2009 Motor Magazine Tyre Test

**Manaz** · 24-11-2009, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Treza360

LoL.
I was more hoping for Pirelli P-Zeros and Michelins in there as well. They only ever seem to have a couple of the Premium brands and then some cheapies thrown in the mix as well. Whilst it's nice to compare them that way it would be good for a bigger range encompassing more.
Cheers,
Trent

I was hoping to see the Kumho KU31 or KU36 included (particularly since the KU36 is touted as an almost semi-slick, it would have been interesting to see how it went.

The quoted prices make me glad I stuck with 17" wheels. I can get RE001s for just over $200 a corner, and that's without really trying...

**JustCruisn** · 24-11-2009, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Manaz

I was hoping to see the Kumho KU31 or KU36 included
...
The quoted prices make me glad I stuck with 17" wheels. I can get RE001s for just over $200 a corner, and that's without really trying...

Same.
My new wheels came with KU31. I've always had Pirelli or Michelin, grip well but wear way too fast. I'm surprised with them so far <2000km

**Psyk** · 24-11-2009, 11:41 PM

Tyres will always be hotly debated as there's just way too many variables to have one outstanding tyre that beats them all. Tyres that wear quickly grip very well and inspire a lot of confidence, make you want to drive them that little bit harder, so they end up wearing quicker. It's a trade-off. You can't have near semi-slick grippy tyres, last for a hundred thousand kms, be near-silent ride on the road and be cheap... Also, a set would perform differently on a FWD, RWD or AWD car, and then behave differently after 1/3 of the tread has worn off...

I think Motor did a great job of comparing a set of good quality tyres that are readily available to the enthusiast consumer. Any of those tyres would do me... Conti's are overpriced so my next set would be the Goodyears, Dunlops or Bridgestones.

I think the results show that some of the tyre brands are over-priced. Just because a set of Pirelli P-Zero Nero's are OEM on a Lamborghini/Porsche etc. doesn't make it the best tyre for a Commodore on our roads, yet they probably cost twice as much as say a set of Bridgestones in the same fitment...

I guess if you bought a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cups which I believe were OEM on the BMW M3 CSL for $400-$500 a corner in a 17" fitment, you'd want them to be the "..best tyre you've ever ridden.." and everything else would be crap

**gareth_oau** · 25-11-2009, 01:27 AM

anotherr interesting statistic from the tyre test.

apparently, under the braking test, the wheels were rotating up to half a turn inside the tyres, ie braking the traction with the bead.

I'd suggest thats very good traction between road and tyre (or terrible tyre-mounting skills LOL )

**gavs** · 25-11-2009, 08:56 AM

Psyk, you make a very good and extremely valid point.

A couple of years ago when Motor did their yearly tyre test, they used what I believe from memory was an SS Commodore with standard 17" wheels and tyres. After all the testing was done and dusted, the final comment was along the lines of :

"......the Bridgstones performed best overall but that is to be expected as they are the OEM tyre fitted to the car and Holden have tuned the car to work with that tyre......"

Like you say, just because the Pilot Sport Cups are fitted the the M3 CSL and perform brilliantly, they will not necassarily perform the same on a Golf GTi because the suspension hasn't been tuned for that tyre. Look at the current WRX for example, it came with piece-o-crud Yokohama tyres when it was first released in it's current body style and it was rated a piece of crap by motoring journos the world over. Come the update when they introduced the sedan and with a tyre from Bridgestone and it was a different beast, at the same time Mitsubishi brought out the Ralliart Lancer with the same Yokohama's as the WRX used to have and it handles like crap.

After driving both of these cars I can say the difference is like chalk and cheese, the WRX would just grip and go with the odd tiny chirp from the tyres whereas the Ralliart would squirm, slide and the tyres sounded like a banshee out for blood!! I think that if there were more informed people out there in tyre dealerships we would be all better off, especially if they drove the car and had an understanding of the products they sell, that way they would more likely be able to provide the consumer with a better infomed decision about what is best for their car.

**oileoi** · 25-11-2009, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Manaz

I was hoping to see the Kumho KU31 or KU36 included (particularly since the KU36 is touted as an almost semi-slick, it would have been interesting to see how it went.

Yes I was expecting the Kuhmos to be in the top 10, any one know how they perform in the magazine?

**Manaz** · 25-11-2009, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Psyk

Just because a set of Pirelli P-Zero Nero's are OEM on a Lamborghini/Porsche etc. doesn't make it the best tyre for a Commodore on our roads, yet they probably cost twice as much as say a set of Bridgestones in the same fitment...

Another issue they don't go into is that not all tyres are created the same - even within the same product name - within the "P-Zero Nero" namethat you've noted for instance, there are variations in design. The OEM ones on Lambos/Porsches are different, with a dual-compound construction for instance, than what you'd buy to put on your Commodore/VW/Audi/etc.

**Gravey** · 25-11-2009, 11:38 AM

Here's another interestng test from 2009

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...-Tyre-Test.htm

**gldgti** · 25-11-2009, 09:48 PM

interesting to see the Maxxis coming in there at 4th... maxxis are my new favorite brand of tyre since i got a set of MA-Z1's on my mk3. best value for money i've ever had for tyres thats for sure.