Hi,

Lately my car wont grip in 2nd, sometimes grips in 3rd and sometimes spins in 4th. I genuinely think a stage 1 car would be quicker at real world speeds.

Power: 226/370

Tyres: Continental Sportcontact 2's 4mm left on fronts, evenly worn. Size 205/45/16. Tracking done recently.

The Conti's were ok in the summer . Previously I ran Yokohama Parada Spec 2's and they were grippier in all conditions.

Just wondering what tyres other folks with high powered Fabia's are using and how you rate them on winter roads?

Thanks,

Joe

There isn't much you can do apart from drive to the road conditions.

I run rainsports in the winter but generally just drive to the conditions. 

Maxxis MAZ1 on the front at the moment, and with power in the high 200s the car doesn't spin up 3rd gear in the dry, ever.   I am also helped by the fact the power is going to both wheels, not just one.

Good tyres will only do so much. This time of year with the sketchy weather you won’t get much grip with summer tyres especially as the temperatures drop. I’ve read that Uniroyal Rainsports are meant to be a good tyre for use in wet/slippy conditions. I’m surprised you say the Prada 2’s are good in ‘all conditions’ from what I’ve read they are shocking in the wet lol.

I know this isn’t what you asked but an LSD will make the world of difference. The difference really is like chalk and cheese! It doesn’t completely eliminate wheel spin but it helps put the power down a lot more cleanly which is what you want really. My last car had one and tbh if I end up going past stage 1 power in the vRS I think I’d get one fit before anything else. It’s all good having more power but if you can’t put it down and use it...  

Good tyres will only do so much. This time of year with the sketchy weather you won’t get much grip with summer tyres especially as the temperatures drop. I’ve read that Uniroyal Rainsports are meant to be a good tyre for use in wet/slippy conditions. I’m surprised you say the Prada 2’s are good in ‘all conditions’ from what I’ve read they are shocking in the wet lol.

I know this isn’t what you asked but an LSD will make the world of difference. The difference really is like chalk and cheese! It doesn’t completely eliminate wheel spin but it helps put the power down a lot more cleanly which is what you want really. My last car had one and tbh if I end up going past stage 1 power in the vRS I think I’d get one fit before anything else. It’s all good having more power but if you can’t put it down and use it...

Thanks mate,

I didnt say the Yokhamas were good, they are just better than my Conti's. LSD is defiantly on the radar, but at £1000 plus fitting its a hard one to justify. I'm just looking for some more suitable rubber in the meantime.

Rainsoprts look like an option. Anyone got any other suggestions?

Well as its winter your probably looking at some winter tyres

Something like nokian's

But in this weather its pointless trying to go fast

A standard fabia vrs will light up its ASR from a junction in the wet. I don't know if you do but i always turned the ASR off at the start of every journey be it summer or winter. It is actually dangerous its that poor a system

Well as its winter your probably looking at some winter tyres

Something like nokian's

But in this weather its pointless trying to go fast

A standard fabia vrs will light up its ASR from a junction in the wet. I don't know if you do but i always turned the ASR off at the start of every journey be it summer or winter. It is actually dangerous its that poor a system

I do take it easy, just not all of the time!

Yeah winter tyres are an option. My ASR automatically turns itself off when the engine gets warm anyway!

PS3s Y rated = up to 186mph sustained speed

Job done.

I do take it easy, just not all of the time!

Yeah winter tyres are an option. My ASR automatically turns itself off when the engine gets warm anyway!

After 10mins?

No battery symbol on dash either?

Broken alternator load sensor wires possibly

 My ASR automatically turns itself off when the engine gets warm anyway!

That's not right, as Jase says broken wires. Time it from startup and it will be 10

minutes if it's the broken alternator wire fault. Sounds like it is.

Easy fix, but it shouldn't be doing that.

You don't want that switching itself off half way around a fast full throttle bend.

You'll end up in the hedge.

I have been using kumho v70a for a little while with the intention of purely keeping them for track use. On the road in the dry they are sublime but wouldn't trust them in the wet. I have just fitted new wheels with vredestein ultrac centros so I'll update you with how I get on

Toyo 888s.

Lock it away for winter.

 

Could chirp them in first but not get any spin in 2nd+ with 250bhp/400lbft

Michelin PS3's for me. 

 

What i would say tho is to try having the map detuned on the torque front. I was making 360lbft like yours with the same turbo and it was, like you say, slower than a stage 1 car due to wheel spin. I had mine roped back to 330lbt making about the same bhp and its so much better for it.

 

Just as quick when on the boil but it doesnt give up the grip as easily.  It doesnt actually make PEAK power til about 3500rpm but makes over 300lbft across a broad part of the rev range.  Id give it a thought i havent looked back!

Toyo 888s.Lock it away for winter.  Could chirp them in first but not get any spin in 2nd+ with 250bhp/400lbft

+ the diff you had in your SE is exactly what you need in a front wheel drive car with power.

Goodyear winter tyre's ftw

 

Coupled with the peloquin lsd can nail it off roundabouts and only get slight wheelspin

 

Summer tyres I've got dunlop max sport, on par with Michelins imo

Id really really recommend vredestein sportrac 5 tyres

I went from bridgestone protenza to these and they made bridstone look like budgets.

Used to wheel spin in third. Now I struggle to spin in second. ... really great tyre !

Some good recommendations here folks. Thanks.

Having a switchable map would be an idea I think. Full fat 370lbft when conditions allow and an economy map with circa 50lbft less.

How about just learning to control your right foot and press pedal progressively rather than just dumping it to the floor and hoping tyres will grip

How about just learning to control your right foot and press pedal progressively rather than just dumping it to the floor and hoping tyres will grip

+ 1 for that.. the Conti Sport Contact 2's that came on the vRS don't grip if I put all the power down - even on dry tarmac..

 

So I suppose that I have 2 choices, rally it like it's stolen and shell out for some new boots in 3 months, or take it easy.

 

I know which one I'll be doing.  On high speed road they are great for stopping in most conditions, which is what counts - if my son and I walk away from a near miss or a slight bump as opposed to a major collision, I'm happy that the brakes and tyres (and driver) have done their job correctly.

Tyres: Continental Sportcontact 2's 4mm left on fronts, evenly worn. Size 205/45/16. Tracking done recently.

 

 

I've got these on my winter wheels in 17s (got some Nokians waiting to go on) on the back of my 330d, and they're scary bad! The tail slips out on part throttle in 3rd while out of the power band (about 40mph) even in the dry. When pushing on it's just pointless accelerating until pointing straight. They make braking hard unpleasant too as they inspire no confidence.

 

I had Ultrac Vortis on before that (in 18s though, currently waiting warmer weather) and they were a very good tyre for the money. They replaced some Bridgestone S001s, and were about the same for grip, but much better for progressiveness in corners than the Bridgestones. Seemed to be wearing well too, and were good on road noise.