**Unofficial Tyre Thread**

In the market for some new rear tyres on my BMW. I do probably 80-85% of my driving on motorways at the moment but the other 20 odd % is on reasonably nice windy country roads.
Ideally, I'm looking for a tyre that isn't going to wear out quickly (harder compound I assume?) but will also offer a good amount of grip when pushed.
Budget wise, I will not put top end tyres on just to be eaten up by motorway miles so somewhere short of the top end prices would be ideal.

What would people suggest? I literally have no idea where to start or look for them if i'm honest.
 
Presumably 255/35/18? Your problem here is that this is a size typically ignored by the premium touring tyres and focused on by the ultra high performance sector. Goodyear do offer the EfficientGrip but it's the same price as the better performing F1 Assymetric 2 so it's difficult to see a case for it. Conti seem only to do SportContact, not PremiumContact, etc.
 
Clarkey said:
That looks very old and perished, I'd replace yeah.
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Is it recommended to replace both tyres on the same axle at the same time? The other has just under 4mm of tread on but is probably a similar age to the one pictured (they were on the car when I purchased ~18 months ago). It looks in better condition than the other.

That then brings me on to what to replace with? It's a 2.0 mondeo estate with 205/55R16 wheels. Should I just replace by CSC2s again, they're showing at the same price as premium contacts on kwik fit (I'd rather just buy tyres somewhere that'll fit them than mess about with ordering online and finding someone to fit them unless it's significantly cheaper and kwik fit looks to be the cheapest place locally unless someone can recommend somewhere better to go in Exeter). If not CSC2 then what in that size?
 
If the other one also has tiny cracks on the entire surface then yes it's time to change. On the wall you will find a 4 digit code first 2 are week no, second 2 are year of manufacture. I think the recommendation is 8 years max before chucking it out.
 
The F1A2's have nicely scrubbed in on the Evo now. I like them, very good tyre considering the price. Certainly better than AD08's in this cold weather.
 
[TW]Fox;25452434 said:
Presumably 255/35/18? Your problem here is that this is a size typically ignored by the premium touring tyres and focused on by the ultra high performance sector. Goodyear do offer the EfficientGrip but it's the same price as the better performing F1 Assymetric 2 so it's difficult to see a case for it. Conti seem only to do SportContact, not PremiumContact, etc.
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Aye, I should have included that lol. That's a pain. May well be worth just going for performance tyres then and finding a reasonably hard tyre that'll last longer.
Any preference on a longer lasting rubber?
 
Clarkey said:
If the other one also has tiny cracks on the entire surface then yes it's time to change. On the wall you will find a 4 digit code first 2 are week no, second 2 are year of manufacture. I think the recommendation is 8 years max before chucking it out.
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The other tyre actually looks OK, no cracks on it like the other one has. I think I found the code and it appears they were made in 09 so should I be OK to just change the damaged one?
 
MilanoChris said:
The F1A2's have nicely scrubbed in on the Evo now. I like them, very good tyre considering the price. Certainly better than AD08's in this cold weather.
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Mine have now scrubbed in well and offer impressive grip. Although the temperature has been a bit higher this week.

Oddly the gfs FN3 also has the same tyres, but this seems to wash out rather than feel like I've deployed a spike in the road like the S2000 does.

Just goes to show how the same tyres can feel so different. Do FN2/FN3s have any decent suspension adjustment ?
 
My AS2 have become hopeless, maybe its down to the salt on the roads now? Seeing a lot of wheelspin and have had it get loose in the dry in 3rd a couple of times. Fair bit better since airing them up properly, were only a couple of lb out though. I wish it was more consistent though, one day the thing grips and feels nice, another it's awful.
 
I know what you mean. This morning on way to football i had no problem. 1st gear full power on crappy lanes no problem.

My commute is on mud covered, slimy roads now and been ok so far. If it snows I'll just stay at home.

Off to Russia again on 16th. Now that will be cold and snowy, be interesting to see how the drivers are in those conditions. They spray chemicals all over the road there rather than salt it
 
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Any recommendations for some tires for a Maza MX5 Mk1? I'm looking currently at Vredestein Quatrac3s at the moment. Good price and according to reviews they seem good all rounders too.

Size is 185/60/14

Cheers guys.
 
Just got 4 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2's fitted to my R32 (plus wheel alignment) that have replaced some worn Bridgestone Potenza RE050A's. Already the difference in grip and road noise is better. It was a toss up between these or the Continental SportContact 5's but the F1's seem to get a bigger quantity of good reviews than the Conti's did.

The worn RE050A's just gave up on wet roads faaaar too easily. Even slow roundabouts you could feel them struggling. They may be better than this when not as worn but I won't be going near them again. For me they did not inspire confidence :(

I'm looking forward to the F1A2's bedding in a bit to see what they are really like!
 
cokecan said:
Just got 4 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2's fitted to my R32 (plus wheel alignment) that have replaced some worn Bridgestone Potenza RE050A's. Already the difference in grip and road noise is better. It was a toss up between these or the Continental SportContact 5's but the F1's seem to get a bigger quantity of good reviews than the Conti's did.

The worn RE050A's just gave up on wet roads faaaar too easily. Even slow roundabouts you could feel them struggling. They may be better than this when not as worn but I won't be going near them again. For me they did not inspire confidence :(

I'm looking forward to the F1A2's bedding in a bit to see what they are really like!
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I just put a pair of Asymmetric 2 runflats on my F21 125i which replaced Bridgestone Potenza S001s.

So far, so good and I've only done about 50 miles! The S001s were horrible when going over bumps whilst cornering. The back of the car would feel unsettled, but I don't get that at all with the F1A2s.

Got a pair of 245/35/18 88Ys for £303 fitted, which I think is a bit of a bargain.
 
So I put my part worn winter tyres (front only) on the Joke today, well not me but the garage only to find out they are C rated (commercial)
 
mattbill said:
Any recommendations for some tires for a Maza MX5 Mk1? I'm looking currently at Vredestein Quatrac3s at the moment. Good price and according to reviews they seem good all rounders too.

Size is 185/60/14

Cheers guys.
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I've been looking to replace the mixture of non brand junk mine is running and it seems like a toss up between Conti Premium Contact 5 and Goodyear EfficientGrip performance.
 
Just replaced the RE050A RFTs on my Z4 Coupe with F1A2s, was intending to keep the RFTs until after christmas as the rears had around 3-4mm left and fronts were good but got a puncture on the rear and decided to just make the switch. Feels more planted and less traction control light flashing already when pulling away quickly and they haven't even bedded improperly yet so am quite impressed. Also less road noise and a smoother ride, glad I changed, just need to get an Airman kit now.
 
I've just blagged some BBS Style 5s for the e46 (e39 fitmenet so et20 and 8 inches square set) and they're in desperate need of some decent tyres.
They have 205s fitted at the moment which aren't massively stretched, but I assume 225 is more like the size I'll be needing?
Any recommendations?
 
Simon said:
Do FN2/FN3s have any decent suspension adjustment ?
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Are you having a Giraffe!? :p

The front camber has to be adjusted using Camber Bolts! and the rear beam has to be adjusted using Shims between the beam and the hubs. It's rather expensive, but the end result is much, much better than stock.
 
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