V12V Tyres

[damianke]

Hi

Advice appreciated. I bought a 11MY V12V from Stratstone Wilmslow at the end of 2014 and immediately on purchase swopped the summer wheels and tyres for winters, which have been fine. This week they were swopped back and I've realised that the fronts are Corsas and the rears are normal PZeros. I'd not spotted that prior to purchase (doh…). Question is; is this a big problem, having sets of tyres with different characteristics front to rear?

I was thinking of fitting normal PZeros anyway, so it's a relatively easy job to just swap the fronts, but should the dealer have spotted this before sale? They were very fussy about not fitting any tyres other than the approved Pirellis when I was buying, ('Aston dealer protocol forbids it, sir'), but it didn't extend to not selling a car fitted with different tyre types.

I've not raised it with anyone yet as it's bank holiday weekend, but will pop in to service early next week and see what they say.

Any comments appreciated. Apart from those saying I'm a knob for not checking in the first place; I know!

Thanks

[JonV12V]

Would fit the same tyre all round. You may sense different grip level between front and rear when pushing on and especially on track. Personally, I would opt for p-zero corsa.

[rjn21]

RTFM (sorry not trying to be rude) - does the manual specify not to mix and match approved summer tyres? At the time I disposed of my V12V only the Corsa were "approved" summer tyres, but I know that has changed, and approved winter Sotto Zeros required new wheels. If the mix is specifically not approved, then that was a problem that the dealer should have chipped the price paid to the seller of the vehicle, in order to remedy, and then gone on to remedy.

Personally I wouldn't be too fussed on a 2wd vehicle if the tyres are of the same make on the front left/right whilst different to those on the left/right rear axle, if I chose to do it. If the manual advises against it - I would not be happy.

Of oft fora voiced concern would be insurance invalidation - but personally as long as the tyres have the approved width, diameter, profile, speed rating and load rating, I would doubt an insurer (easy for me to say as not an insurer's claims adjuster) could do anything because a different brand was used. However, if AM preclude it in the manual, all bets are off.

Are you certain you got "your" summer wheels and tyres back? Do you have any picture of the car on summers you might be able to see the tyre brand? It's possible a "mix up" occurred on refitting (I'm in a charitable mood to SS at the mo). I have the dealers put my winters/summers in wheel bags which are labelled with name and reg to hopefully avoid that issue.

Edited by rjn21 on Sunday 5th April 09:11

[damianke]

Thanks, I've taken your advice and looked at the manual. It doesn't say anything about normal PZeros, just the Corsas. The wheels are the right ones, as the reg number is chalked on each one. I'll ask Service tomorrow.

Thanks again.

[Mako V12V]

Mine will need new rears before long. Is it possible to put Michelin pilot super sports on the rear whilst leaving the current Pirelli p zero corsa son the front?
Are the MPSS more of an all year tyre and approved by AM?

[KarlFranz]

Mako V12V said:

Mine will need new rears before long. Is it possible to put Michelin pilot super sports on the rear whilst leaving the current Pirelli p zero corsa son the front?
Are the MPSS more of an all year tyre and approved by AM?

As long as you keep the same tyre type on each axle, you'll be fine.

Also, the Vulcan will have the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.

[damianke]

Just a footnote to my original post. The car's been back at Wilmslow this week for some paintwork correction on the bonnet and front wheels being refurbed due to delamination, all under warranty. While it was in Stratstone replaced the two front tyres with new PZeros, matching the rears. All with no fuss at all, just done very professionally and with good humour (to me at least; whether the Service v Sales dept discussion has been quite so nice, I would not like to say!). Looked like lots of internal head scratching as to how it happened and who missed the mismatched tyres.

So, thanks and a thumbs up to Stratstone Wilmslow. Car is now even more perfect than before. Occasionally V8 drivers wonder on the forum whether they should test drive a V12; only do it knowing you will never go back….