Hi,

Question for Škoda Superb 3 owners.

Is anybody using Pirelli Cinturato Allseason SF3 in size 215 / 55/ R17 ?

In that size they only come with

98W - XL rating, which is rather higher than recommended 94V.

If someone is using them , are they too stiff, how is handling.....etc?

Thanks

The handling will depend on the temperature, generally all seasons are bit softer than summer tyres in cooler months. So sort of offsets, but there are multiple factors.

As Superbs also come with 2 sizes of bigger wheels than 17 (with less tyre sidewall) I would guess having higher load rating won't make much difference. The view is suspension on superbs is softer end of scale (more comfort orientated than sporty)

If you had wanted a sports car to throw around country roads, then wouldn't have a superb. So it will be fine.

1 minute ago, SurreyJohn said:

The handling will depend on the temperature, generally all seasons are bit softer than summer tyres in cooler months. So sort of offsets, but there are multiple factors.

As Superbs also come with 2 sizes of bigger wheels than 17 (with less tyre sidewall) I would guess having higher load rating won't make much difference. The view is suspension on superbs is softer end of scale (more comfort orientated than sporty)

If you had wanted a sports car to throw around country roads, then wouldn't have a superb. So it will be fine.

Have you used th

20 minutes ago, SurreyJohn said:

The handling will depend on the temperature, generally all seasons are bit softer than summer tyres in cooler months. So sort of offsets, but there are multiple factors.

As Superbs also come with 2 sizes of bigger wheels than 17 (with less tyre sidewall) I would guess having higher load rating won't make much difference. The view is suspension on superbs is softer end of scale (more comfort orientated than sporty)

If you had wanted a sports car to throw around country roads, then wouldn't have a superb. So it will be fine.

Hi,

Sorry but fom your answer I couldn't figure out. Do you use Prelli cinturato SF3 , 215/55/R17 98W XL on your Superb ......or not?

No do not have a superb, but have had higher load XL all season tyres on other Skoda car (before SF3 was invented), and couldn't tell difference from the normal load summer tyres in everyday driving.

14 minutes ago, SurreyJohn said:

No do not have a superb, but have had higher load XL all season tyres on other Skoda car (before SF3 was invented), and couldn't tell difference from the normal load summer tyres in everyday driving.

Nice 😉.

What tires were those?

This thread really is getting rather silly. I seriously doubt @ZJZ you will be able to tell or discern any difference between the higher load rated tyres and the lower load rated ones. If you can then the higher ones will be slightly stiffer and might have better steering feel.

As a reference I have higher load rated tyres on both my Suzuki swift (Falken zeix 310), my Kodiaq (Falken Azenis FK510) and also had them on my Octavia 4x4 (Vredestien Sportrac and then Michelin Cross Climate) and they have all been excellent with no detrimental issues.

Just buy what you think are the best balance of performance characteristics for you and don't worry about the load rating - the latter will make bugger all difference for 99.9% of your driving so isnt worth getting stressed about.

As an aside, if it were me, I'd go Cross Climate, Vector 4 seasons, or possibly Vredestein Quatrac.

Well, just to answer my own question, for whom it may be interesting.

Few days ago I got Pirelli Cinturato SF3 in 215/55 R17 size. That size only comes with 98W rating and as XL.

Pirelli replaced same sized Michelin Primacy 4 , 94V, that came with a car.

At the same recommended pressure which is 2,5 Bars Pirelli is about twice stiffer/harder than summer model Michelin.

Yesterdays weather here was sunny,

low 15°C, high 27°C. Today was rainy and much colder but today I only had a short (and uncomfortable) city drive, so can't comment on wet performance.

@ZJZ The Michelin Primacy 4 were rubbish were they not in anything other than warm or dry roads?

Maybe drop the new tyres by a couple of PSI and give them a chance.

You will be driving on far safer tyres as the winter comes in and temperatures drop and roads are wet or wet and cold IMO.

I am considering exactly the tyres you have for the MG5 EV i just got, or maybe Good Year Vector 4 Gen 3.

On my Corsa Electric the Primacy 4 were replaced with Michelin Alpin 6.

On my MINI Electric i have on Maxxis AP3,s in 16" and on 17" rims i have Vredstein Quatrac Pro,s.

