Asymmetric Tyre Advice Needed Please....

[RedRobin]

So you are after VFM....How odd  

....You just love stirring it up don't you, Poverty.

I'm after a tyre which isn't so specialist it's going to need often replacing. I only do a few track days a year (quality ones though) and most of my mileage is 'fast road' all year round (except snow).

Thanks for the link btw 

[RedRobin]

I certainly do need to take a lot of opinions with a pinch of salt and especially when they come from those Cupra boys.

The badge certainly makes us inferior. 

....I don't see you, or your cars, as inferior but some of you have far too much attitude for my liking.

[Poverty]

I certainly do need to take a lot of opinions with a pinch of salt and especially when they come from those Cupra boys.

The badge certainly makes us inferior.  

....I don't see you, or your cars, as inferior but some of you have far too much attitude for my liking.

We like to push things to the limit  

So you are after VFM....How odd  

....You just love stirring it up don't you, Poverty.

I'm after a tyre which isn't so specialist it's going to need often replacing. I only do a few track days a year (quality ones though) and most of my mileage is 'fast road' all year round (except snow).

Thanks for the link btw  

Well after you were constantly deriding VFM, and now wanting VFM on something that is relatively cheap compared to a new car, its obvious it would have cropped up in conversation at some point, and it just happened to be me.

How often do you find yourself buying new tyres btw?

This might be of interest to some who wont be reading the scn thread.

 EVO and their result:
1) Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric
2) Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta
3) Continental Contisport Contact 3
4) Bridgestone Potenza RE050-A
5) Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
6) Pirelli PZero Nero
7) Kumho Ecsta STP KU31
Dunlop Sport Maxx
9) Yokohama S.Drive

Autocar and their result:
1) Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric
2) Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
3) Bridgestone Potenza RE050-A
4) Continental Contisport Contact 3
5) Pirelli PZero Nero / Rosso

Autocar Videos - Autocar.co.uk

Tire track and their result:
1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric
2. Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
3. Continental ContiSportContact 3
4. Bridgestone Potenza RE050A

Autobild and their result:
1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric
2. Hankook ventus V12 evo
3. Pirelli P Zero Nero
4. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
5. Contintenal Sportcontact 3
6. Michelin Pilot exalto 2

[chungster]

simple answer RR, and IMHO, is do not mix and match brands / type of tyre on a car- period!

each brand / type of tyre has its own handling/driving characteristics. No wonder your car handled "funny" when you had Directionals / Asymmetrics.

If you want to change brands or tread type, change all 4 at same time.

You're asking for trouble otherwise if you want to do what you're suggesting in your first post.

IMO.

just to add what i tend to do is swap them round before they get too low..so get all 4 tyres to wear down to 2mm at around same time. Then i change all 4 to different brand / type if need be.

[SteveP]

^^^ 100% agree with you Lee 

[RobH]

i Had a full set of the vredestiens and tbh thought they were pretty good, fronts lasted about 8k and rears are still on heading up to 16k+ (well one of them is anyway, had a couple of nails in the other) .

Will probably try out goodyear f1's next, but at the momment i have 3 different sets of tyre on and its a big no no, very twitchy especially in these kind of wet, cold greasy roads.

[winrya]

you might want to read the vreds thread over on scn. DjHorace for example wont be buying another set.

I did a lot of research and came across the guy above but he's pretty much the only negative user i found.  The americans for example are waiting 6 weeks at a time for deliveries and raving about them.  I had some bad experience with ps2's and wouldn't buy them again but many think they are the best tyre out there, so you need to take alot of opinions with a pinch of salt.

....I've never been a fan of Michelins.

I certainly do need to take a lot of opinions with a pinch of salt and especially when they come from those Cupra boys.

So, are you running your Vreds on front or rear axle? Are you planning to be Vreds all round when the GY's need replacing?  You're the only guy I know so far who has direct experience so I value your opinion.

I always run my new tyres on the front axle, I know people often say thats the wrong way round but as i find the gti setup so safe, oversteer doesnt worry me and I've never had it step out on me.  I find greater value to be had from the massive increase in grip new tyres give you when putting the power down.  I can't feel any difference between a rear tyre running 9mm or 2mm!

So Robin, yes I'm running the vreds on the front and the goodyears on the back which literally have a few weeks left.  Making comparisons between them is really difficult to be honest.

