Tyre Advice

[wombatoutofhell]

The time has come for new boots for the RS. The Michelin Pilot Sports on it are excellent, but expensive-I've had quotes of upwards of $570 a tyre. The Michelin Pilot Preceda are about $100 cheaper, but they are a W speed rating as compared to the Sports Y rating. I've also has prices and recomendations from various dealers for Good Year Eagle Assymetrics ($440), Dunlop SP Maxx TT ($440), Maxxis M35 ($295, W speed rating), Pirelli PZero ($550), Continental Sports Contact 2 and 3 (both about $550) and Falken ZE912 ($250, W Speed rating).
A W speed rating is legal for the car and probably good enough for the way I drive, but I think I prefer the added security of the Y. Has anyone any comments/experience on any of these or would like to suggest something else? Yokohama maybe?
At the moment I could get away with just replacing the rears which have worn badly-they were fronts with an ordinary wheel alighment. The other 2 tyres have about 2 or 3 mm of wear left until I get to the wear indicators. The car has just under 40,000km on it and these are the original tyres.
Cheers.

[TuNeS]

Tyres are such a subjective topic and everyone I have spoken to has a different opinion. Unless you get to drive them back to back in the same car its hard to draw a comparison.

I have the Dunlop SP Maxx TT tyres which came on the car. I cant complain or fault them to be honest.

Let us know what you get and what you think or them when you get your new boots.

[K1W1]

From memory W rating is a speed up to about 270kph and Y is up to 300 kph.
How often will you be exceeding 270kph in Victoria?

[wombatoutofhell]

You have the ratings right Kiwi-but I had W rated tyres on my last car (Holden Berlina V8 wagon, Fulda Exelero's and Bridgestone Adrenalines) and they were not as good as I would have liked-and neither was good when they wore down a bit. The Pilot Sports on the Skoda I really have to push to get them to let go at all-although I do get some wheelspin if I try and take off too quick. I may yet go for W's but was after some opinions first. Regardless of what I buy, it's alot of money to spend on tyres that might not work on the Skoda.

[woofy]

What are Pilot exalto 2s worth...that is what came on mine and a mates....

[gregozedobe]

The poms on Briskoda seem pretty keen on Falken 452s and Vredstein Sessantra Ultrac (sp ?).

I like my RS' Michelin Exalto 2s, but I don't think they would grip as well as PS2s.

[zach]

like their cars the koreans have come a long way with tyres so Kuhmos are worth a look. also value for money are Toyo

[dazag]

Yep, it's all subjective. What do you want from your tyre, good dry grip, good wet grip, good wear, low road noise, relative low cost, all of the above etc etc.......
Just need to research each tyre and see how they compare on paper for what you want.
But also remember, just because your Commodore wagon didn't like the Bridgestones or Fulda's, doesn't mean they wont suit the Skoda ( bit of difference in geometry & weight, and I'm assuming tyre dimensions ).
Also are you going with the exact same dimension tyre?? Sometimes to get slightly better grip you can go up one size in profile (40 to a 45). Also this helps with road noise and can also be a cheating way to get your speedo more accurate. You shouldn't loose any of the steering/handling sharpness of the 40's when running 45's.
The other thing to, from what I understand is that the speed rating of a tyre doesn't relate to grip, but more to construction - being able to withstand the high speed and not disintergrate/delaminate.

Let us know what you go with, I'll be curious to hear what you go with and how they hold up.

[K1W1]

The other thing to, from what I understand is that the speed rating of a tyre doesn't relate to grip, but more to construction - being able to withstand the high speed and not disintergrate/delaminate.

Correct but it is illegal to fit a tyre with a lower rating to any vehicle than what is printed on the tyre plate usually located in the front door area. You could be in very dangerous areas regarding insurance if you did and had an accident that could in any way be pinned on the tyres. Even if you only pottered around in 60kph zones and NEVER went over 80kph you could not for example fit H rated tyres to a vRS (assuming that you could find some that would fit).

[Calais]

I can vouch for the Michelin Pilot Precedas, I had on my Fiat Punto after the OEM Bridgestone Potenza RE050's had done 55,000km. The Michelins were definately a better highway tyre, with a more compliant ride and quiet manners on 'b' roads. I also felt as though the Michelins dealt with wet weather and standing water slightly better than the OEM Bridgestones.

When I honestly considered my driving style, which doesnt involve a whole lot of hard cornering or a racetrack antics, The Michelins were just a better suit for how I like to drive. Thats not to say they wouldnt have fared any better or worse than the Bridgestones in an emergency.

As for the price comparison, the Bridgestones were $370, the Michelins were only $230 for the 205/45r17 size.

I felt as though I had achieved a reasonable milage out of the Bridgestone with 55,000km mostly highway km without a single hiccup or puncture. However when I traded the Fiat in, with 80,000km, the Michelins werent even a third of the way towards the treadblock indicators, which made me wonder just how far they would have gone, I would have estimated until 130,000km or there abouts.

In summary, Michelin Pilot Precedas for the win.