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MG Midget and Sprite General - Fate tyres

Has anyone heard of/had experience of FATE tyres?

I've been offered a set from a friend of a friend - 13 155 80

Christian
C L Carter

Not an auspicious tradename.
M Blencowe

Argentina.

http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/car-tyres/FATE/
Lawrence Slater

yeah that's why I asked...

Thanks for that Lawrence, a bit more info always useful, but it doesn't tell me much about quality... they're clearly not dunlop or pirelli standard, but I guess I can't complain, partworns with min 6.5mm tread... they'll last a few years at the mileage I'll do

at least thats my thinking
C L Carter

I think they are probably ok. Got this from the company website.

http://www.fate.com.ar/site/inicio/home/?idioma=en

"FATE is Argentina's leading company manufacturing and exporting of tires."

WE OFFER?
Fate produces and markets the most complete line of tires for cars, vans, trucks and agricultural machinery and road with a superior level of quality under ISO 9000 / 14001.

I found a couple of reviews, and one guy said they lasted well and gave good grip. If your getting them very cheap, you could always see how you like them, and if not, change them.
Lawrence Slater

So when the bead is correctly mounted to the rim the fitter is bound to say...

your fate is sealed!

Sorry I'll get my hat and coat!
Andrew McGee

Sorry to ask but why consider a cheap unknown brand when there are plenty of quality brands selling quality tyres at reasonable prices?
Onno K

read this guy's (OP Renn Sport) report - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=825559&mid=0

bear in mind he has a different type of car and maybe reporting on a different model of Fate tyre

I remember the name, not difficult I know, but not what about them

for years tyres have been sold on the fasion of tread patterns, ones that where top of the 'Premier League' one year can drop down the fashion and tip of technical prowess but still excellent tyres but now no longer at 'Premier League' prices

also company names that are not known in this country at this time often are well known and respected elsewhere in the world and go on to be very well known and respected here

remember Toyo tyres, Daewoo cars built by the same huge company that built ships and tvs but little known here, LG originally making screens for other well known companies but unknown for themselves, Shimano cycle gears were the cheap Campagnolo copies that were behind Sun Tour in quality - Sun Tour who??

on a bicycle and tyre theme, Vredestein also make car tyres

once again I agree with L (we do sometimes agree just not that often) if they're really cheap try them - see how they compare in price to Yokohama a-drive (155/70/13)
Nigel Atkins

LOL. We NEVER agree on tyres Nigel. Have you been at the sherry? :)
Lawrence Slater

not since childhood Xmases :)

wish I could remember about Fate tyres, nope lost forever
Nigel Atkins

I had a couple of Fates on Lara a few years ago. They were fitted because they were inexpensive and I don't remember ever regretting the purchases.

I think I pounded them to regrettable shreds on a couple of track days which was why I opted for the GT2s next tyre around.

Rather think a couple (bigger ones of course) made their way onto my dear old Sayab too. A fine kind of "economy tyre" from my local chap.

They were OK.

They were not as good as my Goodyears, even though they aren't made here either.

Possibly Argentine origin for them too, can't be asssed to go look.

Sorry...
:)
Bill1

Okay so a few people think they are not half bad good for the ones who accidently bought them.
But I still do not know why you would buy them when there are known good affordable options.
I do not want to be the test dummie.

Onno K

all things have to start somewhere

I've advised a price check against a known good tyre on a Spridget (by some not all of course)

for Bill:-
from answerbag.com: - Goodyear manufactures tires at 57 plants in 23 countries, including the United States. The company manufactures tires for many types of vehicles, including passengers cars, trucks, buses, farm equipment, motorcycles, aircraft and industrial equipment.

from Goodyear UK:- Today, Goodyear is the world's largest tyre company, with a presence on six continents and annual sales of more than $15 billion. In addition to Goodyear brand tyres, it produces several other well-respected brand names including Dunlop, Kelly, Fulda, Lee, Sava and Debica
Nigel Atkins

Well, they are part worn tyres which have done 1000miles... have 6.5 - 8mm tread... and have been pressure tested

the cost £6.50 a tyre

I'm going to have a look at them this weekend and I'll report back to see if they are okay.

Onno, you can get reasonably priced tyres... around £40 a tyre... but thats £200 all round... plus the £45 exchange price on the rostyles for refurbed ones... £225.... + fitting... before you know it, you've spent £500 on new wheels... which is as much as the car cost.

This is a cheap practical little car... which doesn't do the mileage or speed to warrant premier league tyres. I'm not racing on them... or chucking the back end out on corners... so what "risk" am I running?

By the time the tread wears off my tyres, I expect my sidewalls will be perished anyway.

This is me trying to justify the partworns.

Still if you can find me some nice 13 155 80 goodyears at £30 a corner... I'll consider them.

C L Carter

Ah now you've got me

I bought my Goodyears from my local guy at £35 each, fitted and balanced...

'cos they are regarded as second rank tyres I didnt have to pay a premium price. Ask your local guy about Goodyear GT2s he may be able to get them for you at similar prices through his trade links, cheapish.

Still have nothing bad to add about the Fates though, I thrashed the life out if them for a long time befoe I started "track-daying" on them
Bill1

Bill that is cheap! Fitted! I'll give my local guy a call and find out ...

But where is your local guy based?