All the All Seasons i fit are higher Load / Speed rating than OEM & XL (reinforced) and make no negative difference in comfort over OEM, if anything improve comfort.

................

I will be using the MG5 EV (Estate) without a spare wheel or wheels as i need all the space in the rear.

(The self seal Continentals i had on my Seat Alhambra were ok, but then i fitted All Seasons and added a Spare wheel.)

Edited 3 September, 20253 Sep by Ootohere

8 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

@ZJZ The Michelin Primacy 4 were rubbish were they not in anything other than warm or dry roads?

Maybe drop the new tyres by a couple of PSI and give them a chance.

You will be driving on far safer tyres as the winter comes in and temperatures drop and roads are wet or wet and cold IMO.

I am considering exactly the tyres you have for the MG5 EV i just got, or maybe Good Year Vector 4 Gen 3.

On my Corsa Electric the Primacy 4 were replaced with Michelin Alpin 6.

On my MINI Electric i have on Maxxis AP3,s in 16" and on 17" rims i have Vredstein Quatrac Pro,s.

All the All Seasons i fit are higher Load / Speed rating than OEM & XL (reinforced) and make no negative difference in comfort over OEM, if anything improve comfort.

Well I didn't say a full story, so little clarification. I also went to shock absorber service were they replaced valves and oil viscosity to make them a bit stiffer. Unfortunately I got the appointments for shocks and tire change on the same day. Tires came 10 days earlier than expected.

So I only had Michelin for a 20 km ride, from one shop to the other, but it felt realy good, much more controlable and Superb was way less bouncy. Nothing sporty, just a good balance between comfort and control, they did a good job.

I think, if Pirreli had the same model ,with same load speed rating (98W) but as a standard , non XL model, it would be perfect.

Right now it feels like UHP summer tire, very stiff and maybe even overly precise.

What tire size you are looking at?

Yep, exactly what I got, with seal inside.

Even the price is almost the same 🙂, I got mines for 135€.

@ZJZ That is exactly the size i need. I collect the car tonight so will have a few days running it in pretty rainy weather and seeing how the car is foe efficiency and range on the Maxxis tyres it is wearing which are pretty new.

No rush to put the All Seasons on as my MINI is perfect in the snow, but i can have them just now at a pretty good price, but i get trade price fitted at ATS Euromaster (Michelin own them as they do Black Circles) and CrossClimate 2,s at a very good price if i pay for them now.

@Ootohere

I could give you much more info about Pirelli but right now I wont have any longer/versatile trips. When do you plan to get them?

When needed if needed. I have a shed full of various take off all season tyres and new ones but they are all in lower profile 17 or 18".

This year not blowing money if i do not need to.

Last winter i did less than 1,000 miles on any roads with snow and there was not very wintry weather.

Usually i have a 4x4 but not this winter.

Edited 3 September, 20253 Sep by Ootohere

4 hours ago, Ootohere said:

@ZJZ The Michelin Primacy 4 were rubbish were they not in anything other than warm or dry roads?

Maybe drop the new tyres by a couple of PSI and give them a chance.

You will be driving on far safer tyres as the winter comes in and temperatures drop and roads are wet or wet and cold IMO.

I second that, if you change to XL tyres, or ones with higher load they are stiffer in the sidewalls so go slightly under the lowest pressure setting.

If you choose higher pressure, fully laden or Eco setting then tyres will be far too firm

15 hours ago, Ootohere said:

When needed if needed. I have a shed full of various take off all season tyres and new ones but they are all in lower profile 17 or 18".

This year not blowing money if i do not need to.

Last winter i did less than 1,000 miles on any roads with snow and there was not very wintry weather.

Usually i have a 4x4 but not this winter.

It's weird how weather changed. I live in Slovenia for last ten years, country that is known for it's share of Alps and winter sports. The only real big snow I saw here was when I came here ,10 years ago. Last winter I saw snow once, in Italy on a ski trip and even that it was just a few hundred meters in front of our apartment.

Anyway, when I get some miles on them, I'll let you know how the Pirellies behave......at least on 1700kg Superb.

13 hours ago, SurreyJohn said:

I second that, if you change to XL tyres, or ones with higher load they are stiffer in the sidewalls so go slightly under the lowest pressure setting.

