Tyres (again)

[meeko]

Sorry to bring this up again....

I recently put a pair of S03-PPs on the back of my 97 Chim 400, but now the front S02-PPs are ready for a change.

Problem is nobody has the S03s as they are discontinued. What would be the best choice - Toyos or F1s? Have heard that you have to fit the older F1s that require a lot of warming up before they perform. Are Toyos a suitable match for the new S03s on the back?

Any thoughts welcome. (Or anyone know where there's a stock of S03s).

[M@H]

meeko said:

Sorry to bring this up again.... Problem is nobody has the S03s as they are discontinued.

SO3's discontinued !? since when.? ..have Bridgestone Potenza dropped out of the market ?

>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 8th March 09:20

[meeko]

Apparently so. I spoke to several large tyre dealers, each contacted Bridgestone and confirmed that they are no longer supplying the S03s! They choice is getting worse!

[Nuggs]

Sadly, the news about the SO3's appears to be true. More in-depth thread of despair and alternative options here

[chris_chim]

I got some yesterday, I think if you phone around enough you will get them but don't expect a killer deal (£220 for a pair fully fitted).

[zippee]

I've heard good things about the Falken FK451's though must confess I have no actual experience of them. Anyone on here used them?

[M@H]

how odd..! Oh well, Toyo's here we come then..

[nztrev]

What is it with you guys and Toyo's,I bet most of you had never heard of them before they were standard on Tivs (for a while), there not so rated elsewhere in the world.
Go for a real tyre, Goodyear Gd3.

[deeen]

But I can only find GDS3 for one end, and GDS2 for the other... and they're on back order anyway... anyone tried the Falkens, or am I going to become the guinea pig?

[jeff miles]

I have a pair of very, very nearly new 205 x 55 x 15 SO3s - pristine - in my garage in Lancs. Surplus (fitted new Toyos all round)

Offers collected or delivered locally on a nice day.

Suggest you post on the list if interested and I will contact you - don't bother mailing me - you'll probably get caught in the spam filter.

Jeff

[M@H]

nztrev said:

What is it with you guys and Toyo's,I bet most of you had never heard of them before they were standard on Tivs (for a while).

I had a set on my 914 some 5-6 years ago actually...they were very good.

[tvrbob]

M@H said:

how odd..! Oh well, Toyo's here we come then..

As it happens Toyo are phasing out the T1-S in favour of the T1-R. Production of T1-S will halt as sizes become available in their replacement tyre. The T1-R has a tougher edge tread though I guess there will be handling differences as well.

[lockhart flawse]

The blackcircles website describes the Falken ZE512 as a good choice if you are watching the pennies but that they are not directional tyres..whatever that means.

LF

[tvrbob]

nztrev said:

What is it with you guys and Toyo's.....

They are good provided the they have either stood unwrapped for a couple of months or after a good 1000 driving. It's the early use that frightens the life out of people. The car squirms from 40mph onward. Once the mould slip is out of them, the tyres are great. If yours were good from the start then I'd suggest they had been on the shelf for a while and had no mould slip left on the tread.

[tvrbob]

lockhart flawse said:

...but that they are not directional tyres..whatever that means. LF

Just means they don't shift water as well.

[zippee]

lockhart flawse said:

The blackcircles website describes the Falken ZE512 as a good choice if you are watching the pennies but that they are not directional tyres..whatever that means. LF

The ZE512 is not the same (obviously) as the FK451 shown in my previous post which is quite clearly a directional tyre. Its also described by Falken as they're performance road tyre.

[19560]

zippee said:

Described by Falken as they're performance road tyre.

On a minor point IMHO their should have been employed but if you're considering Falken then this may be a better choice:-

TVR-Phoenix said:

www.bfgoodrichtyres.co.uk/bfguk/front/affich.jsp?codeRubrique=5&codePage=BFG_PAG_DETAIL1&lang=EN

[gf350]

I seriously considered the Falkens when I changed the rears, there is a lot of good stuff said about them on the web, I ended up going for Toyo's.
Black circles rate the Falken GRB FK 451 in the Best catagory (the same catagory as Brigestones).
Do they do them in a 15 inch for the front though? It doesn't look like it from the info on their website.
GF.

[PJC]

I have bought tyres from here once before https://ssl.iomart.com/johnsonstyres.com/acatalog/about.html (Phone: [phone]) and they were pretty good price wise and on time with delivery, paid a local tyre fitter £20 to fit them.

I spoke to them earlier and they said they can still get S03 PP's in the relevant sizes for delivery within a couple of days, quoted £80 fronts and £96 rears.

[petros]

try image wheels in the west mids. imagewheels.co.uk. just bought proxies from them. 245/45/16s. £90 each, seems a good deal