V12V tyre thread?

Author
Discussion

erics

Original Poster:

2,659 posts

210 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
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With winter coming along and people having various opinions about tyres, I thought we should start a thread where we can list all the tyre options for the v12v.

And people can comment on their experience of each.

Also I understand (never experienced it personally) that wheel balancing on v12v is a tricky exercise.

My view of the standard fit corsas is:
  • superb and sticky in the summer / warm temps.
  • not great in winter and not confidence inspiring.
  • not great in heavy rain as I experience on the motorway when coming back from the New Forest a month back on the motorway. Driving at 60-70mph, it felt like the car was seeking aquaplanning everywhere. It was very heavy rain though.
I want to figure out which one is the best multi-purpose tyre for this car and where to get the best deal (i used event-tyres with success many times in the past).

Cockernee

3,059 posts

159 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
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Lotto (TonyV12V) is your man, he has used Corsa's and girly tyres also. rolleyes I think that he finds the option tyre (Pirelli PZero) is a good all-rounder.

I used the Sotto's for about 3 rides out and hated them as the tread blocks obviously move about (being a winter tyre) and sold them on. They are great if you want to drive in really dire weather in your V12V, but once you start pressing on the car moves all over the place on them.

JBaps

214 posts

124 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
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You may also want to consider MPS or MPSS's for more general "all" weather usage. I found the corsa's lacked feel in typical UK wet winter conditions, MPS had a _lot_ more feel in the wet, and unless you're driving at >9/10 all the time aren't that much of a compromise in the warm/dry imho.

erics

Original Poster:

2,659 posts

210 months

Thursday 5th December 2013
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JBaps said:
You may also want to consider MPS or MPSS's for more general "all" weather usage. I found the corsa's lacked feel in typical UK wet winter conditions, MPS had a _lot_ more feel in the wet, and unless you're driving at >9/10 all the time aren't that much of a compromise in the warm/dry imho.
Cool, ty for response. Can you please let me know the exact spec you ordered and cost? I like michelin pss. Always used them on porsches. Great all round tyres and quieter than others too.

threesixty

2,068 posts

202 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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I have Michi PS2 on mine. They're identical spec to the corsas.

jonby

5,357 posts

156 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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Interested what is meant in the various comments about PSS 'of identical spec to corsas' ? If you just mean size, I would assume that's a given. Or are you referring to load ?

I've been pleased with Michelin PSS on other cars and was also pleased with OEM Bridgestones on my V8s but only had experience of Pirelli on V12V

But there is no consensus of opinion on V12V tyres. Some seem to love the extra security of the standard zeros, others like me don't have a problem with the corsas. At lot will come down to usage IMO which varies enormously from user to user

I actually think the downsides of corsas are overhyped. The temperature of the tyres is more important than the temperature of the roads. And on any tyre, V12V is a handful in the wrong conditions. I love just how great a tyre corsa is in the right conditions, but it's not my DD and I do very few miles in it from October - feb.

If it was a DD or a car used a lot over winter, you possibly have to go for the standard zeros. V12V will never be great in really heavy rain but I've never had any problems with aquaplaning

As I say though, from past threads on this subject, mostly from knowledgeable experienced owners, I'm afraid you will not find a consensus such is the element of personal preference.

AMArchie

269 posts

169 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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I switched my 2010 V12V to Sottozeros about three weeks ago. I agree that the car seems to 'move around' a bit more than on the Pzero corsas when driving in a spirited fashion. It's the security in the on / below freezing conditions that I'm going for, so I just accept I won't be able to really push the car - but it is winter! For the summer months (April through to November) I love the Corsas - such tremendous grip.

threesixty

2,068 posts

202 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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jonby said:
Interested what is meant in the various comments about PSS 'of identical spec to corsas' ? If you just mean size, I would assume that's a given. Or are you referring to load ?

I've been pleased with Michelin PSS on other cars and was also pleased with OEM Bridgestones on my V8s but only had experience of Pirelli on V12V

But there is no consensus of opinion on V12V tyres. Some seem to love the extra security of the standard zeros, others like me don't have a problem with the corsas. At lot will come down to usage IMO which varies enormously from user to user

I actually think the downsides of corsas are overhyped. The temperature of the tyres is more important than the temperature of the roads. And on any tyre, V12V is a handful in the wrong conditions. I love just how great a tyre corsa is in the right conditions, but it's not my DD and I do very few miles in it from October - feb.

If it was a DD or a car used a lot over winter, you possibly have to go for the standard zeros. V12V will never be great in really heavy rain but I've never had any problems with aquaplaning

As I say though, from past threads on this subject, mostly from knowledgeable experienced owners, I'm afraid you will not find a consensus such is the element of personal preference.
I was just referring to erics question. Sometimes these tyres are not available in all sizes so you can't use like for like.

Although I don't DD my V12V either I do like to be able to take it out in any conditions and I have much more confidence in the PS2s, I feel they're more predictable in less than perfect conditions.

