How much difference will decent tyres make?

[adon30]

Good site for tyre tests.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/213177/tyre_test.html

Another test that proves the top brands still come out top. With goodyear, Conti, Mich's and bridgestone up there. It also proves that seats idea to fit Pirelli's (ditch finders) as OE std was not such a good idea. Hence why most of us have changed.
This only covers 16" wheels and tread patterns of the same tyre may not work the same on a 17 or 18 or with a different vehicle. However it does prove 'You get what you pay for'

I use the conti's but as it says... expensive to run and buy, due to poor fuel economy (whatever that is... lol) and the wear rate. Someone mentioned Vreds to me a year or so ago so I may go and try them, depending on cost. The winter tyres they do are really good anyway.

 

[welchy]

I'm using Avons all round, £102 fitted each and Im really enjoying them!

 

[wisejason]

Type 'tyre poll' in the thread search in the Leon Mk1 section that the first three hits explain all.

Currently running Hankook V12's which are great, but now running near the tread markers and starting aquaplane in heavy rain (same for all tyres)... will either stick with these when replacing or if feeling a little flush I will go back to Goodyear Assym's i had on previously which are the best tyre I've ever used/had on any car.

 

[foxes]

Is it possible to use two different tyres on the Front & Rear?
I ask because I need to replace one rear Goodyear F1 tyre but thought i shall replace both rears. (move to the spare)
I was thinking Vredestien that all rave about on Rears and keep F1 on front?

 

[adon30]

Is it possible to use two different tyres on the Front & Rear?
I ask because I need to replace one rear Goodyear F1 tyre but thought i shall replace both rears. (move to the spare)
I was thinking Vredestien that all rave about on Rears and keep F1 on front?

At worst always replace a pair. Their is nothing worse than having two odd tyres on the car as they often have different grip and wear rates. My touran had a michelin and a dunlop on which was awful. It now has two new Michelins on the front and Contis on the rear.

As for the Cupra I always keep them in pairs. And usually have the worse tyres (or more worn on the front). Some people say put the better tyres on the front, but I would rather have a bit of front controlable understeer that the back flying out on a corner. I know this because I have done it and it ended up in the sad demise of my Rover as it damaged the rear suspension in a spin.

At present I have some Yoko's with 4mm on the front and some contis with 6mm on the rear. I have also ran with full conti's aswell but the pair of Yoko's need using up now.

 

[foxes]

...so having two sets of tyres (F&R) wont make any difference

 

[TubbyTwo]

...so having two sets of tyres (F&R) wont make any difference

as long as they are the same tyre on each side then no.

2 avons on the front and 2 brigestones on the back will be fine. problems start when you mix tyre makes, tread patterns on all wheels so nothing matches.

you will be fine mate

 

[adon30]

Yep as above.

I have 4 pairs of wheels (two sets as I bought a second via ebay) and up until last winter I had various tyres on them. I had a complete set of conti's, a pair of Yokos and an odd pair of a Triangle and Euromaster tyre.
As you could probably guess the conti's were the best and I have run them as a full set. However during the summer when it was dry I wanted to get a bit of use out of the odd pair. I bunged these on and they were awful! I don't like running odd tyres and these are probably the worst you can buy.
This odd pair has now been swapped for one pair of my winters.

The thing you have to remember is as long as they are comparable quality tyres and you keep them as a pair you should be all right. No one swaps there tyres every month to make sure they have exactly the same amount of mm on (or do they... ...) so grip levels front to back will always vary by a small amount anyway.

 

[coops10]

I thought that would be the answer....any recomendations?? I like the look of the VREDESTEIN ULTRAC SESSANTA and the TOYO T1R PROXES... anybody have these on there cars?

VREDESTEIN ULTRAC SESSANTA

Awesome tyres, wouldn't recommend anything else!!

 

[TRUMPY]

Nonsense. Toyo T1-Rs are excellent in the wet.

i agree mate just had some fitted last week very impressed

 

[gemini]

The thing you have to remember is as long as they are comparable quality tyres and you keep them as a pair you should be all right. No one swaps there tyres every month to make sure they have exactly the same amount of mm on (or do they... ...) so grip levels front to back will always vary by a small amount anyway.

couldn't agree more.
if possible, have all 4 tires the same, if not, then at least the same by axle.
and always use better tires on the front.
in any case you have to brake a lot of weight is transferred to the front, hence you will lose traction more easily on the back. there are plenty of video's about this on youtube.

 

[Sparkie]

Potenza's good all round, very good in wet imho. wear quite fast, need a new set my seif,
problem is financial melt down this month, what are the Falken 452's like? how much per corner would be of interest too, Cheers

 

[Hullcupra225]

I carnt fault the toyos i have put on!!! car feels much better now!

 

[godber225r]

I have the P-zero rosso all round and i cant fault them!! good price and good grip!

 

[alibali45]

I have the P-zero rosso all round and i cant fault them!! good price and good grip!

Really? Do you not find them twitchy and severely lacking wet ability?

 

[gemini]

Potenza's good all round, very good in wet imho. wear quite fast, need a new set my seif,
problem is financial melt down this month, what are the Falken 452's like? how much per corner would be of interest too, Cheers

everybody seems to like the falkens together with the toyo proxes tr-1
also, give the hankook s1 evo or the v12 ventus a try
very good midrange tyres