Which tyres

S

schpikster

Member
 Banstead, Surrey
Hi all,

My RFTs are running low and will probably need replacing soon. I want to replace them with non-RFTs to improve the ride.

However, I'm not sure what tyres to get. I'll mimic the size etc of my current setup, which will go on my 108s, but i've no idea how to go about choosing which tyre to go for.

I've seen a lot of recommendations for MIchelin Pilot Super Sports, Goodyear F1 Assymetric 2s etc, but these all seem to be high performance tyres that I don't think i'll get the benefit from during regular day to day driving.

I don't want to go for something cheap and nasty, just something that will be comfortable, quiet, and won't get shredded within a ridiculously short space of time. Does anyone have any recommendations for such tyres, or alternatively recommend a site or somewhere I can go to get some recommendations / popular choices for suitable tyres?

One PS question - are ultra high performance tyres like the asymmetric 2s, going to give me any (worthwhile) benefits above mid-range tyres, given my criteria above?

Thanks

Mike
 
I haven't got personal experiences with the above tyres so I can only comment on what I have which are Avon ZZ5's. They are cheaper than the other brands that you've mentioned but I am very happy with the performance I get from them. Both wet and dry. They're meant to be quiet too but I can't tell because my exhausts are too loud. They also offer some alloy wheel protection which is a bonus.
 
What car do you have schpike? You can manage to drive the Zed on economy tyres if you choose but I'm sure there will have to be compromises made and it all depends what you want to do. There are lots of recommendations on the forum for performance tyres and some of them are mid range/cost tyres but in my experience my Falcons (mid range tyre) wore quite quickly. Bridgestones though lasted as long as I expected.

Cheaper tyres bought in the past have failed to last as long as premium ones so mid range may be your best bet though you may get a good price from a respected firm if you don't go for their high performance versions but. . .

Most folk on here would tell you not to skimp on tyres for obvious reasons and in respect of the capabilities of the Zed. But it all depend what you want to do with the car - I will be interested to hear what others advise.

Whatever you go for do your research and check you do get what you paid for - I've had cheaper versions of tyres I've ordered fitted before - so do check you get precisely what you asked for!

:driving: :thumbsup:
 
I've got a 2007 2.5i sport. Since i bought it i have been driving it quite hard, though primarily this is via hard accelleration rather than drifting through corners (i've yet to have the balls to turn the traction control fully off).

I wouldn't want to see any loss of performance from the tyres i've got now, and by no means want to scrimp on tyres given how much of a difference they can make to the car. On the other hand i don't want to overspend unnecessarily - i don't do track days (though might do one before the tread finally goes on my current tyres!), the most i'll do is take a few corners fairly quickly, and just want something that keeps me on the road without them wearing out within 5 minutes.
 
Vredestein Sessantas/Vortis and Falken 452/453s are very well regarded on here. Excellent performance for the money. Some people even run the Vreds on the Z4M (probably because they don't have much money left after paying the vehicle tax).

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Just put Toyo T1-Sports on all round, changing from run-flats. Very good value (Ears, macclesfield), and a step-up from Falkens (IMO), without the cost of premium tyres. Soooo much better than the run-flats.
 
DR-Z said:
Just put Toyo T1-Sports on all round, changing from run-flats. Very good value (Ears, macclesfield), and a step-up from Falkens (IMO), without the cost of premium tyres. Soooo much better than the run-flats.
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Which 'premium' tyres are you comparing to, as your 'well under £300' for Toyos doesn't sound much different to the £280 for 2 Goodyear F1A2 or Dunlop SportMaxxRT :P
 
That's my Vred Ultrac Vortis ordered, 225/40/18s and 255/35/18s, £446 inc vat and delivery from Camskill, cheapest suppliers I could find. Lets hope they live up to expectations! I'll get them all fitted for £11 apiece, so all in, ditching the RFTs costs me £490 all in. (I won't be using the Zed in snow).
 
