Question about winter wheels/tyres for V12S Vantage
Discussion
I'm looking to have a winter wheel/tyre set fitted to my 2018 V12 Vantage AMR (effectively a V12S) soon. Aston do this official kit:
https://www2.astonmartin.com/en/accessories/v12-va...
For insurance purposes, I want to keep to recommended Aston bits where possible. I also want to preserve my AMR alloys (they are a fair chunk more to replace - although a second set to use in winter is an option). Plus, I have found the original Pirelli P1 tyres to be surprisingly good, so will only replace with PS4S when they wear out.
The wheel in the Aston winter wheel/tyre kit link above appears to be the same as I had on my first 2014 V8 Vantage. I like that design, but it's a different wheel/tyre size at:
Has anybody else bothered with this change over winter? I will be using my Vantage unless there's salt all over the place. Any experience of the Pirelli SottoZero Winter 270 tyre?
All thoughts appreciated.
https://www2.astonmartin.com/en/accessories/v12-va...
For insurance purposes, I want to keep to recommended Aston bits where possible. I also want to preserve my AMR alloys (they are a fair chunk more to replace - although a second set to use in winter is an option). Plus, I have found the original Pirelli P1 tyres to be surprisingly good, so will only replace with PS4S when they wear out.
The wheel in the Aston winter wheel/tyre kit link above appears to be the same as I had on my first 2014 V8 Vantage. I like that design, but it's a different wheel/tyre size at:
- Front: 235/40 R19 96W (vs. 255/35 ZR19 96Y fitted)
- Rear: 275/35 R19 100W (vs. 295/30 ZR19 100Y fitted)
Has anybody else bothered with this change over winter? I will be using my Vantage unless there's salt all over the place. Any experience of the Pirelli SottoZero Winter 270 tyre?
All thoughts appreciated.
My V12S had non Corsa P Zeros ( specced from new ) which stayed on the car ( with replacements as necessary ) until I sold it.
Used all year round as a daily other than through a few cumulative days of snow over the 5 years or so with seemingly no issues.
The standard ( black wheels ) stood up extremely well to any salt.
Used all year round as a daily other than through a few cumulative days of snow over the 5 years or so with seemingly no issues.
The standard ( black wheels ) stood up extremely well to any salt.
CatalystV12V said:
Did you buy the winter wheels, if so are you happy with them?
I never did, but each winter, I do think I should!I never drive in salty conditions and the wheels are still in very good condition. I did manage to buy one spare front alloy just in case (still looking for a rear one), but mainly in case of pot holes.
Maybe this winter? You got me looking again
alscar said:
My V12S had non Corsa P Zeros ( specced from new ) which stayed on the car ( with replacements as necessary ) until I sold it.
Used all year round as a daily other than through a few cumulative days of snow over the 5 years or so with seemingly no issues.
The standard ( black wheels ) stood up extremely well to any salt.
Good to read! Which style of alloy were these? The lightweight or earlier V12 style?Used all year round as a daily other than through a few cumulative days of snow over the 5 years or so with seemingly no issues.
The standard ( black wheels ) stood up extremely well to any salt.
nickv12 said:
alscar said:
My V12S had non Corsa P Zeros ( specced from new ) which stayed on the car ( with replacements as necessary ) until I sold it.
Used all year round as a daily other than through a few cumulative days of snow over the 5 years or so with seemingly no issues.
The standard ( black wheels ) stood up extremely well to any salt.
Good to read! Which style of alloy were these? The lightweight or earlier V12 style?Used all year round as a daily other than through a few cumulative days of snow over the 5 years or so with seemingly no issues.
The standard ( black wheels ) stood up extremely well to any salt.
nickv12 said:
I never did, but each winter, I do think I should!
I never drive in salty conditions and the wheels are still in very good condition. I did manage to buy one spare front alloy just in case (still looking for a rear one), but mainly in case of pot holes.
Maybe this winter? You got me looking again
Oh no - competition !!!! :0) I never drive in salty conditions and the wheels are still in very good condition. I did manage to buy one spare front alloy just in case (still looking for a rear one), but mainly in case of pot holes.
Maybe this winter? You got me looking again
CatalystV12V said:
To be honest I d have thought there would be plenty around.. but it seems not to be the case.
