At least on the front. I'd worn out yet another set of front tyres within 9000 miles with the inner edges going down to the cord after I pushed a bit hard on a spirited drive a few evenings ago. Thought I may as well go up a size to see what happens. Initial impressions are that it sits much nicer on the rims and looks now that the tyre is meant for the wheel. Before the tyres had a tilted in look so will be interesting to see if the wear is as bad as before.

Since it's only an experiment I've gone for Kumho KU39's. A few here have run them and reviews seem good so I thought why not. Will also be interesting to see how it handles being wider on the front. I think it should be pretty good.

Any improvement on ride quality mate?

Don't know yet, The tyre place is yards from the flat so haven't pushed yet. Drive to work tomorrow will be the test. Look good though

Nice, I will be looking to do this too when ours is due for new rubber.

I'll be interested to see how you find the khumos.... I hated them so much (after maxxis Z1's) that I took them off way before they wore out!

 

wet grip = fine... dry grip = appaling compaired to the maxxis

 

keep us updated

I have on 215 /40 R 17  Pirelli Zero Nero currently, and like the 205's they needed some running in,

& like the 205's they are standing up very well to some pretty bad road surfaces, very very well actually.

Without being a Rain Tyre or Cold Weather one, they have been very good in the already low temperatures they have been getting used in.

They are showing no wear even with some spirited driving over 4,000 miles, but the strong sidewalls do mean a very crashy or just a hard ride, the tyres are at the correct pressures,

but i am happy to accept that.

Edited 15 October, 201411 yr by goneoffSKi

What is the advantage of going to 215's? Better ride quality? 

I'd worn out yet another set of front tyres within 9000 miles

 

9000 miles!!!!

 

I got 21k out of my Dunlops...  Have you mapped yours?

 

edit - They were right on the ragged edge at that point (but still legal)...  I finally killed them on a spirited run to Edingburgh chasing a certain Shark like member

215 might have slightly more tread on the ground but that depends on 'Brand / Manufacturer / type' rather than the Numbers on the tyre or stickers.

But at the widest part of the tyre, they should be 215 mm.  rather than 205 mm. & the 'profile' (wall height) should be the percentage of the width. 35, 40, 45 etc

 

So the wider tyre might give more grip, &  might give a bit more protection to the rims, and the Side wall might be greater,

but not always.

a 205 next to a 215 can be physically a bigger tyre,

it is down to 'Brand /Manufacturer/ type'.

 

http://kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

Edited 15 October, 201411 yr by goneoffSKi

From my experience you will get more improvement from a better offset and 1/2 inch wider on your rims then tyres, although semi slicks will make a noticeable difference in your summer months but you will never get a huge improvement over standard offset wheels unless you do tyres and rims.

9000 miles!!!!

 

I got 21k out of my Dunlops...  Have you mapped yours?

 

edit - They were right on the ragged edge at that point (but still legal)...  I finally killed them on a spirited run to Edingburgh chasing a certain Shark like member

Not mapped. My problem is I'm always driving spritedly. The roads I commute on people travel to just to play on. The most I ever get is 10k

I've still got the original Dunlops on after 31000km (nearly 20,000 miles). They've been rotated once, but it looks like I could get another 15,000km out of them. Must try harder...

Not mapped. My problem is I'm always driving spritedly. The roads I commute on people travel to just to play on. The most I ever get is 10k

That's all very well, but if you are wearing tyres out that fast on public roads then I would really suggest some form of driver training as taking the smoothest line through a bend generates the least wear on the tyres (travelling in a straight lines generates almost zero wear on tyres) so you're either cornering too aggressively or you are spinning the front wheels up (something that would also benefit from improved driving technique).

I did the John Lyon's course when I got my first Porsche and I was genuinely shocked how bad my driving was (it's not that that great now ). I reckon it's paid for itself ten times over in longer tyre life alone. Last yeaI sent my A4 allroad back to the leasing company on the original tyres after 80,000 miles in 2 years and it went back on the original tyres with at least 4mm tread on each tyre. OK, I was using a winter tyres for half that time, but I sold them with 5mm tread remaining as well.

