V12V tyre c*ck up! Urgent Help

[roughrider]

controlz said:

Need some urgent help here! FYI, I'm sticking to the original V12 Rims for winter as I love these so please bear in mind!

Just bought 4 brand new tyres for my V12. I bought from tyreleader in Germany as they are very competitive.

2 x 255/35/19 FRONT
2 x 295/30/19 REAR

I'm quite naive in terms of cars and didn't realise that there are different version of the same tyre for different manufacturers. As such, it turns out I've purchased MERCEDES fronts and LAMBORGHINI rears. My car is currently at an Aston Martin dealer who have now fitted the fronts, but I stopped them fitting the rears as soon as I found this out.

Is there a solution to this issue as I assume running Merc on the front and Lambo on the back is not a good idea. I've researched and found out that there are no official AM tyres in those sizes...

I would venture that the tyre sizes are specifically made for each particular car manufacturer, and are unique, hence the name on the sidewall. Aston Martin do the same.

Edited by roughrider on Thursday 23 October 16:35

[mikey k]

jonby said:

I have historically been extremely sceptical about how different the tyres are when they have a different car brand marked on them but the recent experience of a friend with a Lamborghini superleggera suggested that using non lambo spec tyres on that car could be extremely damaging as a result of different compounds, sidewall strengths, etc

I;m still sceptical, but it's big risk to take if we are wrong.....

That's my experience over more tyres than I care to think about.
So long as you get the size, speed and load index right.

[Speculatore]

mikey k said:

jonby said:

I have historically been extremely sceptical about how different the tyres are when they have a different car brand marked on them but the recent experience of a friend with a Lamborghini superleggera suggested that using non lambo spec tyres on that car could be extremely damaging as a result of different compounds, sidewall strengths, etc

I;m still sceptical, but it's big risk to take if we are wrong.....

That's my experience over more tyres than I care to think about.
So long as you get the size, speed and load index right.

Agree. When I had my XKR I was advised only ever to use Pirelli 'Jaguar' tyres which had a little 'J' in a circle stamped on the outside wall. I fell for this for about 5 years until I noticed other XKR owners with all sorts of different brands fitted. I went from Pirelli to Dunlop Sports Maxx to Toyo R1's and there was a noticeable improvement each time from tramlining to road noise. As long as they are the right size with the correct load/speed rating I wouldn't have thought there would be an issue.
As soon as my current set need changing I will be replacing with Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

[franki68]

BravoV8V said:

Arf, arf. You have plenty of Volvo parts in your car already!

Is that why my headlights are permanently on?

[Sheepshanks]

The Merc marking is generally reckoned to be bks - how can a current tyre possibly be specially "tuned" to suit, say, a 10yr old Merc? And Mercedes make such a wide range of vehicles how could one MO spec be suitable for every vehicle it would fit?

I wrote to Michelin and they didn't offer any plausible explanation other than there might be slight dimensional differences.

At least with the Porsche N system there are different versions.

[controlz]

So the general consensus is that providing the load index and tread patterns are the same, I'l be fine with the merc fronts and lambo rears? To be honest, surely anything would be safer and more grippy than the cors's in winter!

[AMDBSNick]

controlz said:

I bought from tyreleader in Germany as they are very competitive.

IIRC you were the chap that was too busy being busy employing people to take time out to check whether the colour you wanted was REALLY what you wanted.

Now you are buying budget tyres for your performance car.......astonishing

[Y100]

Speculatore said:

As soon as my current set need changing I will be replacing with Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

+1

[krisdelta]

controlz said:

So the general consensus is that providing the load index and tread patterns are the same, I'l be fine with the merc fronts and lambo rears? To be honest, surely anything would be safer and more grippy than the cors's in winter!

Yes x1000 - marketing I fear...

[hornbaek]

In most cases this is not a driving issue but an insurance issue. In Germany (as an example) your insurance would be void if it turned out that your tyres were not approved for the type of car they are fitted to.

[controlz]

I'm not really sure about speed ratings or weight loads, I just ordered what looked to be the same on my current Corsas! Heres the front and rears I ordered, please let me know if okay:

FRONT: http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/pirelli/wint...

