205 spec.

[sorrento205]

F1's are very good on wear rate. My first set on the fronts lasted a year, my second set lasted about 9 months, but that included a month of a mate using the car and he drives a lot harder than i do all the time. On the back, any tyre will last for ages, just depends how much you are prepared for it to step out on lift off.

The paradas have only been fitted 5 weeks so its early to say about the wear, but the back end tends to step out very little before gripping again, i think with a diff, my car would be blisteringly quick around the south wales b roads

[groomi]

mikey_p said:

Did the strut brace fit well then, as I am tempted by that because I have the sunroof model which appears to be slightly less stiff, and I like a nice stiff car. Does it make a big difference to noise taking the sound proofing out from under the bonnet as well?

Mine fouls the soundproofing which puts a barely noticeable bend in the bonnet. To be honest, the shutlines are so bad on a 17 year old Frnch car that it really isn't noticeable at all.

In theory i could remove the soundproofing to cure the problem, but as it is primarily a road car I'm reluctant to do so.

[simes205]

groomi said:

I have discovered that the 195s don't fit in the spare wheel cage, so may go for the 185s on that basis.

Yes they do, although tight. I use a trolley jack to lift the cage into place otherwise it requires some shouting.

[mikey_p]

Well just like that the idea of treating my car to a few upgrades has gone straight out the window.

Thanks Mr/Mrs X who decided to drive into the side of car parked outside my house and drive off without leaving a note. Nice big 15" diameter dent below the rear window on the drivers side now . I'm hoping it's repairable as the paintwork isn't cracked. What an arse though.

[Rob_the_Sparky]

simes205 said:

groomi said:

I have discovered that the 195s don't fit in the spare wheel cage, so may go for the 185s on that basis.

Yes they do, although tight. I use a trolley jack to lift the cage into place otherwise it requires some shouting.

Me no understand, I have 195/50 15s all round, including the spare and have had no problem at all with it fitting the cage. Also no need for a jack...although I don't fully understand what you need one for.

On wear, I have found them to be fine so far. Only downside so far I think is that we discovered that on the ring last year they get too hot after a fast lap. A second lap is not a good idea without letting them cool down. I suspect other tyres are better in the dry but in colder and damper weather they are fantastic. TBH in the dry I see no need for extra grip, in the wet I do hence my tyre choice.

Rob

[simes205]

Rob,

Sheer laziness! It holds the cage up whilst I wind in the brackety thing!!

[sorrento205]

me no carry spare wheel *humph*


n.b. i will when i get it back, but it now lives in the boot, the cage is gash imo, and i didnt like the rusty indents it was leaving in my spare.

[simes205]

sorrento205 said:

me no carry spare wheel *humph*


n.b. i will when i get it back, but it now lives in the boot, the cage is gash imo, and i didnt like the rusty indents it was leaving in my spare.

Yep, one of mine rotted like that a few years back. I take it out quite often to rotate it now.

[groomi]

So come on guys, this is me at Rockingham at the weekend. As you can see I don't have nearly enough body roll to contend with, so which tyres should I go for?

Edited by groomi on Thursday 19th April 14:33

[_dobbo_]

Dunno about tyres, but how do you keep your plastic trim in such good nick? Everything I try fades back to dull grey after about 1 week!

[groomi]

_dobbo_ said:

Dunno about tyres, but how do you keep your plastic trim in such good nick? Everything I try fades back to dull grey after about 1 week!

AutoGlym Bumper & Trim Care (This was about a week after cleaning the car for the first time in over 6 months).

[simes205]

groomi said:

So come on guys, this is me at Rockingham at the weekend. As you can see I don't have nearly enough body roll to contend with, so which tyres should I go for?

Edited by groomi on Thursday 19th April 14:33

GSD3's, you aren't trying hard enough for body roll!!!

[simes205]

_dobbo_ said:

Dunno about tyres, but how do you keep your plastic trim in such good nick? Everything I try fades back to dull grey after about 1 week!

Yip, Autoglym bumper snot - works for me, although over the years I've noticed the trim starting to fade.

[groomi]

simes205 said:

GSD3's, you aren't trying hard enough for body roll!!!

Very nice, but I'm sure mine's rolling more!

So, the majority are saying Goodyears Eagle F1 GSD3s. Final question is 185s or 195s...?

Edited by groomi on Thursday 19th April 22:25

[sorrento205]

for more road than track use i'd go for F1's too. I do rate them (ive had 2 sets on mine) but as i said, the yoko paradas have introduced me to new levels of grip. If you do more track than road work id look to be fitting yoko a539s or the parada's (or similar alternatives)

And definately plump for 195/50/15s

[simes205]

groomi said:

[quote=simes205]GSD3's, you aren't trying hard enough for body roll!!!

Very nice, but I'm sure mine's rolling more!
So, the majority are saying Goodyears Eagle F1 GSD3s. Final question is 185s or 195s...?

Edited by groomi on Thursday 19th April 22:25

mine's stiffer!!!!!

185's will give you more flex in the tyre wall which is nice. 195's are much cheaper.

[groomi]

Finally got around to having the wheels refurbished and they look great. Fitted Goodyear GS3Ds all round and gave them the '80s look'.

Waddya think?

[Rob_the_Sparky]

V pretty - how did you do the white lettering?

[groomi]

I bought a paint pen from Halfrauds, manufactured by 'wheelart'. It wasn't displayed with the paints but with all the chav add-ons (I had to ask where it was).

Really easy to do, just like using a tipp-ex pen. Simply colour in the logos. I chose yellow but they also do white.

[pdd144c]

Not my cup of tea really...