What are the best tyres for my mk2?

[Norledge]

I've had both T1-Rs and Paradas and loved them both.

The T1-R's are better in  the wet (but by no means good!!)

The Paradas are without doubt the best tyre I've used in the dry (bar R888's)

[X4MGS]

Interesting thread this - and I wished I'd asked the same question before I went out and bought 2 set of Toyo T1's...

With having it lowered by 30mm and very much stiffened with Eibach front and rear ARB's I have to say that the Toyo's are Fantastic in the DRY.... But ONLY in the dry... In The Slightly wet/wet they are only OK in the peeing Rain with standing Water they are the WORST tyres I've ever had....

Bear in Mind I've owned cars like RS6, S4, S2, Focus RS, Renault 18 Turbo.. etc etc over nearly 30 years and done 100's of thousands of miles of motoring (if not Millions as I used to be a rep and did 60K a year)... So have some idea of what a performance tyre should be like!!

I will run the Toyo's till they are shot but I hate them in the wet...

My Mate has just bought some Pirelli P600's for his MK2 Syncro for £40.00 a corner and I have to say I do like the retro looking Square Tread and that's what I'll be fitting next as they can't be any worse than the Toyo's...

[clipperjay]

There was a uproar about T1's old ones that used to wear out quick time so they changed the compounds to harder rubber which meant the rubber needed more heat to stick to the road in the wet and cold they hardly got temps up hence they are dangerous if you arent hooning it all the time.
Pzero neros are very soft and was alright in the wet aswell but the down side was they did wear out quick time!
I'll have to look into the P600's. 

[lemski]

Use to have  p600s and thinj the tr1s are better. Imo

[DOA]

Another vote for Toyo's in the dry. In the wet/even slightly thinking about being wet they really are terrible though  . They are kind of worth it for the money and dry weather performance but you soon get tired of not having a clue what they are doing when its not 100% dry lol.

[Diamond Hell]

H'mmmmm, I've slung a two year old pair of T1-Rs on the G3 TDI I'm clattering about in at the moment and I have no worries about them.  They seem to grip well in the dry and are OK in the damp as well.

For the money I don't see much to rival them.  Sure you'll get higher grip from tyres costing 2-3 times the price, but that would kinda be indicated in the price.

I would never put them on my main car, but for a hack they'll do just fine.

[Pearce69]

I can confirm after 1000 miles that the toyo's are pretty good. Struggle to spin them, cant spin them in 2nd. Grip well and seem good so far in the wet. Iv got conti and P600's on the back and they are not good! always seem to lock the back up easy 2? not sure if that cuz there pants tyres tho?

[X4MGS]

I can confirm after 1000 miles that the toyo's are pretty good. Struggle to spin them, cant spin them in 2nd. Grip well and seem good so far in the wet. Iv got conti and P600's on the back and they are not good! always seem to lock the back up easy 2? not sure if that cuz there pants tyres tho?

Take the hand brake off then...

Never locked up rear's on a MK2... Yet!!

[mk2bal]

A mate's 20vt with g60 fronts and 8v rears (did have drums) with no pressure reg can lock the rears when stamping on brakes. Yeah I must say the t1r's can take some g and provide good grip when cornering in the wet, its just you can't make snap actions or chuck it into corners, but you can drive smoothly and hard and still stay tight. When it rained on my 1st track day on them I thought sod it theres loads of run off if needs be, and no kerbs, and although running wider than in the dry, it hardly slid, and I never span the car all day. So far the best tyres I've used...

[Diamond Hell]

A mate's 20vt with g60 fronts and 8v rears (did have drums) with no pressure reg can lock the rears when stamping on brakes.

That's downright dangerous and it absolutely should have a load regulator put on it.  If you convert to discs on the back it really MUST have a regulator fitted to it.

When it rained on my 1st track day on them I thought sod it theres loads of run off if needs be, and no kerbs, and although running wider than in the dry, it hardly slid, and I never span the car all day. So far the best tyres I've used...

They'll be fine on a wet track, but you'll tear the rubber off them in the dry, if you're putting in proper effort.  Been there, done that.