Any experience with Sailun tires?

[Dougal Short]

I need two sets of snows this year (bad timing!) and my tire guy is carrying these tires from China. He says they have had decent reviews, although total mileage is unknown at this point. He suspects "less" than many tires. Wheels.ca seems to think that they are decent...

Here's the rub though... They are about 60% of the cost of Goodyears or similar. One car is older, and I'll likely only have it another season so "total miles" isn't a huge concern.

Apparently most tires are made in Chile and Central America anyway, so my usual "buy local" isn't relevant.

We know Chinese tires are good for driving over 2-year olds, but I'd love to hear from anyone who has them. I'd rather spend less than more.

And please spare me the "you don't need snow tires". I drive a lot in the winter. Lots of skiing in Quebec and Vermont... and live in the country. I have three vehicles, all are all wheel drive, and all get snows!

Thanks!

 

[Ceiling Cat]

I only have personal experience with snow tires. There are so many variables. I once had a very expensive set of snow tires that lasted only 3 seasons. Good grip in snow sometimes means quick wear on dry pavement. Try to find some reviews on the internet to help you make up your mind. Kumho tires were once unknown and considered lower end imported crap, but they have a fair reputation now.

http://www.wheels.ca/article/790723

Review ( Wheels.ca ) :

Sailun Atrezzo Z4+AS

The Sailun Atrezzo Z4+AS seems to have Michelin in its design sights. It comes in 1st in ride quality. Everyone praised its gentle ride: tied for 1st in lack of road noise and 3rd in bump absorbing. These are all Michelin strengths.

The Atrezzo has a very sporty aggressive looking tread pattern. But the tire is not a sports tire: it came 5th in the dry and 6th in the wet on the skidpad. Taken on their own, its .833 g-number is quite good. The tire’s tread was just too soft to maintain any high grip load as it heated up. In fact it was better at .840 in the wet, the water probably cooling the tread. In the dry, it was possible to see the hot rubber coming off the tire.

The skidpad was also not kind to this tire with ratings of 3rd in the dry by time and 6th by g-load. This tire is very easy to control. In the wet, not so much, rated at 6th. It just had too much tread squirm.

On the track, it was rated 6th. But for the street, its many good qualities pulled it up to a very solid 3rd place overall, just a hair off first place. At the right retail price, it is a winner among people wanting Michelin-like characteristics. List price is $125, estimated selling price is $96.

This is a review that compares $282 Michelins against the $96 Sailun Tires.

 

[Dougal Short]

The "Wheels" review compared them in some ways to Michelin.... soft and comfy... But suggested they might wear quickly. But for the price, I can damn near buy two sets for the price of normal tires! The ones he suggest for my A4 were only $107 a pop, plus mounting...

 

[Ceiling Cat]

When tires are new, they will have 100% useful tread, when tires wear down to 40% or less they have worn out all the useful tread and can become dangerous. Especially winter tires. At half or one third price, I would prefer to buy two sets of these no name tires and get deep tread for winter driving. The reviews seem to be good. I would not be surprised to find out that they make some brand name tires, They seem to have the expertise to produce a good tire.