Quick yay or nay on some rubber

pepsilol · 21 Jan 2012 at 21:57

I found the Vreds better in the wet, the Contis quieter and better in the dry.

On the same car, same tread depth.

SKYNHEDD · 22 Jan 2012 at 17:24

Hey fellas,

I got busted for calling someone a snivelling man-baby or something like that in the internet dating thread... /oops!

Right... the car... sigh... Its an MG ZT CDTi, which does lots of long journeys.

I cannot see what better tyres I can get for £124 a corner than UniRoyal Rainsport 2's.

Im looking to ditch the car, (one of several that need to go), and get something like an A4-SLine Avant, or Passat Estate, however, lots of people are telling me that they are not value for money compared to the MG ZT CDti....

Great minds of OCUK, please share your knowledge with me.

Sanchez · 22 Jan 2012 at 20:00

I've got the Rainsport 2s on my 3 series and I've found them to be very good in the wet, although on my car I can only compare them with the Dunlops SP Sport that the previous owner had fitted.

I wouldn't imagine the Rainsports to match up to the CS3s really, I mean they're mid-range and premium tyres so it's a little bit unfair to compare the two like for like.

Logsi · 22 Jan 2012 at 20:04

The CS3s are epic no matter what weather.

They take some time to warm up on my small ST but once they do they are fantastic. Will purchase again.

MORE SPEED · 22 Jan 2012 at 22:32

Went from CSC3's to Rainsport 2's on a mondeo - same size tyre.

Road noise decreased
Wet grip increased
Tyre wear is a bit more now, but only ~1000 miles in it

Other than that, probably prefer the Rainsport's in all fairness especially considering the price difference at the time

mjt · 22 Jan 2012 at 22:33

The Rainsports are pap compared to UHP tyres like the CS3.

SKYNHEDD · 22 Jan 2012 at 23:08

Hi guys.

Cheers for your opinions, perhaps im expecting too much of Sport3's on the size of car.

One one of the other cars I had Proxy T1Rs and despite reading on this forum that its not exactly peoples favourite, it was much more grippy than the set of Sport Contacts.

So, back to my question though... it was never a direct comparison of the UniRoyals more what is out there thats BETTER for the same price.

ITs one of the cheapest tyres out there for the size, unless going for SUNEW or whatever chinese pap the bottom of the market is made up of..

Ham · 22 Jan 2012 at 23:52

Have a look at Hankooks - V12 Evo (K110) or S1 Evo (K107). Similarly priced to the Rainsports. Both seem to do well in the German tyre tests and get generally good feedback on the various owner's forums.

I got 4 x V12s fitted yesterday, though unable to give an opinion as yet as i've only done about 5 miles on them. £55 a corner fitted... I love having 15"s

SKYNHEDD · 23 Jan 2012 at 00:14

Christ that seems cheap.

The rrp of Continentals in my size is something stupid like £200.

ubersonic · 23 Jan 2012 at 01:21

mjt said:
The Rainsports are pap compared to UHP tyres like the CS3.

Rainsports are UHP tyres, but although I usually sing their praises I must say Continental made the Rainsports quite some time before the SC3's so I don't really see how they would be better as surely any tech from the RS2's will be in the CS3's :S

Dr Who · 23 Jan 2012 at 09:51

ubersonic said:
Rainsports are UHP tyres, but although I usually sing their praises I must say Continental made the Rainsports quite some time before the SC3's so I don't really see how they would be better as surely any tech from the RS2's will be in the CS3's :S

Rainsports are made by Uniroyal so I doubt Continental have any of the technology they used as Uniroyal is part of Michelin.

ubersonic · 23 Jan 2012 at 10:02

Dr Who said:
Rainsports are made by Uniroyal so I doubt Continental have any of the technology they used as Uniroyal is part of Michelin.

Continental own Uniroyal, it used to be marketed as the wet weather division of Continental.

[TW]Fox · 23 Jan 2012 at 11:12

ubersonic said:
Continental own Uniroyal, it used to be marketed as the wet weather division of Continental.

No it didn't, they used a slogan saying 'The rain tyre' but this isn't the same as marketing themselves as the wet weather division of Continental.

Mucky_Pup · 23 Jan 2012 at 11:50

My CSC3's were crap in the wet, but then again mine were nearly down to the wear indicator

before that they performed pretty well in the wet. I'm trying EF1A2's now though.

Dr Who · 23 Jan 2012 at 12:08

ubersonic said:
Continental own Uniroyal, it used to be marketed as the wet weather division of Continental.

Ah interesting, it seems although Michelin own the Uniroyal parent company in USA, Continental took over the european manufacturing operation, seems bizarre with Michelin being a European manufacturer as well, but fair do's.

Uniroyals have been marketed as a rain tyre for as long as I can remember them, probably long before Continental stepped in, but as I don't know the dates I could stand to be corrected

EDIT: Apparently Uniroyal of America copyrighted "the rain tyre" in 1969.

naefeart · 23 Jan 2012 at 12:13

Last night I was reading my latest copy of EVO and noticed the CSC3s came top of the group. They also came top of the wet handling section.

I've driven many, many miles in an MG ZT CDi and they have the same contis as standard. Seemed fine to me. They also manage to reign in 400 horses in my current steed.

Rubbish these tyres.