I bought my 2014 i30 at 11 months old, with the stock tyres and 10k on the clock. The tread was wearing very quickly, and I wanted to replace with something with a deeper standard tread so instead of just changing the fronts, I changed everything for Dunlop BluResponse Sport's at around 19k miles.
Initially I was very happy with the Dunlops, stickier than the stocks, but very quickly the handling started to degrade on the car. Didn't think a great deal of it, and the better half didn't notice anything strange.
At around 30k miles (4 year service), I was shown that there was cracking starting in the centre of the treads on all four tyres. Was told it wasn't too bad, passed the MOT but should just keep an eye on it.
I've just had the 5 year interim service and MOT (37k miles), this time at a trusted independent garage and friend of the family that looks after all our other cars in the family (I'd been going to the dealer as I was considering trading in for a newer i30 / Tucson but have decided to hang onto the i30, so just went local). Mentioned the tyres, and just said to swap them all round as the cracking was pointed out a year ago, and the tread depth is still legal, but only just.
He put Uniroyal RainExpert 3's on. Also did have new rear brake pads and discs, and the service and MOT. The car is now handling the best it evert has. The niggles I've had with handling for the past 18 months have all completely gone... Even the tiny niggles I had with vagueness of steering since getting the car in the first place, no longer an issue.
Yet to try the tyres in proper rain, but looking at reviews of the RainExpert 3's after having them put on and noticing the difference, a lot of people seem very happy with them on all range of vehicles. They cost less than the Dunlop's, and time will tell how they last --- but they'd have to seriously try hard to degrade as fast as the Dunlops!
Just thought I'd share my experience so far with them in case anyone else is looking for tyres! I'll pop an update in a few months and maybe a year too.
