Hi guys,

I know this has come up a few times in the past but I was after any first hand experience with the following 2 tyres. Im currently running Avon ZZ3's which I rate as one of the best all round tyres I have ever used but Im wondering if there is something better out there and these 2 seem to be around the same price.

Eagle F1 GSD3's

Toyo T1-R's

If theres a highly recommended higher cost option I would also consider them however ideally I'd like to stick with

For under £60 the F1s look good value, although I find their sidewalls too soft. Give good turn in but I find they washout earlier than asym ones in the wet.

My preference is therfore for an assymetric tyre rather than a directional one.

My choices would be as follows, in order of preference:

P Zero Nero, trouble is it's best part of £80 per corner :(

Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 at about £75

P7 at under the £70

Bridgestone RE050 at about £65

I have the Goodyear Eagle F1 Gsd 3's currently fitted to my Octavia vRS. I replaced some Toyo 888's with them, and expected alot from the Goodyears. All I can say, is as Jon says, the sidewalls do give a bit when really pushed, but wet grip is like nothing else I've ever tried. Highly reccomended for the upcoming winter months.

Also good all rounders are Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position SO2's. NOT the so3's as they aren't as good oddly.

I definitely won't be refitting F1s on the front having had them on. Too soft and washout as per Mr TaviaRS are also my findings. Not bad but certainly not as good as the hype suggested at the time.

Might keep them on the rear though until they wear down.

Neros grip better than the F1s, wet or dry. Slightly woolier turn in, very stiff sidewalls, nice predictable breakaway in the wet, good for standing water, but, a bit above what you wanted to spend.

Mine, same size as yours, will need to be replaced in about a month - I'll be fitting the P7s as I don't drive like a loon that much anymore rather than the Neros.

Also good all rounders are Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position SO2's. NOT the so3's as they aren't as good oddly.

Can you still get the SO-2's? Thought they were long since discontinued? :confused: FWIW, I ran SO2's and SO3's on my Scooby and thought they were both great! That might just be showing up my mediocre driving though

Chris

SO-1 and SO-2 available in that size Chris

Tavia - thats brilliant advice and Id agree about the directional tyres that ive used in the past not being as good in the wet - also not gripping as well when pulling off from standstill either imo.

Comments about the sidewalls worrys me as I do tend to 'load them up' somewhat.

If you really think the P Zero Neros are worth the money Id certainly consider getting them. I personally think tyres are one area of a car that shouldnt be skimped on!

Can I ask - have any of you tried the Toyos out of interest?

Thanks again for all the valuable input,

Lee

Tried the Toyos and didn't like them, although others do. They are good for the price. I found they weren't quite as good as the F1's and wore out quicker but, at the time, they were cheaper. I fonund that when it got below about 5-6 degrees c they turned to plastic and just didn't grip - they may have changed the compound now.

The Neros are good just depends if you can justify the money. As I just use my car for commuting now rather than hooning, I'll be getting the P7s or the Exalto PE2s

Had the T1R's on the Octy for just over a year, and the wear rate is good, and the sidewalls are quite firm, downside is a lot more road noise than from other makes.

Quite predictable in the wet, and do give you a bit of warning when they start to go, but you do have to push them quite hard in everyday use to get them to slide.

Paid £83 a corner, fitted and balanced at Elite Tyres.

Has anyone tried Yokohamas on their octy?

I had a set of 205/40/17's on my last car and found them to be excellent for grip all round (didn't push them hard in the wet as I'm more careful then!) - The sidewalls were so firm on those that the tyre fitter used to struggle like hell to get them on, compared to the horrible Kumo's that came off which you could bend and squash very easily.

I'm currently running the standard continental 205/50's on my vrs but was thinking of changing to 225/45 when the time comes and having had good experience with the yokos they'd be one of my top choices unless anyone can tell me they're not very good? (I know that some people say they are good on one car and cack on another)

Matt

Tried the AVS Yokos, stiff sidewalls and not bad in the wet. £ for £ I prefered the Neros.

Just phoned Pro Tyres in Enfield for princing on the Toyos and P Zero Nero's - I asked for the Toyo prices; said he couldnt get them in that fitment (wtf!!) and then said 'and a price for four P Zero Nero's also - his reply was - im telling you now they are crap tyres!' - so good impartial advice there

I said I'd been recommended them, he said 'he probably doesnt drive it hard'. I said, thanks but goodbye.

Mind you it does show just how different opinions can be on the same product!

Lee

Lee,

Ring Elite Tyres at Rainham on 01707-525577, really good mob to deal with, and they do know what they are doing.

Should be 01708............................Doh

Cheers Gerry but the number is coming up as an unrecognised one. :( I'll get there number off the web.

Go onto Google as they have a good web site.

Also I am having yet another senior moment it should be:-

01708-525577........................Only one number out

Brilliant - thanks Gerry

Elite sounded very professional on the phone; amazingly

£80 each from Mytyres.co.uk delivered for the neros

I've got toyo T1R's on my 306 xsi 195/55/15 and i highly rate them! I previously had T1S which were great but did tend to wear on the edges quite quickly. The T1R does seem to have better wear. I really like the wet and dry performance of the tyres and dont find them too noisy at all. The sidewalls of the T1R do seem to be stiffer than the T1S but mine arent really low profile. All in all i think they are a great tyre for the money, i paid about

Brilliant - thanks Gerry

Elite sounded very professional on the phone; amazingly

Ive got Toyos on the 4x4 & they just about handle 350 bhp, I had them previously on my Impreza & they were equally good although not as good as the Bridgestone Potenza SO2's which I thought had been discontinued years ago

I stick with the Toyos as theyve always been OK & are certainly value for money, Im always wary of shelling out a few hundred squid on something different to find its no good.

Tavias comments are worth listening too as he has a friend who severly tests his tyres, I once saw him take a new set to canvas on the corners in about 1/2 a day at brunters in a Diesel, it did seem a bit slideways at times

Personally I can't recommend the pilot exalto PE2 enough, stunning grip

surely its all down to what size tyre you are running!!....i run 215/45/17....and find the tyre wall well up to the pounding mine gets on the twisties in the wet!!....have had them one most cars ive ran and find they stick to the road like poo to a blanket!!

k:)

I'm currently running Toyo Proxy T1-Rs on the front of my Octy - they do seem to offer very good grip in both the wet & dry. Breakaway characteristics seem predictable and they do give some warning before letting go

Wear rates seem acceptable for the grip level available (although I would not expect them to last more than 10000 miles if fitted to the front - at least not with an 'enthusiastic' driving style )

In all I would recommend them but I have not tried many other brands so can't really give a proper comparison

Thanks for all the reply's guys.

I think the Toyo's consistently seem to come up as offering the best value for money so I'll probably be going that way.

Cheers,

Lee