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king ugly.simonsti said:
After changing the 'terrible' Pirelli P zero's on my 911 to the supposedly much better Michellin PS4's, I couldn't tell any difference, even on track.
Oh Christ yes. Read any of the tyre threads on here and you'd believe that a different brand of tyre transforms the car and anything fitting non-premium means that you'll instantly skid off into the nearest ditch.Whereas, as you say, they're all practically identical and the cheapest tyre from your local back street fitter is going to be absolutely fine for basically anybody.
deckster said:
Whereas, as you say, they're all practically identical
He didn't say that?deckster said:
and the cheapest tyre from your local back street fitter is going to be absolutely fine for basically anybody.
Really, there is a gulf of difference, you'll only ever care when you need todeckster said:
Oh Christ yes. Read any of the tyre threads on here and you'd believe that a different brand of tyre transforms the car and anything fitting non-premium means that you'll instantly skid off into the nearest ditch.
Whereas, as you say, they're all practically identical and the cheapest tyre from your local back street fitter is going to be absolutely fine for basically anybody.
Not sure i agree about the cheap end of the market, some of which can be lethal in the wet.Whereas, as you say, they're all practically identical and the cheapest tyre from your local back street fitter is going to be absolutely fine for basically anybody.
I've experimented a couple of times over the years to see if this is still the case, bought one set of cheapies for the Merc and thought i'd run out the cheapies that had recently been fitted brand new when i bought the current Prado, both sets removed within 12 months due to unpleasant wet grip, dangerously so in the Merc's case.
Often think back to when i was 21, had a Vauxhall FD Ventora, really lovely car of its period, 3.3 straight 6 Cresta engine, 4 speed manual with overdrive.
When bought it was running on Michelin ZX's, in the dry ok and they wore forever but in the wet utterly terrifying, treated myself to a set of the then new Goodyear Unisteels, the difference was beyond amazing, predictable reliable wet grip it was like driving a different car.
Lesson learned, never looked back, soon as tyres prove themselves rubbish they're off.
Not a tyre snob by the way, can't remember the last set of so called premiums bought, running on Falken summers and Cooper winters on the Forester, Uniroyals on the old Merc, and Yokohama winter stamped AT's on the Prado, all provide first class wet grip and do what i want of them, have bought Nokian Vredestein etc in recent years whatever's on a decent offer with top rated wet grip.
I guess it's a relatively common one here but - big power road cars with no other tricks bore me. I've been out in a 700bhp skyline - boring after the first throttle opening.
Someone recently took me out in a 1000+ horsepower Merc they were tuning and sure it was funny being pressed back in the seat, it had incredible traction, etc. But it was also completely useless on the road and I had zero interest in it at all.
I spend more time just looking through the interior and things than bothering about anything on the power side.
Gimme 100bhp and something I can hang on the doorhandles at reasonable speeds any day.
Someone recently took me out in a 1000+ horsepower Merc they were tuning and sure it was funny being pressed back in the seat, it had incredible traction, etc. But it was also completely useless on the road and I had zero interest in it at all.
I spend more time just looking through the interior and things than bothering about anything on the power side.
Gimme 100bhp and something I can hang on the doorhandles at reasonable speeds any day.
Richard-390a0 said:
I own an Audi A3 tdi, that's right own as in not on a PCP! (P.S I don't tailgate either!!!). 
I own, outright, a Vauxhall Insignia B (albeit the 200hp petrol one) and I'm not even a taxi driver!Although I only need a "small car", the 1600 petrol turbo is just as economical as any other 1600 petrol turbo, in fact it's more economical than my old Fiesta ST but a lot cheaper to insure. Shhhh.
deckster said:
simonsti said:
After changing the 'terrible' Pirelli P zero's on my 911 to the supposedly much better Michellin PS4's, I couldn't tell any difference, even on track.
Oh Christ yes. Read any of the tyre threads on here and you'd believe that a different brand of tyre transforms the car and anything fitting non-premium means that you'll instantly skid off into the nearest ditch.Whereas, as you say, they're all practically identical and the cheapest tyre from your local back street fitter is going to be absolutely fine for basically anybody.
Never experienced another car like it for god awful grip.
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