Vantage V12 Corsa tyre discussion: your thoughts.

[Grant3]

Hi Fellow VV12 owners,
Much as I'm loving this awesome car, after a few months of using it I'm not happy with the Pirelli Corsa's and I'm interested in your opinions.

Frankly their cold weather performance is "crap" and while my 997GT3 was fine in all conditions on Michelin Cup tyres (no doubt the rear weight bias aids traction)the V12 can on occasion lack traction everywhere on a cold-ish (dry) day and let's not talk about cold wet conditions!

I know you can buy a set of winter tyres, but I don't see why you should need to spend another £4k on wheels/tyres (and the wheels are V8 N420 style!) in addition to the high retail price unless (like Clorenzen) you use it in Scandinavia (or similar)or snow!

Ok once fully warmed up on a warmish day they are simply awesome and they do have a great dynamic feel (better than the Bridgestones), and I'm sure I will love them for the 6 months between April and September. But for much of the year they spoil the cars potential and without DSC could even be dangerous on occasion.

Personally I feel A.M. should have given people a choice of tyre options on purchase.

Your honest thoughts?

[Grant3]

Thanks all for the replies so far, I hope we can get opinions from all owners, looking at the roll call we have about 17 or 18 Piston-headers with VV12's.

Maybe we should have a VV12 sideways challenge, we should beat everyone...easily!

I would also be interested to know how the DBS with the same power output handles in cold dry weather on their non-Corsa (but still special compound) tyres

[Grant3]

Thanks for the DBS feedback Jus.

Michael..... Yes but the word is "optional" ... there is no doubting their ultimate warm weather grip and performance, but as Adam says in the UK between rain and cold weather for 60-70% of the time they are worse than standard tyres!

Aston should have given us a choice of a standard sports tyre with Corsa's as an option IMO.

[Grant3]

Nice one Adam, very thorough as usual

So why if the P-Zero Rosso is available in the right size (and used on the DBS) and two out of six owners on this small thread have them fitted and find them fine - don't Aston offer them as an option on the VV12

[Grant3]

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 .

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!

[Grant3]

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?

[Grant3]

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

[Grant3]

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?

[Grant3]

roughrider said:

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?!

The original thread dates back to Feb 2011, at this time A.M. did not offer an approved version of the non-Corsa P-Zero, they introduced it for the 2012MY and it has become a choice on new cars since then... Maybe the power of suggestion on PH stimulated the introduction . Personally I'm with Mikey I'm not a fan of the Corsa's in the UK climate, but as ever each to their own.

[Grant3]

Quarterly said:

Grant, what tyres did you end up buying? I'm in the same dilemma now as your first post. I don't know weather to spend thousands on a winter set of tyres or just change the existing crosas.

In honesty I didn't.. being a certified tightwad I kept the Corsas until I traded the V12V...

Much depends on how much you use your beast during cold weather, the winter tyres are MUCH better in frosty conditions and you can feel the difference, but it is a big expense and if you don't do big winter mileage I think the standard approved P-Zeros offer a good compromise. They are noticably better in winter and in honesty you need to be on track to feel you are loosing out on cornering grip to the Corsas, personal choice as ever.. tightwad tip keep the Corsas until they need changing and then go P-Zero

[Grant3]

Quarterly said:

I don't know if I'm more shocked that you are a tightwad or that you sold your V12V. The amount of books you've sold this year alone must have made you a multi millionaire? and to save me reading back through your 3230 posts why did you sell your car? If that isn't an extremely nosey question, did something better come along?

The book is a labour of love rather than cash, although it all helps

Loved the V12V and had a good few years pleasure with the beast. Dedicated to researching all things Aston I currently have a late 14MY V8S Roadster with Sportshift II rather than manual. It's no good just imagining what all the different models are like.. you need to get up close and personal roof down sports exhaust at full voice the V8S is another well formed Aston creation