Writing about the
Goodyear Eagle NCT5 given
43% (215-65-16-)
Driving on
mostly country roads for 15000
easy going miles
We Have a CHRYSLER GRAND VOYAGER, 215 65 16, and these were fitted as standard. I would say THIS is where the Grand Voyager gets it’s bad press from, (as regards handling). The only good thing to say for these tyres is the wear rate. But then you can’t/daren’t put them under pressure so you will save rubber. Of course there is the time when you’ll NEED to put them under pressure, and they’ll be away… even in the dry. The side walls are too soft, but the danger point is in the wet. Even a shallow puddle will bring a lump, not to your throat, but to another bit of you anatomy that you may be sitting on.
Look at the tread pattern, when water is channelled into the grooves… then what, where does it go from there? Back underneath the rubber thereby lifting you off the road surface, commonly known as aquaplaning. And this is the worst aspect of these tyres. Yes it will lose the water when it lifts off the surface, but you need a clear contact while it’s touching the road.
When I used to rally, there were companies that followed the event around that hand cut tread in tyres to your own spec/pattern. If I found to my misfortune that I had to use NCT5’s again, I’d root out such a device and have ‘V’ grooves cut in over the top to channel the water away, similar to how Goodyear have done their F1 GSD3 and Uniroyal their Rain sport/experts. Yes I am a directional tyre fan, but there is good reason. NCT5’s may be ok in California, but in the wet watch out.