No. They're getting rarer.This thread resurrection prompted me to look again. Hopefully secured a nice set of alternative alloys.
Only question is... do I also have them fitted with Michelin PS4S like the AMR alloys? I do enough miles to wear through two sets within 6 years (ie. before they go off). My original thought was to get all weather tyres fitted which are more suitable for lower temperatures. Obviously, I have no intention of driving through vast amounts of standing water!
The PS4S tyres have never given me any doubt in any condition up to now.
Or are there some good current deals on suitable alternatives?
nickv12 said:
CatalystV12V said:
To be honest I d have thought there would be plenty around.. but it seems not to be the case.
No. They're getting rarer.This thread resurrection prompted me to look again. Hopefully secured a nice set of alternative alloys.
Only question is... do I also have them fitted with Michelin PS4S like the AMR alloys? I do enough miles to wear through two sets within 6 years (ie. before they go off). My original thought was to get all weather tyres fitted which are more suitable for lower temperatures. Obviously, I have no intention of driving through vast amounts of standing water!
The PS4S tyres have never given me any doubt in any condition up to now.
Or are there some good current deals on suitable alternatives?
I was thinking about a set of winter tyres. I run them on my Audi during the winter and find them to be very good.
I want to replace my Pirelli’s next year with PS4S..
CatalystV12V said:
Which alloys did you choose?
I was thinking about a set of winter tyres. I run them on my Audi during the winter and find them to be very good.
I want to replace my Pirelli s next year with PS4S..
I’ll keep that secret for now. I’ll post a photo when all’s done I was thinking about a set of winter tyres. I run them on my Audi during the winter and find them to be very good.
I want to replace my Pirelli s next year with PS4S..
The PS4S are excellent. But so are the OEM Pirelli’s when still new-ish.
Finally, an update!
I suppose it's conventional to get a set of cheap metal circles to "sacrifice" when driving over winter. However: (a) I don't take Jekyll out on salted roads, and (b) it's Jekyll.
To me, the silver AMRs that were supplied with the car from new are a massive part of the appeal of the car to me. They are more than a finishing touch; they help define the car as a whole.
So when I noticed the tiniest bit of silver paint flaking on one alloy (the kind of imperfection you only notice when washing a car by hand), I finally thought it's time to get my old ideas of sourcing some winter alloys in action.
The germ of this idea emerged 3 years that I'd probably want to find some winter tyres to suit the car. But as the years passed, I found that the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S are perfect all-year round and never give me any concerns, even in near freezing temperatures. You just drive for the condition and change the tyres before they get to the tread indicators.
Therefore, the ideas of the winter wheel were purely to help preserve the increasingly hard-to-source AMR alloys. And now allow them to be refurbished.
Also, from the day I got my hands on Jekyll in 2021, I noticed that the paint work on the AMR alloys was less than perfect. A bit "Hammerite", truth be told. So a refurb would help there too.
With all that in mind, I set about finding 4 alloys to deploy as winter wheels. By luck, a nice guy was selling a set of my second favourite Aston alloy designs (for the VH V12 Vantage)... the rare Zagato alloys that were originally for the even rarer 2011 V12 Vantage Zagato. They had been refurbed, but as they were at a good price, local and would be used over winter anyway, it all fell into place.
I stored them for a month or so, and then received recommendations from various people for Reinventing the Wheel in Tewkesbury to swap the alloys over and refurb the AMRs.
At the same time, as the TPMS units in each alloy were 7 years old, I pre-empted the need to replace these. Sourced by Aston Installations (conveniently close to Reinventing the Wheel) through Aston Martin Walton on Thames (HWM), they were full whack and a little eye watering. Next time, I'll try the OEM units recommended on various excellent PistonHeads threads for near 1/4 of the price. Plenty of reports that these work too. Regardless, I should be sorted for some more years.
Last Friday, it was a very quick dash to Tewkesbury with my very supportive wife in the family wagon full of forged metal. Just in case any of the refurbed Zagato alloys were not right, I'd also bought and brought a brand new ex-stock front and read spare sourced from the ever-resourceful Dave Cooling. Thankfully, all the refurbed alloys were perfect and true.
