New Tyres

stephen belcher · Nov 14, 2005

Just had another thought , as I'm having the split rims refurbed and also need two tyres on the rear end ( one due to punture ), should I stick with the contintels already fitted or should I go for some Bridgestones, pirelli's or other . comments will be appreciated, Tread on all four still have about 5mm.
Regards
Steve B

Tony Cocks · Nov 14, 2005

Steve, I switched form Continental N2's to Michelin Pilot Sport N2's earlier this year. More expensive , and in my opinion a much better tyre than the Contis. I bought the Michis from ATS Euromaster ( actually owned by Michelin) when they had 25 % off on four tyres (15 % on two). May be worthwhile checking to see if the offer is still on.
Having said that , in the last debate on another forum , the concensus was that Pirelli Rossos were even better.

968er · Nov 14, 2005

Steve,

Get rid of the Conti's, they are terrible tyres that are useless if you drive the car hard. currently have Pzero's which give good grip both in wet & dry.

algray · Nov 15, 2005

ORIGINAL: 968er

Steve,

Get rid of the Conti's, they are terrible tyres that are useless if you drive the car hard. currently have Pzero's which give good grip both in wet & dry.

I have to agree with William, there many tyres out there which are much better than Conti's . They just do not work on track or road, I changed my Conti's mine last year, you will also be amazed at the tranformation (handling) when you move to one of the better brands

laura · Nov 15, 2005

Just to throw a different colour into the Arena (reds) [

], Blue came to us on a right hotchpotch of tyres so we decided to go Bridgestone SO2A (N4) all round and have been very pleased with them. Didn't like the look of the latest Conti. So many people have different ideas on different tyres it makes your head spin trying to get advice! Hope all is well in God's county, Tony. Sorry we can't get down for the Christmas bash but JW will represent us.

stephen belcher · Nov 15, 2005

Thanks to all
It would appear the consensus is conti's are rubbish . Thanks Tony and Laura ,Bridgestones are what I put on my 968 sport, but I've just sold the car before I had much use out of them. As the wheels will take approx 3 weeks to refurb I will have time to track down some decent prices before there ready.Tony, see you at the xmas bash , there are about sixteen region 17 members travelling down with us, hope you've got your pea shooters loaded. Sorry you will not be there Laura as we will have a mixture of colors of 993 cars and it would have been nice to see blue in the flesh as it were.
Regards to all
Steve B

dparslow · Nov 16, 2005

In defence of Continental tyres, I find them ok for everyday "normal" driving, plenty of grip when wet or dry. On my C2 the fronts are getting low after 20k and the rears are only half worn after 6k, so they do wear well.

Shane Hodges · Nov 17, 2005

Steve,

Laura/Charles are right - it's horses for courses. There is definitely a band of "Conti's are rubbish" people out there who have probably tried lots of brands. I still haven't seen a list of reasons as to why people think they are so bad.

I've loved my Conti N1's to bits, both on the track in the heat of summer and on the road in cold damp winter weather. I have been told they are not as noisy as some of the other brands and warm up quicker than the Michelins so in our inclement UK weather they can have their advantages.

I have just got all 4 tyres changed from N1's to N2's so I'll see if these perform as well as the N1's.

RichardLW · Nov 17, 2005

Funny that they fit Continental SportContact2s to the M5 if they're so crap.

I have just fitted a set of P Zero Rossos and they are not a patch on the SportContact1s which they replaced - although 250 miles is not really enough to judge, my initial feeling is that we are not going to get on for very long...

stephen belcher · Nov 18, 2005

Richard and Shane
Now i'm confused, perhaps i'll run for a while on the contis i've got on at present and compare the ride to the bridgestones I had on the 968 i've just sold.The 968 certainly had a harder ride on the bridgestones, but that may have been the suspension setup more than the tyre.The bridgestones held the rd well in the wet.Oh well as you say horses for courses!! I'll let you know on the outcome.
Regards
Steve B

pse_SC · Nov 19, 2005

No wonder you're confused! So many different opinions (justified, of course).

