Hello there,
Complete novice here.
I think I'm in need of some new tyres. Front tyres are sometimes skipping when accelerating and that's probably not good.
I'm pretty sensible most days, my drives are mainly suburban roads and free ways, I'd want the tyre to last, but I'd still like a reasonably grippy tyre.
I'm just using stock wheels, so 205 65 15.
I've done as much research as I could get my head around, apparently these are popular;
Kumho KU31's
Yokohama C & A drives.
Anything else I should be looking at?

I can find new KU31's for $395 for 4. However I'd have to source fitting + balancing myself.
Is it cost effective this way, or is it better to go to a shop and get it all done on the spot?

Welcome to the forums - im close to having to get new treads all round & this is where I'll be getting mine from:

http://www.option1garage.com.au/NewTyres.htm

check it out :)

The Kumho KU31s will be the grippiest but are likely to be the noisiest of those three tyres, and would probably wear quicker (since, unlike the Yokohamas, they're more performance-orientated).

I don't think you can go wrong with your two choices there.

I've had KU31s before and have them now on the Magna. For the price they are a good tyre.
But I'm a fan of Yokohama, even their cheap tyres (when I had a little Daihatsu) gripped extremely well. They didn't last to 20,000kms with my driving but for the price and grip I was very happy.

As for getting a good price - I found a local tyre shop had KU31s on special and they were only $10 more than the lowest prices on ebay. So give your local tyre shop(s) a chance to compete and ask them about fitting only price.

Just fitted Bridgestone 205/65/15 T001 Turanza, Treadwear 320, massive water channels, pretty grippy, not too noisy, V rated Japan manufacture and only $117 ea at KTAS about 3 weeks ago here in Darwin. That also includes their free rotation and balance every 10 000K.
I'd be surprised if there's anything else of this quality for those dollars with a V rating I can't remember if it was a sale but I think they're a fairly new release.

Previous were Good Year Assurance AG, grippier, very quiet and had excellent steering response but very soft at Treadware of 240 and only got about 40 - 50 000 K. I did see them for $99 ea about a month ago but I believ they have ditched them and renamed Assurance FM with a harder compound at Treadware 320.

I got Bridgestone RE92's a few weeks ago on the front and I'm happy with them, we've had a few showers after a dry spell which normally creates slippery roads and unless I get silly they are fine .

Have a look at tyre review sites.

Just on the Yokohama C drives; I've used these for years on my 3rd gen FWD and now have the series 2's on my AWD.
These tyres are IMO extremely grippy, wet and dry, but I haven't tried other high quality brands much, so I cant speak comparatively, only subjectively. Still, difficult to imagine a grippier tyre on my FWD which is why I stuck with them.

On the AWD the experience has not been as clear cut. This car has increased understeer and is harsher on the tyre edges where feathering does happen. Overall still good, but not blowing me away like they do on the FWD.
It's not a grip issue, something else is happening, like slightly worse body roll or something. Different car, different setup and different experience.

For the FWD 3rd gen I'd definitely recommend them.