What I'm certain of;

-The vreds have a stiffer sidewall so feel a bit sharper in the bend and have a less floaty feel when making tiny adjustments when driving straight.  The downside is that the ride feels a little bit firmer than on the f1's.
-The F1's have a much bigger rim protector.  I know people often don't see the benefit but ive caught my back tyre twice in the last 12 months and I'm certain that with the vreds on i would have damaged the rim.
-The F1's were great in the wet after a few miles, the vreds are perfect from the minute you pull away.
-In the snow and Ice they are worlds apart, my GTI has struck fear into me everytime I've attempted to drive in the snow previously, this winter however its turned out the gti is really very good with these tyres.  I had to turn around trying to drive up my estate last feb in snow, this year I was driving normally past other stuck cars.
-Road noise seems reduced on the vreds but 9mm tread tyres will always sound quieter than worn tyres.
-Wear rate seems similar so far.

I have a new pair of vreds already waiting to be fitted.  The new ones will go on the front with the older vreds being moved to the back.  I have probably done 3k on them so far.

Here's a poor quality pic of mine showing the strange (but cool) looking Giugiaro design tread pattern



Hope this helps a bit,

Ryan

[RedRobin]

@ Poverty:

I was deriding VFM in a totally different context (buying the Golf R). Even now re tyres, I'm not being principally led by VFM - It's just you jumping on every opportunity. Yes you do push things to the limit - Not wise IMO.

Anyway, your posted list of review conclusions is useful and certainly favours the GY F1 Asymm, so I might stay with it - I'm not unhappy with them in the slightest, wet or dry.

Over on SCN it seems DJHorace is the only unhappy one with the Vreds and he seems mostly driven by his desire to clock high rolling-road numbers:

I am bummed I bought 4 of the Sessantas to be honest for the reasons I posted above, especially because I wont get a proper r/r reading out of them until I change to something that does not spin on the rollers - like F1 Assymetrics.

[danishmkvgti]

Get R1R's, fine i standing water, and let me put down 300ponies in first with 0 wheelspin the other day. Could hear the car components creaking away though  

....You have missed the fact that I want to run the same tyres whether road or track without continually changing them.

Whats the issue, Its a tyre just like the vred. Why would you constantly need to change r1rs?

....Because the R1R is not designed as a general purpose all year tyre AFAIK and furthermore the wear rate is (IIRC) much worse. It's doubtless a great tyre but somewhat more specialist.

I have just ordered R1R for summer use, after reading about how you enjoy your car on b-roads and an occational trackday you would fully appreciate the R1R as it's made for those people enjoying every mile they drive in their car; RR just buy a set winter wheels, with this global warming giving cold winters like this one you will appreciate the summer/winter combo 

[RedRobin]

simple answer RR, and IMHO, is do not mix and match brands / type of tyre on a car- period!

each brand / type of tyre has its own handling/driving characteristics. No wonder your car handled "funny" when you had Directionals / Asymmetrics.

If you want to change brands or tread type, change all 4 at same time.

You're asking for trouble otherwise if you want to do what you're suggesting in your first post.

IMO.

just to add what i tend to do is swap them round before they get too low..so get all 4 tyres to wear down to 2mm at around same time. Then i change all 4 to different brand / type if need be.

....Good advice and what my gut feeling has been telling me. However, it's good to keep an open mind and hear what other people think.

Thanks  

[winrya]

this youtube vid is quite an interesting watch

[john_o]

much as I love PS2's and personally would go PS3,
 I feel F1 Assymetrics may be the best choice for you 

for the Vred. both djhorace and Saint Steve have mentioned wheelspin on the rollers which IMO just shouldnt happen. (at these levels of power)
for me this indicates they are too hard a compound and may catch you out unawares ......

2p.

[Hurdy]

@ Poverty:

I was deriding VFM in a totally different context (buying the Golf R). Even now re tyres, I'm not being principally led by VFM - It's just you jumping on every opportunity. Yes you do push things to the limit - Not wise IMO.

Anyway, your posted list of review conclusions is useful and certainly favours the GY F1 Asymm, so I might stay with it - I'm not unhappy with them in the slightest, wet or dry.

Over on SCN it seems DJHorace is the only unhappy one with the Vreds and he seems mostly driven by his desire to clock high rolling-road numbers:

I am bummed I bought 4 of the Sessantas to be honest for the reasons I posted above, especially because I wont get a proper r/r reading out of them until I change to something that does not spin on the rollers - like F1 Assymetrics.

That's strange!!
I have Vred's on my car and have no issues getting decent dyno results

[Hurdy]

Robin,

Use what you were happy with at the last 'Ring trip.

[RedRobin]

Robin,

Use what you were happy with at the last 'Ring trip.

....Yup, I've decided now: Stick with my GY F1 Asymmetrics - If it works don't mend it and they were faultless over a 15 lap session at Spa in the wet with ESP off and an enthusiastic instructor in the passenger seat!

Thanks everyone!  [Poverty included  ]