Tyres needed for Focus - opinions please

glitch

glitch

glitch

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I need a new set of tyres for my '03 Focus and I'm torn as to what to go for. If it makes any difference, it's running a set of Koni adjustable with a 40mm drop and various suspension and geometry tweaks.

Option 1: Continental ContiSportContact 3s in 215/40/17 @ £480(ish)

What I've been running for the past year. They've been brilliant thus far, are very predictable when it comes to the grip and, apart from the shocking wear rate, are generally hard to fault.

Option 2: Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas in 215/40/17 @ £350(ish)

Heard lots of good things about them (especially on OcUK) and they seem to come highly recommended. But I'm loathe to go with the 'cheap' option and find out they are nowhere near as good as the Continentals.

Option 3: Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric in 215/45R17 @ £400(ish)

Admittedly it means going up a size, but the Focus should be able to handle that even with a 40mm drop as a friend's ST170 is running the same size tyres (albeit not the same brand) with the same suspension set-up as me. As with the Vredestein, I've heard lots of good things but nothing quite as glowing.

Option 4: something else?
 
I'd probably be going for the F1's at that price, really. They are the best tyre in the wet, and the dry performance is very good as well. From what I can tell the Conti's are better in the dry but not as good in the wet.

I'm torn between the Conti's and the Goodyears at the moment.
 
[TW]Fox;16674583 said:
I'd probably be going for the F1's at that price, really. They are the best tyre in the wet, and the dry performance is very good as well.
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When you say wet, is that standing water or any conditions other than bone dry?

I've noticed the Conti's to be excellent in the dry, good in the wet but occasionally iffy when it gets a little bit damp.

[TW]Fox;16674583 said:
From what I can tell the Conti's are better in the dry but not as good in the wet.

I'm torn between the Conti's and the Goodyears at the moment.
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The Conti's are very, very good in the dry. If you've not run them before I'd recommend them, but beware of a short life. My fronts have gone in 6000 miles so I'd imagine your rears would have a relatively short-ish life.
 
glitch said:
The Conti's are very, very good in the dry. If you've not run them before I'd recommend them, but beware of a short life. My fronts have gone in 6000 miles so I'd imagine your rears would have a relatively short-ish life.
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I've about finished off a set of Eagle F1 Assymetrics in about 7000 miles.
 
glitch said:
Option 1: Continental ContiSportContact 3s in 215/40/17 @ £480(ish)

What I've been running for the past year. They've been brilliant thus far, are very predictable when it comes to the grip and, apart from the shocking wear rate, are generally hard to fault.
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I think you've answered your own question. Why risk another tyre which may not be 'brilliant' (your word) when you're very happy with what you've got? I have the Contact 3s on the Legacy and they're very, very good as long as you're prepared for a shorter tyre life.

The grass isn't always greener :)
 
[FnG]magnolia;16674787 said:
I think you've answered your own question. Why risk another tyre which may not be 'brilliant' (your word) when you're very happy with what you've got?
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That's a very fair point.

I guess I'm hoping that someone will tell me I'm being a bit dim in splashing out on the Conti's and go for something else instead as they are equally as good, if not better. Much like Fox has started to with the Eagle's.

[FnG]magnolia;16674787 said:
I have the Contact 3s on the Legacy and they're very, very good as long as you're prepared for a shorter tyre life.
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Oh I'm completely prepared for the shorter life and I'm more than prepared to pay for the Conti's, providing they are worth it.

[FnG]magnolia;16674787 said:
The grass isn't always greener :)
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Good point, well made, sir!
 
[TW]Fox;16674730 said:
I've about finished off a set of Eagle F1 Assymetrics in about 7000 miles.
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:eek: You guys must drive pretty hard to only get 6/7000 out of your tyres... my rears still have loads of tread and going strong after 9000!
 
Amoeba said:
:eek: You guys must drive pretty hard to only get 6/7000 out of your tyres...
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I was gobsmacked when my spannerer told me my fronts would need changing in the next few months. I guess on reflection (and having done the math) I've seen roughly 7k out of them.

However, I'm by no means a hard driver. I like a twisty road and I've just got my car set up so that it corners brilliantly but I'm far from a maniac who smokes the tyres all over the place and drives furiously.
 
7000 is still ridiculously low though, if I had to buy a new set of 255/35/18s every 6 k (2 / 3 times a year) then I would be spending ludicrous amounts a year on rubber (fnar).
 
Having said that I'm guessing your geo is set up for handling rather than touring, so you probably have a fair amount of camber which won't be doing your tyres any good..
 
No idea but the rear tyres have worn very evenly. It's a 1600kg car though, so its hardly light. They are at 3.5mm now, so by the time I change I'll probably have got about 8-9k out of them.
 
Amoeba said:
Less manfoot = longer tyre life!! :p
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less manfoot also = less fun though. We all know that :)

i put 4 Toyo Proxes T1-R's on my 01 Focus. Wet grip was insane. Mine were only 195/55/15s though but at £260 fitted after all the good things i heard about them it was a no brainer.
 
I thought the toyo tr-1s were good value and the grip was very good in the wet or dry reasonable life on them but again depends on how you drive! Check blackcircles.com or value tyres as they sometimes have offers on the toyos if your interested always seem to have a good responce from their customers.
 
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