Vantage V12 Corsa tyre discussion: your thoughts.
Discussion
AMArchie said:
I have read the thread comments with interest. I have got to drive my V12V somewhat infrequently over the winter as am often away for extended periods on business....Looking forward to the spring....
I know that feeling. Over the last Xmas break I took the machine on a couple of laps of the Oopnurthring - A57/A6102/A616/A635. (Note take the A635 as the last leg rather than the A628).The temperature (if you can call it that on the centre console) was between 0 and 4 deg C. I did not have any trouble at all, nor did I feel the wheels going from underneath me. Admitttedly, I took the sensible precaution not to engage Warp (Sports button) but could jog along very nicely, occasionally hitting 100+ leptons where the straight road and absence of traffic permitted.
What I did notice however, is one afternoon going around a rather large roundabout in Ashton-under-lyne, on the inside lane in the wet, feeling the back-end lose a little grip.
So I beleive unless you are going to chuck the back end around with the Sports map engaged, I dont think the Corsas are so bad in the cold. However, in winter, having to constantly watch the thermo, the speedo, puddles, surface water etc..and those little yellow boxes on a stick, it does detract from the experience a little. AM should defiinately look to give us a better all-rounder tyre and take a few of those distractions away.
G
Guycord said:
What I did notice however, is one afternoon going around a rather large roundabout in Ashton-under-lyne, on the inside lane in the wet, feeling the back-end lose a little grip.
However, in winter, having to constantly watch the thermo, the speedo, puddles, surface water etc..and those little yellow boxes on a stick, it does detract from the experience a little. AM should definitely look to give us a better all-rounder tyre and take a few of those distractions away.
G
I agree that they are "okay" (but certainly not good) on cold dry, even surfaces without sport engaged, but the problem is they aren't as consistent in their grip levels as good normal sports tyres. They can also loose traction suddenly in a more dramatic fashion than a standard tyre. It is this inconsistency on variable surfaces that undermines confidence and hence enjoyment IMO, although as we all know it is never less than a thrilling drive, the VV12 certainly gives your ticker a workout However, in winter, having to constantly watch the thermo, the speedo, puddles, surface water etc..and those little yellow boxes on a stick, it does detract from the experience a little. AM should definitely look to give us a better all-rounder tyre and take a few of those distractions away.
G
. I still can't understand why Aston don't offer a choice of tyres, as mentioned above even the new Mclaren only offers the Corsa's as an option!
I took the car out for a friends sons 20th birthday treat on Sunday. Clearly he wanted an experience and after 60 miles of cross country driving around the cotswolds on roads I know well he got it. Temperature was 3 or 4 degrees throughout, weather conditions damp and despite exhilarating driving the car never gave me a single moment of doubt about its capability. My tyres are now over 10,000 miles and I am still missing the GT3 moments that I felt once or twice when I couldn't be certain of traction in wet conditions. This car is fantastic and whilst I can see the arguements, and will explore the alternatives come time to change, I am not at all disappointed with the corsa's.
Interesting Al...... the spooky thing is I have the exact reverse, the 997 GT3 I owned had fantastic traction even in the wet due to the engine sitting over the rear wheels, my VV12 on the other hand hasn't!!!
What year is yours, as far as I know the tyre spec has stayed the same, but are yours the
Asimmetrico's stamped AM8?
What year is yours, as far as I know the tyre spec has stayed the same, but are yours the
Asimmetrico's stamped AM8?
It was delivered from the factory on 20 November 2009 (what a great day). Not sure what the tyre number was but will check. I am not sure I have seen any suggestion of change so assume that we are running the same rubber. On one occasion in the GT3 I experienced an interesting moment when driving in a straight line. I had it covered but my wife remembers it very well.
Interesting... and timely discussion! Had my V12V for a couple of weeks now, went out Sunday afternoon for a treat and very nearly ended in a ditch - big sideways moment on a country lane. I didnt think I was pushing on at all... it was a very gentle journey home after that let me tell you. On reflection it wasnt raining, but the road was damp,and I was in sport mode. I was fortunate and it was a timely reminder of the need to respect these cars. The power is so addictive - (and the noise 
), but I am thinking that if I want to use this car all year round (which I certainly do) then the Zero's might be on my car when it comes time to replace them.
), but I am thinking that if I want to use this car all year round (which I certainly do) then the Zero's might be on my car when it comes time to replace them. Well the above comments about the corsa's performing great in the cold and wet just dont match with mine. I can get the back end out at will even around town at under 30mph, it will freely spin the wheels at traffic lights if given any significant throttle and it will even wheelspin changing into 3rd gear if pushed hard. Its very hard to keep traction at all at the moment, and certainly doesnt inspire the confidence level you describe at the moment (in complete and total contrast to how it is in the summer months in the dry!)
My tyres are corsa's with about 1500 miles on them from new. Strange indeed that your perform as you say.
My tyres are corsa's with about 1500 miles on them from new. Strange indeed that your perform as you say.
