Which tyres for my MK1 GT3 ?
Discussion
I've clocked up just over 4,500 (road only ) miles on the Pirelli Rossos that were put on the car when I purchased it.
The rears are now down to the wear indicators across the tread, and the fronts have 4mm left.
I hate the Pirellis , they're way too sensitive to tyre pressures, tramline badly, flat spot when left for more than a few days, and generally don't do the GT3 chassis any favours IMO.
I've just fitted Continentals Sport Contacts to the front of my three series "oil burner" (to replace the noisy Michelin Pilot Sports) Now that the Sport Contacts have got a few miles beneath them they seem to be a good compromise in that they do seem genuinely good overall but not outstanding at anything (the turn in is noticeably not as crisp as the MPSs)
I've always been a big fan of the Bridgestone SO2s and rate their wet and dry grip as being excellent. A few people I've spoken to reckon they don't last long (surely they can't be worse than the Pirellis ?)
Any recommendations/ views on either of these two tyres gladly accepted.
The car is used solely on the road and good wet weather grip is always appreciated !
The rears are now down to the wear indicators across the tread, and the fronts have 4mm left.
I hate the Pirellis , they're way too sensitive to tyre pressures, tramline badly, flat spot when left for more than a few days, and generally don't do the GT3 chassis any favours IMO.
I've just fitted Continentals Sport Contacts to the front of my three series "oil burner" (to replace the noisy Michelin Pilot Sports) Now that the Sport Contacts have got a few miles beneath them they seem to be a good compromise in that they do seem genuinely good overall but not outstanding at anything (the turn in is noticeably not as crisp as the MPSs)
I've always been a big fan of the Bridgestone SO2s and rate their wet and dry grip as being excellent. A few people I've spoken to reckon they don't last long (surely they can't be worse than the Pirellis ?)
Any recommendations/ views on either of these two tyres gladly accepted.
The car is used solely on the road and good wet weather grip is always appreciated !
Edited by slippydiff on Wednesday 20th September 17:59
I absolutely love Conti Sport Contacts.
I have Sport Contact 2s on the r turbo and the CTR and imho they are the best compromise, they last a long time, have good wet weather grip and also can hold their own ok on the track.
However i have just fitted Conti sport contact 3s on my alpina...but havent driven them enough yet to get any idea what they are like
all the best
adam
I have Sport Contact 2s on the r turbo and the CTR and imho they are the best compromise, they last a long time, have good wet weather grip and also can hold their own ok on the track.
However i have just fitted Conti sport contact 3s on my alpina...but havent driven them enough yet to get any idea what they are like
all the best
adam
johnfm said:
Are you only interested in N rated tyres?
Yes John, why do you ask ?
I had Michelin Pilot Sports on my 993RS and was less than enamoured with them...............
They did however work wonders for the handling/roadholding on my 3 Series (but were so noisy my dealer replaced the diff under warranty as they thought it was cause of the din as the car rolled along at 20-35mph.......)
No votes for SO2s so far ? I had them on a 964RS and thought they were superb, very grippy , quiet, and a far more comfortable ride compared with the Michelins that came off (and believe me anything that improves the ride on a 964RS has to be good !)
The Continentals look to be worth a try, if they'll work ok on Adams Ruf they'll most likely be up to use on a humble GT3 !
jeremyc said:
What was OEM fit for the MK1s?
Just wondering how long my Pirellis are going to last after Slippydiff's experiences
Edited by jeremyc on Wednesday 20th September 20:25
What do you think of them as a tyre JC ? I've never really been a fan of any of the Pirelli "road" tyres.
I had Rossos on a 330 Coupe I had for a couple of months, funnily enough that tramlined everywhere and made the steering feel vague on initial turn in as well.............
I must admit I was a bit shocked to find I'd "killed" them in less than 5000 miles worth of road only driving. I'm not a sideways /opposite lock, smoke the tyres from the lights kind of driver so had really expected a few more miles out of them.
Perhaps they're so cr*p they have to make them really soft to ensure they grip at all !!
adamt said:
I absolutely love Conti Sport Contacts.
I have Sport Contact 2s on the r turbo and the CTR and imho they are the best compromise, they last a long time, have good wet weather grip and also can hold their own ok on the track.
However i have just fitted Conti sport contact 3s on my alpina...but havent driven them enough yet to get any idea what they are like
all the best
adam
I have Sport Contact 2s on the r turbo and the CTR and imho they are the best compromise, they last a long time, have good wet weather grip and also can hold their own ok on the track.
However i have just fitted Conti sport contact 3s on my alpina...but havent driven them enough yet to get any idea what they are like
all the best
adam
I'd second that, have them on mine, great all rounder: price, performance and wear....They will do 3 straight laps around the ring!! Last lap a bit hairy!!
Edited by Dave 321 on Wednesday 20th September 23:53
slippydiff said:
[quote=jeremyc]What was OEM fit for the MK1s?
I had Rossos on a 330 Coupe I had for a couple of months, funnily enough that tramlined everywhere and made the steering feel vague on initial turn in as well.............
