Bloody Tyre Reviews. I'll be down to the wires.........

[jamieduff1981]

kambites said:

Eagle F1 Asymetrics are very good in terms of grip, noise and ride quality, although some people find the side-walls rather soft.

Perhaps not an apples-for-apples comparison as the wheels were an inch bigger and far too heavy, but I borrowed a set of 18" Spider wheels with Toyo T-1Rs for the Cerbera whilst my 17s with worn out Eagle F1 GSD3s were away for refurbishment. The car was horrible. Leaving aside the ride, it tramlined like a pig and felt really squirmy. The 17s came back with my new Eagle F1 Assymetrics as GSD3s are discontinued, and it was back to its good old self again.

Much was the wheels for sure - they were terrible. The Eagles are probably quite soft but they seem a lot stiffer than the T-1Rs which didn't impress me whatsoever.

[GCH]

Nankang NS2

Edited by GCH on Thursday 24th April 01:00

[billy939]

My Civic has the same size tyres as that and I currently run Kumho Ecsta KU39's. I like them enough to be buying another full set next month. They're a very good tyre in all areas I have found and are the best priced that I can find in that size that are a good brand. If price was no issue I'd go for the Continentals but on Blackcirces the Kumhos are far cheaper and I am yet to be in a situation where I wished they were better

[MissChief]

I cannot fault the GY Eagle F1 asymmetric 2's I have on the front of my Leon Cupra. Similar power levels to your a cooper S.

[Lowtimer]

If it helps, wet or dry, I've had no problem at all with Conti SportContact 3 (non runflat) in 225/45 17 on my E91 3-series

[pits]

Mr2Mike said:

M3CS said:

If you're buying mid range tyres, whatever you do don't buy Pirelli P6000s. Downright dangerous aged tyre design. Replacement P7 design okay. I've heard good things about Falken FK452s.

The 452 was a reasonable mid-range tyre in it's time, but it's now an old design and has been superseded by the 453.

No it wasn't, it was an overpriced budget with questionable grip in the wet and dry.
People rated them because they were replacement for worn out tyres and they gripped so much more than the older, worn out tyres.

Bought them once, never again especially when you could buy the slightly better (imho) Kumho's, lasted longer and had better feedback, not some numb feeling piles of st at an over inflated price.

[Liquid Tuna]

Dan_1981 said:

I had P Zero Neros on my Evo VIII for a while.

They were awful in the wet.

Couldn't push it hard enough in the dry to find out.

My experience is the same. I bought and fitted 4 new P Zero Nero's and they're definitely not what I thought they were. A dreadful tyre in anything other than warm sunshine.

[Impasse]

Tannedbaldhead said:

// In the old days I swanned into Kwikfit asked "what you got?" and bought one of the in-stock tyres whos brand name I recognised rather than one that sounds tasty with fried rice. Never seemed to have a problem. //

I had four tyres fitted to my daughter's Swift Sport today. (I can't remember what exactly and she's popped out in it now) We changed sizes slightly to give more options on choice and fitted what was recommended by one of the fitters who uses the same tyre on his Mum's Swift Sport.

Internet Shminternet.

[jamieduff1981]

Liquid Tuna said:

Dan_1981 said:

I had P Zero Neros on my Evo VIII for a while.

They were awful in the wet.

Couldn't push it hard enough in the dry to find out.

My experience is the same. I bought and fitted 4 new P Zero Nero's and they're definitely not what I thought they were. A dreadful tyre in anything other than warm sunshine.

I wouldn't even trust them in sunshine. 5 structural failures in 2.5 years on a family car is just unfit for purpose.

[Mr2Mike]

pits said:

No it wasn't, it was an overpriced budget with questionable grip in the wet and dry.
People rated them because they were replacement for worn out tyres and they gripped so much more than the older, worn out tyres.

I went from Pirelli PZero Assymetricos to FK452s on the back of my MR2 Turbo, hardly a car you want to put poor tyres on, and they were absolutely fine. Wet grip was a little down on the Pirellis but they were progressive and dry grip was just as good. Tyres only lasted about 9k on the back of the MR2, so I got to sample several different brands during my ownership.

I'd be the first to say a st tyre is st, like the comically bad Triangle tyres, or the earlier Nexens, but on my car the FK452s were exactly what I said they were; a reasonable mid-range tyre.

[williredale]

MissChief said:

I cannot fault the GY Eagle F1 asymmetric 2's I have on the front of my Leon Cupra. Similar power levels to your a cooper S.

I'm using them on my Volvo C70 T5 which is a heavier car but they work well on it.

[Garvin]

M3CS said:

. . . . . Michelin Pilot Super Sports . . . . . . . . BUY THEM. No better road tyre in my opinion . . . .

^^^ This, just this. Cease all further investigations and prevarications, just go buy them - they are utterly brilliant. Expensive but brilliant.

[bozzy101]

Michelin Pilot SS. My mate used to out them on his Celica GT4 and they were epic! If not SS then maybe Pilot Exaltos?? They were also quality on my mates Clio 182.

Edit: see above comment too. Lol.

Edited by bozzy101 on Wednesday 23 April 21:03

[CanAm]

kambites said:

Eagle F1 Asymetric 2s(EFA) are very good in terms of grip, noise and ride quality, although some people find the side-walls rather soft.

Klop!

[Jimmyarm]

I had an R53 Cooper S for 3 years, the Hankook V12's were excellent on it. Much better than the Dunlop runcacks it came with.

[IanMorewood]

From your list Khumos.

[nadger]

Have you considered Avon Zv-5s? I love them on my saab!

[Dodsy]

I tried Vredstein ultrac sessantas on the back of the Jag on forum advice and have to say they are bloody marvellous. I rate them better then the Michelin Pilot super sports that I have on the front. They are also 25% cheaper than the michelins.

ETA: lots of comments on Falken FK452s. I have them on my TVR and Golf and they are excellent but I tried them on my old Omega and found them poor on the heavier car. Since replaced by the newer FK453 , havent tried them yet.

Edited by Dodsy on Wednesday 23 April 21:31

[CharlesdeGaulle]

A timely thread for me, because I've just shared your pain.

This week I bought two new run-flats for a BMW, and 4 premium OEM-spec tyres for a 20+ year old Merc. It's been an expensive week!

However, whilst waiting for fitting, I was chatting with the lads about budget tyres, and their view was that budgets are much improved, and offer long life and just about everything that the 'average' motorist wants; the drawback is (comparative) lack of wet-weather grip. So, depends what you want and how you drive I guess.

I personally subscribe to the 'only thing connecting you to the road' school of thought, and am a fan of winter tyres, but I suspect that for about 90% of UK motorists a budget tyre is about all they will ever need or exploit.

[jimbobsimmonds]

williredale said:

MissChief said:

I cannot fault the GY Eagle F1 asymmetric 2's I have on the front of my Leon Cupra. Similar power levels to your a cooper S.

I'm using them on my Volvo C70 T5 which is a heavier car but they work well on it.

Yet I have them on the S60 T5 and although the grip, wet and dry, is good. I really cannot abide the soft sidewalls. But then I'm running on coilovers...