E89 rear slippery on wet country roads - Best solution ? Tyres ?

[Lazza]

Are you saying it loses grip in a straight line? Is it actually losing grip or is it just the traction control light coming on?

[mr.tourette]

Are you saying it loses grip in a straight line? Is it actually losing grip or is it just the traction control light coming on?

I just took mine out tonight on fresh tyres for a spirited drive, i did get a few traction lights coming on including flooring it in 3rd for a fast overtake, never lost grip at any point though

[Rucky]

Swapped RF for a set of non runflat Michelins from Costco.
Run at a lower pressure than RF too.
One of these fits down the side of the battery on an E85 - I thought they were standard as they were in the 04 2.5 and 07 30si we had / have.

[Lazza]

Are you saying it loses grip in a straight line? Is it actually losing grip or is it just the traction control light coming on?

I just took mine out tonight on fresh tyres for a spirited drive, i did get a few traction lights coming on including flooring it in 3rd for a fast overtake, never lost grip at any point though

That's fairly normal on new tyres as they have a release agent (which is why they are shiney) and need a few wear/heat cycles before they start working as well as they can.

I was going to ask bluesun89 what size tyres he has front & rear as if you change one end by more than the other end it can trigger the TC & ABS in normal driving.

[bluesun89]

I was on these tyres (stock dimensions & stock model) Bridgestone Potenza RFT :
- Front : 225/40/18
- Rear : 255/35/18

And it was starting to loose grip on wet, uneven country roads (mostly straight), and more clearly when turning.
Also a couple of time completely straight highway road at 60-65mph, when it was really pouring.
and no, I didnt notice the traction light coming off (although tbh i didnt have time to look at the dash, was mostly focused on reducing speed and getting grip back )

Just changed to Michelin Pilot Sport 4 non-RFT, and so far I get a sense that I am having much better grip indeed. although to be fair it hasnt been raining hard / pouring so can't really compare, but Im confident my previous tyres just didnt seem to do the job right (and again, i'm driving gently, no spirited driving..)

[enuff_zed]

I was on these tyres (stock dimensions & stock model) Bridgestone Potenza RFT :
- Front : 225/40/18
- Rear : 255/35/18

And it was starting to loose grip on wet, uneven country roads (mostly straight), and more clearly when turning.
Also a couple of time completely straight highway road at 60-65mph, when it was really pouring.
and no, I didnt notice the traction light coming off (although tbh i didnt have time to look at the dash, was mostly focused on reducing speed and getting grip back )

Just changed to Michelin Pilot Sport 4 non-RFT, and so far I get a sense that I am having much better grip indeed. although to be fair it hasnt been raining hard / pouring so can't really compare, but Im confident my previous tyres just didnt seem to do the job right (and again, i'm driving gently, no spirited driving..)

Yup, those are the same sizes as mine; see my earlier reply with the pressures I'm using (F34, R36). But mine are GY Assy 5s so you may end up using subtly different pressures?

[bluesun89]

For now i am still using the same pressures as for the RFT (i think F36, R39) - the guys at Euromasters put them on F39 R39 and i told them that it was a mistake for the front, which they acknoledged - but they didnt want to take it lower elsewhere (they argued RFT or not is irrelevant)
I'll just reduce the pressure myself after a few hundred miles

[enuff_zed]

For now i am still using the same pressures as for the RFT (i think F36, R39) - the guys at Euromasters put them on F39 R39 and i told them that it was a mistake for the front, which they acknoledged - but they didnt want to take it lower elsewhere (they argued RFT or not is irrelevant)
I'll just reduce the pressure myself after a few hundred miles

That is an ongoing bone of contention on here tbh. Some stick rigidly to the book figures and others adjust to what they feel works for them.

[Pbondar]

For now i am still using the same pressures as for the RFT (i think F36, R39) - the guys at Euromasters put them on F39 R39 and i told them that it was a mistake for the front, which they acknoledged - but they didnt want to take it lower elsewhere (they argued RFT or not is irrelevant)
I'll just reduce the pressure myself after a few hundred miles

That is an ongoing bone of contention on here tbh. Some stick rigidly to the book figures and others adjust to what they feel works for them.

Oh dear it was going so well till he mentioned "t$r£ p$ss&res"

[bluesun89]

Haha - I don't think I would feel the difference tbh at +/- 0.2 psi, I'll just go -0.2psi below the recommended setting and leave it like this.

Great car color btw Pbondar, I was looking for Atacama yellow when i was in the market for a Zed earlier last year, but there were none (so ended up buying a more boring 2014 mineral grey )

[Pbondar]

Haha - I don't think I would feel the difference tbh at +/- 0.2 psi, I'll just go -0.2psi below the recommended setting and leave it like this.

Great car color btw Pbondar, I was looking for Atacama yellow when i was in the market for a Zed earlier last year, but there were none (so ended up buying a more boring 2014 mineral grey )

Thank you..I went down the route of the usual greys/blacks/blues but then was enlightened to Atacama Yellow which inverted my search..I didn't mind what the engine was as long it was yellow and fully loaded!

Enjoy the new tyres and don't be afraide to experiment to find what suits you and your car..I would think a low of 32/34 is the lower limit but the make of tyre/model of tyre/your suspension/your driving style and your roads will determine the best answers

[bluesun89]

Fyi, just as a follow-up : I am just back from 1000 miles trip to the Lake District (including from/to London), and the car had an absolutely perfect grip, even under rainy conditions, with the new Michelin PS4 - let alone the very noticeable improvement in ride comfort. Highly Recommended.

[Busterboo]

Fyi, just as a follow-up : I am just back from 1000 miles trip to the Lake District (including from/to London), and the car had an absolutely perfect grip, even under rainy conditions, with the new Michelin PS4 - let alone the very noticeable improvement in ride comfort. Highly Recommended.

Please report how well they wear.

[bazzae123]

Hi, guys,
Its been a while since posting on here but thought the time was right. I've totally lost confidence in my 35iS on 19" rims and run flats. I originally had a 35i which i changed to non-run flats because of the ride and when I upgraded to the 35iS I actually thought they may have changed the suspension slightly as the ride wasn't too bad and I was reasonably happy with the RE050's stock. Its a 2014 plate and still has the original tyres on it, its my Sunday sunny weather car Obviously, over the last year it hasn't seen much use and has sat in the garage eagerly waiting for some return to normality. However, on the odd occasion its been out, its been a real nightmare to drive especially driving over the slightest bump in the road whereas the car just crashes like there's no suspension at all. At one point, hitting a small pot hole mid corner the car felt like it jump several inches to the side. Im not sure if the tyres have just hardened up a bit due to lack of use but its time for the run flats to go, and good riddance I've opted for a set of Michelin PS4-S, which wasn't cheap, but I want my car back the way I remember it Having them fitted Friday so fingers crossed

[ronk]

Let us know your thoughts after fitting