Skoda RS replacement tyres - interesting

[brad]

I have Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 (235-45-17) on my XY'GT' 351 and they are also very quiet.

How would you know above all the other noises? Biggest problem with GS-D3 is they were made in both Germany & Thailand - the Thai ones were shockers.

[Ocy_RS_TDi_Kombi]

Check out the latest Wheels mag (not sure what month it is but it has an OrangeBMW M1 Coupe on the front) as they have done a tyre test.

It's based on 225/45 18 tyres and used a Kia Optima as the test car. Similar tyre size to the RS and similar car to the Octavia as in front drive, weight & power.

I don't have the mag with me at the moment, but from memory 8 tyres were tested and the winner was the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 with the Continental Sport 2 a close runnerup. The Michelin's were the quietest too.

Cheers

[TuNeS]

I have Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 (235-45-17) on my XY'GT' 351 and they are also very quiet.

lol. How on earth could you ever hear tyre noise with that monster rumbling under the hood

[woofy]

Just an out of the blue update for those based in VIC. I fired off an email to Vicroads nearly a month ago, so long ago in fact I forgot about it, so much for their replying within a week policy.

Anyway Michelin PS3 235/40/R18 tyres on the Skodas 7.5" width rims are a no-no which is why most tyre shops will refuse to fit it. If the manufacturers specs allow for that size its ok, but the 225/40/R18s only just allow a min width of 7.5" with the recommended being 8"

Same goes for any tyre/car combo where the rim width is outside the tyre specs. And by no no, to use their words:

"The fitting of a tyre to a rim that was not of the recommended width or listed as an acceptable alternative width would be an illegal modification and would render your vehicle unroadworthy."

Appparently this is from the Tyre and Rim Assoc of Aust Standards manual so probably applies to other states as well.

So there goes the cheaper option of going a size up in the PS3s....wonder if the OEM size has come down at all, tirerack don't seem to sell that size.

[brad]

So there goes the cheaper option of going a size up in the PS3s....wonder if the OEM size has come down at all, tirerack don't seem to sell that size.

WTF? I just searched 225/40x18 & get 102 hits - 53 are 92Y (XL) load rated. Take out the rubbish brands & the M&S & there is still 30 quality tyres leftover starting at $109 for kumho SPT & finishing at $249 for Michelin PS2. Have I got something wrong?

[woofy]

Sorry I meant the PS3s in that size...I didn't see them there last time I looked, they did have the PE2s for about $170 last year which I'm really happy with, but they seem to be gone now.

I really would be happy just with the PE2s again, but the PS3s have been very good on our 6, I could ask them about if they could get either in.

[Diesel_vert]

Quotes from two Tire Rack representatives re: Michelin PS3 availability in North America...

"I do know that Michelin is not going to bring the PS3 here except in a couple of sizes for replacement tires that were used as original equipment (for Aston and MBZ if I remember correctly). The Pilot Super Sport will replace the PS2 (and the PS3 in Europe) eventually but as to when, and as for pricing reductions or closeouts on the PS2 is anyone's guess at this point.

I have been told that Michelin will be pricing the new Pilot Super Sport a bit below the 'normal' selling price of the PS2."

and also...

"In the North American market, the PS3 will be available in limited sizes for certain original equipment applications."

which would explain why there aren't a lot of sizes available for the PS3 from Tire Rack (or America for that matter). But anyway, if I were after a performance road tyre from Michelin, I would seriously consider getting the new PSS if purchasing from Tire Rack, especially since the smaller sizes like 225/45 R17 and 225/40 R18 aren't available in Australia or even Europe (no idea why).

[woofy]

How do they compare to the Pilot Exalto 2s.....thats what mine came with, and they have been perfect for the car. Lots of grip, good wear, quiet and none of the weird wear issues others have seen. They stopped selling them here and Tire rack had the exact size for a time, but no longer. I'd be happy to go PS3s here but they are very pricey still.

[brad]

PS2 aren't much different from PS3 (PS2 are the more sporting tyre but there is <10% variance between them IMO). USD183 (the USD249 are Mercedes OEM)
Or the PSS for USD223. PSS is 300 wear rating & 10/32 of tread; PS2 is 220 wear & 9.5/32 so the overall life will be similar - maybe slightly in the PSS favour but the cost saving of the PS2 tips the scale in that direction. A mate runs PS2 on his 325 with Msport suspension & loves them - he drives quite hard though & generally gets 25,000km from the front & 30,000km from the rears (different sizes, cant be rotated, fronts get bad edge wear).

[woofy]

What are PS2s going for locally, the PE2s were around $550 here when I first bought the car. The PS3s in the right size only came out around Nov last year and were about $420. I'd hope they have dropped slightly since then. Seeing as Tirerack charge more for freight to Aus now (maybe cause they can), last time I checked they were about $300 odd for 4 tyres, at 1200 with shipping plus other customs bits, its almost not worth it. Does tax come in if the price is below $1000 ex shipping or including?

My PE2s have done about 37k and have plenty of tread left yet....