What Tyres Do You Choose When Push Comes to Shove?
Discussion
What tyres do you choose when no premium sports tyres are still made in your size?
I'm interested in what the PH collective thinks is 'the best of the rest' when you've got a sporty vehicle with 17" or smaller (particularly in an unusual size) and tyre manufacturers are no longer supporting your vehicle with any of their premium sports tyres any more.
Is there anything out there that's just about as good?
I know this is becoming an increasing problem for many an owner of a modern classic. Tyre manufacturers are 'size-ist' today.
I'm interested in what the PH collective thinks is 'the best of the rest' when you've got a sporty vehicle with 17" or smaller (particularly in an unusual size) and tyre manufacturers are no longer supporting your vehicle with any of their premium sports tyres any more.
Is there anything out there that's just about as good?
I know this is becoming an increasing problem for many an owner of a modern classic. Tyre manufacturers are 'size-ist' today.
Some food for thought there.
On my previous vehicle (MR2 Roadster facelift), cos I couldn't get any premium sports summer road tyres in OEM sizes (and I'm with an insurance company who gives me excellent rates, but won't touch any performance mods, inc alteration in tyre sizes), I ended up going for Yoko AD08RS road legal track tyres, and a second set of winter wheels with Vredestein Quatrac all seasons for when it's cold.
It was a strange compromise, and felt like going from one extreme to the other - steel reinforced sidewalls on Yokos made it feel like stiffer suspension, to siped treadblocks that allow extra movement on the all seasons.
Now, on my present vehicle (987 2.7 Boxster on 17" rims), I'm faced with another dilemma. I want to keep my 17" wheels. And there are no recent design premium sports tyres in my size (205/55 17 F, 235/50 17 R), but you can still get two really old Porsche specific 'N' spec tyres: Michelin Pilot Sport 2 and Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric version 1. They're both ancient designs - Michelin are now on version 5 and Goodyear version 6.
Shortly after I bought the car, I replaced the 10 year old tyres(!) with some of the above mentioned PS2s. But I don't like them. I don't enjoy the feel, at all, and don't feel like I can really lean on them. In their defense, they've lasted the longest of any tyre on the driving axle of any sporty car I've ever owned. I mean, the rears only need replacing now after two and a half years on a 9K a year daily runner (3mm on one side, 2mm on the other - hairpin on my way to work
)
Don't know what to do. I don't have much love for the PS2s I've got now, and the general consensus among owners is that out of the Michelin and the Goodyear 'N' spec tyres, the PS2 is the better. Do I replace with more of the same and just accept the limited performance, or go for a wild card?
On my previous vehicle (MR2 Roadster facelift), cos I couldn't get any premium sports summer road tyres in OEM sizes (and I'm with an insurance company who gives me excellent rates, but won't touch any performance mods, inc alteration in tyre sizes), I ended up going for Yoko AD08RS road legal track tyres, and a second set of winter wheels with Vredestein Quatrac all seasons for when it's cold.
It was a strange compromise, and felt like going from one extreme to the other - steel reinforced sidewalls on Yokos made it feel like stiffer suspension, to siped treadblocks that allow extra movement on the all seasons.
Now, on my present vehicle (987 2.7 Boxster on 17" rims), I'm faced with another dilemma. I want to keep my 17" wheels. And there are no recent design premium sports tyres in my size (205/55 17 F, 235/50 17 R), but you can still get two really old Porsche specific 'N' spec tyres: Michelin Pilot Sport 2 and Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric version 1. They're both ancient designs - Michelin are now on version 5 and Goodyear version 6.
Shortly after I bought the car, I replaced the 10 year old tyres(!) with some of the above mentioned PS2s. But I don't like them. I don't enjoy the feel, at all, and don't feel like I can really lean on them. In their defense, they've lasted the longest of any tyre on the driving axle of any sporty car I've ever owned. I mean, the rears only need replacing now after two and a half years on a 9K a year daily runner (3mm on one side, 2mm on the other - hairpin on my way to work
)Don't know what to do. I don't have much love for the PS2s I've got now, and the general consensus among owners is that out of the Michelin and the Goodyear 'N' spec tyres, the PS2 is the better. Do I replace with more of the same and just accept the limited performance, or go for a wild card?
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