Which tyres....

[Garibo]

Hi everyone,

I bought my Z4C in March and it passed it's MOT the other week but with advisories on the rear tyres.

It currently has Michelin Pilot Sport ZPs on the front and a Michelin Pilot Sport 3 and a Bridgestone Potenza on the rear.

My conundrum is thus:
Do I change the rears to more Michelin RFTs or swap the lot to Avon ZZ5 or Uniroyal Rainsport 3s?

I know people think that RFTs are a crap ride, but would the car be better with 4 Michelin RFTs or either if the normal tyres above?

My sizes are 255/35/18 for rear and 225/40/18 for front (standard sizes for Coupe Si Sport).

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Gaz

 

[Spikey]

The great tyre debate - this comes up very regularly on here

Bottom line - once you get in to a reasonable quality of tyre it appears to be down to personal choice - everyone quite rightly has a view but often they recommend what they have on now!!

The biggest divider appears to be the RFT / non- RFT debate - I have non RFT fitted to my sport as it's hard enough with this config - RFTs would be firmer and I suspect tramline more and would possibly not handle so well- I have RFT on my 5 series though but with SE setup

I used a full set of Avon ZZ5 before and was very happy with these - but when it came to replacement there wasn't enough of a price differential between the Avons and the Conti's I now have on ( Sport Contact 5s which are v sticky and great for me)

Rain sports get a great rep - but again the price differential would for me have to justify it - again when I was looking to change Rainsports had had a price hike (popularity?)

If you didn't mind the ride on your RFTs and money is an issue then perhaps RFTs on the rear is the way to go (matching) but replacing all 4 with non RFT you would ( positively) notice the difference

 

[Marlon]

I've tried many tyres over the years on various fast cars and now I stick with Vredesteins (non run-flat).

 

[Garibo]

Thanks for that detailed response, Spikey. Much appreciated.

Plenty to think about there. It is actually cheaper to replace all 4 tyres to non RFTs than it is to replace two RFTs.

Will look at Avon, Uniroyal, Continental and Vredestein (thanks Marlon) and compare prices.

Is the ride really that much better?

 

[Pastry]

There have been many debates on here about tyres and I've come to the conclusion the only one that stays the distance, is the spare one around my waist :wink:

 

[KERMIT1970]

I'am great fan of the Michelin pss but my mate fitted uniroyal rain sport 3's to his Audi TTs & he's raving about them. Great tyres for the money.

 

[patriot66]

I have fitted various Avon tyres to my last 4 cars and have been running ZZ5s on my Zed for the last 18 months. I don't drive like a 'loon' but imo they perform well in all conditions and wear well also. Not the quietest tyre I have used but hey it's a sportscar ! I think they are superb tyres at a sensible price...and British made too !

 

[RickZ4]

Mine arrived with stock Bridgestone run flats on the front and regular Avons at the rear (...some say not a good combination!). The steering was poor and there was a lot of tramlining. This disappeared as soon as I swapped the run flats for Goodyear F1 A3's although I was tempted by a slightly softer ride on the Rainsports

 

[GreyZed]

I have fitted various Avon tyres to my last 4 cars and have been running ZZ5s on my Zed for the last 18 months. I don't drive like a 'loon' but imo they perform well in all conditions and wear well also. Not the quietest tyre I have used but hey it's a sportscar ! I think they are superb tyres at a sensible price...and British made too !

+1 on price of Avons just put 4 on mine for under £360 all in via tyreshopper website and fitted at National Tyres. Same sizes as yours (staggered 18s) seem quiet enough too.

 

[KERMIT1970]

I would have the uniroyal's over the avon's everytime. Same kind of money,if not cheaper

 

[GreyZed]

I would have the uniroyal's over the avon's everytime. Same kind of money,if not cheaper

Not today. The Uniroyals will make your wallet over £150 lighter to do all 4 corners.

Avon ZZ5 - £103 fitted 71dB
https://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/tyres/brand/avon/avon-zz5-xl/255-35YR18-94Y-xl

Uniroyal Rainsport 3 - £143.20 fitted 73dB
https://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/tyres/brand/uniroyal/uniroyal-rainsport-3/255-35YR18-94Y-xl

The odd looking tread pattern put me of the Uniroyals tbh.

 

[KERMIT1970]

I would have the uniroyal's over the avon's everytime. Same kind of money,if not cheaper

Not today. The Uniroyals will make your wallet over £150 lighter to do all 4 corners.

Avon ZZ5 - £103 fitted 71dB
https://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/tyres/brand/avon/avon-zz5-xl/255-35YR18-94Y-xl

Uniroyal Rainsport 3 - £143.20 fitted 73dB
https://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/tyres/brand/uniroyal/uniroyal-rainsport-3/255-35YR18-94Y-xl

The odd looking tread pattern put me of the Uniroyals tbh.

Look elsewhere http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-finder/s=1/summer/t=1/car/p=1/uniroyal/r=1/255-35-r18

 

[GreyZed]

I would have the uniroyal's over the avon's everytime. Same kind of money,if not cheaper

Not today. The Uniroyals will make your wallet over £150 lighter to do all 4 corners.

Avon ZZ5 - £103 fitted 71dB
https://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/tyres/brand/avon/avon-zz5-xl/255-35YR18-94Y-xl

Uniroyal Rainsport 3 - £143.20 fitted 73dB
https://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/tyres/brand/uniroyal/uniroyal-rainsport-3/255-35YR18-94Y-xl

The odd looking tread pattern put me of the Uniroyals tbh.

Look elsewhere http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-finder/s=1/summer/t=1/car/p=1/uniroyal/r=1/255-35-r18

Those prices you have linked to are delivery only. No fitting included.

 

[Garibo]

Anyone used black circles?

Uniroyals are about £380 fitted and Avons are about £350.

Seems pretty cheap.

 

[Wylie1]

Anyone used black circles?

Uniroyals are about £380 fitted and Avons are about £350.

Seems pretty cheap.

Yes, used Black Circles a few times and I've never had any problems.

Check out https://www.tyremen.co.uk/ . I've never used them before but I just ordered a set of Vred Ultrac's in 225/35x19 and 265/30x19 for £480 delivered!

 

[RickZ4]

Anyone used black circles?

Uniroyals are about £380 fitted and Avons are about £350.

Seems pretty cheap.

Yes, used Black Circles a few times and I've never had any problems.

Check out https://www.tyremen.co.uk/ . I've never used them before but I just ordered a set of Vred Ultrac's in 225/35x19 and 265/30x19 for £480 delivered!

Same here, it was the cheapest place I could find the Eagle F1's including fitting at my friendly local ATS. No problems.