Sorry folks.  I know this topic is done to death but it changes frequently too.......  

 

So new tyres required.  Opinions valued.  Currently have the delivery Bridgestone S001s.  Have been offered some Michelin Pilot Sport 4s at a fair price.  

 

For me the important criteria as good wear and reduced road noise, rather then on the edge handling.

 

I'm in South Australia where poor quality road surfaces and the heat rub tyres away.

 

Many thanks

Pilot Sport 4 are highly rated. If the price is good I'd say go for them.

I am quite happy with my Nokian Hakka Z - pretty same as the Nokian Hakka Black. They are more silent in 19" form than the 17" Bridgestones the car came with.

Also, I drive it like I stole it and the wear rate seems to be quite good. I will buy them again...

Michelin 4s is probably the best all-round UHP tyre for performance car at this moment, wins every test this year.

 

Go for it.

I went with Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics as I did previously on my Mk2 FL and they have been an excellent tyre overall.  A good deal quieter too.  

 

If you haven't had it done it is worth getting 4-wheel alignment to go with the new 'boots'.

The new asymmetric 3s are quiter than their predecessors. I'm running some in now. They're a bit cheaper than the pilots. 

Yea nokian z line on the Fabia, seems fantastic and fairly quiet. But have vredestein vorti on the octy vrs on a 235-35-19. They are good too. As good as michelin and goodyear I'd say but cheaper 

I have the Factory fitted 225/35/19 Pirelli P Zeros on my 230 and apart from a bit of noise I can't really fault them. They warm up quite quick and the dry/wet grip is very good. I didnt like them at first but now I have 30000 miles on the clock there getting better. I run them at 39psi all round.

47 minutes ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

I have the Factory fitted 225/35/19 Pirelli P Zeros on my 230 and apart from a bit of noise I can't really fault them. They warm up quite quick and the dry/wet grip is very good. I didnt like them at first but now I have 30000 miles on the clock there getting better. I run them at 39psi all round.

 

Always find it fascinating how opinions on the same thing can differ wildly and it is a great reminder to take everything with a grain of salt and that there is no substitute for first hand experience!

 

I find my 225/35/19 P Zeros very noisy and very slow to warm up (hard compound I guess?) and whilst the lateral grip is certainly strong, acceleration grip is dismal, especially in the wet... IMHO of course! I wonder if your nifty front diff on the 230 actually helps negate this compared to my stock VRS?

 

I am looking forward to replacing them with the F1 Asyncs ASAP, but I only have 17000kms on them at the moment and they look like they have a few more in them yet!

Edited 12 April, 20179 yr by Item

1 hour ago, Item said:

 

Always find it fascinating how opinions on the same thing can differ wildly and it is a great reminder to take everything with a grain of salt and that there is no substitute for first hand experience!

 

I find my 225/35/19 P Zeros very noisy and very slow to warm up (hard compound I guess?) and whilst the lateral grip is certainly strong, acceleration grip is dismal, especially in the wet... IMHO of course! I wonder if your nifty front diff on the 230 actually helps negate this compared to my stock VRS?

 

I am looking forward to replacing them with the F1 Asyncs ASAP, but I only have 17000kms on them at the moment and they look like they have a few more in them yet!

 

Very good point their Item about tyres. I see you live in NZ  Do you think that your climate, road conditions, Tarmac etc etc might be different to ours in the UK and therefor tyres/rubber compounds might suit UK roads/climate but not those in NZ. Perhaps you/us need a different compound to get the ultimate grip. Tyre pressures also might make a difference, tyre compounds in the UK might not suit the warmer weather you get and your tyres might be better over here Who knows

 

Just a thought

 

AG

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

I have 30000 miles on the clock 

 

you're joking? On your 230? 

Thanks for the feed back. Always find this a difficult decision - never sure really how much of a difference it makes.  I think the Sport 4s may have it.  

 

I'll report back in due course.

It's very subjective, asking for opinions. It's human nature to be band biased towards your own purchases. Having said that the Pilot 4s seem to top the tests....However independent they are.

 

Put them to a blind ABX test though with your average punter and it would be an interesting experiment.....

Actual tests are closest to objectivity we will ever be. I like to read all tests, but always carefully and completely, not just fina scores.

 

Each test has partial results for particular discipline what they measure, so this is actually where you seek your tire. Do you want grip on dry, wet, long lasting, low noise, low price, what exactly you want? Not necessarily a winner is the best tire _for you_, but I must admit that 4S really scored brilliantly. Definitely a perfect choice for most ambitious and picky driver of high performance car.

 

Where you drive it is also important. In UK you have more rain, we have less, so it's wise to look the tire accordingly.

 

 

21 hours ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

 

Very good point their Item about tyres. I see you live in NZ  Do you think that your climate, road conditions, Tarmac etc etc might be different to ours in the UK and therefor tyres/rubber compounds might suit UK roads/climate but not those in NZ. Perhaps you/us need a different compound to get the ultimate grip. Tyre pressures also might make a difference, tyre compounds in the UK might not suit the warmer weather you get and your tyres might be better over here Who knows

 

Just a thought

 

AG

 

 

 

 

Its also possible the tyres purchased in NZ are made completely differently to the tyres in the UK, possibly even by a different company even though they might say, for example, "Pirelli" on them.

21 hours ago, pist0nbr0ke said:

 

you're joking? On your 230? 

 

Just checking Mr Piston you were awake, Typo Error should have read 300,000   3000miles

Edited 13 April, 20179 yr by Auric Goldfinger

This is like recommending a good restaurant! Always subjective...

44 minutes ago, Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

This is like recommending a good restaurant! Always subjective...

 

Correct, I prefer Mac D's to Jamie Olivers.   

At 71 db I am not sure the road noise difference of the pilot sports would be that noticeable, even though db is a logarythmic scale, 1 db difference from the Bridgestones isn't that much different, the Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 3's get good reviews on here, but I have had issues with some of the F1 range in the past, V tread pattern though. When my Bridgestones are up for renewal I am going for the Sava Intensa UHP 3's made in the same factory in Slovenia as many of the Goodyear tyres. These have C rating for for fuel economy, A for wet grip and A for noise, at 67db they are one of the quietest tyres out there. There my be a little bit of sidewall flexing in quick shrp turns but I have used them on my previous 3.2 Gsi

Vectra with no issues.

Finally ended up with some Pirelli Dragoon Sports See here.  So far I'd say they are a bit quieter than the delivery Bridgestone Potenzas.  

 

Time will tell if it turned out to be a good decision. At AUD200 per tyre they were competitively priced.

 

Going to try running them at a slightly higher pressure to see if it helps longevity. 

On 12/05/2017 at 15:10, GingerJuan51 said:

Finally ended up with some Pirelli Dragoon Sports See here.  So far I'd say they are a bit quieter than the delivery Bridgestone Potenzas.  

 

 

 

I didn't realise Pirelli made tyres tuned for Australia/NZ, or is that marketing BS? I've never heard of the Dragon Sport model. I'd be keen to hear updates when you have more K's on them.

I must admit I was a little cynical about tyres tuned for this corner of the globe, but I'll give them a shot!