Best Tyres?

[winstonb]

Which brings me to another point. New tyres should always be put on the front axle. My father was at a very interesting demo of this point, where the tyre company he works for (it's not the same one as the brand I always recommend, honest ) put two new tyres on two separate Golf GTi's (mk3's aswell, which makes it all the more pertinent in this case). On one, the new tyres were put on the front, the back on the other. The cars were then driven round a circular track, and the max speed the cars obtained before spinning out was measured. With new on the back the Golf circulated at around 40-45mph, washing wide occasionally, but not doing anything too hairy. They then took out the car with news on the front and partly worn on the back. The test driver managed 25mph before the car span out of control.

 
er, read that a couple of times, dont follow.  the demo shows putting new on the rear is best, but you give it as an examle of why you should put new on the front.  so which is it?  

[Bodhi]

I know, I cleared that up in the last paragraph. If you want safe handling put them on the rear. If you want fun put them on the back.

[lowgolf]

Don't buy Avons - I did and they are sh*te.

Yep they are. Best tires i ever had were Yokohama A520's. Shame they are discontinued  :'(

[iball]

Blimey I'm away for a couple of days and come back to all this! Cheers for all the info guys, it's much appreciated. I'm a great believer in not scrimping on tyres after all they are the only thing that keep your car in contact with the road! The only budget tyre I've ever come across that was decent was Nankangs, they just don't last too long unfortunately but did provide good grip in the wet and dry. I'd ideally like to replace all four tyres, but not sure I can afford to, especially as my road tax is due as well, plus one of the tyres was only put on the car about a week before I bought it, seems a shame to just sling it away.

Thanks again.

[richy]

Just read a report in my dad's 'which?' magazine.  For sports tyres (the ones tested were 225/45/17s), Pirellis, Goodyears and Continentals came out well.  I've Also heard Bridgestones are good.

I always put new ones on the front and shift the old ones to the back cos they wear out quicker at the front.

[winstonb]

I know, I cleared that up in the last paragraph. If you want safe handling put them on the rear. If you want fun put them on the back.

youre car seems to have some novel mod ive not seen before.  whats best at the front then, a couple of oranges  

[richy]

^^^^^^^ lol! I was thinking the same thing.  

[Dobbs333]

My Experience with tyres:

P6000's - good grip in all conditions with a decent wear-rate - a good alround tyre
http://www.sicherbestellen.de/cgi-bin/reifenbestellen.pl?typ=R-104017&dsco=10

Goodyear F1 D3's - just had these fitted today   Initial impressions are good feel of the road and more 'sensitive' to steering input - will post more feedback over the coming miles...
http://www.sicherbestellen.de/cgi-bin/reifenbestellen.pl?typ=D39104&dsco=10

Bridgestone Potenza RE720 - had a pair of these on my Nissan 200SX - better wet grip and feel than P6000, but a higher wear-rate.  Good dry-weather grip and handling.  Slightly harder feel than a P6000, but better feedback.
http://www.bridgestone-eu.com/articles.asp?ID=139

BTW - handy site for checking out tyres:  www.mytyres.co.uk

Hope this helps in some small way  

Dobbs.

[Dobbs333]

Update on the Goodyear F1 D3's:

Got caught out on the M11 today in one mother of a rainstorm - the F1's were great coping with the 'rivers' that were running across the motorway.  No aquaplanning whatsoever - I could feel the tyres cutting through all the water, in conditions where a lesser tyre would have let go.

Glad to have the best tyres on the front  

BTW - they cost ?55 per tyre inc fitting and balencing from Fast Fit (for 195/50/15 V-rated).

Cheers,

Dobbs.

[Bodhi]

I know, I cleared that up in the last paragraph. If you want safe handling put them on the rear. If you want fun put them on the back.

youre car seems to have some novel mod ive not seen before.  whats best at the front then, a couple of oranges  

Heh I realise my folly now. Never mind, I'm sure enough people got the point. New tyres on the front are lots of fun yes, but as I found out, also lethal on a greasy road. A combination of new-ish Pilot Exaltos on the front and older Pirellis on the back helped put my old 8v into a spin which resulted in its untimely demise. The exaltos got through the cover of grease fine but pirellis didn't stand a chance, you can imagine the spin, and my horror when a previously dry road had seemingly spat me off for no reason.

Still, I've got 4 new Eagle F1's on my new 16v and so far they seem excellent. Grippy as you like, cut through water like the Exaltos and are noticable quieter than the Pirelli's the valver came with.