The eternal conundrum! Which tyres to plump for.. arrrghhhhh

[berg]

Guys,

going round in circles here (no pun intended)

Want stickier tyres for summer, no track work just fast road use at stg 2+. Easy, I thought R1R's look a good bet but am still slightly uneasy about all the semi slicks being rated at 88 not 92 apart from R888's. 

Right, get R888's then for ultimate grip, but i use the car as a daily and with all the rain even in summer am not sure they are a good shout as an everyday tyre?   

Ok I thought, how about PSS, SC5P as grippier than your normal tyre but dont do them over here yet in 225/40/18 

Everyone seem to rate the Goodyear Eagle F1 so not sure whether to just get those or should I grow a pair and have a go with the R1R's as weight distribution should be fine or R888's and take it easy in the rain....

Any opinions to help sway me appreciated... 

[RedRobin]

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As tyres are designed for specific uses you are always going to have to accept a degree of compromise. Therefore you have to decide your favoured usage: Trackdays or all-season (except snow) road.

One option is to have a set of lightweight wheels with road legal (or not) trackday tyres and another set of wheels with all-season (except snow) tyres.

As a daily I would strongly recommend any asymmetric tyre tread over a directional. Over 100,000 miles I have experienced quite a few road tyres and my favourite by far is the Goodyear Asymmetric F1 (now version 2). I got caught out on a trackday at Spa in the wet and was overtaking everything (including avoiding a spinning Radical!) because my tyres were up to the job. On the road I'm never phased by torrential rain - I slow down of course but my tyres can be relied on.

Tyres are critical in helping grip - They are the only point of contact we have with the road/track - But there are other mods we can use to help traction too.

[GrayMK5GTI]

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As a daily I would strongly recommend any asymmetric tyre tread over a directional. Over 100,000 miles I have experienced quite a few road tyres and my favourite by far is the Goodyear Asymmetric F1 (now version 2). I got caught out on a trackday at Spa in the wet and was overtaking everything (including avoiding a spinning Radical!) because my tyres were up to the job. On the road I'm never phased by torrential rain - I slow down of course but my tyres can be relied on.

Tyres are critical in helping grip - They are the only point of contact we have with the road/track - But there are other mods we can use to help traction too.

X2 - Fantastic tyres, even in the wet they inspire a lot of confidence  

May be worth pricing your choice up on Tyre-Shopper. I got a set of the above (18in) for £510 fitted 

[berg]

yeah cheers robin, never tried goodyears yet on any of my cars and they are a good price too! I cant help but think wont get the most out of semi slicks if not on the track and on my daily commute it too busy so am relying on a early sunday morning blast to get any use out of them

i have a spare set of alloys and they have winter tyres on them at present. in terms of other traction mods have done them all so i dont want to scrimp on tyres.

[RedRobin]

i have a spare set of alloys and they have winter tyres on them at present. in terms of other traction mods have done them all so i dont want to scrimp on tyres.

....That's the one! The contact area per tyre is only about the size of a CD disc. For your own safety and other people's, you never want to scrimp on tyres on ANY vehicle.

Semi slicks etc will feel awesome in the dry but will also wear out quicker and can potentially put you in a hedge in the wet. Obviously some tyres in this group are more practical than others. Hurdy has good experience of various tyres.

[MC71]

X3 Got a set of F1's a month ago, recommended on here by a few peeps. Camskill online for about £470 a set then get your local fitter to do the rest.  

[monte]

i have a spare set of alloys and they have winter tyres on them at present. in terms of other traction mods have done them all so i dont want to scrimp on tyres.

....That's the one! The contact area per tyre is only about the size of a CD disc. For your own safety and other people's, you never want to scrimp on tyres on ANY vehicle.

Semi slicks etc will feel awesome in the dry but will also wear out quicker and can potentially put you in a hedge in the wet. Obviously some tyres in this group are more practical than others. Hurdy has good experience of various tyres.

 

[stu_no_1]

Goodyear eagle f1 or michelin pilot sport 3 are the best tyres ive owned i have toyo t1 proxes sport and i dont rate them at all compared to the michelins or goodyears but i dont know if thats due to tyres being 215 stretched on 8.5 j

[E30Dom]

Been very happy with the Conti sport contact 5's so far :)

[berg]

cant get the SC5P by looks of it though and was not too impressed with the SC2, not bad just not super grippy.

Get confused with the Pirelli brands too - which is the best tyre Nero, Rosso??

[Gene Hunt]

Conti sport 3 on my ED30. Came out tops in Evo's test a couple of months ago.

[berg]

Conti sport 3 on my ED30. Came out tops in Evo's test a couple of months ago.

yeah, they just edged the Goodyear which was 3rd wasn't it? with Hankook 2nd!

[yetidom]

I have Pirelli P-Zero Rosso's and they're definitely good - my mate is running the Goodyear Assymetric Eagle F1's though and they definitely seem to perform better in terms of grip

[Gene Hunt]

Conti sport 3 on my ED30. Came out tops in Evo's test a couple of months ago.

yeah, they just edged the Goodyear which was 3rd wasn't it? with Hankook 2nd!

......think so,but at work now but can check when i get home as i've still got the mag.

[Tamiyoman]

Goodyear eagle f1 or michelin pilot sport 3 are the best tyres ive owned i have toyo t1 proxes sport and i dont rate them at all compared to the michelins or goodyears but i dont know if thats due to tyres being 215 stretched on 8.5 j

Been using Toyo T1 for 5.5 years now, good tyres and at around £98 per corner excellent value.