Tyres...

[Windsorphil]

How frustating is this!

Last month I changed the front tyres (225/45 zr17) on my M-Coupe, and as I wanted a softer, sticky tyre the chap recommended that I use the brand new Avon ZZ3, he also knew that I would need a rear set soon after and even agreed to fit them at the same price.

The rear tyres are 245/40 zr17 and today I discover that Avon, although they are quoting prices for these tyres, have not made any yet!

So now I have to have odd tyres: zz3's on the front and zz1's at the rear - I may sound a bit anal, but I like to have the same all round -

The Lesson:

If youre swapping to a brand new tyre, make sure they can supply them for front and rear!

[M-five]

Your dealer obviously saw you coming as the only good thing about the Avon ZZ range is the price - they may be soft but they do not grip very well.

The ZZ1s came consistently last in all the tyre tests I have seen over the last 2-3 years, and the ZZ3 have been equal to the task this last 6 months.

I wouldn't recommend putting the ZZ1s on the rear unless you plan to leave the car in the garage most of the time.

>> Edited by M-five on Friday 7th June 21:23

[ultimapaul]

The not so good rating of the Avons is supported by a tyre test in the latest edition of EVO. A distant 8th out of 8 tyres tested.

>> Edited by ultimapaul on Saturday 8th June 19:13

[manek]

I'm surprised by the poor showing of the Bridgestone SO3. Could this be anything to do with the fact that they used a front-driver to do the testing?

[bennno]

quote:
I'm surprised by the poor showing of the Bridgestone SO3. Could this be anything to do with the fact that they used a front-driver to do the testing?

nope its just that they are crap, best tyres by far are the Conti-sport 2's they are very soft and grippy and by far the best tyres i have ever had on a road car, they were astonishing around brands earlier this year

Bennno

[ultimapaul]

Bennno - Sorry mate, the Goodyear F1 is KING

[Fatboy]

I always found Yoko A520s were great on my brother's Mini, ridiculous levels of grip, wet or dry, but they didn't last too long

[apache]

there is no tyre around that is the best at everything, what works for one car will not necessarily work for another. I had a long conversation with the people at Bridgestone about the problems I had with SO 3's on my Griff and there is shedloads of technology involved. People who race TVR's rate the SO 3 very highly but I don't like em at all

[GreenV8S]

quote:
I always found Yoko A520s were great on my brother's Mini, ridiculous levels of grip, wet or dry, but they didn't last too long

I rated A520s highly too (and don't they squeal nicely?) but S02pp were slightly better in the dry and dramatically better in the wet. S03pp are similar to S02pp, although they feel stiffer and have more direct handling. Which I like because it means I don't have to chuck the car around as much to load the tyres up, but others may not like it.