Try some performance driver training. It's the best mod you can do!

^^ True that

 

But perhaps he just like chucking it about? Likes tyres spinning and sliding into corners?

 

Each to their own

Not mapped. My problem is I'm always driving spritedly. The roads I commute on people travel to just to play on. The most I ever get is 10k

 

Could you not benefit from some camber on the fronts?

^^ True that

 

But perhaps he just like chucking it about? Likes tyres spinning and sliding into corners?

 

Each to their own

Well, yes. There is that. But just because you can drive a car badly doesn't mean you should. It's MUCH faster to be smooth. It's also kinder on the car, more comfortable for any passengers and generally safer (although ROSPA now discourage deep apexing corners on the road just in case you take out pedestrians).

But I'm not going to stop anyone burning through a set of tyres if they enjoy doing that.

^^ True that

But perhaps he just like chucking it about? Likes tyres spinning and sliding into corners?

Each to their own

+1 on this.

Speed/smoothness and Fun are not the same thing! (Unless of course your enjoyment comes from making tyres last as long as possible).

Obviously 'fun' on the public road must not come at the expense of public safety tho.... :-)

What have I started!?!

 

Sorry Martyn 

What have I started!?!

 

Sorry Martyn 

Yeah. Thanks

The tyres would last well past 12k if it wasn't for the natural camber on the vRS. Have been told toe in can be adjusted to help a bit but will always do it to some extent.

My lines are good and my inputs are minimal. This is a public forum so I'm not getting into how I drive exactly and what lines exactly. I will say roads here are quite abrasive. It is lower but on springs Skoda supply.

 

I can vouch that Martyn can drive fast

Geez, If I wanted, on public roads and driving safely, I could eat through tyres in 5k miles! I just choose not to. That is why I have a separate set of wheels with RS-R's on (I am in love with this rubber btw!) and do that on the track . I find it much more fun to be honest, not needing to worry about all the crap that might happen on public roads. Not to mention the fact that "making a good progress" on public roads is simply really tiring with the levels of concentration required... Track work is sooo much more relaxed. Guys who I talk to at track days and who never done it before at all or in theor own rather high'ish performance cars always say how brilliant the experience was and how much relaxed they wee compared to corporate track days or " making good progress" on the public roads ! 

Are we absolutely certain that the insurance company will not turn round and say that this are non-standard fitments for the Fabia VRS and therefore they should have been informed and had the chance to choose whether a different premium was due? 

Edited 17 October, 201411 yr by lol-lol

As long as you stay within 5% of the rolling radius you are fine. There is even a setting in MAxidot to go for winter tyres and change the rolling radius to suit

Where does this often mentioned online 'Rolling Radius of tyres and Insurance companies' come from.

(Has anyone got a link to Rolling Radius / Total Diameter & Insurance,

because i have Off Road Tyres on my Vehicles that are greater than 10% - 15%  over standard size, and these have been through SVA & IVA's at VOSA)

If you are declaring mods to a car then Tyres Wheels for the public highway surely comes into your declaration.

 

Not on the Public Highway or place open to the Public, Race Track or Offroad Ground 

your Insurance Policy Exclusions probably apply unless you have Cover for that type of use.

Maybe 3rd party only cover.

& you would use appropriate tyres anyway, and these might be rather different from Road / Public Highway tyres.

 

As to over size, 

the important things is the Speedo reading and it is OK to have it reading as faster than you are going,

but not slower.

Thats for MOT, IVA, Construction & Use.

 

http://kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

Edited 17 October, 201411 yr by goneoffSKi

Re Winter Tyre setting in Maxidot.

 

It is to set the 'Warning' Speed,  Winter Tyres Fitted.

& then there is the 'Speed Limit'  Warning as well, which you can set.

Edited 17 October, 201411 yr by goneoffSKi