Tyres
- Thread starter colin smith
- Start date
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If grip is your primary concern then you will want an "r-compound" tyre. The conventional recommendation would be Michelin Pilot Cup Sports (which are good but not the best). If the sizes work for you, try Dunlop D01Js - I am currently using these and they are the stiffest, stickest road legal tyre I have used. Otherwise, Avon make a ZZR tyre (not to be confused with ZZ1s or ZZ3s), that looks the business. A cheap option is the Colway Traxtar - its a retread on usually Yokohama carcasses with Michelin Pilot SX tread pattern and soft dual compound rubber, all for about £40 per corner.
There are other R-compounds from Toyo, Yokohama, Kumho, Pirelli, Hoosier but either sizes or limited availability make them more difficult options.
The only downside for R-compound tyres is they wear out faster on the road - maybe 5000 miles max life on the rears - but that is the price you pay for soft sticky rubber.
If you actually want road tyres (and are not concerned about ultimate grip) then that is a whole other kettle of fish...
Richard
There are other R-compounds from Toyo, Yokohama, Kumho, Pirelli, Hoosier but either sizes or limited availability make them more difficult options.
The only downside for R-compound tyres is they wear out faster on the road - maybe 5000 miles max life on the rears - but that is the price you pay for soft sticky rubber.
If you actually want road tyres (and are not concerned about ultimate grip) then that is a whole other kettle of fish...
Richard
]
Phil,
I'm on my second set of Proxes which I have been extremely happy with both on road and track. Wear rates aren't brilliant but if you use exclusively for road then I imagine they would be fine. Dry and wet grip is strong and breakaway gentle and controlable. They offer a decent compromise between performance and price as far as I'm concerned. They're OE fitment on some pretty lairy stuff, TVRs / EVOs etc. so have a certain amount of 'pedigree' if that is of any concern to you. There is a new track day focused 'R' compound version just out which I would be keen to try.
Jamie
I'm on my second set of Proxes which I have been extremely happy with both on road and track. Wear rates aren't brilliant but if you use exclusively for road then I imagine they would be fine. Dry and wet grip is strong and breakaway gentle and controlable. They offer a decent compromise between performance and price as far as I'm concerned. They're OE fitment on some pretty lairy stuff, TVRs / EVOs etc. so have a certain amount of 'pedigree' if that is of any concern to you. There is a new track day focused 'R' compound version just out which I would be keen to try.
Jamie
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New member
I think its a replacement for the T1-S not actually an R-compound. Is it called T1-R or similar? I think I saw them on the Elite website.
I have driven the D01Js in heavy rain - you just have to watch for standing water and if its torrential you stay under about 90mph. I would be happy to argue with the Police or any court in the country regarding the legality. These are road legal tyres with above minimum tread depth - that is beyond debate.
RB
Richard,
I'm pretty sure there is a trackday specific version of the Proxes, I'm sure I saw it on Pistonheads or somewhere similar (you may well be right in that it is not 'R' compund as such'. I'll have a look at the website.
Jamie
I'm pretty sure there is a trackday specific version of the Proxes, I'm sure I saw it on Pistonheads or somewhere similar (you may well be right in that it is not 'R' compund as such'. I'll have a look at the website.
Jamie
Yep, I win, I'm right [8D]
The R888
http://www.toyo.co.uk/
The R888
http://www.toyo.co.uk/
Martin Perry
New member
Ian
There have been good things writtten about Kumo Ecstas recently - posts on SC forum I think. I had a pair fitted to my last car (SC Targa) and found them to be very responsive and with good grip levels. Also, they're not complete bank breakers, although a full set won't leave you too much change from £400.
Martin
There have been good things writtten about Kumo Ecstas recently - posts on SC forum I think. I had a pair fitted to my last car (SC Targa) and found them to be very responsive and with good grip levels. Also, they're not complete bank breakers, although a full set won't leave you too much change from £400.
Martin
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New member
IMHO the P6000 is a pleasant, comfortable tyre for cruising on - I have them on my wife's Merc. There are plenty of better tyres if you want more grip and sharper response. What are you hoping to achieve? The last ones I bought for the wife's car were all of £60 each, so if you are happy with them then its an easy fix. The new P7 is a much more modern tyre in construction and tread pattern and may be worth considering - it will perform much the same roll but somewhat better.
