M12 Tyre Choice?

[AMG Merc]

Looks like its tyre time.Nothing in wiki so will post this up when I collate any responses. Apologies if done before, I did check search first.

I'm being offered:

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 - pushing these as quiet and best in wet.
Bridgestone S001
Goodyear Eagle F1

I also saw Yoko Advan Sport (although no one has recommended these).

What are people running/comments?

[daddysumo]

Look at Yoko R1R's.. great all round tyre if you do the occasional track day..

[GhostWKD]

I personally run Pilot Sport 4's currently and don't have any complaints although the Pilot Super Sports are supposedly another step up

[The devil]

Federal RSR's on mine

[cdhoole]

I have been using S001's which seem to do the job and in particular last well.

[bernhund]

It doesn't look like the answers to your post are going to be very helpful and I'm going to make it worse by saying I've run F1s over the last 9 years and been very happy for all weather use!

[Spindoctor]

I was running Dunlop Sport Maxx until a couple of years ago. Very good road tyre, no problems, very happy. Switched to Eagle F1s, have to say they are better. Not a massive improvement but grip is even more assured so you get to enjoy the car's ability even more.

[GO LEO]

Further adding to the confusion: will get Toyo R1R fitted on the weekend with Noble Racing Wheels. In the absence of objective test reports of different tyres on a Noble (pre-requisite for a fact-based decision) I spent quite some time to browse Lotus forums and also found one or the other test report. Concept wise the high power Exige is probably closest to our cars...
The Toyo got some good reviews for dry and wet road handling, strong support through stiff side wall during cornering and value for money. It also looks cool :-).

Can give you my very subjective opinion in a couple of weeks time.
But at the end of the day everyone uses the car very differently, has a different driving style, skills and speed and therefore a universal reco cannot exist.

Cheers, Leo

[daddysumo]

GO LEO said:

Further adding to the confusion: will get Toyo R1R fitted on the weekend with Noble Racing Wheels. In the absence of objective test reports of different tyres on a Noble (pre-requisite for a fact-based decision) I spent quite some time to browse Lotus forums and also found one or the other test report. Concept wise the high power Exige is probably closest to our cars...
The Toyo got some good reviews for dry and wet road handling, strong support through stiff side wall during cornering and value for money. It also looks cool :-).

Can give you my very subjective opinion in a couple of weeks time.
But at the end of the day everyone uses the car very differently, has a different driving style, skills and speed and therefore a universal reco cannot exist.

Cheers, Leo

One of the Lotus ride and handling guys said a few years ago to me that its the best off the shelf tyre they have tested.

[AMG Merc]

daddysumo said:

GO LEO said:

Further adding to the confusion: will get Toyo R1R fitted on the weekend with Noble Racing Wheels. In the absence of objective test reports of different tyres on a Noble (pre-requisite for a fact-based decision) I spent quite some time to browse Lotus forums and also found one or the other test report. Concept wise the high power Exige is probably closest to our cars...
The Toyo got some good reviews for dry and wet road handling, strong support through stiff side wall during cornering and value for money. It also looks cool :-).

Can give you my very subjective opinion in a couple of weeks time.
But at the end of the day everyone uses the car very differently, has a different driving style, skills and speed and therefore a universal reco cannot exist.

Cheers, Leo

One of the Lotus ride and handling guys said a few years ago to me that its the best off the shelf tyre they have tested.

Interesting thanks. Noise, wear and wet grip noted as lower than some others but they do seem to be liked: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Toyo/R1R.htm

[ERIKM400]

Another vote for the Goodyear Eagles.
My first choice would have been Michelin Pilot Supersport but I could not find them in the right size.

[slipstream 1985]

I went for eagle f1s on mine. reason being almost as good as the best tyre in the dry but amazing in the wet.

[doug_porsche]

Here is why I went with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=...

Scroll down to the video.

And it seemed in my research the PSS was what everything else was compared against

I just installed them, so I dont have an opinion yet

[Metalman]

I've also been looking for a set of tyres and cannot find the ones I want (Michelin super sport) in the right sizes. Plus everything seems to be extra load these days which can't be right for a Noble surely?

[AMG Merc]

Metalman said:

I've also been looking for a set of tyres and cannot find the ones I want (Michelin super sport) in the right sizes. Plus everything seems to be extra load these days which can't be right for a Noble surely?

Do you mean 92Y to 97Y? If so, I'm told the difference in weight and sidewall stiffness is next to nothing noticable.

Am going for Pilot Sport 4s this morning...

[Metalman]

AMG Merc said:

Metalman said:

I've also been looking for a set of tyres and cannot find the ones I want (Michelin super sport) in the right sizes. Plus everything seems to be extra load these days which can't be right for a Noble surely?

Do you mean 92Y to 97Y? If so, I'm told the difference in weight and sidewall stiffness is next to nothing noticable.

Am going for Pilot Sport 4s this morning...

I always thought any tyre stamped 'extra load' was designed for a heavy vehicle and not meant for a sports car, but looking at the tyre charts on Michelin's website it seems pretty much every tyre is XL these days, even the wife's Audi A1 has extra load stamped on the sidewalls.
I think I'll be going for the same setup as you so you'll have to report back with how you get on with them.

[bernhund]

This is interesting

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/918...

[Metalman]

bernhund said:

This is interesting

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/918...

That is actually very helpful thank you, good to know that the PS4 is a continuation of the super sport rather than the PS3. It looks like a good choice as long as you don't mind the road noise, and being as I drive a Noble I don't think that's a problem.

[AMG Merc]

Yes indeed, and interesting review. By that it looks like I got the leading tyres then. Will report back.

FYI - my SO3's (yes, SO3's!) still had 5-6mm on them but the MOT showed up a 2+ inch bulge on an inner tyre wall which is "technically" a failure. So... as a) you can't get SO3's any more and 2) current tyres are all different/rotational, etc. I was forced to buy a full set

Thanks for your input all, will report back after next weekend's Leeds Castle run.

[Scooby P1]

Michelin Cup 2's

I am definitely sad thinking that the sidewalls look cool, the tread is also cool and am prepared to put up with the road noise (noticeable) for the improved handling and grip whilst doing 30mph around Chelsea