Recommend me some tires

So, F1s are off the list and the conti sport 3s have quite a bit of support. Any other suggestions? Tires are a hard one as it is hard to tell what they will be like unless they are on the car, So far the parada 2s are the best tire I have used for grip but surely there must be better non trackday only specials out there?
 
So taking cost into account aswell - Aren't the Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas a good bet? they get a higher review score (87%) than the F1 Assymetrics (84%)

I was going to get a set next tyre purchase
 
I actually found the Kumho ecsta ku31 a good tyre on the fiesta, wet and dry.

Slightly less noise in the cabin compared to my old Bridgestone potenza's too.
 
I used to have Pilot Sport 2 all round (wide rears) on mine, they were excellent in the wet, excellent in the dry but were prone to tramlining on uneven roads. They were (are?) a hard tyre too so a firm ride was to be gotten used to. I now have the Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta and have done for 2 years and they're just as good performance wise minus the tramlining and slightly more comfortable ride. The road noise is also more of an ambient hum compared to the harder noise of the PS2.

Only downer is tread life, it wears faster than the PS2 on the drive wheels but the wear pattern is spot on. I got about 20k on the rears when on PS2 while about 10k on the Sessantas.
 
I personally think that you're looking for a tyre that doesn't exist...only reason I say that is that I've been in the exact same position of wanting a really good all round tyre that does everything exceptionally well, but nothing like it is for sale.

A tyre like the contisport 3/5 or pilot sport 2 will offer you 85% of what you're after but the last 15% (absolute cornering performance/grip) won't be there and will be lacking compared to something like the parada - which has a fairly stiff sidewall too which will help with feel and confidence on turn in.

I think in your position I'd be inclined to go for the Pilot Sport 2 (or Pilot Super Sport if available yet) or the Contisport 3, they won't offer you maximum track performance but will offer the increase in wet performance you seem to be after.
 
spaz, Thanks for your insight it's useful as we have similar cars (well, I mean relatively powerful fwd hatches, I wont mention the difference in cornering finesse :D )

I will look into the PS2s and CS3s. Wet grip tbh is not my main concern as I rarely drive my car in poor conditions and like the odd track day but the paradas were especially hairy towards the end of their life in wet conditions.
 
IAmATeaf said:
What tyre pressures were you running?

I found that under inflating them would cause them to tramline.
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The recommended pressures printed on my door plate, 2 bar at the front and 2.3 at the back.

They're known for tramlining though, I confirmed this at the time through BMWland and e46 fanatics :p

They also only tramlined on the exact same patch of road(s) so it was very easy to test on new tyres on the same road with the same pressures.
 
I'm very pleased with them, I'll even get them again next year :) Like the PS2, I get the same level of confidence when cornering whether it's in the wet or dry.

Give them a try I say, I'm sure you'll be pleased as well!
 
I think I preffered the performance of my Eagle F1's over the CS3's but the CS3 is a better 'all round' tyre (If you also include stuff like noise, fuel economy, wear rate, etc etc).

Didnt notice squidgy sidewalls but my tyres are the 97Y Extra Load ones with a stiffer sidewall anyway?
 
Hi there

I've tried lots of tyres and tyres work differently on different cars.

I personally don't like Eagle F1's for me sidewalls are too soft even in extra load version, they are squiggy and lack feedback.

On a car like the Astra VXR is you want the dry performance of the Yoko Parada or better with excellent feedback you need a tyre with a decent stiff sidewall or one designed with outright performance/feedback in mind.

The Goodyear Eagle F1, Contisport 3 are superbly grippy tyres, but they are soft sidewalls as they are also designed for comfort too and in some cases improve MPG. In the wet you will struggle to beat the CS3 and eagle F1, but they sacrifice feel and that hardcore edge.

If you want that absolute dry edge with awsome feedback then Yokohama AD08, Michelin CUP and Toyo R888 are the best tyres by far, however the latter two are poor in the wet and lethal in the cold. The AD08 is good in the wet but only one warm days but I'd say better than the Parada as long as its warm.

I'd say if you want to keep the good feel, excellent turn in given by a stiff sidewall tyre but want something good all round then look at Bridgestone RE050A, Michelin Pilot Sport 2 and a new but hard to get hold of tyre thats doing well is the Hankook V12 EVO tyre which also at present is quite cheap, how long for who knows.

I'd always take the tyre that gives best feel and if need be in heavy rain just slow down. :)
 
Thanks Gibbo I will look in to the AD08 tyres as the 888s and the cups are a bit too extreme/expensive and hard to justify wrapping an Astra in that kind of rubber without getting very track dedicated.

I have 888s on my MX5 which is my track car 'project' (which will eventualy take over the Astras track duties) and they deliver mind blowing grip once warm, just need to get the bloody diff sorted out after it lunched it self for no apparent reason...
 
MeEsH BaKkA said:
Thanks Gibbo I will look in to the AD08 tyres as the 888s and the cups are a bit too extreme/expensive and hard to justify wrapping an Astra in that kind of rubber without getting very track dedicated.

I have 888s on my MX5 which is my track car 'project' (which will eventualy take over the Astras track duties) and they deliver mind blowing grip once warm, just need to get the bloody diff sorted out after it lunched it self for no apparent reason...
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Well a lot of guys with EVO's who have run R888's and have tried AD08's too are basically saying the AD08 offers practically the same level of dry grip but with more feedback and it does not overheat as easily. The biggest difference though is the AD08 is far better in the wet and its got 7-8mm tread depth new, so last longer and is cheaper than R888.

I'd get the AD08 and just hope it don't snow again or go mental cold. ;)
 
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