REAR: http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/pirelli/wint...

[Neil1300r]

controlz said:

I'm not really sure about speed ratings or weight loads, I just ordered what looked to be the same on my current Corsas! Heres the front and rears I ordered, please let me know if okay:

FRONT: http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/pirelli/wint...

REAR: http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/pirelli/wint...

Well on that website it says :-
the fronts are XL / MO rated MO = Mercedes. XL = higher load rating.

For the rears it says Lamborghini - Lamorghini Original Equipment. For 4 wheel drive vehicles. Can be mounted on other vehicles.

Should be fine. If you skid and crash don't blame me!

[controlz]

Neil1300r said:

Well on that website it says :-
the fronts are XL / MO rated MO = Mercedes. XL = higher load rating.

For the rears it says Lamborghini - Lamorghini Original Equipment. For 4 wheel drive vehicles. Can be mounted on other vehicles.

Should be fine. If you skid and crash don't blame me!

I won't. If the fronts are higher load rating and the rears aren't, isn't that a problem?

[Neil1300r]

controlz said:

I won't. If the fronts are higher load rating and the rears aren't, isn't that a problem?

Only to ride quality.
On the V8 Vantage the OEM tyres (with AM stamped on them) reputedly have a stiffer sidewall as the vantage is a bit over weight. Many people have replaced the OEM tyres for other brands that dont specifically mention stiffer sidewalls. Some of them have reported back, better ride quality!

[controlz]

Neil1300r said:

controlz said:

I won't. If the fronts are higher load rating and the rears aren't, isn't that a problem?

Only to ride quality.
On the V8 Vantage the OEM tyres (with AM stamped on them) reputedly have a stiffer sidewall as the vantage is a bit over weight. Many people have replaced the OEM tyres for other brands that dont specifically mention stiffer sidewalls. Some of them have reported back, better ride quality!

I'm now being told by a few tyre retailers that having tyres on the car that aren't stamped Aston Martin (and stamped Mercedes for example) will invalidate warranty as its a good get-out clause for the insurer.

[Neil1300r]

So it doesn't matter what anyone tells you here then. If you believe the tyre retailers you have no choice but to buy winter wheels and the correct AM stamped tyres.

[mikey k]

Neil1300r said:

controlz said:

I won't. If the fronts are higher load rating and the rears aren't, isn't that a problem?

Only to ride quality.
On the V8 Vantage the OEM tyres (with AM stamped on them) reputedly have a stiffer sidewall as the vantage is a bit over weight. Many people have replaced the OEM tyres for other brands that dont specifically mention stiffer sidewalls. Some of them have reported back, better ride quality!

Funny that the Honda spec RE050's also have a stiffer sidewall
I've changed them for all sorts of stuff on the Honda's over the years
Earlier in the year changed the RE050's on the Aston to PSS's, they have more grip and are more comfortable

[Neil1300r]

mikey k said:

Funny that the Honda spec RE050's also have a stiffer sidewall
I've changed them for all sorts of stuff on the Honda's over the years
Earlier in the year changed the RE050's on the Aston to PSS's, they have more grip and are more comfortable

Well of course the Honda spec had stiffer sidewall as the S2000 is well known for being overweight - no wait thats not right

PSS? Is it stamped Aston? Your insurance is invalid and the world is about to end

[Cockernee]

controlz said:

I'm now being told by a few tyre retailers that having tyres on the car that aren't stamped Aston Martin (and stamped Mercedes for example) will invalidate warranty as its a good get-out clause for the insurer.

If I send you a letter in the post telling you to send me £50.00 to pay the tax on the £100,000.00 lottery win you have coming to you, I am guessing you would

I would just fit the tyres and you will be fine. The compound may be very slightly different, but as Jonby says I am very skeptical that there is any and it is an excuse to charge a few quid extra

[Prattking]

I've always felt that Aston get some sort of kickback from the recommended maker for putting the frighteners onto customers who don't know one end of their car from the other.I've always used the tyres I've fancied on all my cars for the last 50 years, never had a problem.