I must admit I was a bit shocked to find I'd "killed" them in less than 5000 miles worth of road only driving. I'm not a sideways /opposite lock, smoke the tyres from the lights kind of driver so had really expected a few more miles out of them.
Perhaps they're so cr*p they have to make them really soft to ensure they grip at all !!
I'm actually quite happy with them (subject to seeing the life they might give me Just wondering how long my Pirellis are going to last after Slippydiff's experiences
What do you think of them as a tyre JC ? I've never really been a fan of any of the Pirelli "road" tyres. I had Rossos on a 330 Coupe I had for a couple of months, funnily enough that tramlined everywhere and made the steering feel vague on initial turn in as well.............
I must admit I was a bit shocked to find I'd "killed" them in less than 5000 miles worth of road only driving. I'm not a sideways /opposite lock, smoke the tyres from the lights kind of driver so had really expected a few more miles out of them.
Perhaps they're so cr*p they have to make them really soft to ensure they grip at all !!
), but I don't have anything to compare them with for the GT3. I do have a Parr 'fast road' setup for the geometry that helps with the turn in, but I haven't noticed any undue tramlining - perhaps I'm just not able to notice subtle differences as well as you! I'm using the Pzero Rosso Asimmetrico (N4) - same as you I presume? A quick review of 'N' tyres available shows the choice to be between the Pirellis, Michelin Pilot Sport (N1), Bridgestone SO2 (N2) or SO2A (N3) or the Continental Sport Contact 2 (N2).
slippydiff said:
johnfm said:
Are you only interested in N rated tyres?
Yes John, why do you ask ?
I had Michelin Pilot Sports on my 993RS and was less than enamoured with them...............
They did however work wonders for the handling/roadholding on my 3 Series (but were so noisy my dealer replaced the diff under warranty as they thought it was cause of the din as the car rolled along at 20-35mph.......)
No votes for SO2s so far ? I had them on a 964RS and thought they were superb, very grippy , quiet, and a far more comfortable ride compared with the Michelins that came off (and believe me anything that improves the ride on a 964RS has to be good !)
The Continentals look to be worth a try, if they'll work ok on Adams Ruf they'll most likely be up to use on a humble GT3 !
I ask because there are many tyres out there, but only a few N rated. I am currently assessing Toyo T1-Rs. Waiting for some rain to assesss wet road grip. Dry grip sems good. COmpared to the Michelin Pilot Sports, I have found they have changed the balance of the car - I feel I am getting better front end grip. My car was quite understeery with the Michelins. I now feel the back end breaks grip first, but in a very gradual way. I prefer this feel, but I am not sure yetr whether total grip is more or less than the Michelins, or whether its just a change of grip. I've more tinkering to do yet with pressures - currently running 33front 39rear.
I bought my car with a set of S02's on and they lasted ages, did a couple of track days with them as well (before I got a set of trackday wheels with Dunlop SSR's). In my opinion they were a fantastic road tyre.
When they wore out I changed to Pirelli Corsa System N6's 295's and 235's as I wanted a road tyre that would also do as a 'wet' track tyre. So far they have been great.
Dry track tyres are MPSC's, but would be Dunlop SSR's if I could still get them in a 285 rear! The Dunlops also make great road tyres but only if you want a combined track and road tyre as they don't last very long on the road - still just about sourceable in a 265 rear.
When they wore out I changed to Pirelli Corsa System N6's 295's and 235's as I wanted a road tyre that would also do as a 'wet' track tyre. So far they have been great.
Dry track tyres are MPSC's, but would be Dunlop SSR's if I could still get them in a 285 rear! The Dunlops also make great road tyres but only if you want a combined track and road tyre as they don't last very long on the road - still just about sourceable in a 265 rear.
gfreeman said:
Dry track tyres are MPSC's, but would be Dunlop SSR's if I could still get them in a 285 rear! The Dunlops also make great road tyres but only if you want a combined track and road tyre as they don't last very long on the road - still just about sourceable in a 265 rear.
Tim, when you are looking for some fresh dry track tyres, give the R888s a try. I was running them and they are absolutely fantastic. 98% of the MPSC at 55% the price. Even stiffer sidewalls than the MPSCs make them feel like slicks on the road.
polarexpress said:
gfreeman said:
Dry track tyres are MPSC's, but would be Dunlop SSR's if I could still get them in a 285 rear! The Dunlops also make great road tyres but only if you want a combined track and road tyre as they don't last very long on the road - still just about sourceable in a 265 rear.
Tim, when you are looking for some fresh dry track tyres, give the R888s a try. I was running them and they are absolutely fantastic. 98% of the MPSC at 55% the price. Even stiffer sidewalls than the MPSCs make them feel like slicks on the road.
Will do as soon as I've used up my stock of old MPSC's!!! It's the 'shall I buy a pair of MPSC's or shall I get a set of xxxx and bung the half worn ones away??' quandry.
I seem to have accumulated about 3 spare fronts and 1 spare rear - all worn but useable!
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