Tyres - current favourites?

[poprock]

I know, I know. The topic has been done to death. Fashions and preferences change though and I'd like to know what people are happily running at the moment.

I'm about to replace my Continental Sport Contacts and am wondering whether to go for the same again, some Toyo TR1 Proxes, or a set of Bridgestones (that appears to be pretty much it for my options, given the sizes).

I realise that winter is coming, but I plan for these tyres to last me at least three years so I'm thinking all-season with good wet grip.

 

[944s2]

For what it's worth the Contcat 2 came joint second in this years Autocar tyre test

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2010-Autocar-Tyre-Test-FWD.htm

Just replaced the Bridgestones on my vauxhall with them and major difference seems to be a noticably more "compliant" ride

Coopers up in newmains get a good reputation on price locally

http://www.cooperbros.co.uk/

 

[peanut]

There is possibly another option to consider.

If you accept that when your high quality tyres have a significantly reduced performance over at least half of their lifetime then it makes sense to buy a cheaper tyre and replace them more frequently.
I use the Khumo Ecstar sport tyres which are cheap as chips . Wet performance is adequate for my driving on Somerset rural roads but when I can afford it I replace them before they get down to 3mm thereby always keeping plenty of tread on the road[]

 

[944s2]

Hmm

A tyre is the only thing which keeps you on the road

generally speaking cheap tyres IMO are only cheap for a reason

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: 944s2
generally speaking cheap tyres IMO are only cheap for a reason

I'd disagree with that. Having driven with Conti's, Falkens and Kumho's on my S2, the relationship of price to performance is pretty arbitrary. There is a lot of personal preference in there, but I preferred the Falkens to the Conti's, despite them being a fraction of the price.

3 Years is a lot of life to expect from a tyre - how many miles are you expecting to do in this time, and are you looking at fronts or rears? I usually get through 2 sets of rears for one set of fronts, doing about 20k and 40k miles on each, respectively.

Pirelli P3000's last for ever. And cost a fair chunk. (And are pretty grim to drive on for that matter.)


Oli.

 

[poprock]

ORIGINAL: 944s2

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/

Excellent website there, thanks Dougie.

I'm actually quite interested by the Uniroyal Rainsport 2 as well, the more I read about them. They seem to wear faster, but given my low mileage I could live with that for greater confidence in the wet and potentially better winter grip too.

I actually can't get Conti SC 2 for my wheel sizes, I'm on original SC's instead (always used SC 2's on my previous 944s).

 

[sulzeruk]

Tony, all the Uniroyals I have ever had on vehicles have been in a word, crap! Worth dropping Stuart (scam75) a PM and see if you can have a shot of his motor. He has just had 2 new front T1Rs fitted to the front and has already got them on the back. I have a set on my S2 and they would be my tire of choice at the mo. My Golf (2.8V6 4Mo) has a set of Dunlop SP9000s on them which I am liking more and more. Have just fitted a Scivision MAF to Stuarts car which has transformed it and makes it much more driveable,
Alasdair

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: 944s2

Hmm

A tyre is the only thing which keeps you on the road

generally speaking cheap tyres IMO are only cheap for a reason

your knowledge of tyre performance is clearly limited especially about Khumo Ecsta Sport tyres []

My S2 is shod with 255x40x17 ZR tyres and I'd be happy to put my S2 up against your car shod with any of the tyres you have mentioned in terms of wet and dry performance , road noise and durability /economy .

 

[homesea]

A lot of people on here recommended the Falken tyres and at about £80 a tyre it made my mind up. So I put them on the front only.
But while they are ok in wet and dry, push them and the car becomes a under-steering mess.

On the back I have Toyo tyres and when its dry they are great, they will happily put down the power my slightly tweaked turbo puts out.
When it's wet you need to be awake to keep the rear end in check. More than half throttle above 3.5k revs in any but top gear will cause a big zig zag down the road.