C L Carter

Christian
If driving on a public road would only concern yourself your argument would be valid.
But you are dependant on all the other road users and you can find yourself in a dangerous situation you did not create.

Children do not consider that a car can be comming down the road when they go after a soccerbal.

It is offcourse your choice and you should do as you please or as budget dictates.

This is how I view these things and what I base my decisions on
Onno K

8mm must be the spare unles you mean they slope across the tread from 6.5-8mm :)

at that price sounds excellent but remember to allowing for fitting, balancing and disposal of old tyres and thoroughly check these tyres tread and sidewalls in good light

I prefer 155/80 tyre size as it suits the car well with plenty of sidewall for feel, comfort and appearance

don't know what size your running on now but originally they ran on 145/80/13 so 155 will be slightly wider and higher but unnoticable, will effect speedo readings slightly but allowing for speedo inaccuracies it could actually improve it

this tells you about size differences - http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

you're quite right the amount of tread on a tyre doesn't always reflect how worn and aged the tyre is

and this how to tell the age of the tyres - http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

always remember tyres are the cars only contact and grip with the road even if you have every electronic driving aid on the car you still only have those four small points of contact

tyres help with braking, steering, roadholding, ride, comfort and noise

you're quite right the amount of tread on a tyre doesn't always reflect how worn and aged the tyre is
Nigel Atkins

Onno, you are of course correct - children run into the road.

It is also correct that good tyres will stop quickly.

For these two reasons - there is an ISO standard on quality of tyres (which these appear to meet/exceed)

There is also a speed limit on the roads. There is also a driving test which check's your awareness of children and other potenial hazards.

Okay, so I've become a little pendantic! But whatever I put on the car, it will be an improvement to what its currently running on... and if it was a choice between a £30 budget tyre and a £40 good tyre... I'd probably go for the good tyre... but... its not.
C L Carter

I'd also like to know the science for why a budget tyre won't stop as quickly as a branded one.

Quality of rubber?? doesn't quite cut it for me... it doesn't mean anything... if that could be quantified...

What I would be interested in doing... is taking two similar midgets to a track... one with budget tyres fitted...one with yoka joka yo yos... and doing a 60mph-0 braking test

then swapping the wheels over and testing them on the other vehicle for the interests of fairness...

Nigel, you say 12m? but that doesn't mean anything without the acutal stopping distance. If one stopped in 10m and the other 22m... then I'd be worried.
C L Carter

>>Nigel, you say 12m? but that doesn't mean anything without the acutal stopping distance. If one stopped in 10m and the other 22m... then I'd be worried.<<

er, no not me, not put anything about 12m

I've not said anything against budget tyres, I've put a link to a good report for one model of Fate tyres at least and put that 'non-Premier league' tyres are can be excellent tyres

horses for courses - one make, model and compond of tyre can be excellent on a big heavy german saloon but not so well suited to a light British sports car

tyres are more than just rubber, I'm not technical but I do know from experience that different makes, models and componds of tyres can make a difference to a car very noticably

on the same vehicle I've swapped from good standard tyres to high performance then when they were worn back to standard tyres and even though the performance tyres were worn (but not worn out probably 2-3mm tread) once the new stanard tyres were worn in they still were as good as the worn performance tyres when they were took off

on a MX-5 the tyres were too grippy for my liking in the dry and I knew the Mx-5 can slip out unexpectedly in the damp/wet so I swapped to less grippy dry tyres but better in the wet to even out the weather handling and put a bit of fun in

I've also swapped tyres on two other cars with under 1,000 miles on the previous tyres asthe correct tyre can made a big difference to a performace vehicle

obviously a Spridget is at the lower end of performance but it's still a fun sportscar

tyres for Spridgets are not expensive and can make a big difference to the enjoyment of driving them

but

Bill has said that his model of Fate tyres were good and at the very low potential cost of these for you as I said before I'd give them a try
Nigel Atkins

I don't have an opinion on the Fate brand but ISO 9000 / 14001 says nothing about the quality or properties of the tyre. It only certifies the procedures that describe how the Fate-factory is organised.

It would be very possible to get an ISO certification for the manufacturing of concrecte life-vests. If they are manufactured according the procedures laid down in the certificate everything would be in order.
I would however not recommend trying an ISO certified concrete life-vest.
Willem vd Veer

Not altogether relevant, but I came across this advert in a 1967 MotorSport this morning.

Geoff Ev

Well that's okay Jeff... cos I'm not buying cross ply... I'm buying radials.
C L Carter

I missed the ISO 9000 bit but having worked at a company that applied for and got it I can confirm it just says there are procedures for recording things not that the things that are being recorded are necesarily of best procedure or relevance

some companies woulddn't deal with others unless they were certificated

as with a lot of things the intial idea is good but then things get diluted and adjusted and like a lot of tests people/companies learn to pass these tests to get the certificates rather than learn what the certifictes were suppose to test

ETA:
Christian,
they were both made with the same quality of rubber :)
Nigel Atkins

Nigel,

I've found your favourites Yoko A drives at £30.76

I've also found a nice Uniroyal at £26, and that is 155 80

So many choices!!!
C L Carter

sounds a good price does it include VAT, fitting, balancing, valve and disposal of old tyre?

what about a price for 165/70/13 A-drive, that would have been the low profile back in the day?
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 03/01/2012 and 04/01/2012

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