If you choose higher pressure, fully laden or Eco setting then tyres will be far too firm

Right now I have them at, for my Superb recommended pressure,which is 2.5 Bars.

I think that's 36 in Psi. But now colder weather is coming and air in tires always shrinks at colder temp's for about 2 even 3 Psi ( 0.1-0.2 bars)which comes to .......yours and Ootohere recommended pressure 😉

Edited 4 September, 20254 Sep by ZJZ

For the tyre pressure you have now rather than assume take measurements with a reasonably reliably accurate tyre pressure gauge when the tyres are 'cold' in similar conditions to previous measurements.

As for ride quality it may be effected by the valve and oil replacements you have had done on your dampers which may perhaps be some of the difference with the new tyres as they were fitted on the same day. Doing this on a 2024 UK car (with 3-years warranty) would be very unusual especially if the factory dampers are the type (make) that later leak (called "misting" by VWŠkoda in UK).

Good to get real world reports but they are just general guides for others as there are some many variations but any real reporting is usually better than the tyres marketing and unrealistic testing done by some.

Be great to hear how you find and get on with the tyres.

5 hours ago, nta16 said:

For the tyre pressure you have now rather than assume take measurements with a reasonably reliably accurate tyre pressure gauge when the tyres are 'cold' in similar conditions to previous measurements.

As for ride quality it may be effected by the valve and oil replacements you have had done on your dampers which may perhaps be some of the difference with the new tyres as they were fitted on the same day. Doing this on a 2024 UK car (with 3-years warranty) would be very unusual especially if the factory dampers are the type (make) that later leak (called "misting" by VWŠkoda in UK).

Good to get real world reports but they are just general guides for others as there are some many variations but any real reporting is usually better than the tyres marketing and unrealistic testing done by some.

Be great to hear how you find and get on with the tyres.

Tire pressure was triple checked, cold 2.5 bars. By the way 2.5 is the lowest recommended pressure. Last few days temperature swings a lot, from 11 to 28°C, morning -afternoon, so I'll rather wait for few days.

As I said, after shock adjustement, Primacy 4 was pleasantly softer, but still had precise steering. It's realy a pity Pirelli doesn't have non XL version, it would fit perfectly.

As soon as I have some "real" trip I'll try to convey my opinion as accurate as possible.

Edited 4 September, 20254 Sep by ZJZ

Just out of curiosity, what was the dampers' valves changes from and to, and oil type and viscosity from and too, and what were the changes to achieve?

1 hour ago, nta16 said:

Just out of curiosity, what was the dampers' valves changes from and to, and oil type and viscosity from and too, and what were the changes to achieve?

Don't know the specifics. Shop owner is specialised in shock rebuilding and is familiar with the Superb "problem", has already done a number of them.

What he did tell me, is that the shocks are now slightly below their "capacity" what they can handle in order to avoid possible problems.

Change is noticable but relatively subtle, nothing far off from before. It used to be 2 full waves after a bump, now is around one . And leaning in curves is a bit subdued.

After all those are still factory instaled shocks and they have their tech limitations, and springs are the same.

Car has warranty for next 3 years. So, for now, I left original parts in order to avoid problems with eventual warranty claims.

Edited 4 September, 20254 Sep by ZJZ

@ZJZ What kind of warranty have you that is coning to cover the dampers, especially after they have been worked on?

Wear & Tear and external factors. Pot holes, speed humps, mounting kerbs etc.

49 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

@ZJZ What kind of warranty have you that is coning to cover the dampers, especially after they have been worked on?

Wear & Tear and external factors. Pot holes, speed humps, mounting kerbs etc.

Warranty is valid only if OEM parts are on the vehicle. Otherwise they'll try any excuse to conn you. Hence the modification instead of going Sachs or Bilstein route.

Edited 5 September, 20255 Sep by ZJZ

1 hour ago, Ootohere said:

@ZJZ What kind of warranty have you that is coning to cover the dampers, especially after they have been worked on?

Wear & Tear and external factors. Pot holes, speed humps, mounting kerbs etc.

To clarify, let's say some other part of suspension or steering breaks in warranty period.......they would blame it on non Oem Bilsten shock and refuse repair.

Edited 5 September, 20255 Sep by ZJZ

In my experience the front dampers VWŠkoda use instead of being called "shocks" should be called "shockings". 😁