Goodyear Asyms do not like the cold

Django x2 · 22 Jan 2011 at 15:42

Clarkey said:
sounds like the car has problems to me.

No, there's nothing wrong with the car. It's also just a had a full hunter alignment. I took the roundabout no differently to all the other times i've driven across it with Vreds (or other tyres for that matter). They just didn't respond well. The TC light flashes in a straight line in 3rd if i'm not light on the throttle

I did buy the tyres in December but have been upto Gatwick and back since, they've probably done about 700 miles or so.

[TW]Fox · 22 Jan 2011 at 15:50

My TC light is constantly flashing on bumpy roads when no load is even being applied.

This just makes no sense - coasting on a bumpy road applying no throttle and you have constant TCS? I wasn't even getting that when driving over sheet ice last month.

Your car is broken or you are being the king of exageration.

Django x2 · 22 Jan 2011 at 15:58

No no, applying throttle on a straight road causes TCS to kick in, but I applied no throttle when on the roundabout, only to correct the car and get off the roundabout

By load, I mean acceleration, not maintaing speed.

[TW]Fox · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:00

This whole thing sounds totally weird. I have never experienced that in any car regardless of tyres.

Clarkey · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:02

It's completely ridiculous that's why, even the worst tyres in the world, coated in oil, will not spin while driving at constant speed.
Even suggesting that this is something caused by using a premium tyre is hilarious.

[TW]Fox · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:03

This is beginning to make as much sense as that time when the dealer overfilled his car with oil so he posted as if he drove it anyway and blew the turbo up then backtracked really quickly and said he didnt actually drive it even though it was fairly obvious from what the posts he was making that something was amiss..

Django x2 · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:04

Nor have I. Sure, the TCS light used to occasionally blip up a bumpy road with throttle on the vreds but the only factor that has changed is the rear tyres. The TCS light is kicking in over the slightest thing. My fronts are still Vreds, and I would have thought that understeer might have become an issue, but no, it's driving like a granny to make sure I keep the back in check.

Heading out later, I'll try and post a vid of what's happening.

[TW]Fox · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:05

Wait you have mismatched tyres?

I have heard all sorts of nightmares about having assymetric and directional tyres mixed front to back on a BMW...

Django x2 · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:06

[TW]Fox;18288902 said:
This is beginning to make as much sense as that time when the dealer overfilled his car with oil so he posted as if he drove it anyway and blew the turbo up then backtracked really quickly and said he didnt actually drive it even though it was fairly obvious from what the posts he was making that something was amiss..

I suggest youre re familiarise yourself with that thread as you're a little off the mark there. How do you suppose I would have known the car was overfilled with oil if I didn't drive it. I was then asked to move the car into a position suitable for recovery which was when it overran

Lets try and stay on track with this thread for a little bit longer shall we?

Django x2 · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:07

Yes, I have Vreds on the front and Asyms on the rear because I was unable to buy the vreds at short notice and had a puncture. I'm not going to replace my front tyres (which are less than 6 months old) because I have one puncture.

Do you have any links / forum posts about this kind of stuff. I suspect the Vreds are biting harder in the corners at the front and causing the rears to step out.

Dangerous Dave · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:14

I would get the tracking checked again as it doesn't take much to knock it out particularly with the condition of the roads just now.

If the tracking is fine I would suspect something was on the road surface of the roundabout that caused the issue rather than the tyres.

[TW]Fox · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:15

I have tried to find the original thread from 2005 without success though plenty of others reference it. This one is on an M3 but it's pretty similar to what you are describing:

http://pistonheads.co.uk/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&t=637680&nmt=Unsettled handling on E46 M3 Convertible

Mismatching tyres on a car like this isn't a good idea. Whilst having to replace fronts does suck, this is probably what you needed to have done if you wanted to change brand.

Django x2 · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:25

[TW]Fox;18289001 said:
I have tried to find the original thread from 2005 without success though plenty of others reference it. This one is on an M3 but it's pretty similar to what you are describing:

http://pistonheads.co.uk/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&t=637680&nmt=Unsettled handling on E46 M3 Convertible

Mismatching tyres on a car like this isn't a good idea. Whilst having to replace fronts does suck, this is probably what you needed to have done if you wanted to change brand.

Ok, thanks. Certainly seems to match up with some of the effects I'm seeing. I did mention that I would rather sell the rears and put some vreds back on so i think that's what I'll do.

So, if anyone wants some sub 1k mile 275/30 R19 Goodyear Asyms, message me or they'll be on ebay.

[TW]Fox · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:29

Surely you will loose more money by selling the brand new rears (You wont get much for them!) than you will buy purchasing the cheaper F1's for the front? The F1's are a better tyre than the Vreds anyway?

Django x2 · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:41

I think that's a subjective opinion. I used to roll and roll and roll and swear by GSD3s, but then bought a set of Vreds to see how they performed and they were much better than the GSD3s (and looked better too which was a pre-req)

Nothing I've tried or driven since performs as well in all conditions than the Vreds and they are certainly quieter than these Asyms and I think perform as well if not better

[TW]Fox · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:43

Lucero said:
I think that's a subjective opinion.

It's also backed up by the results in the various tyre tests which have featured both tyres.

The Vreds have been getting quite a pounding lately, sadly.

I used to roll and roll and roll and swear by GSD3s, but then bought a set of Vreds to see how they performed and they were much better than the GSD3s (and looked better too which was a pre-req)

GS-D3's are not Assymetrics.

4T5 · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:47

Lucero said:
I suspect the Vreds are biting harder in the corners at the front and causing the rears to step out.

Sounds like you have scrubbed in decent front tyres & unscrubbed new rears which is causing the added oversteer, Personally I'd just enjoy kicking the back out now & then. :cool:

Jez · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:47

Lucero said:
Ok, thanks. Certainly seems to match up with some of the effects I'm seeing. I did mention that I would rather sell the rears and put some vreds back on so i think that's what I'll do.

So, if anyone wants some sub 1k mile 275/30 R19 Goodyear Asyms, message me or they'll be on ebay.

Had they been everso very slightly larger (275/35/19 needed) i'd have bought those off you

Django x2 · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:53

[TW]Fox;18289246 said:
It's also backed up by the results in the various tyre tests which have featured both tyres.

The Vreds have been getting quite a pounding lately, sadly.

GS-D3's are not Assymetrics.

Tyre tests are all well and good but they are just that, a test. Not an extended / prolonged period of use and that is where results should be measured. You can't stick 4 new tyres on a car, whizz it around a track and post results, the tyres won't have even scrubbed in. Vreds are twitchy for the first 100 or so miles but they've always performed in my application better than other tyres so I'd like to stick with them.

I reckon I'd get £150 for the rear pair, pay out £300 for new ones where as 2 x Asym fronts will cost £400.

Some interesting comments about the Vreds here:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Vredestein/Ultrac-Sessanta.htm

And after having them on cars since 2005 I tend to agree. Fox, it would be a real bonus for you to try these one time for yourself to see how you think they fair.

Django x2 · 22 Jan 2011 at 16:55

4T5 said:
Sounds like you have scrubbed in decent front tyres & unscrubbed new rears which is causing the added oversteer, Personally I'd just enjoy kicking the back out now & then.

Don't get me wrong, I love to step out the back, but under my own control. When it's out of your control it's not so much fun