Tyre Choice

[GreyRacer]

The T180 has covered 4,000 miles now and a new set of tyres will be required for the winter months. I've no intentions in replacing the factory fitted Dunlops as they are just not good enough as a performance tyre. I'm going to try out the etyres service and have been checking out their web site. I've always favoured Vredestein Sportracs on the TS s and am thinking of the Ultracs but the Pirelli Zero Rossos may be my new tyre of choice for a tryout. They do the high load version which gives me a level of confidence for consistant high speed driving as my T180 spends a lot of time in the upper reaches. The engine is loosening up nicely and I'm pleasently surprised by how free reving it has become. It's very smooth up to max revs. As this is my first diesel the way of using the engine for best advantage has been a learning curve. I could never max out the T-sport as it would not acheive it's full speed, but the 180 does it and more with ease.

[G6-R]

I have just bought the Vredesteijn Ultrac Sessanta 225/40-18 i hav driven now about 3000 km with it and the handle fine

If you would i could make a better picture tomorrow from the tyre it self

[Ed_Shek]

What about Toyo Proxies T1Rs??? Heard that these tyres are highly rated by many people.

If not then you could always try Goodyear Eagle F1's. Durability are an issue but performance are spot on.

[Kev Mc]

I've just got Nexen N2000's on my Golf, they came highly recommended by the tyre place owner (he has some on his Jag) & my dad has some on his Beamer, they're excellent tyres

[muser]

michelin pilot exalto

[Ed_Shek]

If you want a balance between performance and durability then Conti's Premium Contact are worth a look!

[G6-R]

If you want a balance between performance and durability then Conti's Premium Contact are worth a look!

olso in 17" ???????

[SRsmithy]

i work for a tyre fitting company as the assistant manager, i would go for bf goodrich,excellent grip in both wet and dry and give great milage too, these r fitted to the wrc rally cars and some larger bmws, the nexens r budget tyres, Continental tyres split quickly as the rubber dries out, michelins r great but over priced, goodyear f1s r good in the dry but ******* in the wet and pirellis wear uneven, BUT at the end of the day its down to personal preferance.

most of todays cars suspension are tuned to the tyres fitted to the car as standard, do some research b4 selecting a tyre package

[dvd.ribeiro]

My Auris back in December 08 when I bought it new was with a set of Continental Premium Contact 2 205/55 R16 V.

When the car had 15000 kms I switched tires - front to back, and back to front.

When it was 30000 kms did the same.

So now the tires I have on the front will be replaced at 45000kms, and the ones on the back will be replaced probably when the have 60000kms (because they will be going to the front, and the new ones to the back).

This way I think the durability is very good considering the overall grip of the tires. Plus, they don't make really any noise!!! Are excelent.

But when I change I'll go for Continental Sport Contact 2 or Bridgestone ER050/ER300, just because of the price (they are cheaper 30€ per tire when compared to the Premium Contact 2).

[Rick D4D]

I have just bought the Vredesteijn Ultrac Sessanta 225/40-18 i hav driven now about 3000 km with it and the handle fine

If you would i could make a better picture tomorrow from the tyre it self

I have had these fitted for around 10 months now and yes they are very good but also very soft, I rotated the fronts to the rear at 4k and suspect at 10k I will need 4 x new tyres where as the oem dunlops did 30k and was replaced with 3mm still left (wife drove a flat tyre and ruined one). I will also say that when the 4 tyres were fitted I got MR T to do 4 wheel laser alignment so I know it is not a tracking issue causing the wear. My advice and what I will be doing on the next set is I will be buying 4 x dunlops as £ per mile these last a hell of a lot longer and work out around 50% cheaper / better value

[daveybee]

I have just bought the Vredesteijn Ultrac Sessanta 225/40-18 i hav driven now about 3000 km with it and the handle fine

If you would i could make a better picture tomorrow from the tyre it self

I have had these fitted for around 10 months now and yes they are very good but also very soft, I rotated the fronts to the rear at 4k and suspect at 10k I will need 4 x new tyres where as the oem dunlops did 30k and was replaced with 3mm still left (wife drove a flat tyre and ruined one). I will also say that when the 4 tyres were fitted I got MR T to do 4 wheel laser alignment so I know it is not a tracking issue causing the wear. My advice and what I will be doing on the next set is I will be buying 4 x dunlops as £ per mile these last a hell of a lot longer and work out around 50% cheaper / better value

The problem with low profile tires is that the "sportier" the tyre, the softer the tread. I've just sold my Avensis T-Spirit D4D and that didn't do very well on Bridgestone RE050s (about 8k miles on the front and they were illegal) but replaced those and the Dunlop SP Sport MAXXs on the back with Conti Sport Contact 3s. I did about 4k miles on those before I sold the car and they looked like new. The problem with the Avensis was it was very noisy on 215/45/17s, but the Contis were superbly quiet - good in the wet and the dry, but absolutely useless in the snow with no lateral blocks - had the speedo up to 30MPH in fist without moving! Ah well, I guess you can't have it all ways! D.

