Tyres needed for Focus - opinions please

[MikeHiow]

I can't understand why you'd pay £480 to put tyres on a Focus when 452s would do pretty much an almost as good job (I found the difference negligible going from CS3s to 452s) for around £240.

Thats two sets of tyres for the price of one, and the difference is minute.

 

[ganesh]

I can't understand why you'd pay £480 to put tyres on a Focus when 452s would do pretty much an almost as good job (I found the difference negligible going from CS3s to 452s) for around £240.

Thats two sets of tyres for the price of one, and the difference is minute.

I'm thinking the same, if your car is just a boggo focus then do you really need the mega expensive absolute best tyres available? Unless you have an st of some description I'd probably go for something cheaper.

 

[MikeHiow]

The point isn't that its just a "boggo" Focus, I've just bought four 452s for my ST.

They honestly are quite comparable to the CS3s, and when you start getting tyres for half the price, wear becomes irrelevant.

 

[Relentless81]

yokohama parad spec 2s or toyo proxes tl-rs good wet and dry handling if you fancied a change

Parada spec 2 are the worse wet grip tyre I have ever used including crappy budget tyres, they are the biggest over hyped tyre I have ever had the displeasure of wasting my hard earned on

I've about finished off a set of Eagle F1 Assymetrics in about 7000 miles.

Favourite tyres ever but they are too soft, amazing wet and dry performance but I remember pulling over on a very hot day on a drive in the peak district and the tyres were literally melting

Vredestein Sportrac are a bit of an underdog, they were very good

 

[mjt]

All 3 are good tyres, get whichever you want.
Although you have to ask yourself whether the CS3s are worth the premium with such a high wear rate (in your case).
I'm very happy with mine, but the wear isn't anywear near as bad, perhaps because I rotate them due not having bought 4 at the same time yet..

The point isn't that its just a "boggo" Focus, I've just bought four 452s for my ST.

They honestly are quite comparable to the CS3s, and when you start getting tyres for half the price, wear becomes irrelevant.

CS3s are better, there's no question about it.
Whether they are worth almost double the price is another matter.

They're not a premium ultra high performance tyre, but if you're on a budget and don't want the best you can get then I'm sure 452s are fine.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/falken-fk452-longterm-test.htm

 

[killsta]

I've got the Vredsteins on my ST and they seem to be the best balance of wet/dry. I used to be an Eagle F1 fanboy, until I tried Vredstein

 

[MikeHiow]

CS3s are better, there's no question about it.
Whether they are worth almost double the price is another matter.

They're not a premium ultra high performance tyre, but if you're on a budget and don't want the best you can get then I'm sure 452s are fine.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/falken-fk452-longterm-test.htm

Oh yes, they are better, but the difference is really quite small.

You don't need to link me to reviews, I've used both on the same car, when changing to FK452s I certainly didn't notice any lack of available grip in the wet, and still never found the real limit of them in the dry (nor did I on the CS3s). The only real downside I found was the increased road noise, it wasn't terrible but I did notice it initially.

I also don't believe its about being on a budget, its about value - don't let the price fool you, they really do compete with the premium tyres.

 

[glitch]

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..

Actually, the wear is very even. Slightly more (0.5mm) on the edge but otherwise nice and even across the width.

I can't understand why you'd pay £480 to put tyres on a Focus when 452s would do pretty much an almost as good job (I found the difference negligible going from CS3s to 452s) for around £240.

I think the key phrase there is 'almost'. I'd be worried that 'almost' meant 'nowhere near as good'.

The reason I'm even considering the Conti's is that the car came with SportContacts on and, at the time of changing the fronts, I didn't think there was any reason to change brand. Mind you, that was then and this is now.

Thats two sets of tyres for the price of one, and the difference is minute.

From where? I'm getting quotes of around £300 fitted.

The point isn't that its just a "boggo" Focus, I've just bought four 452s for my ST.

They honestly are quite comparable to the CS3s, and when you start getting tyres for half the price, wear becomes irrelevant.

At the price point you've mentioned, they seem to come up against the Ultrac Sessantas. Any reason you didn't go for them, given the decent reputation they seem to be gaining?

All 3 are good tyres, get whichever you want.
Although you have to ask yourself whether the CS3s are worth the premium with such a high wear rate (in your case).
I'm very happy with mine, but the wear isn't anywear near as bad, perhaps because I rotate them due not having bought 4 at the same time yet..

Your point about rotating is a very valid one. The new ones went straight on the front (I know, I know...) and I'm sure I'd have got plenty more out of them had it been a set of four fitted at the same time.

premium ultra high performance[/I] tyre, but if you're on a budget and don't want the best you can get then I'm sure 452s are fine.

