2007my 4.3 vantage - time for new boots?

[djmac56]

Chaps,

My 2007 vantage had 8k on it when I bought it. 2 years later it's still only at 13k. However, I never really feel I can trust it for grip. My wife's 4motion golf is much more planted.

Is it time for new tyres at 13k, or are vantages quite slippy in nature?

I never feel as safe at speed (e.g at 55mph coming off the M3 onto the M25 towards Weybridge) as I want to and that's spoiling the experience for me.

Not ever having owned a new one I don't know if it would be better with new tyres, but I worry about spending lots of cash on tyres and not seeing an improvement, given I haven't had an MOT advisory on them yet!

Ta, Mark

[F1 NDW]

I suspect your tyres must be six to seven years old now. They need renewing and boy will you notice the difference. There is plenty of info on the net that will tell you how to check the tyres age from the markings on them.

Edited by F1 NDW on Sunday 2nd March 19:37

[Gettoff]

What Neil said is spot on. They are coming up to 7 years old I would wager and will need changing. I seem to remember from another thread that it's UV light that kills them over time.

Get out and use it a bit more !

[IanV12VR]

Regardless of the miles you do in your car modern tyres go off after 3/4 years so when you change them you will find a massive difference in performance. Get it done!

[V12woollie]

The Potenzas have tons of grip and let you know with some polite squealing when they are being pushed near the limit. If you feel your Vantage feels slippery then the tyres definitely need replacing.

[djmac56]

Thanks chaps. I shall pop along to my local tyre shop and get it sorted.

[yeti]

It might also be your geometry; I was stunned when I first had my DB9 done, felt like a different car! It's about 120 quid, money well spent as I guarantee your car will be well out of spec if it's never been done!

[Murph7355]

yeti said:

It might also be your geometry; I was stunned when I first had my DB9 done, felt like a different car! It's about 120 quid, money well spent as I guarantee your car will be well out of spec if it's never been done!

This. And pressures - check them carefully.

But if they're the original tyres they are also likely to be beyond their best.

(btw, I've moved to Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Much better than the OEM Bridgestones).

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Murph7355 said:

yeti said:

It might also be your geometry; I was stunned when I first had my DB9 done, felt like a different car! It's about 120 quid, money well spent as I guarantee your car will be well out of spec if it's never been done!

This. And pressures - check them carefully.

But if they're the original tyres they are also likely to be beyond their best.

(btw, I've moved to Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Much better than the OEM Bridgestones).

By all means, replace the OEM with Pilot Super Sports (not PS2), you will be utterly amazed at the grip, ride and noise improvement over the Bridgestones. This is THE tire de jour.

[Neil1300r]

djmac56 said:

Thanks chaps. I shall pop along to my local tyre shop and get it sorted.

I use Guildford Tyres - they keep the Aston tyres in stock. Know how to look after high end cars. They also do my bike tyres. Competitive on price as well.
As Yeti said get the geometry checked as well, made a huge difference on mine.

[deano7]

Let us know what you feel the difference is when you get the new boots on mate. My rears were made in 2010 and 2011 and feels a bit twitchy when you apply the speed. Cheers

[deano7]

£250 each for the rears, for the Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Not as bad as I expected as it was £300 a corner when l had my BMW 320i M Sport Coupe. I hated those run flats with a passion

[Manwhoneverwas]

Murph7355 said:

This. And pressures - check them carefully.

But if they're the original tyres they are also likely to be beyond their best.

(btw, I've moved to Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Much better than the OEM Bridgestones).

I am always puzzled why Porsche and Aston Martin fit Bridgestone Potenza RE050A as factory fitted as standard and yet a lot of owners do not rate them

[Jockman]

IanV12VR said:

Regardless of the miles you do in your car modern tyres go off after 3/4 years so when you change them you will find a massive difference in performance. Get it done!

Correctamundo

If you use a Dealer for servicing they will strongly recommend this regime. Tyres should have the week and year of manufacture on them and I'm pretty sure there will be cracking on the rubber by now.

Geo is a good idea - £100 for a Northern price - and it's up to you if you want a return to factory settings or a more sporty set up. Don't worry about the obligatory half tank of fuel when doing this as they will but weights in the boot. And FFS if you kerb the wheel on the way out drive round the block and get it redone

[Murph7355]

Manwhoneverwas said:

I am always puzzled why Porsche and Aston Martin fit Bridgestone Potenza RE050A as factory fitted as standard and yet a lot of owners do not rate them

Bridgestones are OK. But tyre tech moves on and the Michelins are a lot better.

Don't forget that makers strike deals for more than just performance reasons