Continental tyres can cause a drumming sound while driving partly due to their construction, as they wear the rear tyres inside surface can experience uneven tyre block wear, causing a thrumming noise which is vey annoying, Michelin and Bridgestone do not cause the same level of problem. This was explained to me by a good french mechanic.

There's a good deal of conjecture around tyres, each will have their own prefered brand or not for that matter.

 

I used to have Michelins way back (years ago)  as I thought they were the best for grip and pretty quiet. Quite expensive then and are these days, sometimes being an expensive tyre doesn't alway mean you get the best.

Bridgestones I find them pretty harsh (hard) and noisy, I had suffered them on my new SEAT for many years, not my choice as they came fitted new on the car, couldn't wear them out but they eventually got past their best and degraded badly.  I'm on another forum and Mazda fit those to new cars, not the best is the general feeling and some members can't wait to get rid for there favoured brand..

I've had fitted Kumho to both my cars, middle of the range/brand some say, even cheaper end of the range of tyres it could be said. They are a perfect all round tyre, I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them.

The 'French Mechanic' seemed to be making a bit of a generalisation given the many different types / compounds etc of those 3 brands.

Maybe he / she was specifically talking about Superb's and tyres, but then there is  Sawtoothing issues with some models which are a well known issue. 

The rear alignment and the issues caused by it with any tyres.

 

Then you have AWD's with problems with tyres.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/482452-excessive-tyre-wear-4x4

 

PS

French mechanic reckons French & Spanish made tyres might be a better choice than German ones shocker!

 

On 16/07/2020 at 12:57, JRSin said:

as they wear the rear tyres inside surface can experience uneven tyre block wear, causing a thrumming noise which is very annoying,

 

You can stop the build up of this by regularly swapping the tyres from side to side.

 

Thanks, AG Falco

8 hours ago, MickA said:

I've had fitted Kumho to both my cars, middle of the range/brand some say, even cheaper end of the range of tyres it could be said. They are a perfect all round tyre, I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them.

 

my octy was fitted with a full set of them by the dealer when i bought it.

had them previously on old octy and cordoba. 

in a similar price bracket id preferred the firestones i got  for old octy. better wet grip.

i used to get Cooper zeons for my cordoba at a really good price and they were a decent all rounder, bout the same rate as the kuhmos/firestones but i paid 20% less than that..