Powerful car, different makes of tyres.

[Benbay001]

I need advice/ confirmation.
My car is a Jaguar S Type R (400bhp)
Bought it in September and not long after it needed new front tyres. I chose to go for the best i could and fitted Michelin Pilot Sport 3s.
Fast forward to present and i am now looking to replace the rears which have very little tread on.
Currently the rear tyres have Avon ZZ-3s.

If the car was new to me and needing new rear tyres, it would be a no brainer, i would fit the more expensive and presumably better quality Michelins.
However the Avons that have been fitted since i bought the car have had no grip issues that i would expect Michelins not to have! They are also noticeably cheaper! (almost half the price!)
I do drive quickly but i dont corner like my hair is on fire.

So, should i/can i mix the tyres?

2 x Pilot Sport 3s on the front.
2 x Avon ZZ-3s on the rear.

Cheers!

[HustleRussell]

The Avon isn't a bad tyre. So long as you continue to replace them in axle pairs it probably won't make a noticable difference on the road.

ETA: that said, the Michelin is almost certainly better in every way. While fitting Avons won't cause problems as such, I'd put Michelins on the back as well if I were you.

Edited by HustleRussell on Tuesday 12th February 14:00

[Benbay001]

Thank you.
Anyone else got any more views?

[Slow]

Do you do spaceship miles?

If so get the cheaper ones as you said they have no problems.

Also isnt a bit a sideways action more fun ?

[Benbay001]

Slow said:

Do you do spaceship miles?

Not really, 6000-7000 miles per year.

Slow said:

If so get the cheaper ones as you said they have no problems.

This was my thinking. I have no issues with the Avons, and if i could wind the clock back i would have put them on the front too!

Slow said:

Also isnt a bit a sideways action more fun ?

It doesnt do sideways unless provoked, which is another reason why i feel the Michelin are mainly priced as they are because of the brand.

[Benbay001]

Still need more opinions.
Bump.

[6fire]

My opinion is very un PH. I'd mix them happily so long as it was handling ok. But then I've also driven cars with an alarming mix of tyres, worn and unworn, expensive and ditchfinder, on the same axle, and not exploded into a fireball.

If the Avons handle ok, are cheaper, legally compliant (speed and load ratings etc), then why worry about the opinions of the PH crowd - most of whom you will never meet?

[Christian85]

Have a look at Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta, very capable tyre, ran them on both my M3's and found they were very capable for the price

[jon-]

ZZ3s have been replaced by the ZZ5s.

The extra mileage out of the Michelins will likely offset some, if not all, of the extra purchase cost.

Personally I like matching tyres, especially when considering the Michelin are asymmetric and the Avons directional. That said, if the ZZ3s gave you a balance you were happy with then there's no reason not to fit them.

[Benbay001]

Cheers all. I will likely replace them the end of next week. Will update.
Edit: just checked, zz5 are not made in anything bigger than 255 profile. I need 275s

Edited by Benbay001 on Saturday 16th February 17:19

[SuperHangOn]

Avons are perfectly respectable.

Keep the tyres with the most tread on the back!

[007 VXR]

Benbay001 said:

Cheers all. I will likely replace them the end of next week. Will update.
Edit: just checked, zz5 are not made in anything bigger than 255 profile. I need 275s

Edited by Benbay001 on Saturday 16th February 17:19

What size, profile and rated tyre do you need ?

i.e 275 40 19 96y ?

[Caulkhead]

SuperHangOn said:

Avons are perfectly respectable.

Keep the tyres with the most tread on the back!

No, keep the tyres with the most grip on the back, not the most tread.

[007 VXR]

Caulkhead said:

SuperHangOn said:

Avons are perfectly respectable.

Keep the tyres with the most tread on the back!

No, keep the tyres with the most grip on the back, not the most tread.

^^^this

[anonymous-user]

IIRC the STR has different size front and rear wheels, so you can't move the tyres front to back anyway.

[billzeebub]

Michelins all round for me. Tyres are the last thing I compromise on. Avons are fine on a hatchback Borefest, but on a properly quick car premium tyres are imperative for me

[007 VXR]

billzeebub said:

Michelins all round for me. Tyres are the last thing I compromise on. Avons are fine on a hatchback Borefest, but on a properly quick car premium tyres are imperative for me

+1

[FisiP1]

007 VXR said:

Caulkhead said:

SuperHangOn said:

Avons are perfectly respectable.

Keep the tyres with the most tread on the back!

No, keep the tyres with the most grip on the back, not the most tread.

^^^this

Manufacturers recommend to keep the tyres with most tread on the back for the purposes of aquaplaning, if the back aquaplanes first it'll switch ends very quickly if you make any inputs, where as losing the back in any other circumstance is at least controllable. Tyre with most tread implies best water clearing capacity, not necessarily the best outright grip.

OP: I'd go with 4x Michelins myself.

[simon1987]

Some people are very snobbery and anal when it comes to tyres.

It honestly boils down to how you drive.

[007 VXR]

simon1987 said:

Some people are very snobbery and anal when it comes to tyres.

It honestly boils down to how you drive.

And what you drive.