V12V tyre c*ck up! Urgent Help

[controlz]

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...

[controlz]

DAVIDOXE said:

I cannot see a problem if the tyres are the right size/speed rating.

According to Pirelli who I just called, they don't recommend tyres which aren't made for a particular brand as they aren't "tried and tested". As well, mixing two different brands (mercedes and lamborghini) could mean that you are mixing compounds which could lead to handling and noise issues. I can't help but think it's all just marketing rubbish, but I want to be sure.

[controlz]

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.....

The issue I have is there are no approved AM tyres in the V12V rim size...

[controlz]

F1 NDW said:

Plus load rating. Then I dont see any problem at all.

Pirelli told me that Merc and Lambo are "different cobos".

[controlz]

jonby said:

I thought the tyre sizes you refer to in your original post are OEM pzero & pzero corsa sizes for V12V ?

Yes correct, but there are no approved winters in this size.

[controlz]

IanV12VR said:

Why not just phone up your local Aston dealer and ask?

Already called two dealers, both were at a loss. They said the problem is there isn't enough demand for V12 Winters so it's not a common option.

That answer didn't really help my predicament though since I use mine everyday and I hate the winter rims.

[controlz]

IanV12VR said:

Just looked on the AML website and seems to be covered. The approved tyres are Pirelli Sotozero Winter 270 tyres and that they will not fit on the original rims. Not sure if that is what you have bought but I would therefore guess that if you fit other winter tyres to the original rims then you do so at your own risk. Link to the Aston website below (not sure if it will work.

http://www.astonmartin.com/en/cars/aston-martin-accessories/v12-vantage-accessories/wheels

Hi Ian, yes I have always been aware of this, but my question was regarding fitting Lambo and Merc.

[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!

[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...

[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?

[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.

[controlz]

I'm so p*ssed off, on the verge of taking my car to a dealer tomorrow and just getting rid of it, so need some advice ASAP*

Been incredibly excited to pick up my car today as it's been with the dealer two weeks. It had a few minor bits done including an ECU upgrade, but the main upgrade for me was the Sottozero's...

Anyway, I've been driving the car for the past hour and it is HORRIBLE. The ride is terrible, the steering feels heavy, but most frustratingly the traction is absolutely disgraceful. The DSC light remains constantly illuminated right from 1st gear up until 4th if you give the car any welly whatsoever (it's dry outside). The car literally doesn't move - all noise and no speed as if it's like 6 of it's 12 cylinders. I upgraded from the Corsas as I wanted some comfort over the winter but now I'm regretting this really badly. I feel like I would have been better off burning my £1500...

I really need some advice ASAP as I'm at a complete loss and not enjoying ownership at all right now. Apologies for my frustration!

[controlz]

BravoV8V said:

mikey k said:

It's way too warm and dry for winter tyres
The tread block will be like jelly!

^^^^This^^^^

Winter tyres should only be fitted when the average ambient temperature are below 7 degrees C. It's still around 15 degs C where I am (UK).

And it looks like it's going to remain that sort of temperature for a while... I feel I should have gone for the regular P-Zero's now. What a waste of money.

Will the grip actually be better when it's colder?

[controlz]

All the advice I'd received and reading told me I should put winters on from around October to April, so that's what I've done. The car just feels awful.

[controlz]

This whole change of tyres came about after I'd had recent experiences with the corsas in rain (which makes the cars power useless), so I thought putting winters on would allow me to have much more fun when it's wet outside without jeopardising day to day dry driving. Turns out that this backfired...

If anybody wants to take these tyres off my hands then get in touch (I've done 50 miles on them!)

Edited by controlz on Monday 27th October 17:56

[controlz]

Update:

So, it seems there's something a little more sinister here. Just took the car for another spin, and it turns out that when I turn the traction control off, it makes things 100 x better. I can put my foot down and it is accelerating far more rapidly without any wheelspin. It seems that when the traction control is on, it's dropping the power to the car by at least 50%. The DSC on my MINI seems to just literally drop the revs the second it's activated, but on the V12 it seems to continue revving just with no power (so it gave the perception that the wheels were spinning).

So in conclusion, I have no idea why my traction is doing this when it wasn't with the Corsas? I installed the Winters to be more safe, but then turning off the DSC seems to counter this, so all a little weird! Hope you can help

[controlz]

AMDBSNick said:

Seems you researched your tyre changes as thoroughly as your colour choice

I'm only 25; probably a lot more fussy than the 'older' V12 owners

[controlz]

roughrider said:

CHECK THE TYRE SIZES!! If the front/rear circumference ratio has been altered, it screws up the electronics...

Tyre sizes / circumference are all identical to the original Corsa tyres. Aston Martin fitted these for me.

[controlz]

mikey k said:

Like I said before the tyres are too warm, the blocks are moving around and messing with the logic of the DSC. DSC tends to act on the rear axle first and will do so even with the light off (ask me how I know )
As you've found switching it off negates that efffect.
Had it been my car I'd have bought a set of used V8V SP2 wheels (same as the V12V winter wheels) and put a set of winter tyres on them. At least then you can swap between the two as the weather dictates

Thanks for this. Yes, almost certainly a DSC issue. I didn't realise that DSC can limit power to the wheels without reducing engine revs, so with the engine screaming but the car accelerating at a snails pace, I just assumed the wheels were burning rubber...

Is there any solution to this DCS issue, as I said, turning off the DSC doesn't sit particularly well with me when I bought winters to be more safe!

Thanks again.

[controlz]

AMDBSNick said:

EFA

Touché. I can put on a 'mature' front to my staff, but my real personality clearly comes out over the forum!