[forevered]

will need to replace the factory fit dunlop sport 225/45/17s on the front in a couple of months , do you guys think its ok to fit another brand on the front with original dunlops on the rear ?

also whats the quietest rubber available ?

[daveybee]

will need to replace the factory fit dunlop sport 225/45/17s on the front in a couple of months , do you guys think its ok to fit another brand on the front with original dunlops on the rear ?

also whats the quietest rubber available ?

As long as you keep similar tread patterns on the same axle, you should be fine. As per my previous, in my experience, Dunlop SP Sport MAXXs are quite quiet if you can find them, but my favourites are Conti Sport Contact 3s although they are absolutely useless in snow & on ice. My new Auris HSD has Michelin Primacy HPs which are very good, but I'm guessing they're going to cost an arm and a leg when the time comes to replace them. D.

[Johan007]

Goodyear Eagle F1's or Uniroyal Rainsport 2 are best for the roads and damp conditions in the UK.

Their ware rate is less than 300 though!

With a rate of 300 you could get Falken FK-452 that comes with slippery preservative so you need to drive about 500 miles to scrub them in before they give you any dry grip. Even then in the dry is not as good as the Dunlop's however in the wet it is better than the Dunlop's and as good as the old Eagle F1's and that is saying something remarkable from a mid price tyres.

will need to replace the factory fit dunlop sport 225/45/17s on the front in a couple of months , do you guys think its ok to fit another brand on the front with original dunlops on the rear ?

also whats the quietest rubber available ?

You must keep the soft compound tyre on the rear for cornering or swerving stability. If they are the same compound then the tyre with most thread goes on the rear. If you like to rotate then do this often and but buy 4 of the same tyres. The softest tyres always have the lowest ware rate.

For the standard Auris on damp roads you can't get better value than Falken ZE912. T180 drivers need all much better though and should start with Falken FK-452 or better.

[trevnhil]

Just had a peep into this Forum because I am interested in Tyres.

But I am amazed that there are no comments about the original post.... "The T180 has covered 4,000 miles now and a new set of tyres will be required for the winter months"

4,000 miles and you are nearly ready for a new set of tyres???? That seems crazy to me, and I would certainly go for a different make than the ones you have now.

Trev..

[ashpole]

will need to replace the factory fit dunlop sport 225/45/17s on the front in a couple of months , do you guys think its ok to fit another brand on the front with original dunlops on the rear ?

also whats the quietest rubber available ?

As long as you keep similar tread patterns on the same axle, you should be fine. As per my previous, in my experience, Dunlop SP Sport MAXXs are quite quiet if you can find them, but my favourites are Conti Sport Contact 3s although they are absolutely useless in snow & on ice. My new Auris HSD has Michelin Primacy HPs which are very good, but I'm guessing they're going to cost an arm and a leg when the time comes to replace them. D.

That's a surprise. I've not yet seen my Auris HSD T-Spirit (later this month) but expected it to be fitted out with Michelin Energy tyres.

[Gav 18]

I think the HSD only comes with Energy Savers if you select the 15 inch wheel option. Mine has 17s and has Primacy HPs installed. A quick browse of the Michelin website seems to suggest the Energy Savers only go up to 16 inches.

[ashpole]

I think the HSD only comes with Energy Savers if you select the 15 inch wheel option. Mine has 17s and has Primacy HPs installed. A quick browse of the Michelin website seems to suggest the Energy Savers only go up to 16 inches.

That would explain it! I wonder which is better overall for fuel economy: Primacy or Energy Savers...

[ashpole]

I think the HSD only comes with Energy Savers if you select the 15 inch wheel option. Mine has 17s and has Primacy HPs installed. A quick browse of the Michelin website seems to suggest the Energy Savers only go up to 16 inches.

That would explain it! I wonder which is better overall for fuel economy: Primacy or Energy Savers...

Crumbs! Just looked at blackcircles.com to gauge the price: 15" Energy Savers were £85 and 17" Primacy HP a mighty £139!! Michelin says they last longer - I hope so!

[ashpole]

I think the HSD only comes with Energy Savers if you select the 15 inch wheel option. Mine has 17s and has Primacy HPs installed. A quick browse of the Michelin website seems to suggest the Energy Savers only go up to 16 inches.

That would explain it! I wonder which is better overall for fuel economy: Primacy or Energy Savers...

Crumbs! Just looked at blackcircles.com to gauge the price: 15" Energy Savers were £85 and 17" Primacy HP a mighty £139!! Michelin says they last longer - I hope so!

Yesterday I checked Costco's price for Primacy HP 215/45/17, they want £129 per corner fitted.