To Pirelli or not to Pirelli
Discussion
Next few weeks I'm puttin new hoops on the coupe and I've always stuck with the 19" original eqipment, pzero rosso pirelli's, but now I'm in the UK I thought I'd get some feedback on possible alternatives. I don't plan any track days so I'm looking for a fairly grippy tyre for road use but not too noisy. I was unhappy with 18" F1's on my clubby cos they scalloped at about 70% wear and got very noisy. I don't know much about the alternatives so would apreciate any advice. pzero rosso 19's seem to be around £190 mark fitted & balanced.
wots ya reckon boys??
wots ya reckon boys??
Most of the big fast German cars use Continental Sport Contact 2's. I really liked these tyres, same sort of price as the F1's, but I think the F1's just beat them on my car anyway.
Close call, but F1's so good in the wet & with over 500bhp that helps. The traction control hardly ever kicks in.
Close call, but F1's so good in the wet & with over 500bhp that helps. The traction control hardly ever kicks in.
GTS Coupe,
I have PZeros all round and thats what comes from HSV with our wheels (I have a GTS Commodore 19" package as well). Breaking traction is difficult as they grip like buggery, and they are very stiff on the sidewalls (I like those qualities as they are nervous but precise). The only criticism is tyre noise (and cost).
I have had continental sport contacts on the rears and they lasted two months, easy to break away and just as noisy as the PZeros.
Recommendation is stick with Pzeros, don;t go for any bigger than standard though...I stuck 10mmm extra in the rear and they scrape the wheel arches under load or hard acceleration.....
Cheers Eric
I have PZeros all round and thats what comes from HSV with our wheels (I have a GTS Commodore 19" package as well). Breaking traction is difficult as they grip like buggery, and they are very stiff on the sidewalls (I like those qualities as they are nervous but precise). The only criticism is tyre noise (and cost).
I have had continental sport contacts on the rears and they lasted two months, easy to break away and just as noisy as the PZeros.
Recommendation is stick with Pzeros, don;t go for any bigger than standard though...I stuck 10mmm extra in the rear and they scrape the wheel arches under load or hard acceleration.....
Cheers Eric
Thanx all.
When I replaced them last time I chose to stick with the pzero's as they were the std kit on the new car. Had no plans to deviate from the 245/35/zr19 std issue so looks like I might buy F1's for the left hand side, Pzero's for the right hand side and let the hydratrack diff sort out the winner! I'll let you know which one wins a year from now! LOL. Thanx again. julian
When I replaced them last time I chose to stick with the pzero's as they were the std kit on the new car. Had no plans to deviate from the 245/35/zr19 std issue so looks like I might buy F1's for the left hand side, Pzero's for the right hand side and let the hydratrack diff sort out the winner! I'll let you know which one wins a year from now! LOL. Thanx again. julian
Eric, were you Conti's the original Sport Contact or the later 2 version? The set I had were the 2's and even on a track day (dry) the grip was great. But my car is based on the GTS(UK) & as such runs on 18's. Also have different rear suspension & diff. to the GTSR(UK).
What is good tyre for one car is not always good on another. Personal driving style also comes into the equation.
I've used 4 different complete sets of tyres on the 2 HSV's I've owned. Still think Brigdestone SO2's were the best.
What is good tyre for one car is not always good on another. Personal driving style also comes into the equation.
I've used 4 different complete sets of tyres on the 2 HSV's I've owned. Still think Brigdestone SO2's were the best.
Will,
Standard 245/35 19's replaced with 255/35 19s...I didn't go down a section as it makes little difference at the total circumference (i.e. about 1% diameter so 3.14% rolling circumference - note: my speedo versus GPS error reduced....how dare they raise speedo indications! I'm not a number scaredy-cat, if I'm travellinmg at 180, I want to read 180 not 190!)
The PZero-asymmetrics have quite square/stiff sidewalls (and anti-kerbing strips) and this is what gives them the precision, but nervous. (The HSV rack helps the straight ahead nervousness as well - do GTS Oz - GTS-R UKs have different racks to GTS UKs?)
Note: The nervousness only occurs at medium speeds, at high speeds the motor is a solid as a rock...aerodynamics come into play higher up....
Cheers
Eric
Standard 245/35 19's replaced with 255/35 19s...I didn't go down a section as it makes little difference at the total circumference (i.e. about 1% diameter so 3.14% rolling circumference - note: my speedo versus GPS error reduced....how dare they raise speedo indications! I'm not a number scaredy-cat, if I'm travellinmg at 180, I want to read 180 not 190!)
The PZero-asymmetrics have quite square/stiff sidewalls (and anti-kerbing strips) and this is what gives them the precision, but nervous. (The HSV rack helps the straight ahead nervousness as well - do GTS Oz - GTS-R UKs have different racks to GTS UKs?)
Note: The nervousness only occurs at medium speeds, at high speeds the motor is a solid as a rock...aerodynamics come into play higher up....
Cheers
Eric
Cheers for that feedback Eric
My only dilemma is do I go for P Zero or Nero Zero, I think that the NZ’s will fit in the arches better as they were designed to do just that but are they inferior to the PZ’s.