Edited by Adam2S on Tuesday 22 February 00:35
Adam2S said:
Well the above comments about the corsa's performing great in the cold and wet just dont match with mine. I can get the back end out at will even around town at under 30mph, it will freely spin the wheels at traffic lights if given any significant throttle and it will even wheelspin changing into 3rd gear if pushed hard. Its very hard to keep traction at all at the moment, and certainly doesnt inspire the confidence level you describe at the moment (in complete and total contrast to how it is in the summer months in the dry!)
My tyres are corsa's with about 1500 miles on them from new. Strange indeed that your perform as you say.
Lets get this in to perspective. The tyres in the dry are phenominal but I would not drive the same way in the wet. Also driving on the road is different than the track where I would expect the tyres limitations to be exposed. During the winter I would not have sport mode on at all on public roads and especially when exiting a junction or entering a roundabout.My tyres are corsa's with about 1500 miles on them from new. Strange indeed that your perform as you say.
Edited by Adam2S on Tuesday 22 February 00:35
Having said that I do drive fast (some would say very fast), as I did at the weekend but I try to read the road and take the best line I can through corners which inevitably protects the tyres. I would never race on the road but regularly/constantly overtake rapidly. If I sense a challenge or if someone is upset and drives eratically I will back off. Whilst I had a bit of fun accelerating from standstill during the first couple of weeks of ownership I have had no scary moments with the car on these tyres.
There is no doubt that the wheels can be spun, the car will drift sideways and if, really provoked, could easily end up in a ditch. Thats part of the fun of learning how to drive a powerful car. I too will investigate the alternative tyres when I change as, even if I drive fast, I am unlikely to hit the limits of the corsa on the public roads (although I recognise that you can't be certain about extreme weather, the ability to recover from a mistake or malfunction, or the behaviour of other drivers that might mean that you have to rely on the performance of the tyre). The grip limits of the alternatives will I suspect be fine in the dry and offer greater safety limits in the winter and wet periods. Initially, when the only alternative was the winter tyre (and wheels) available direct from AM (when AM advised against buying a set in the UK), I chose not to buy them because of the altered ride height, the affect on the appearance of the car and I didn't like the wheel design. I am content that I made the right decision at the time. Time to reconsider perhaps with the extended choice available today.
Grant - It is interesting that we experienced two cars in different ways, where we each felt that one car had better grip than the other. I guess that we can only relate to the specific experience we have had. It would be interesting to compare the cars simultaneously in the same conditions.
Edited by WantanewV12V on Tuesday 22 February 14:11
WantanewV12V said:
Grant - It is interesting that we experienced two cars in different ways, where we each felt that one car had better grip than the other. I guess that we can only relate to the specific experience we have had. It would be interesting to compare the cars simultaneously in the same conditions.
Al you can only speak as you find, but your experience does appear different to all the other posts to date, maybe the Corsa needs a couple of thousand miles to "bed-in" which may be why yours are better than all the others , but my experience is similar to Alex's.Going back to the GT3 911's are known for their fantastic traction because of that rear engine, so I am stunned that you feel the Vantage has better traction in the wet, particularly as the V12 has a boat load more torque to deal with as well. Having said this there is also no doubt the Vantage is the safer car as it has full DSC stability control where as the 997 GT3 just had traction control, so if you did get too sideways in the Porker then you could get into trouble far quicker, hence your "moment" was probably bigger in the 911!!
Anyway I am still loving this car, it is far more multi-talented and special than the GT3, but for me the tyres are spoiling play a little bit during the colder weather, please listen Aston... choice is good, none is not
Hi Grant. How are you? I'm firmly in the GT3 camp with you in terms of which car feels more assured in wet conditions. That said the Astons front end can feel more reassuring in the wet - hardly suprising given the two cars engine layouts - but in reality the Porkers front end grips just as well too. Just feels different. In a REAL hurry cross country in wet I'd take the GT3 - power/traction available MUCH sooner after apex. Only by a gnats whatsit in that choice though! However I only changed the tyres on V12V because it's my g/fs car and she doesn't possess a huge degree of right foot 'sympathy'. For me I'd have been happy to stay with the originals. As has been said it's all mainly about driving technique really isn't it.
Hi Pugs, I'm aok thanks aside from business being a bit crap at the moment! How are things holding up your end, not bad if the Mrs has a VV12, so what have you got parked on your side of the garage at the moment.
Looks like I should have pushed harder for an alternative set of tyres...I may have got a set of P-Zero's which do sound the better bet, how do they affect the dynamics of the car?
Looks like I should have pushed harder for an alternative set of tyres...I may have got a set of P-Zero's which do sound the better bet, how do they affect the dynamics of the car?
clorenzen said:
I agree with your comments on the P Zero Corsas when they are cold - hence my decision to get a set of Pirelli Soto Zeros for the winter months. I can only say that the Soto's are excellent and even on snow covered roads inspire a lot of confidence and make the dynamics of the car stand out even when everybody else is struggling for grip.
