Citroën C5 X hybrid 225 Tires

This is a further update on the Goodyears. Previously I had complained about the poor fuel consumption with these tires. After 3,000 miles, there has been some improvement hence this review. However I estimate I am still around 2 mpg down with these tires.

I have never experienced this before with new tires, but it has taken over 2,000 miles for these Goodyear Vector 3’s to ‘bed in’. There is definitely less resistance from the tires now, and the car will freewheel further. Fuel consumption has improved, but it is still not as good as my previous tires - Kleber Quadraxer 3’s. Apart from that gripe, the tires are excellent.

I drive a lot in Italy and generally the locals don’t hang around. So you need a car that is agile and tires that will grip well. Certainly on wet and greasy roads, the Goodyears really hold on. Wet braking is good too. I have not had a chance to try them on snow or ice.

The Goodyears make the car feel more chuckable and it changes direction without hesitation. The ride quality though, maybe because of this, is not so forgiving. It is just a question now of how long they will last, and when their performance might start to drop off.

In the future I will certainly pay more attention to the rolling resistance of tires, and will choose a tire with the lowest. It really does seem to make a difference.

This is my second review of these tires. I have covered over 2,000 miles with them and my initial perceptions of these tires has been reinforced.

Although acceptable in other driving dynamics, the extremely high rolling resistance is a problem. My average fuel consumption has been increased from 5.4/ per 100 kms to 6.6/ per 100 kms at 115 kph. In mpg terms, the consumption has increased from an average on a long run of 49/51 mpg to 42/43 mpg. This is huge. I have been in contact with Goodyear technical UK, but they have not been much help. I watched the tires being fitted at Halfords - nothing else happened to the car. However the effect of these new tires was immediately noticeable. They are like driving on donuts is the best description I can find.

The tires are not only increasing my fuel consumption, but sap the power of the engine. I have never known tires to have such an adverse effect in nearly 50 years of driving. These tires are supposed to be B rated for rolling resistance. In my experience these tires do not compare to my previous tires with the same rating. Either the B classification for rolling resistance is wrong for these tires, or the category is extremely broad. With such a high rolling resistance, the extra cost of these tires over 50,000 miles is huge.

Goodyear is supposed to be a premium brand, but they are producing tires with the rolling resistance of a Budget tire. Tomorrow I will drive from northern France to Venice again. This is a regular run for me. I will be able to calculate how much extra in fuel these tires are costing me.

I have just had a set of these put on after 58,000 kms with Kleber Quadraxer 3 all season tires.

Yesterday I had my first long distance run in really dreadful wet conditions. The Goodyears performed well, but it was noticeable that when there was a lot of surface water, the Goodyear’s did not cope as well as the Klebers. Where the Klebers simply cut through the water, you can feel the car slowing down as the Goodyears clear the water.

In the wet and greasy conditions, the Goodyears offered excellent grip and inspired confidence. The handling of the car has improved with a more rapid response to directional changes.

What I have been shocked by is the drop in fuel economy of my car. It is huge. Where my 1.2 Citroen C5x would give 3.9L/100km at 115 kms with the Klebers, this is now 4.8L/100km. I will check the tire pressures and keep an eye on this, but if this does not improve, I will have to remove these Goodyear tires very soon.

The time has come to replace the Klebers. What an excellent tire they have been. The set has lasted just over 58,000 kms. What is really impressive is even as the tire tread depth dropped, the grip in the wet did not deteriorate. In fact there is still plenty of tread on the tires, they are not down to the wear bars yet. I am only changing them early as I will be driving through the Alps and Dolomites in the next few months, otherwise if winter was behind me, I would have left them on longer.

I have fitted Michelin Cross Climate tires to previous cars, but the Klebers are just as good - if not slightly better with regard to ride comfort and low noise. I would have bought another set, but I am in the U.K. at the moment and the Klebers seem hard to get hold of.

It's been a good tire that last a good amount of time I'm buying them again.

I had this tire on my shortlist. My priorities were good wet grip, ride comfort, and the ability to tackle anything Winter throws at them.

I have not encountered any snow despite making two round trips through the Alps this Winter. These tires are excellent for cruising as they are quiet and absorb a lot of the imperfections in the road. Wet grip is excellent and also their aqua plane resistance. They were a lot better value than Michelin Cross Climate 2’s, and it will be interesting to see how long the Klebers last.

This is the first time I have bought Kleber tires, and I will certainly continue to buy them. The only thing I would like to see would be an option for rim protectors.

Many thanks to Tirereviews.com for all the information that helped me choose these tires.

These were the OEM tires on my Citroën C5X. If you approach it with the knowledge that it is not a Pilot Sport 4S, you will be completely convinced of its main qualities! (fuel saving, quiet rolling noise, good comfort, long lasting)

A good choice for every Plug-in Hybrid or EV car, definitely will fit them (or their replacement) again!