Off Brand Tires (LingLing and Doral)
 

Anyone had any experience with off brand tires before?

I am looking for some new rubber to replace what's on the 240z, and am having huge difficulty finding some decent performance rubber in the current size of 195/70r14(Or anything close). The only thing available from every major brand is a touring tire at best. I really love the current look, but will go to 15" wheels if I have too. But it seems to get a good tire selection you need to go to 16" these days.

After hours of searching I found a couple that look promising, but A) I've never heard of them, and B) They are cheap (Good and bad). I can't even find the manufacturer website for Doral, but read a rumour they are made by Cooper?


Here are the tires specifically. Both are similar in price. Any first hand experience?

Doral Tires SDL-A 195/70R14 A/S BW 91S

-Cross-Wind-Passenger Car Radial Tyres-Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd.

I wouldn't bother with Chinese tires. I just changed a set of Triangles that came with my car when I bought it and they were starting to chunk off, and that's just from normal use too. You get what you pay for.

tires and brakes are parts i never cheap out on... i would much rather find a set of used 80%+ tread name brand tires than buy brand new China tires

So would I. They just aren't available anymore. As I said above, these are the only performance tires available in this size range these days. The few reviews online are pretty decent, but i'm still very skeptical. Quality control (chunking off stated above) does concern me, but they are cheap enough to try I suppose.

Tires are the only thing that contacts the road, would you trust a no-name made in China brand? I wouldn't.

Either buy a "name brand" touring tire, or look at a different size.

I would put money down on a name brand A/S or Touring tire outperforming a Made in China POS "summer" tire anyway.

They make Dunlop Z II's in 195/60/14 if that helps...

Edit:
Sorry, I meant RT615K's

ZII's do come in 185/60 however, though that is not helpful at all.

^ That's a full inch and a half less than what's he's looking for...

A quick search on Tireland's website shows BFG advantage t/a, BFG touring t/a and Michelin defenders. If your are in a jam and have no other choice go with the no-namers. They will work but don't expect much. If you can afford it spend a little more and get a name brand tire.

Well, no performance tire is going to have 5.5" sidewalls anyway :)

195/70R14 = 24.7
215/60R14 = 24.2
225/60R14 = 24.6
both 215/225 sizes show they have bfg radial t/a's on tirerack and kaltire.
agreed with others, dislike the chinese tires, get a name brand tire instead.

If saving a few bucks is worth more than your life, buy them.

Nothing in a 195/70/14 is going to be performance oriented. Any decent, name brand, tire you get in that size, will outperform anything available when the car was new.

If you want to keep the stock rims, just go with a solid name brand tire, even if it's used. I don't think you're tracking the car or driving it hard at all.

If and when you do decide to drive it harder, just get a set of 15 or 16" mags but keep your original wheels in storage.

I think this answers my question. Ha. Everyone stating trying to save a few bucks over safety clearly never read original thread. The car will see auto x, but maybe a bigger set of wheels will have to be purchased for that.


Tire Test: Nine Affordable Summer Tires Take On the Michelin PS2 Comparison Tests - Page 3 - Car and Driver

lol @ lingling tires..

I wouldn't bother with Chinese anything. Well, maybe a keyboard. They make good k3&p90&$mnfi&)(87u54Bdij87&!!?

In b4 gululu rants about how China #1

Onlinetires.com - TIRES Search Results

Sorted from Highest Price to Lowest so you can see the good name brands first. Onlinetires used to carry rare sizing in 14s and 13s when I was looking at a set for my Miata. Like Mini Cooper spec Toyos etc. Theyre a good resource when finding harder to find sizes.

Great selection! BFGoodrich T/A's and Falken Sincera look like good candidates. Will have to check out some reviews.

I am morally opposed to tires named LingLing. Sounds like a quick way to get a DingDing.

Lingdongs are the best handling tires...


/sarcasm.

Don't get off-brands if you value your life or your car. I know people who changed their new off-brand tires to Michelins in less than 2000kms because of how scary it was in the rain.

Tire Test: Nine Affordable Summer Tires Take On the Michelin PS2 Comparison Tests - Page 3 - Car and Driver

China doing what it does best, shitty copies.

So what you're saying is....

they're good for drifting and last a (Ling) long time?

:considered:






:fullofwin:

i hope all ricers buy those.. and think they can drift, then drift into a wall.