Want to go for 255/35/18 as the rolling circumference is very, very close to the stock tyre and my only concern will be the front from an interference point of view.
Will
My only dilemma is do I go for P Zero or Nero Zero, I think that the NZ’s will fit in the arches better as they were designed to do just that but are they inferior to the PZ’s.
Want to go for 255/35/18 as the rolling circumference is very, very close to the stock tyre and my only concern will be the front from an interference point of view.
Will
Will, why do want to deviate from 235/40/18 if you have the standard wheels. What are the benefits?
On one of my other cars I have actually reduced width from 205 to 195 to reduce tyre roll on cornering, this worked well. But I would have thought the opposite could be the case by going wider, plus a harder ride.
>> Edited by A57 HSV on Wednesday 30th March 16:39
On one of my other cars I have actually reduced width from 205 to 195 to reduce tyre roll on cornering, this worked well. But I would have thought the opposite could be the case by going wider, plus a harder ride.
>> Edited by A57 HSV on Wednesday 30th March 16:39
Tom
Grip in a straight line really plus looks, I have tried 175,195,205,215,225 & 235 on 15, 16 & 17" rims on my smarts, 175's give the best sporty ride but nothing corners better than NZ's on 215/35/17 for me although my top choice is 205/40/15 but they are steel wheels and not as sexy as the alloys.
Getting back to your post, I have had the car sideways at 50-70 mph when applying the loud pedal with only 500 brake at the rear wheels, hoping to realise an extra 100 horses on top hence going wider but there are other factors.
Running 245/40/18 currently (SO3) and they are great for protecting the rims plus I want reinforced sidewalls (run flat) as the SO3's can go pop if you don't use them regularly.
No doubt there would be great fun to be had running thicker sidewalls on 16 or 17” rims with 195 or 205 section but then again no.
Does your 500 horse bruiser keep straight under full bore?
Will
Grip in a straight line really plus looks, I have tried 175,195,205,215,225 & 235 on 15, 16 & 17" rims on my smarts, 175's give the best sporty ride but nothing corners better than NZ's on 215/35/17 for me although my top choice is 205/40/15 but they are steel wheels and not as sexy as the alloys.
Getting back to your post, I have had the car sideways at 50-70 mph when applying the loud pedal with only 500 brake at the rear wheels, hoping to realise an extra 100 horses on top hence going wider but there are other factors.
Running 245/40/18 currently (SO3) and they are great for protecting the rims plus I want reinforced sidewalls (run flat) as the SO3's can go pop if you don't use them regularly.
No doubt there would be great fun to be had running thicker sidewalls on 16 or 17” rims with 195 or 205 section but then again no.
Does your 500 horse bruiser keep straight under full bore?
Will
Will, haven't tried 255s in the front, mine are still 245s at front....
A57, benefit is more tread area=more traction (for same tyre type etc etc.....If Will goes 255/35s the sidewall is approximately the same therefore roughly same sidewall roll....
however the pirellis are very stiff on the sidewall and this prevents roll, but increases nervousness...not a problem if you are confident as to where you are going....!!!!
Low profile with stiffer sidewalls reduce tyre roll at some expense of ride confort, but then that is more to do with spring/shock rates.... (and going for softer springs/shocks = body roll...this in itself is not a bad thing, just makes the passengers puke!)
Will, a lot of the issue with my rear end rubbing ..... ooer! is to do with the huge negative camber on the rear wheels.
Have you got a friendly garage that could loan some wheel type combos in the correct ranges and fit to your motor to check? i.e. with the correct 5 stud PCD etc. may be a long shot but you never know. Best to check seeing as you've lowered yours as well!
I would be tempted to just fit biggies on the back to get the ponies down. Feel free to pop up to Gloucester and we can fit mine in there and see how they go! There may be a few beers in it as well. Kip over and see V8 Supercars on the big screen......
Cheers Eric
A57, benefit is more tread area=more traction (for same tyre type etc etc.....If Will goes 255/35s the sidewall is approximately the same therefore roughly same sidewall roll....
however the pirellis are very stiff on the sidewall and this prevents roll, but increases nervousness...not a problem if you are confident as to where you are going....!!!!
Low profile with stiffer sidewalls reduce tyre roll at some expense of ride confort, but then that is more to do with spring/shock rates.... (and going for softer springs/shocks = body roll...this in itself is not a bad thing, just makes the passengers puke!)
Will, a lot of the issue with my rear end rubbing ..... ooer! is to do with the huge negative camber on the rear wheels.
Have you got a friendly garage that could loan some wheel type combos in the correct ranges and fit to your motor to check? i.e. with the correct 5 stud PCD etc. may be a long shot but you never know. Best to check seeing as you've lowered yours as well!
I would be tempted to just fit biggies on the back to get the ponies down. Feel free to pop up to Gloucester and we can fit mine in there and see how they go! There may be a few beers in it as well. Kip over and see V8 Supercars on the big screen......
Cheers Eric
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