Minimum safe wear for V8S tyres?

[GI]

Seeing as powerful Tivs depend a lot on their tyres, particularly the rears, what is the minimum safe wear for fronts and rears before someone should consider replacing them?

I don't mean the legal limit - rather the point at which driving a car with a lot of torque becomes dodgy during normal driving (not hoons).

The inspection carried out on my (soon-to-be) V8S showed the rears to be down to 3mm. Is this safe for this particular car in the wet?

Also, is it better to change all tyres and use the same model on all four corners or does the car benefit from different tyres on the front than the rear (obviously, you'd have the same model on each axle)?

If a change is likely, what are the one or two best tyres that are available at the moment to re-boot it with? I've read dozens of posts but tyres keep changing names and availability and I'm totally bemused.

[pies]

I binned mine at 3mm but mainly because of small cracks in the wall,i wasn't sure how safe the tyres were.
So if you're not sure of your tyres my advice is to fit new ones

IMHO S03 all round

[GI]

And what sort of price are these?

Can you give me the exact model number for these S03 things so I can go looking for suppliers?


Cheers,

Graham

[pies]

Bridgestone S03 pole position

These are usually the cheapest and you're not far

www.micheldever.co.uk/

best ring

[pstruck]

As you rightly say GI, this topic can be very confusing.

I've found the Bridgestone RE71's that the car currently wears to be more than adequate for my needs. To be fair it has rarely been used in very wet weather, so their ability to shift water hasn't been tested too much.

Apparently you can still get these tyres if you want to keep the same all round. If not RE71's or SO2's then finding a 60 profile in the required 'Z' speed rating may be an issue. Many have 55's fitted and they are fine, except they leave a larger gap under the wheelarch, which makes the car look like it's on stilts.

[GI]

I think I'd probably leave it for a month before doing anything drastic - just get used to the car, you know?

But I do fear the coming autumnal leaf-strewn roads and ending up in a ditch or worse due to insufficient tread.

[bridgdav]

pstruck said:

it has rarely been used in very wet weather

Unless you are going backwards at 80 MPH on a soaking wet airfield that is......

[GI]

Is THAT why I'll probably need to get new tyres then, is it? For shame...

[pstruck]

bridgdav said:

pstruck said: it has rarely been used in very wet weather Unless you are going backwards at 80 MPH on a soaking wet airfield that is......

I seem to remember you doing a fair bit of that too Dave!

[WildfireS3]

Whatever you do, don't buy Pirelli P6000. Had many a browntrouser moment in the wet with them. Absolute sh1te!

[z_chromozone]

I bought two SO3's for £70 each inc VAT and fitting from MK tyres.

I tend to let my tyres ware down to almost the minimum before getting new ones, which is fine in the dry IMO.

Z

[bridgdav]

That reminds me....

Mike..... Video..?

[kentishS2]

WildfireS3 said:

Whatever you do, don't buy Pirelli P6000. Had many a browntrouser moment in the wet with them. Absolute sh1te!

Had them a while back on my BMW 525 of the time and I concur that they are, as Chris says ....errrmm ..not very good at all!

They perished long before the tread wore and the tread started to part with the tyre, nice!

[nawarne]

Had 4 Good Year Z rated tyres fitted by Micheldever this time last year, £75 a corner, fitted, and geometry checked.
The Good Years were recommended by them following a back to back test in EVO summer of 2003.
Micheldever Know their stuff with rubber!

[kentishS2]

I'm not sure if they do a suitable size and profile but Michelin Pilot Sport are damn good. Crossed a roundabout in the rain at 60mph this AM (in the VW) and I could just about feel a little 4 wheel drift but they hold the road really well in the wet despite being 235/40 ZR18. They are also the approved tyre for the new Porsche 996 GT3. They are however, quoted as being a "summer tyre" but I not only found them good in the wet but also passed loads of cars when we had that cold snap and 3 inches of snow fell at the start of this year (was it Feb) and I easily got home and up hills passing many other stranded cars.

May look into this option on the S when I need to replace them. However, the price is high at £160 each (for the VW), should be less for the tiv as they are a bit smaller at 17"

Here's a site with links to many suppliers:-

www.blackcircle.co.uk">www.sedo-parking.com/showparking.php4?language=us&domain=www.blackcircle.co.uk

[tubbystu]

pies said:

These are usually the cheapest and you're not far www.micheldever.co.uk/ best ring

And expect to have to queue up to about an hour 'cos they are always busy - but cheap AND good.