I'm not on a budget, but I'm not looking to throw money away needlessly. I'm after the best priceerformance ratio I can get, but I don't want to sacrifice the grip of the Conti's.

 

[MikeHiow]

Camskill. I paid £289 including shipping for mine at 225/40/18, at your size they are £6 a corner cheaper as well as the lower delivery costs (I'm on the isle of Wight).

Camskill are out of Ultrac Sessantas and have been for a while, also, they would have come in at well over £100 more.

Is your MK1 Focus really a super sharp handler that will become a chore to drive if your new tyres aren't 100% perfect? I thought not, at worse the 452s are "good enough" at best they are "almost as good for half the price" - yes its a risk on your part, but one worth taking for the potential savings imo.

I took a blind leap of faith for the sake of £120 when I first bought a set last year, I was impressed, but didn't get to put them through their paces properly as this was during the snow, then I sold the car shortly after - but with the experience I did have with them, I was happy to go out and buy another four for my ST (Which was originally going to be treated to a full set of CS3s, as OEM suggests).

 

[glitch]

Camskill are out of Ultrac Sessantas and have been for a while, also, they would have come in at well over £100 more.

Okay then, theoretical question time. If they were in stock, would you still go for the 452s?

Is your MK1 Focus really a super sharp handler that will become a chore to drive if your new tyres aren't 100% perfect?

I very much doubt it. It feels that way to me, but in the grand scheme of things it's 'just' a Focus with some upgraded suspension parts and a different geometry set-up. But I have to admit the grip of the Conti's certainly makes a difference.

They're certainly a damn sight better than the original SportContacts on the car, that's for sure.

I thought not, at worse the 452s are "good enough" at best they are "almost as good for half the price" - yes its a risk on your part, but one worth taking for the potential savings imo.

If what you are saying is true, and I see no reason for you to not be, I think it's an acceptable risk.

 

[MikeHiow]

If the Sessantas were in stock at camskill, I probably would have gone for them as I've been wanting to try them for a while.

 

[L0rdMike]

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!

I used to get 4-5k out of Eagle F1's

 

[glitch]

If the Sessantas were in stock at camskill, I probably would have gone for them as I've been wanting to try them for a while.

According to a chap called Brian, they're back in stock. Not all sizes, mind.

 

[MikeHiow]

In my size (225/40/18) they've been out of stock for ages, with no ETA for them coming back in - other tyres seem to say when they expect them back in again.

My 452s will be fitted later today, they'll then have a weekend of thrashing followed by autotest on Sunday, I'll let you know how I get on with them on Sunday night if you like.

 

[glitch]

I'd appreciate that, Mike. I'm leaning towards the Vredesteins as they are in stock and more than a few people have mentioned them, but I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on those 452's.

 

[andyrs]

Hankook Ventus V12 Evo are worth a look too. They get very good reviews and work well on my Renault Sport Megane.

 

[lukechad]

Ive had Goodyear GSD3's on mine since October and probably covered 8k now and the fronts are ready for a replacement. Are the new asymetrics a harder compund tyre as Ideally id like a bit more life from a set of fronts.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Is your MK1 Focus really a super sharp handler that will become a chore to drive if your new tyres aren't 100% perfect? I thought not, at worse the 452s are "good enough" at best they are "almost as good for half the price" - yes its a risk on your part, but one worth taking for the potential savings imo.

You'd be suprised, my Focus was 'ruined' when i put Goodyear Excellence on the rear instead of the P6000, totally lost the precise turn-in that suprised me in that car and lost a great degree of confidence in throwing the car around. It was better when i put them on the front and NCT5s on the back and its still suprising the rate you can cross your average UK B road. Ill be going to NCT5s all round thats now the fronts are low. IMO its reasonably sensitive to tyres, certainly more than you would expect from such a common cooking pot car.

Half the price never tells the full story anyway as the life of tyres between models and manufacturers. vary massively IME.

 

[jellybeard999]

You'd be suprised, my Focus was 'ruined' when i put Goodyear Excellence on the rear instead of the P6000, totally lost the precise turn-in that suprised me in that car and lost a great degree of confidence in throwing the car around.

You mean the rear gripped afterwards?

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Both tyres were gripping the road just fine. Its more an issue of compliance and tyre tread shift in between the wheel and its footprint that causes a lack of feel. The lack of lateral stiffness delays how soon the car begins to rotate and starts shifting the front to rear balance as the car rolls slightly differently, not pleasant when pressing on but nothing to do with grip.