Your question comes back to whether there is a kind of middle ground but as always you will be compromising at both end of the temperature scale. I went for the big expense up front but also have two sets of tyres that best suit the car at various conditions and once you haven taken the plunge you actually get value for your investment through a longer lifespan. The dealer cleans and stores my wheels when not used so it is very little hassle to swap over when Spring comes - can't wait.
Just picked this up from the Q & A on the McLaren (herein lies the answer I guess):
Q13. What tyres are going to be standard fitment (on the McLaren)?
PB: Pirelli PZero tyres are the standard tyre, and Pirelli PZero Corsa tyres as an option. There is also a winter tyre option available (Pirelli Sottozero)
Interesting bump because the PH search facility is sYour question comes back to whether there is a kind of middle ground but as always you will be compromising at both end of the temperature scale. I went for the big expense up front but also have two sets of tyres that best suit the car at various conditions and once you haven taken the plunge you actually get value for your investment through a longer lifespan. The dealer cleans and stores my wheels when not used so it is very little hassle to swap over when Spring comes - can't wait.
Just picked this up from the Q & A on the McLaren (herein lies the answer I guess):
Q13. What tyres are going to be standard fitment (on the McLaren)?
PB: Pirelli PZero tyres are the standard tyre, and Pirelli PZero Corsa tyres as an option. There is also a winter tyre option available (Pirelli Sottozero)
t 
My McLaren has the PZero Corsa's on, I'm not a fan in the wet
I was wondering what you V12V guys are now running instead of the Corsa's for the "British Climate" all year?
I don't want to go the winter tyre route
mikey k said:
Interesting bump because the PH search facility is st
My McLaren has the PZero Corsa's on, I'm not a fan in the wet
I was wondering what you V12V guys are now running instead of the Corsa's for the "British Climate" all year?
I don't want to go the winter tyre route
Currently on the standard P-Zero, have 3.5 - 4mm left all round but will go with Michelin PSS on the next change most likely.t My McLaren has the PZero Corsa's on, I'm not a fan in the wet
I was wondering what you V12V guys are now running instead of the Corsa's for the "British Climate" all year?
I don't want to go the winter tyre route
Gettoff said:
mikey k said:
Interesting bump because the PH search facility is st
My McLaren has the PZero Corsa's on, I'm not a fan in the wet
I was wondering what you V12V guys are now running instead of the Corsa's for the "British Climate" all year?
I don't want to go the winter tyre route
Currently on the standard P-Zero, have 3.5 - 4mm left all round but will go with Michelin PSS on the next change most likely.t My McLaren has the PZero Corsa's on, I'm not a fan in the wet
I was wondering what you V12V guys are now running instead of the Corsa's for the "British Climate" all year?
I don't want to go the winter tyre route
My little M135i has done 48k miles on PSS's and they are superb! It grips better in the wet and cold better than our Forester Turbo on AT tyres
My last Aston enjoyed them as well
Many of the 12C guys are running them but a few have moved to PS Cup2's
Just not sure how they will hold up in the cold and wet
Grant3 said:
Anyway I am still loving this car, it is far more multi-talented and special than the GT3, but for me the tyres are spoiling play a little bit during the colder weather, please listen Aston... choice is good, none is not
The choice for V12VS is with the original purchaser, P-Zero Corsa [usually on the lightweight wheel], or P-Zero [usually on the earlier 2010 style wheel]. Plus, i'm pretty sure the original V12V Manual buyers were offered to opt out of the Corsa, in favour of the normal P-Zero?!mikey k said:
Intersting
My little M135i has done 48k miles on PSS's and they are superb! It grips better in the wet and cold better than our Forester Turbo on AT tyres
My last Aston enjoyed them as well
Many of the 12C guys are running them but a few have moved to PS Cup2's
Just not sure how they will hold up in the cold and wet
I think a couple of owners have already gone over to the PSS from what I remember, but you'll have a fair idea what to expect from the AM and BM experience on them.My little M135i has done 48k miles on PSS's and they are superb! It grips better in the wet and cold better than our Forester Turbo on AT tyres
My last Aston enjoyed them as well
Many of the 12C guys are running them but a few have moved to PS Cup2's
Just not sure how they will hold up in the cold and wet
Aren't Cup 2's more of a track / Corsa type tyre anyway? so maybe not that much of change from what you are currently running.
I too switched my Corsa's out for a set of Std PZero's at the end of Nov last year and I have continued to drive the car every day come rain or shine through the winter so far. I can honestly say that they are MILES better in the cold and wet than the Corsa's were and I have no regrets at all in switching. Will be interesting to see how they are in summer, but even if they are not quite as good the huge upgrade for the majority of the UK weather year will make them worthwhile.
Very happy with them and if I was due a change again I wouldn't hesitate to replace again with std PZero.
Very happy with them and if I was due a change again I wouldn't hesitate to replace again with std PZero.
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