gareth

Hi,

The semi-slick centre ribs on my Rossos have pretty much become totally-slick. I'm still a long way off the wear indicators inside the main grooves, but is grip, stopping distance etc going to be affected?

This is how it looked 15K miles ago:



Basically, the centre rib is now completely smooth...

I'm selling the car in about 5K time, so I don't want to replace them if I can get away with it. On the other hand, this car carries my kids around as well.

RON

You and the kids are worth more than a few new tyres, get them if YOU think you need them, you're the one thats driving on them!

gareth

Well, the car seems to drive/grip/stop perfectly even when I'm on my own and desperately trying to get it to break away

It's just the visual evidence of wear on that centre rib... but that might be the way it's designed to go?


[Edited by gareth - 5/18/2003 9:51:41 PM]

Mark Piesse

Hi,

Just my 2p worth.

I have just about covered 14000 miles on the 225/40 18 size, (MY01 UK300), and have got to more or less the same stage of all the centre ribs being slick. Also going by the picture of the original, all four tyres are barely a millimetre above the wear indicator on the second grove in from the outside edge. All the others are upto 2.5 mill above the wear indicators.

I have not really liked the P Zero's, and now they are worn they inspire even less confidence, especially when its wet.

I will be changing just as soon as my F1's arrive.

Mark

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

The centre rib being slick indicates over inflation of the tyre, also if its slick it will affect the way the car handles (in the wet) and stopping distances (in the wet) and as it rains in britain quite a lot.....
A new set of decent tyres isnt going to break the bank

Tony

gareth

I'd had the same thought about over-inflation. Annoying really because I've just maintained the pressures set by the supplying dealership, about 34psi all round.

Guess I'm looking at £500 all in for a set of F1s (18s by the way)... bank's looking nervous

nigel s

Mark, As another UK300 owner I though I would let in omy my findings. I have just replaced my PZero Rosso's with Goodyear F1-GSD3. I was never impressed with the Rosso's and provided no confedence in the wet. My tyres covered just over 9000 miles and had at least 3mm on rear, but they had to go. The F1's are in a totally different leauge (IMHO). My cars grip levels have now doubled (at least). Supplied and fitted by Tyres Northampton for £519. No regrets, should have done this earlier.

Mark Piesse

Nigel,

Thanks for that I'm hoping that they will be better than the zero's. I like a few others on the board are waiting for tyres from Cross Roads Garage, £380 for the GSD3's and then the local tyre place will fit for around £30, where they had quoted me around £140 a corner fitted.

This is an indication of how mine have worn, inside (_ _ _ - - _) outside, the wear is offset to the outer side of the central part of the tyre. For most of the time I was running on 32f 30r which is off the label in the door frame, but as the pattern began to disappear I put them up to 33f 31r to alieviate some of the skittishness in 'just' damp conditions.

Nigel, what pressures are you running on the F1's?

Mark

nigel s

Mark, Have you had your geometery checked? I was getteting even wear with the PZeros and not what you have described, but this was probably helped with the Powerstation setup which was carried out at round about the 3000 mile mark. I think I was running 32 F / R with the Rossos but havent checked the F1's yet. I believe Prodrive recommed 32 F / R at this size or alternative 32 F-30 R.
Nigel

gareth

Surprised to see the 32f/r recommendation - whenever mine get down to that sort of pressure the car feels really heavy/clumsy to drive. Defo handles better at around 34, but then I'm the one with the over-inflated tyres

Personally I couldn't fault the rossos over 15K miles of road driving - certainly never felt any loss of grip, never managed to spin or lock the wheels, even when wet... I can't imagine any other tyre being "100% better".