 

[MarkK]

Also I would rather have a brand new cheaper tyre to a 4 year old "quality" tyre if I had to make a choice... tyres deffo go a bit rubbish with age and get more brittle and hard,I have Cont N rated on a car and they are fine,a good combination of quality and price for me
Just want to add suspension will play a big roll in grip,if you have good tyres but a shot suspension handling will still suck no matter what rubber you put on....

 

[Neil Haughey]

Very good points Mark. Whilst I really like the all weather grip provided by Toyo T1-R I don't like the way they handle. The best tyre I have had on any car was the Michelin PE2 but not on a 944. I note they now have a version of that tyre N rated specifically for our cars, not cheap but they will likely be the next set on our 968.

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: homesea
When it's wet you need to be awake to keep the rear end in check. More than half throttle above 3.5k revs in any but top gear will cause a big zig zag down the road.

I'm always surprised by comments like this - I ran my 944 for 4 years on T1-R's & it would only break traction at the rear if you really tried hard - foot to the floor in 2nd, on boost, on a wet road for example. I was fairly careful to get it straight before putting the foot down, but the car was never twitchy in the way many RWD cars are. Mine was ~315lbft, with leda dampers but apart from that pretty standard. I can't think of a single time it misbehaved unless I was doing something a bit daft to provoke it.

 

[homesea]

ORIGINAL: edh

ORIGINAL: homesea
When it's wet you need to be awake to keep the rear end in check. More than half throttle above 3.5k revs in any but top gear will cause a big zig zag down the road.

I'm always surprised by comments like this - I ran my 944 for 4 years on T1-R's & it would only break traction at the rear if you really tried hard - foot to the floor in 2nd, on boost, on a wet road for example. I was fairly careful to get it straight before putting the foot down, but the car was never twitchy in the way many RWD cars are. Mine was ~315lbft, with leda dampers but apart from that pretty standard. I can't think of a single time it misbehaved unless I was doing something a bit daft to provoke it.

My old silver car was as you say, but this black one you have to treat it like your standing on eggs when wet.

 

[sulzeruk]

Maybe worth checking the rear suspension setup on it, tyres wearing squarely?? Overinflated???
Alasdair

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: homesea

ORIGINAL: edh

ORIGINAL: homesea
When it's wet you need to be awake to keep the rear end in check. More than half throttle above 3.5k revs in any but top gear will cause a big zig zag down the road.

I'm always surprised by comments like this - I ran my 944 for 4 years on T1-R's & it would only break traction at the rear if you really tried hard - foot to the floor in 2nd, on boost, on a wet road for example. I was fairly careful to get it straight before putting the foot down, but the car was never twitchy in the way many RWD cars are. Mine was ~315lbft, with leda dampers but apart from that pretty standard. I can't think of a single time it misbehaved unless I was doing something a bit daft to provoke it.

My old silver car was as you say, but this black one you have to treat it like your standing on eggs when wet.

Sounds like room for improvement in the car - maybe the rear is too firm? Is there anything adjustable?

 

[Paz]

Tyre pressures and geometry count for a lot, I usually run my 968 at 28/29 PSI when it gets seriously wet/icy and Chris Franklin's wizardry on the geo' keeps it planted.
I'm running Goodyear Eagle F1 (GSD3), Y rated (XL load) so they're quite a hard tyre but still very good.

 

[homesea]

The rear is all new, tyre pressure all good. I've not driven another turbo that seems to produce so much in all one go. Also the toyo are getting a little low. Everyday it surprise me how well this one goes! Not sure what promax have done to it but it works or rather it dosent when it's wet.

 

[Lowtimer]

Is your limited slip diff still turning up for work, I wonder?

 

[scam75]

I'm on TOYO T1'R's all round at 32PSI and you have to be quite ham fisted even in the wet to get it to step out.

Suspension is lowered and fresh however with new GAZ, poly's at the front, 968 castors and ARB supports.

Tyres can only do so much before the rest of the suspension comes into play.

Stuart

 

[jenpot]

Hmm, Toyo T1R? I've been recommended them too. Might be worth a big buy then, if we can get a decent deal for 8!