Personally, I don't have a big issue with having different tyres front and rear. I do this with my track tyres as my preferred tyres are only made in the right size for the fronts. I have also done this on the road without drama when I happen to have had pairs of tyres that have worn at different rates. Sure, its not ideal but I don't push all that hard on the road.
RB
Personally, I don't have a big issue with having different tyres front and rear. I do this with my track tyres as my preferred tyres are only made in the right size for the fronts. I have also done this on the road without drama when I happen to have had pairs of tyres that have worn at different rates. Sure, its not ideal but I don't push all that hard on the road.
RB
Ian Donkin
New member
When I bought my 3.2 it had Contisports on the front and Marshalls on the back.... I replaced the Marshalls first (who puts V-rated tyres on a 150MPH car?) with Michelin Pilot Sports and they were soooo much quieter it was incredible.
I followed this up with Michelins for the front pretty soon afterwards and then sold the car!
I now have a Turbo 2 and another former owner had put Hancook Ventus on the back, whilst S-02's reside on the front. I planned to swap the Hancooks PDQ but they are still there 7,000 miles later with less signs of wear than the fronts!
The car is stable and the tyres very grippy unless it's wet (hardly surprising with 360BHP going through two small patches of rubber). The Hancooks are quiet (considering they are 255's) and look the business, although both my rears drop a coupe of lb's of pressure over a month or so (and I have had them checked for punctures with no obvious fault found). The Bridgestones are absolutely airtight.
I will replace all four with Michelin Pilot Sports when necessary (or I get fed up with topping up with air) - it may be useful to know that COSTCO sell & fit Michelin tyres and are consistantly just about the cheapest outfit I have come across. They also tend to do an annual offer to further reduce the price by £35 if you buy a set of four in one go - not bad on already discounted tyres.
For a road car, I don't think you will be disappointed with Michelins.
Good luck.
Ian
I followed this up with Michelins for the front pretty soon afterwards and then sold the car!
I now have a Turbo 2 and another former owner had put Hancook Ventus on the back, whilst S-02's reside on the front. I planned to swap the Hancooks PDQ but they are still there 7,000 miles later with less signs of wear than the fronts!
The car is stable and the tyres very grippy unless it's wet (hardly surprising with 360BHP going through two small patches of rubber). The Hancooks are quiet (considering they are 255's) and look the business, although both my rears drop a coupe of lb's of pressure over a month or so (and I have had them checked for punctures with no obvious fault found). The Bridgestones are absolutely airtight.
I will replace all four with Michelin Pilot Sports when necessary (or I get fed up with topping up with air) - it may be useful to know that COSTCO sell & fit Michelin tyres and are consistantly just about the cheapest outfit I have come across. They also tend to do an annual offer to further reduce the price by £35 if you buy a set of four in one go - not bad on already discounted tyres.
For a road car, I don't think you will be disappointed with Michelins.
Good luck.
Ian
Personally I would change all 4 or replace your rears like for like.
I find the 3.2 quite sensitive to tyres. I replaced a pair of rears to something different than the PO had fitted and the balance in the car went completely. Throwing away the front pair restored the balance (and the better tyres gave much more outright grip).
I find the 3.2 quite sensitive to tyres. I replaced a pair of rears to something different than the PO had fitted and the balance in the car went completely. Throwing away the front pair restored the balance (and the better tyres gave much more outright grip).
Hi Scott
I think I would be going with the Contis to match the front in your situation. If your fronts are relatively new then when you've worn the next set of rears out you will be in a more acceptable position to change all 4.
I have Goodyear Eagle F1s (GSD3) on my car - I like them but am increasingly concerned that they are going out of round with the car stood (it's a third car and is used, on average only 2-3 times per month). I seem to need to have the front wheels re-balanced very frequently which is a concern.
I think I would be going with the Contis to match the front in your situation. If your fronts are relatively new then when you've worn the next set of rears out you will be in a more acceptable position to change all 4.
I have Goodyear Eagle F1s (GSD3) on my car - I like them but am increasingly concerned that they are going out of round with the car stood (it's a third car and is used, on average only 2-3 times per month). I seem to need to have the front wheels re-balanced very frequently which is a concern.
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