What are the best tyres?

[Thirdtimeluck]

Hello all.

I have a fabia 2.0 elegance tuned by amg 135bhp 150 ft lb torque with koni adjustable suspention on eibach fast road springs. I also has a seat strut brace, a vrs anti roll bar, a Janspeed stainless steal backbox adn a K&N filter.

I am currently using bridgestone ponzers - which are starting to wear low and am curess to what tryes to guys have on you rides?
I am looking for good wet and dry grip (mostly dry) and slowish wear.
I run 195/50 r15 atm. I have heard alot about goodyear f1 eagals... are they good?

[Makefish]

Goodyear Eagle F1's are indeed an excellent tyre, but along with many of the performance tyres they arn't particularly hardwearing. For a more hard wearing 'performance' tyre, I would suggest that either Michelin Pilot Exalto's or Pirelli's P6000 Powergy may be a more suitable option.

[ChrisRs]

Khumo Ecsta's. ... Great price good all round very hard wearing tyre

[Joff]

Ecsta's are a budget tyre though, no where near the performance of the Michelin Pilots.

The best wearing tyres I've found are Compomotive Contisports and have had pretty reasonable grip.

Yoko 539s are soft as you like, Pirelli PZero Nero's were better.

Currently using Eagle F1s (GSD3) so I guess only time will tell.

[Stuart_J]

Originally Posted by Makefish

Goodyear Eagle F1's are indeed an excellent tyre, but along with many of the performance tyres they arn't particularly hardwearing. For a more hard wearing 'performance' tyre, I would suggest that either Michelin Pilot Exalto's or Pirelli's P6000 Powergy may be a more suitable option.

We run Toyos on the 4x4 Octy (350 bhp) for performance but they only last about 10000 a set, the L&K has P6000's & they seem to last for ages yet still give good alround grip but nothing fantastic

Remember if you are only buying 2 tyres with a front wheel drive car the new ones always go on the back.

[Joff]

Originally Posted by Stuart_J

Remember if you are only buying 2 tyres with a front wheel drive car the new ones always go on the back.

I thought this was only for Joe public so they didn't have a massive difference in grip at the front from a worn tire to a brand new one?

[Stuart_J]

Originally Posted by Joff

I thought this was only for Joe public so they didn't have a massive difference in grip at the front from a worn tire to a brand new one?

On a FWD car if your front tyres are worn but the back are good when you go through corners too quickly you will get understeer which should sort itself out when you lift off the gas

With good front tyres & poor rears you can corner faster but the back might break away IF HOWEVER you reach understeer & lift off the weight is transfered to the front of the car, the rear is very likely to loose grip completely & the car will spin with the resulting accident

[TaviaRS]

Pirelli P7 or P Zero Nero would be my choice, with the latter being first pick.

I know it is wrong but I always put the new ones on the front

[Schern]

I'm always slightly confused by this... tyres are the same rubber all the way through right? They don't lose grip as they get older (unless we're talking silly old). They just wear the tread pattern down... ah, kind of answered my query here. In the wet it would make a difference, as you have less depth of tread for water to squash into which could result in aquaplaning, but in the dry I can't see it making any difference at all.

[Joff]

Originally Posted by TaviaRS

I know it is wrong but I always put the new ones on the front

Same here, but that's because with my driving the fronts don't stay good for long

[TaviaRS]

Originally Posted by Schern

I'm always slightly confused by this... tyres are the same rubber all the way through right? They don't lose grip as they get older (unless we're talking silly old). They just wear the tread pattern down... ah, kind of answered my query here. In the wet it would make a difference, as you have less depth of tread for water to squash into which could result in aquaplaning, but in the dry I can't see it making any difference at all.

Ah, but they do have different compounds, well some do anyway German tyres in particular are "bad" for this, especially if buying in the UK. Here the legal limit is 1.6mm IIRC, in Germany it is 3mm. Buy a set of Dunlops or Continentals and you will notice a marked deterioration in grip when you get to the 3mm, especially in the wet. I noticed this loss of grip and couldn't work out why it was so. It was only when talking to a German friend about tyre depths in the UK (he noticed that mine were at about 2mm when at the Ring) and he told me they were illegal in Germany. So, there ya go

[Mil]

You got pics of your car?

[TaviaRS]

Yes thank you. Have you got any of yours?

[Makefish]

Originally Posted by TaviaRS

Pirelli P7 or P Zero Nero would be my choice, with the latter being first pick.

I know it is wrong but I always put the new ones on the front

Pirelli don't make a P Zero Nero in the size of wheel he's got (195/50/R15)!.

[Goochie]

Originally Posted by Joff

Ecsta's are a budget tyre though, no where near the performance of the Michelin Pilots.

Are you basing that on any personal experience or just a load of tosh?

Now the Ecstas have scrubbed up on the Octavia they are very very good indeed Unlike the Michelin Pilots or Continentals that we've had on there before.

Get the Kumho. Great tyre, great price.

[WW_VRS]

The GY Eagle F1s I found particularly sh!te until they had at least 5k on them driving at fair pace on motorways when the road was dry, grip was awful during cornering and the sidewalls appeared to collapse rather too easily.

In the dry the Conti SC IIs were (30 mph faster during cornering) better BUT in the wet you had to be very careful.

The GY Eagle F1 (GSD3 as well, just to clarify) are now behaving themselves and/or I've got used to them and they're very consistent in how the car feels. Did get a full set at the same time to be safe though.

3mm is as low as I'd be willing to go anyway, below that most tyres won't have sufficient grip in the wet, although on the track in the dry they could be fine, hard to say as I tend to change them before that happens

[Shifty]

Originally Posted by Stuart_J

With good front tyres & poor rears you can corner faster but the back might break away IF HOWEVER you reach understeer & lift off the weight is transfered to the front of the car, the rear is very likely to loose grip completely & the car will slide, resulting in a big cheesy grin

Oh yeah

[ChrisRs]

Originally Posted by Goochie

Are you basing that on any personal experience or just a load of tosh?

Now the Ecstas have scrubbed up on the Octavia they are very very good indeed Unlike the Michelin Pilots or Continentals that we've had on there before.

Get the Kumho. Great tyre, great price.

Personal experience. I had the rear of my Megane shod with them. (Long story) For the price I dont think they can be beaten. Why pay more for similar results. THEY ARE GOOD When my Bridgestones are worn out, and it wont be long the way I drive, Its Khumos here we come!Again

[Goochie]

I think we're missing the point here guys - since when did AMG start tuning n/a Skodas ?

[cheezemonkhai]

I seriously rate the pilot exalto tyres.

A very good compromise on price vs the sport and stunning levels of grip, especially in the wet. (This doesn't mean drive like a loon in the wet, just means it holds on v well). They are pretty hard wearing too.

Re AMG, maybe they mean AMD