Tyre Choice - Decent Wear Rate

Slackworth · 5 Mar 2009 at 22:33

Need a quick bit of help with my next choice of tyres. I need 225/45/17 on a Y speed rating. I'm an above average mileage driver and would ideally like something that will last a bit longer.

I've got some Michelin PS2s on at the moment but they have zero grip in the ice which is bad and they've only lasted 6-7k and they're on the wear indicators already - considering how much they cost I'm not really hearing them (although for dry grip in the warm they're unbeatable IMO).

I realise that the best tyres for grip are never going to be great on wear but I could do with a bit more than I have had with these Michelin PS2s. I've tried F1 Assymetric (which I didn't like), Dunlop SP Sport Maxx (Ended up with a puncture so didn't get full life out of them but they weren't doing terribly well anyway), P6000 which came with the car (utter poo on all fronts) and currently PS2s (which I like but vanish too quickly).

Howard · 5 Mar 2009 at 22:40

If you want decent grip on ice you're gonna want snow chains, my friend

OllyM · 5 Mar 2009 at 22:44

Continental ContiSport Contact 3's perhaps?

NickXX · 5 Mar 2009 at 22:44

Have you tried a 4 wheel alignment? I have the same car, remapped, and the same tyres and got 17,000 miles off my rears. That is not motorway driving either.

Slackworth · 5 Mar 2009 at 22:54

Howard said:
If you want decent grip on ice you're gonna want snow chains, my friend

Not overly bothered about this to be honest. The ice/snow is starting to vanish now anyway and I've got used to driving like it.

OllyM said:
Continental ContiSport Contact 3's perhaps?

These have been my first thoughts - some seem to rate them but others seem to not like them for some reason.

NickXX said:
Have you tried a 4 wheel alignment? I have the same car, remapped, and the same tyres and got 17,000 miles off my rears. That is not motorway driving either.

Can't say I've had the car 4W aligned but tracking etc is pretty good. They've worn evenly across the whole tyre though I do push them quite hard. The PS2s seem to have been eaten up quicker than the rest though.

mjt · 5 Mar 2009 at 23:06

sport contact 3s

PeterNem · 5 Mar 2009 at 23:25

Another vote for the Contis

NickXX · 5 Mar 2009 at 23:34

Slackworth said:
Can't say I've had the car 4W aligned but tracking etc is pretty good. They've worn evenly across the whole tyre though I do push them quite hard. The PS2s seem to have been eaten up quicker than the rest though.

I'd be tempted to get it 4w aligned on a Hunter machine. It will cost around £100, but will put the car back to factory settings. On my 318 it worked wonders for the handling, despite the tracking being fine on it - by far the best £90 I've spent on it.

Jez · 6 Mar 2009 at 00:00

Over 30k here from the last set of rears here, Bridgestone RE050. Would recommend A+++ etc. 40k+ from the fronts.

Slackworth · 6 Mar 2009 at 08:34

I had Bridgestone RE050A Runflats on my 130i and they were dead pretty quickly but Runflats don't seem to last at all regardless of what they are.

I've got the F1 Assymetric on the front and they're doing well. It's just the rears that seem to get eaten.

Jono · 6 Mar 2009 at 09:03

I had Michelin Pilot Exaltos on my car and they lasted 24k. (fwd) - They didn't have any grip on ice, but they were about at the end of their life before they were tested on ice, so not sure if they had anything to do with it.

Got some F1 Asymmetric on the fronts now, not sure how they're wearing, but I don't expect they'll last more than 10k.

225/40/r18 Y I think.

mjt · 6 Mar 2009 at 15:21

Jez said:
Over 30k here from the last set of rears here, Bridgestone RE050. Would recommend A+++ etc. 40k+ from the fronts.

Slackworth said:
I had Bridgestone RE050A Runflats on my 130i and they were dead pretty quickly but Runflats don't seem to last at all regardless of what they are.

I've got the F1 Assymetric on the front and they're doing well. It's just the rears that seem to get eaten.

it really depends on driving style and the roads.
the S is purely used on motorways, no?

the dunlop runflats that were on my dad's 5 lasted almost 40,000 miles and 3 years due to the car only being used on motorway runs, and rather careful driving

Simon · 6 Mar 2009 at 15:29

RE050As seem to last well on my S2000.

I dont really track milage or anything though to be honest, just change them when they are low. Prob about 12k on rears I would guess.

Slackworth · 7 Mar 2009 at 01:04

mjt said:
it really depends on driving style and the roads.
the S is purely used on motorways, no?

the dunlop runflats that were on my dad's 5 lasted almost 40,000 miles and 3 years due to the car only being used on motorway runs, and rather careful driving

I use mine to go mainly up and down the A50 everyday - it's like motorway driving but with a few more rough surfaces and dips in road etc. Do have some local driving too though around OcUK HQ

which is a bit more fun at roundabouts etc