drive a 1989 240 DL estate (2.3,
carb, 4-speed). I'm looking into replacing some or all of the tyres as
they're all a bit manky and it's getting very sloppy in the wet. I've
looked at Brickboard and through some of the FAQs but can't seem to find any
recommendations from UK listeners. Currently I have Sprint 185/80R14 on.

Any advice would be welcome!

olly r

 

Uniroyals are very good in the wet IME. Not oustanding in the dry, but
amazing in the rain. Not had them on a 240 though, mine were on a Ka
(165/65/R13, Rallye 580s).

 

I have two 240 estates, an SE and a GLE of which the nearest in spec to
yours is the GLE (2.3 carb, 5-speed) This runs on Semperits which were
fitted when I got the car and perform well.

My SE is a 2.0inj auto and that runs on Fuldas very well. It also helps
that the Fuldas are cheap (relatively) although they MUST be sealed
properly to the rims as the slightest kerbing will lead to a slow
puncture unless they are tubed.

hope that helps
Andy R

 

If you plan to keep the car, then get Michelin X-One. Long life, great
grip, silent and smooth. I've put them on my 940, Camry and past Honda
Accord and wife's VW Cabrio. Awesome tires, worth the premium due to
the longer life.

 

You like those ones? My friend has them on his minivan and they seem to be
fairly average... you can lock up the wheels on dry pavement fairly easily
in a hard brake with his van.
On our 960 we have the MXV4+ tires, less tread life (420 rating), and I
think more money, but the grip IMO is better, I get a blip of ABS in a panic
stop on dry, and a few pulses at the end of a panic stop in the rain (no I
don't have to panic stop all the time, as I don't tailgate. I tested the car
out in different conditions on a clear stretch of road to evalutate the
performance, so I know what the car can do, if I should need it - if you're
wondering MXV4+ doesn't make the greatest winter tire... But way better then
the Kumho touring tires I had on my other car, I have Nokian WR's on that
one now... fantastic tire!!! tho pricey).

 

Thanks for all your recommendations. My local volvo garage ordered some
very cheap tyres (from Kwik-fit, I think) which aren't anything special, BUT
they adjusted the tracking (it had been toeing out quite a lot, causing bad
tyre wear and sloppy handling) and even with cheapo tyres on it feels like a
new car! Steering is much more solid, it stops in a straight line and goes
round corners in a predictable manner! Bit of a novelty really. One of the
new tyres got a puncture after about 50 miles, so it's been sent back to the
makers, so I STILL have the spare on (and beginning to wish I'd demanded a
more pricey brand name tyre, to be honest!).

Thanks again

Olly R