I know there are 1000 threads on this but I wanted a summary one to focus on my concerns!

I'm basically due for a new set of rear tyres now, up until this point the car has had the original continental sport tyres fitted front and back - the rears have done 60k :eek: providing the previous owner was honest when he said they hadn't been changed! That said... it's probably half a mmm too late now :rotz:

Anyway as far as I'm aware the original sport contracts that came with it aren't available any more but there are contact 2's and 3's available all with mixed reviews and for £130 a pop i'm considering others.

The continental sport tyres I currently have on the front have about 6-7mm of tread left so I was intending on finishing these off but I'm not too keen on mixing them with other types of tyre at the rear, with that said i don't want to buy 4 at the moment either!

I'm only looking at 205/50/R17 tyres in particular so the Falken 452's have been looking appealing I just want to know that they're on par with the continental tyres if not better before i end up putting myself in a ditch because of them! :thumbdwn:

The reviews of the contact 2's and 3's compared to the 1's look a little worrying too - bang for buck wise they don't look to do too well

I know proxies are well thought of here but after having a very good readup on them I am concerned about the wear and if i'm trying something comepletly new i'd perfer to go with a slightly cheaper option first in the event I end up binning them!!

Driving is mixed but mainly national speed limit areas...... and as always in Britain the better in the wet they are the better!!!

Edited 5 July, 200916 yr by Funkoid

verdesteins sportrac 3's, i just had a set put on the rear and think they are great plus at 79 quid each i think its well worth the money, toyos are good but if you just do normal driving i dont think the wear will be a issue, dont last to well on the track

Never heard of Vredestein before - look like they're pretty popular with those who have bought them though.

It's started driving me insane! It's a toss up now between the Falken 452's at £87 a pop or whether I just bite the bullet and go with sport contact 3's at £130 each

Thing is.... are the conti's really worth the extra money?!!?

I wouldn't know about the Vredesteins or Falkens, but can say that I had Toyo Proxes T1-R on my old Clio Sport, and they were goosed within 5k. VERY soft compound.

Never heard of Vredestein before - look like they're pretty popular with those who have bought them though.

Vredestein tyres always win or do very well on AutoExpress mag Tyres tests. The Sportrac 3s won a few years ago. I think other people on here also praise the Ultrac Sessanta tyres or the new Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics. I have no idea of prices though.

verdesteins sportrac 3's, i just had a set put on the rear and think they are great plus at 79 quid each i think its well worth the money, toyos are good but if you just do normal driving i dont think the wear will be a issue, dont last to well on the track

Where did you get your sporttrac 3's for 79? can't find them? Does it matter that they're V's too with the conti's being W? Can't see me going above 140mph anytime soon!

Edit - just found them on camskill!

For the car to be road legal and fully insured, the car must have tyres fitted that are rated above the manufacturers Max speed. It doesnt matter that you will never drive at that speed. As the Octavia Mk1 vRS has an official Max speed of over 140mph then you must buy tyres rated higher than this.

Hankook Evo 12's are a bargain and rated very well in the last round of German tyre testing - check the price on Camskill and get your local supplier to match the price or just get a price off them for fitting and buy from Camskill direct.

Just to confirm then so my insurance is still good! V's go up to 149mph (Tyres-Online: Technical Information: Speed Ratings) .... the octavia vrs mk1 apparently does 146mph according to parkers so i'm still good right?

Just spoke to the guys at camskill and they think the V's are fine for the mk1 vRS. I've just doubled checked with regard to the law and insurance and found the following to be the general consensus...

Insurance companies might say that a vehicle should be fitted with the tyres having the speed rating recommended by the car manufacturer: but even if you fit Z-rated tyres for speeds over 150 mph they will not insure you if you drive in excess of 70 mph in this country!

The vehicle manufacturer has to recommend a tyre with a rating to match the maximum speed of the car because when it leaves the factory he does not know exactly where the car is going or for what purpose it might be used. You might want to use the car in a country where higher speed limits apply than the UK or take it to a race track at the weekend

I had a very similar problem, in that i tried to originally find conti sport contacts original. I couldnt find them, so went with Falkens on the back.

I then ended up with vredesteins Ultracs on the front, as had a puncture and needed new ones asap at decent price.

Cant fault them for looks, grip or wear so far, my only warning is if you get Xtra Load tyres, i find that it makes the ride pretty awful. Some people prefer it for the turn in, but personally the ride aint as good as the contis.

Not sure if that helps!

cheers gordonium, i ended up ordering some Vredestein sporttrac 3s so I'll see how they go!

They dont seem to be XL which is in my opinion better, wish i had seen them when i got mine!