Reinventing the Wheel swapped things over quickly. I then dumped the car back at home and didn't have time to see it again for a week. But this morning, the sun was out, so the camera was also dragged out.
What do you think?
The Zagato Cosmopolitan Yellow paint now has a second Zagato feature close by. But I admit I miss the AMR alloys. If I had to have another alloy fitted to Jekyll it would be these. Perhaps painted silver all over. Maybe for another year...
When I get the AMRs back, I'm going to compare their weight with the Zagatos. The Zags are super light! Not that I notice a jot of difference behind the wheel.
I suppose it's conventional to get a set of cheap metal circles to "sacrifice" when driving over winter. However: (a) I don't take Jekyll out on salted roads, and (b) it's Jekyll.
To me, the silver AMRs that were supplied with the car from new are a massive part of the appeal of the car to me. They are more than a finishing touch; they help define the car as a whole.
So when I noticed the tiniest bit of silver paint flaking on one alloy (the kind of imperfection you only notice when washing a car by hand), I finally thought it's time to get my old ideas of sourcing some winter alloys in action.
The germ of this idea emerged 3 years that I'd probably want to find some winter tyres to suit the car. But as the years passed, I found that the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S are perfect all-year round and never give me any concerns, even in near freezing temperatures. You just drive for the condition and change the tyres before they get to the tread indicators.
Therefore, the ideas of the winter wheel were purely to help preserve the increasingly hard-to-source AMR alloys. And now allow them to be refurbished.
Also, from the day I got my hands on Jekyll in 2021, I noticed that the paint work on the AMR alloys was less than perfect. A bit "Hammerite", truth be told. So a refurb would help there too.
With all that in mind, I set about finding 4 alloys to deploy as winter wheels. By luck, a nice guy was selling a set of my second favourite Aston alloy designs (for the VH V12 Vantage)... the rare Zagato alloys that were originally for the even rarer 2011 V12 Vantage Zagato. They had been refurbed, but as they were at a good price, local and would be used over winter anyway, it all fell into place.
I stored them for a month or so, and then received recommendations from various people for Reinventing the Wheel in Tewkesbury to swap the alloys over and refurb the AMRs.
At the same time, as the TPMS units in each alloy were 7 years old, I pre-empted the need to replace these. Sourced by Aston Installations (conveniently close to Reinventing the Wheel) through Aston Martin Walton on Thames (HWM), they were full whack and a little eye watering. Next time, I'll try the OEM units recommended on various excellent PistonHeads threads for near 1/4 of the price. Plenty of reports that these work too. Regardless, I should be sorted for some more years.
Last Friday, it was a very quick dash to Tewkesbury with my very supportive wife in the family wagon full of forged metal. Just in case any of the refurbed Zagato alloys were not right, I'd also bought and brought a brand new ex-stock front and read spare sourced from the ever-resourceful Dave Cooling. Thankfully, all the refurbed alloys were perfect and true.
Reinventing the Wheel swapped things over quickly. I then dumped the car back at home and didn't have time to see it again for a week. But this morning, the sun was out, so the camera was also dragged out.
What do you think?
The Zagato Cosmopolitan Yellow paint now has a second Zagato feature close by. But I admit I miss the AMR alloys. If I had to have another alloy fitted to Jekyll it would be these. Perhaps painted silver all over. Maybe for another year...
When I get the AMRs back, I'm going to compare their weight with the Zagatos. The Zags are super light! Not that I notice a jot of difference behind the wheel.
I think they look really good Nick. Saw your post in some of the AM Facebook groups yesterday too. I tend to agree with LTP though. I’ve always found the AMR wheels a little fussy and they must be a pain to clean too. So I prefer the simpler designs, although I guess the Zagato wheels may fall somewhere in between. When I took my car to Aston Installations they arranged for my wheels (plain old boring liquid silver I’m afraid) to be refurbished and repainted and I suspect they used the same guys you mentioned. They did a very good job. They are now slightly darker than the original OEM colour, but I like them. Just one question though. Why did you go for TPMS sensors from AML? Aston Installations can supply, fit and programme Autel sensors for much less and they work just fine. I guess it doesn’t matter too much really though. As you said, the issue shouldn’t need addressing again for some time now. BRM.
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