Forgot to add, I'll have to buy a faff-free gunge inflation system, maybe the Continental kit? Unless anyone has any better suggestions...the emphasis is on ease of use.
 
Lots of people swear by something called tyre slime - it's green, give it a google :thumbsup:
 
Yes, thanks Bing, but I get the impression its a bit of a faff in use. I think I read someone say that you have to remove the valve core before you can inject the stuff? Never believe the ads. but I've seen them say it takes 7 mins with the Continental kit and 15 minutes with the slime. I stand to be corrected though.
 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003QHY000/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought this for my non RF winter tyres I am running.
 
Looks good but it does look like you have to remove the whole valve before use - potential faffage point!
 
Won't being a member of AA or RAC give one the ability to just call if you have a puncture? I've been lucky and not had to call the ADAC yet!

Michelin, Bridgestone, Yokohama, Toyo, Vred, All the major players make very good tyres. Just stay away from the likes of very small obscure brands that promise huge miles for little money.

I ran Hankook Ventus V12 evo's when I owned a Zed. Mid level pricing on them. Paid 550 Euro for 4 tyres mounted and balanced. I never had any issues with them. Worked very well in the wet. Did one Nurburgring session on them. Got about 25,000 miles from the rear set. Not sure about the front set mileage as I replaced both due to a screw ruining one at 30,000 miles. Then I sold the Zed. Of course Hankook doesn't roll off the tongue quite as nicely as the other major brands do. On the wife's 328 we run the V12's in the summer and Michelin X-ice in the winter. On my Caterham I have Hankook 4 season H730's for the winter and Yokohama A048's for the summer.
 
Geezah said:
Yes, thanks Bing, but I get the impression its a bit of a faff in use. I think I read someone say that you have to remove the valve core before you can inject the stuff? Never believe the ads. but I've seen them say it takes 7 mins with the Continental kit and 15 minutes with the slime. I stand to be corrected though.
Click to expand...

Didn't know that - I just have two tins of Holts right now, been meaning to get some slime. Guess I won't now... Though I can't imagine you'd need to remove a valve core ???
 
Bing said:
Geezah said:
Yes, thanks Bing, but I get the impression its a bit of a faff in use. I think I read someone say that you have to remove the valve core before you can inject the stuff? Never believe the ads. but I've seen them say it takes 7 mins with the Continental kit and 15 minutes with the slime. I stand to be corrected though.
Click to expand...

Didn't know that - I just have two tins of Holts right now, been meaning to get some slime. Guess I won't now... Though I can't imagine you'd need to remove a valve core ???
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Yes the valve core needs to be removed and the tool to do that is included with Green Slime. Since the tool they provide is plastic I carry a proper tool in my car tool box. I been using Green Slime for years and while I have only needed to use it 3 times in 10 years it worked just fine until a proper repair could be made.
 
I was wondering how long the tyres will last on the z4 - I have just traded in a scirocco for mine and the rear tyres had done 41000 miles since new - The dealer when trading in thought that they were recently renewed - I reckon they would have done another 40,000 miles - The fronts were changed at c 32000 miles (FWD)

The tyres were Hankook so will be looking at that brand when the time comes if there is something that will go on the Z - I appreciate that different cars wear tyres differently etc!
 
Hadies said:
I haven't got personal experiences with the above tyres so I can only comment on what I have which are Avon ZZ5's. They are cheaper than the other brands that you've mentioned but I am very happy with the performance I get from them. Both wet and dry. They're meant to be quiet too but I can't tell because my exhausts are too loud. They also offer some alloy wheel protection which is a bonus.
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This ^^^^

I've had Avon ZZ5s for over 2 years. Had Michelin PS2s on before that. More than happy with the Avons. They're well priced too, and reviews place them in a much better place than the outgoing ZZ3s which they've replaced.


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Just bought this from eBay for the wife's car - good bit of kit TBH for a smidgen over £30, and the same as the BMW kit.


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