Michelin Synchrone alternatives...

The time has come to replace my fronts on my 55 Reg Freelander TD4, 3 door. I have got Synchrones fitted all round and the rears look like they still have many thousands of miles left in them. (Obviously I'll be swapping these to the front when the new tyres get fitted.)

I use my Freelander mostly for general use to and from work etc so tarmac driving accounts for possibly 90% of my miles.

What tyres are people recommending these days now that the Synchrones have not been available for several years? I have seen various mentions of Pirelli Scorpion STRs around the forums, also Hankook Ventus, but I am struggling to find a 'Forums Favourite' for the size of tyre I need... (225/55 R17)

Any suggestions or help on this would be greatly appreciated.

the latest michelin , should be the most compatible, latitude it is called, two or three tread patterns depending on your requirements.

Hi there,
Do not use the Synchrone in combination with the Latitude. There was an official warning from Michelin to tire suplliers not to combine Sunchrone with Latitude. Do a search in this forum and you will see. Or give Michelin a call. I would not recommend to combine the Synchrones with other tires.

silkwood said:

Hi there,
Do not use the Synchrone in combination with the Latitude. There was an official warning from Michelin to tire suplliers not to combine Sunchrone with Latitude. Do a search in this forum and you will see. Or give Michelin a call. I would not recommend to combine the Synchrones with other tires.

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Thanks silkwood,

I was aware that it is not advisable to mix Synchrone and Latitude and because of this I have been looking for tyres from a different manufacturer. I don't want to have to replace all 4 tyres when 2 are still in very good condition but you state that you would not recommend mixing with any other tyres? Is that a general recommendation or just you being extra cautious?

You say you don't want to have to replace all four when two are still in good condition but my wife was in this situation just a few weeks ago and had to do exactly that (actually she replaced all five as the spare was an unused Synchrone and wouldn't have matched the replacements). The fronts weren't worn out but had started to crack with age (2006 originals) so a full set was on the cards (I sold the "new" spare on Ebay).
Certainly we weren't going to mix Synchrone's & Lattitudes and as Lattitudes were £175 each (Costco had them on offer at £131 each but when I went in to order a set of five they said they couldn't supply them for several weeks) so we bought Hankook's which are excellent.

hi i swear by Goodyear wrangler they are good of and on road and are quiet on road that is more than you can say for some others

I've just ordered 4 General UHP's for mine, get them fitted on Friday. I wanted General AT2's but it seems they don't do them in 17". I'll let you know how they go.

m0z said:

Thanks silkwood,

I was aware that it is not advisable to mix Synchrone and Latitude and because of this I have been looking for tyres from a different manufacturer. I don't want to have to replace all 4 tyres when 2 are still in very good condition but you state that you would not recommend mixing with any other tyres? Is that a general recommendation or just you being extra cautious?

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Hi there. I think that the same problem you can have with mixing synchrones en latitudes you can have by mixing synchrones with other manufacturers. It's all about the diameter. Also i wouldn't want two diffrent paterns front and rear. But that is my opinion. I have two unused Synchrones because a couple of years ago I bought extra rims for winter and summer use with tyres on it. The spares were never used. And I can't find two unused synchrones 215/65/r16 in the Netherlands.

Hi just been through all this see HOT VCU theres only 5mm tollerance in height between front and rear tyres i had to replace all 4 with same size and make !

I made the mistake of trying to save afew bob having put 2 latitudes on the rear a few months ago.

2 months later, I had to replace the fronts as they were found to be badly out of shape (and it turned out, several years older than the motor!!). Didn't want to shell out as much so went for a cheaper option.

Result? Well I never even thought of circumference did I hence, although the difference is minimal, have been experiencing all sorts of vibrations. Turns out this few milimetres has been causing wind-up and stress on the prop. False economy - will always replace with exact match if possible or all 4 tyres at same time in future.

i have just had the same problem. the rear tyres were cracked and needed to be replaced but the fronts were nearly new. i changed all 4 for michelin latitude and kept the front 2 to sell so i have just listed 2 michelin synchrones 225/55/r17 on ebay. 6mm tread left on both tyres.They have been on the freelander for about 12 months but only done about 5000 miles.

17" Pirelli Scorpions are on mine

Well, got em on now (General UHP's), cost me £530.00 balanced and fitted, seem ok so far, and don't look bad either. Time will tell.