Personally (my opinion), I have just had 4x Pirelli P-Zeros (Rossos) N4s fitted on my C2, directly after a full alignment.
My logic was that I wanted the "best" N rated tyre and personally wanted Pirellis as they had served me well before (P6000s, recommended fit on my previously owned SC, for instance, transformed the feel + handling).

The old tyres on the C2 were Bridgestone SO2s on the front (N2) and Pirelli Assimetricos on the rear (N3). These seemed OK, but the fronts were worn enough to be "tramlining" quite severely... hence the align/tyre route.

I would recommend having a proper alignment and a set of these P-Zeros... they have transformed the already marvellous handling to a new level.

RichardLW · Nov 20, 2005

Although it is too early too judge, the steering feel on my C4 has gone to pieces on the Rossos. The initial quick turn in is gone and has been replaced by enormous, and I mean scary enormous, understeer to the point that on a wet road at 50mph I can put a quarter turn of lock on and sweet FA will happen as fas as direction changes go.

Also, the fronts are susbstantially wider than the Conti in the same 205/50/17 size - there is an awful lot more tyre showing below the rim protector - and I feel that the tyres are too wide for the standard 7" rim. Its as if you can feel the wheel move long before the tyre does as there is so much more tyre to flex.

And the tread is very deep and the blocks are very soft - squeeze the tread on a Michelin or a Conti and there is little give - on the Rossos it's like squeezing a sponge. Again, this suggests to me more softness and flexibilty in the tyre.

All of this may change with time - and the tyres are definitely quieter - but I do wish that I had gone for a different tyre. Perhaps the giveaway is in the current Pirelli advert which is actually stressing wet performance and comfort (and Jaguars I think) over all out performance.

RichardLW · Nov 20, 2005

So why are they N3 rated then? - Ignore that...what are they N rated on?

mmylonas · Nov 26, 2005

Yokohamas? I only mention the name because in a long thread there is no mention of them (which probably provides its own answer) - but I have a professional driving contact who recommends them and I think I can source them very competitively. The only downside my friend mentioned is their relatively soft compound resulting in a shorter life. Has anyone tried them? Or heard anything reliable about them? Running on 18" rims. Have Contis on at moment. Well the remains of them at least after last Saturday finding the limit and being taught how to power slide around the Autodrome. If anyone wants a pair of slicks then two rears available..

laura · Nov 26, 2005

Sounds fun[

][

]. Which Autodrome and who does it?? Don't tell Laura......!!

RichardLW · Nov 27, 2005

Right - the P Zero Rossos have now done about 500 miles and the car has just had a 4 wheel alignment.

Result - an enormous dead area where naff all happens around the straightahead; absolutely dire turn in and still no grip to speak of. Honestly, on nearly bald Contis, my confidence in the car was a hundred times higher than it is now.

Set of nearly new tyres anyone?

laura · Nov 27, 2005

A bit of secret midnight surfing by my husband there? Put him out of his misery Michael - tell him where - and I'll be right behind him!

Laura

bobafett · Nov 27, 2005

Just to add, they are all crap when you put wet and black tyre dressing on!!

Its all personal opinion, and self confidence, I run the Rosso's and there fine, are you really that good a race driver to notice the difference, because your better than me!! all the tyre manufacturers will excell in certain areas, so it depends what you want from them.

As an all round tyre, all mentioned will do for you budding race drivers!

mmylonas · Nov 28, 2005

Bedford Autodrome (Jonathan Palmer's outfit) - on an RMA trackday. Next one is up on 17th December. Big wide open track (former airfield) with lots of run off and little to hit. Well run also. The key ingredient was an instructor for the day. if you call Bedford independently you can secure one for between £150 - £175 for the whole day. Good value when 10 minute sessions are about £30. Also means that you can make all the track time count. Even if you are only out for a total of 2 hrs you get excellent value. Might see you there for the enxt one?

Regards

RichardLW · Nov 28, 2005

Re the Rossos, I am not saying that I am a brilliant driver - I know that I am not and have done the trackdays to prove it - I am simply saying that changing to a different tyre has brought a change of unimagined (at the time) proportions. Maybe putting new Contis or Michelins on would have had the same effect - I really don't know - but the difference between old Contis and new Pirellis is night and day - it is that obvious.