Like you say though its probably more personal preference and familiarity with michelin than any real tyre science. I used several sets of ps2s on my old GT3 and even took that car out in -10c once or twicesmile

CPBRI

392 posts

148 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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Car is currently in for annual service and am putting on PSSs. Never did care for the corsas and am looking forward to the new rubber.

jonby

5,357 posts

156 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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I imagine the Michelins are a little cheaper than corsas too ? I say that only because I couldn't believe the recent price I had to pay for new corsas and I struggle to imagine any other tyre to be as expensive ! If so, that in itself is a persuasive argument, although I appreciate it's not likely to be the prime motivating factor on a car like this

Always interested on sizes - I'm not a fan, particularly on modern cars with accurate speedos, testing, etc of changing the rolling radius that would come with any change in size. Hence my assumption few would consider a tyre of a different brand that wasn't the identical size. But I don't really have scientific evidence to back up my wariness - does a small change in width or profile that would in turn means a small change in rolling radius, matter?


JBaps

214 posts

124 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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erics said:
Cool, ty for response. Can you please let me know the exact spec you ordered and cost? I like michelin pss. Always used them on porsches. Great all round tyres and quieter than others too.
If you go to somewhere like www.blackcircles.com and type in your registration it should bring up the correct spec tires (255/35R19 Y 92 front, 295/30R19 Y 96 rear), blackcircles will offer primary options of MPS2 and Perelli's, for MPSS you'll need to scroll down a bit. I think I paid about £1200 fitted at the Grange Aston Martin in Welwyn for MPS's which was probably on the steep side, although they were happy to lend me a car while they were being fitted.

erics

Original Poster:

2,659 posts

210 months

Friday 6th December 2013
quotequote all
JBaps said:
erics said:
Cool, ty for response. Can you please let me know the exact spec you ordered and cost? I like michelin pss. Always used them on porsches. Great all round tyres and quieter than others too.
If you go to somewhere like www.blackcircles.com and type in your registration it should bring up the correct spec tires (255/35R19 Y 92 front, 295/30R19 Y 96 rear), blackcircles will offer primary options of MPS2 and Perelli's, for MPSS you'll need to scroll down a bit. I think I paid about £1200 fitted at the Grange Aston Martin in Welwyn for MPS's which was probably on the steep side, although they were happy to lend me a car while they were being fitted.
I meant ps2!

Tyvm all the same.

JBaps

214 posts

124 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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@erics, I think the PS2's are a similar price. BTW I've seen PSS's highly recommended elsewhere as one of their big selling points was excellent performance in the wet, can't comment personally though. Anyway I hope you find what works for you!

erics

Original Poster:

2,659 posts

210 months

Monday 9th December 2013
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on event-tyres.co.uk
cost fitted and balanced at your place:
295-30r19 Pirelli pzero am8 (i think it is aston martin rating) £303.57 per tyre.
295-30r19 Michelin 100y pilot sport 2 N2 xl £288.28 per tyre.
295-30r19 Pirelli pzero corsa £381.06 per tyre.

erics

Original Poster:

2,659 posts

210 months

Monday 9th December 2013
quotequote all
255-35r19 Pirelli pzero am0 (i think it is aston martin rating) £228.9 per tyre.
255-35r19 Michelin 100y pilot sport 2 £225.68 per tyre.
255-35r19 Pirelli pzero corsa => can't fin in this size.

erics

Original Poster:

2,659 posts

210 months

Monday 9th December 2013
quotequote all
well... I asked for a quote for all 4 tyres fitted and balance on location came as follows:
pirelli pzero with aston marking £1064.
micheling ps2 £1010.
michelin pss £1058.
pirelli pzero corsa £1341.

The specialist's view was that the pss was the best of the bunch (bit less thread at 6mm only from new). Quietest too.

However, he said he would stick to tyres approved for this brand and probably go for the pirelli pzero (NON-corsa) with the AM marking on them.

CPBRI

392 posts

148 months

Monday 9th December 2013
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Picked up the V12V from service on Saturday, where I had the Michelins installed. Even at or slightly below freezing, these tires feel a great deal better than the corsas.

Pavement was dry, but had salt spread on them the night prior. If they feel this much better in the cold, I think I'll be quite happy next year.

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Monday 9th December 2013
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I love the Corsas and wouldn't trade their performance on great summer days for more security the rest of the time.

The Sottozeros do give rise to a weird, squirmy feeling when you push them a bit, but for winter roads, they are better than the Corsas (obviously) or the P-Zeros.

erics

Original Poster:

2,659 posts

210 months

Monday 9th December 2013
quotequote all
CPBRI said:
Picked up the V12V from service on Saturday, where I had the Michelins installed. Even at or slightly below freezing, these tires feel a great deal better than the corsas.

Pavement was dry, but had salt spread on them the night prior. If they feel this much better in the cold, I think I'll be quite happy next year.
did you have PSS or PS2?

How much they charged? Did the Aston dealer fit them for you.

erics

Original Poster:

2,659 posts

210 months

Monday 9th December 2013
quotequote all
Zod said:
I love the Corsas and wouldn't trade their performance on great summer days for more security the rest of the time.

The Sottozeros do give rise to a weird, squirmy feeling when you push them a bit, but for winter roads, they are better than the Corsas (obviously) or the P-Zeros.
I have occasionaly driven the car on cold days and been caught in heavy rain whilst coming back from weekends away and did not feel comfortable in either situations. So i will try another option. Question is which one?..........