BT52

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Mungo:
<B>Why do Prodrive fit PZeros to their tuned cars as std if they are cack? Do they have access to some special compounds/constructions that are badged as PZeros but are nothing like the off-the-shelf item?[/quote]


I've long been wondering about that.
No coincidence that Lotus and Subaru have both dumped Pirelli for Bridgestone for their standard tyres.
It's something I get really worked up about because the Pirellis have been so inferior on my cars it's just not funny.

Tim Skerry

If it is life that you want, get the michelins. I changed mine at 29,500, and they were still legal (c.2mm).

pslewis

29,500 miles??? NOW we are talking!! did they have a name or number??

Just find me some nice Michelins for £58 and I am sorted!!

The quotes at the top of this thread are for 16" - sorry to all you extra inch boys!!

Pete

BT52

Don't know if they have changed, but I used to have Michelin Pilot SXs and they lasted almost forever.

They had noticeably very stiff sidewalls which seemed to make to car very prone to tramilining (in my non-expert analysis) and were rubbish in the wet. But I thought they communicated very well in the dry, even better than the Bridgestones and were more sensitive to steering changes (those sidewalls again?).

Bridgestones were the best dry/wet compromise for me even thought the wear was a bit of a shame. Can't have everything I guess, but if you have gone to the effort of buying a fast car it seems a bit strange to compromise your grip levels for the sake of longevity which won't make a massive dent in your pocket compared to other expenses.

Blue

The Michelins may wear really well, but I assume that'll be down to a much harder compound - so would these be, lets say, a little bit of a handful in the wet??

pslewis

I have just worked out a way for everyone to work out how long any tyre with a treadwear rating will last, this doesnt take into account grip, wet or dry - just a straight way to calculate the approx mileage out of the tyre you are buying, here goes:-

The OE Bridgestones have a treadwear number of 260 so, if you get 13,000miles out of them - it gives an indication of 50miles per treadwear unit (13000/260)

Given this, the SO2's have a treadwear rating of 180 - so I can expect these to last me (180x50) = 9000miles

And the BF Goodrich's have a treadwear rating of 340 - so I can expect these to last me (340x50) = 17000miles

I am not sure that this will work out but it seems sensible? It is also based on the actual mileage you achieved out of the OE tyres - so, as long as you drive the same I reckon its as accurate as anything else?

Any maths wizard see any holes??

Pete

Steve_Yeowart

Have to disagree there Pete as some one who does alot of motorway milage one of my requirements for a tyre is how many miles I'm gonna get out of it. Pirelli P zero's were averaging about 10,000 miles
Michelins about 12,000 miles falkens!! about 5000 miles!!!!! with treadwear of 220 if I recall certainly higher than the Fulda's that I have just put on my car again which have a treadwear of 180 are the longest lasting tyres I've ever had on the scoob the set I've just replaced did over 17,000 miles and believe me they have had a hard life. I know what everyone is gonna say yeah but x is better for this or y for that. But believe me they are a good tyre haven't found wanting in any condition yet, wet, snow mud, dry .... and gravel stages on the Bournemouth winter rally!!!!!

stratman

Pete..stop fartin around and go and get some Toyo Proxies

Davvers

Pete, I have done 20,000 miles in my Scooby and am on my 5th set of tyres.

For grip - SO2s are the best, however if you corner at all hard - the shoulders go in seconds, I do a lot of track work and they seriously over heat.

For longevity - P0s are fine, they go on for ever, if you aren't pushing it they are more than adequate. However in the dry they do lack the outright grip of the S02s, in the wet they are only just better than hopeless. They exaggerate understeer and spin quickly coming out of corners on the power. They do go on for ages though. Michelin Pilots are in this same sort of category as well - fashioned from a rubberised granite.

Cheap/Cheerful Yoko A520s - these actually lasted me 10000 miles which is incredible, I finished them off at an airfield last year. They grip well in the dry, pretty good in the wet - keeping the same sort of handling balance. The shoulders tend to go quicker than the P0 or Michelin brigade and they do tramline after a while, however

Mungo

Pete Lewis

What was the place again that was offering SO2's at £102?

Cheers.

pslewis

OK OK OK - dont say I dont give you lot anything - its at Headley Tyres near Newbury - there we are (if you empty them out I will be seriously p155ed off!!)

By the way Mill Lane Engineering have just quoted me £426:76 for 4 P0's all in

Pete

Mungo

Thanks!

Oh, and you don't give us lot anything...

pslewis

P0's at the above Headley Tyres are £376 all in for 4 - £50 cheaper than Mill Lane?

Anyway they are worth a look see!!

Pete

Bas

Just had 4 SO2s fitted at Mill Lane Engineering for £440 all in...not bad for a main dealer methinks.

Bas

pslewis

Yes not bad - only £32 more expensive than Headley Tyres, 8 miles up the road from Mill Lane.

pete

[This message has been edited by pslewis (edited 11 April 2001).]

pslewis

Very good question Mungo - I was invited 'round the back' to look at all he had in 205 - 50 - 16 and he mutterd something like, 'you can mix and match them there P0's' - does that make any sense???

Pete

Squizz

Never mix'n'match tyres.

Not brands, or even different batches of the same branded tyre if you can help it.

Handling can be surprisingly affected.

See the SIDC FAQ.

I'm after some Toyo T1-S tyres myself, and should be able to get them for £97 each. (Unfitted).

Apparently they arrive with a couple of mm extra tread compared to a Bridgestone S02. As I'm planning to spend a lot of time on the motorway I thought that'd be useful!!

Cheers,
Squizz.

Mungo

Which P-Zeros are they?

Direzionale or Assimetrico?

pslewis

Squizz - you CAN mix the P0's its a feature of them!!

Pete

Squizz

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by pslewis:
<B>Squizz - you CAN mix the P0's its a feature of them!!

Pete[/quote]

I've put lots of "Features" in certain software...Would I use it?

Would I b*ll*cks!

Good luck though.

ricardo

This mix'n'matching of PZeroes involves using the Directional ones on the front and the Asymmetric ones on the back, and is probably something you do with RWD cars. As far as I know anyone with a Scoob should be using Asymmetric ones all round.

Mine are fine, although they seem a bit too progressive. By that I mean that the outright grip seems a bit low, but the reserves of grip are quite high. Probably better on real roads than a sudden surprise IMHO. They look a bit boring compared to the tread petterns of some of the competition though, if that is a consideration...

matt d

Just worn out a set of P-Zeros (assymetric) after 10,500 miles, got down to 3mm and 2.5 on the front left. Outright grip is poor, but they are very progressive, hardly aquaplane at all, and give loads of warning when they are beginning to let go.

I asked a similar question about good grip with reasonable life, and a guy who works as a tyre development tester reckoned Eagle F1s give almost the same grip as S02s, but would last about twice as long. I've heard that Toyos are short life just like the S0s, although they do squeal nicely as you approach the limit. I just got a set of 17" Eagle F1s for £440, but this is a central London price inc delivery and fitting on site, you should get cheaper in Newbury. I drove around for a bit at city centre speeds, and even then I could feel the extra grip in the dry. In the wet I imagine it would be even more pronounced.

Give them a try!