Skoda RS replacement tyres - interesting

**powerd** · 25-08-2010, 01:35 PM

Hi all
The front tyres on my Skoda RS need replacing soon, so i started ringing around for prices/availability.The original tyres are a Michelin but the particular model is not avaiable in Australia, I am told. It is a 225/40ZR18. The price range is wide:
Falken $210- didn't get model
BF Goodrich Gforce Sport $240
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 $450
Dunlop Sport Max $500
Goodyear Eagle F1 $545

However, I just rang the local Tyreplus store, and the guy suggested going up a (width) size to 235/40ZR18. The tyre would be actually be cheaper as they are a more common size as used on Holdens etc, rather than as used on the front of some Porsches and other euros.

He then quoted me $350 per tyre for michelin Pilot Sport 3, a tyre which he recently drove on at a comparison test day in Brisbane and was so impressed with he put a set on his own car (so he said). I haven't ever heard of wider tyres in the same model being cheaper, but it sounds plausible.

Any thoughts? Anyone had experience of different tyres on the RS?

BTW, these are Canberra prices, things tend to be dearer here than the bigger cities - penalty of living in the best city in Australia, i guess

Cheers
powerd

**team_v** · 25-08-2010, 01:48 PM

I have heard that Bob Jane is doing deals on Michelin PS3's for mid-high $200's per corner.

I would be looking at Kumho KU31's for a decent tyre that is quite cheap compared to others if ultra high performance isn't needed.

**woofy** · 25-08-2010, 01:53 PM

I think the OEMs on mine are all Michelin Pilot exalto IIs (PE2), I believe they can be bought here, but have to be ordered in. I think someone mentioned them being around $550 a pop, they are pretty good tyres though. You can get them for around $170 US at the moment from tirerack and people seem to get them in cheap shippingwise from there so I have been considering importing some when my car racks up some more kms. I've done 26,000km atm with plenty of tread left so far.

**Lams** · 25-08-2010, 01:54 PM

I agree with what the guy said. I put my brother's Jetta with 17s on 235/45/17 instead of 225 and I saved $280 all round. The difference in speedo is around 1%, which is legal. You have more contact surface with the road but the only tradeoff is that the tyre appears 'thicker' on the rim. We chose the Michelin PS3 as well, excellent tyre.

Tyre prices seem to be cheapest for the most common sizes... I know most Aussie cars running 18 use 235/40/18, $350 a corner sounds like a good deal. I don't know if they're still on introductory prices?

**goodfella** · 25-08-2010, 02:06 PM

my 2c, and I am talking 17's not 18's

I had KU31 on my Bora 4mo until last week when two were rendered unrepairable after separate screw/nails punctures.. I was at a Bridgestone outlet, hence did a deal on a pair of RE001 Adrenalin 225/45/17. Can I say that even with about 15k on the khumos, which are now only on the rear, I can feel a huge amount of difference in grip levels between axles (yes, I know the Bridgestones are brand new ! )

Sticking my neck out here, but my point is the khumo's are a cheap low km life tyre that loses grip rapidly. They felt great when new and considering the price was almost 2 for 1 on the bridgestones, but I dont think I will go back to khumos in the short term.

**ausspace87** · 25-08-2010, 04:03 PM

I had a set of Kumho KU31's on my Tiburon (Korean car = Korean rubber), until the day I had to pull an evasive emergency maneuver and naturally the tyres let go regardless of what the ESP was doing and I nearly ended up in a very intimate position with a eucalypt. I never fully trusted the tyres, especially in the wet when they would frequently let go even just driving through a roundabout at very sensible speeds.
I then went to my local tyre centre and fitted a set of Bridgestone's (RE001 Adrenaline) and have never looked back.
Korean tyres are made to a price and most of the times this forgoes many safety features and designes of the more expensive brands. They can't compare to the Japanese tyre manufacturers and especially can't compare to the European manufacturers.
I will never fit a set of Kumho's to my RS, or any car of mine and certainly do not recommend them to anyone I want to remain alive...

**powerd** · 25-08-2010, 05:11 PM

Hello

Interesting comments. I think i will go with Pilot 3 in the 235/40/18s. They sound like a good deal. i am a driver who demands a bit from his car so not willing to sacrifice performance - i also drive long distances at times in a range of road conditions so a good margin of safety is a priority.

BTW, i put a single Bridgestone Adrenaline on the rear to replace a puncture damaged Michelin, and could notice no difference in grip or feel even at th elimit on a favourite road. Would be happy with a set of those, if cost was not higher ($400). My car has done 34k and the rears are still fine.
Cheers
powerd

**woofy** · 25-08-2010, 05:22 PM

I've always paid up and not gone the bigger sized tyre. To me it's always seemed if they wanted to put the bigger one on they would OEM, I'm not so big a fan of the baggy tyre look.

**Transporter** · 25-08-2010, 05:56 PM

Have a look also at Hankook if the longevity is high on your cards. I had Michelin Pilot Premacy 235/55/17 on my T5 from new and they were almost bold by 25,000km. I was quoted $500 each, instead I bought Hankook HP DynaPro RA23 and now almost at 80,000km I still have 1.5mm remaining, can't really fault them at $195 each

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