Tyre selection

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cenci

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hi
Was having a quick read through some previous posts.
What's peoples opinions on tyre choices for the a3 2.0tdi. 225/40/18
I'm really not made of money and have to replace all four. I also don't drive my car very hard so don't need top of the range options.

I was all set for some cheapo west lakes or value range from tyre shopper or blackcircles, but wondering if I should stretch myself.

People see,s to say about the Michelin pilot sports, Goodyear Eagles f1, uniroyal rainsports. Alol are pretty expensive.

If you guys say a decent tyre is an must then please can you let me know a set that will at least last a while.

Thanks
 
I would also like to know about what people recommend tyre wise :)

All I can say is don't go cheap as I have bct's on my audi and the road noise off them makes it sound like I have wheels bearing going but swapped them front to back and it changed to the front so cheap ain't always best
 
Forget the noise, cheap tyres usually always are compromised and it is generally in the wet braking that they suffer. Go for a mid range tyre like the Falken 453.
 
Don't go cheap mate, in this weather you WILL regret it.
Dunlop SP SportMaxx RT, latest Uniroyal Rainsports and perhaps an older Continental Sport Contact will all be good VFM - ie, reasonably-priced but still good.
 
i can give you a 'real world' example.

i use to have a pair of falken tyres and some Event ones which i got FOC. when the falkens got to around 3mm i swapped front to back. with the Event on the front even in bone dry weather i get traction control cutting in, compared to the falken (which weren't exactly amazing to begin with) the Event are like driving on ice constantly

I can recommend the Falken 453 they are OK. Next time I will go for Sessanta or Vorti or Eagle F1 Assy 2
 
I am my second set of Bridgestone AE05 and the last set it got 23k out of them, without driving like a fairy. This set is nearly ready for a change again and I have 21k against them so far.
Some slate the Bridgestone I have no complaints.
 
I've just ordered a set of F1's today.. 1st time i'll be running them.. Heard nothing but good things and getting them for £360 fully fitted... Don't know if thats a good price or not.. But i've just came from Bridgestone Re050s and loved those tyres...
 
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I think £360 is a pretty good price for F1's. I have them fitted at the moment and won't hesitate to fit them again.
Thumbs up from me.
:thumbs up:
 
Cheers for the advice guys. I know of blackcircles and tyre shopper, but are there any others you recommend. Not that many deals about at the moment it seems
 
IMO the cheap tyres that I will run after trying them reluctantly, kuhmo ku39's round 75-80 pounds (trying some KU36's currently 67-83 pounds), avon zv5's (ZZ3's weren't as good imo)
GY eagle assy 2's however my mates tfsi jetta puts me off them a little bit for cost (96 from memory a corner) vs wet grip in comparison to such as the kuhmos, Michelin ps2 don't seem to last long enough (for me atleast anyway)

depends what suits your car, different sizes even of the same tyre seem different (maybe its to do with the sidewalls load rating/softer rubber on wider tyres maybe even the age of the tyre) some cars don't seem to like directional tyres
 
F1's I'll never have them again, handling is good noise is good but the wear is terrible. Mine were put on last April and I've just had to replace them as only had 2mm left on fronts, never again!

Rain sports have a very soft sidewall so I wouldn't bother with them, as you don't drive hard I'd go avons for a good tyre at a good price. Had these on previous S3's an can not fault them. Round 70-75 a corner.

Also look on cam skill good prices on tyres.
 
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Sayam said:
What's the result of soft sidewall?

Camskill.co.uk usually cheap
Click to expand...
Soft sidewalls although can be comfy also increase the risk of wheel damage especially with the state of our roads (pot holes the like) can make your steering feel really heavy and squealing round corners.
 
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I've run nexens, advent (i think they were called) and some other 'budget' tyres in the past. I say 'budget' because you could be risking your car or worse your own health so in the long run I don't see it as budget, good tyres are an investment!
I currently run Michelin Pilot Sport 3's, but can also recommend the Exalto 2's.
I found Khumo KU31's to perform well for the money and I've also heard many good things said about Hankook V12 Evo.
 
Hi, I've had Falken ZE914's on my previous car (BMW E46 320D) and have just put a pair on the rear of my A3 2.0 TDi and have no complaints at all.
They grip well in the wet and don't wear quickly like some of the more expensive brands. I don't drive like a 18 year old so they are good enough for my driving style! I have also put these on my wife's Mazda 2 and found them a lot better than the Toyo's that it came out the factory with.

I've used etyres a couple of time and found them really good, service and price. http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-detail/falken-ze914-225-40-18-w/ I think they do a better deal on a set of 4?

With the Audi recently I bought a brand new pair off ebay delivered and had a local garage fit them for £12 a corner so in total paid £176 for the pair (fitted) which I think is very reasonable for midrange 18" tyres:

£304 for 4 off ebay then fitting if you can find a local garage to carry out for between £10-15 a corner and you're looking at under £350?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225-40-18...48095?pt=UK_Cars_Tyres_RL&hash=item2c836be81f

The previous owner of my A3 replace the front 2 with budet 'Landsail' which i've never heard of, they seem OK but like I mentioned I dont hammer my car. I am tempted to buy another pair of the Falkens and resell the buget ones on ebay as part worns as they are still over 6mm.
 
My car had Michelin Pilot Sport 3's on the car when I bought it, I changed them for Continental Sport Contact 5s (Audi specific compound), noticeable improvement in the wet and dry.
 
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Very impressed with the Michelin PS 3s, but The Toyo T1 Sports are very good for a cheaper tyre (so much better than the old T1R and T1S), used the T1 Sport on both an Evo 6 (370bhp) and 335i (400bhp).
 
I've had my car for a couple of months now and the first thing I noticed was the road noise. I have Michelin PS3s - is there anything quieter or are all A3s with this size tyre likely to suffer the same?
 
sjmatthews said:
I've had my car for a couple of months now and the first thing I noticed was the road noise. I have Michelin PS3s - is there anything quieter or are all A3s with this size tyre likely to suffer the same?
Click to expand...

from what i've read goodyear eagle f1 asy 2 are quiet and Verdestein ultra vorti too
 
I had two fronts on last month and went for Continental Sport Contact 5 at 108 each fitted at Kwik Fit. There are far better that the PZeros that were on the car and also have a very good rim protector :) mines a S3 but are the same size as yours ;)
 
Thanks for the info. It's pretty interesting to see some people rate certain tyres and some people slate the same ones.
Think I may go with tyre leader they seem pretty cheap. Decision over Michelin pilot sports if I can raise the cash or cheaper option falken.
Cheers
 
cenci said:
Thanks for the info. It's pretty interesting to see some people rate certain tyres and some people slate the same ones.
Think I may go with tyre leader they seem pretty cheap. Decision over Michelin pilot sports if I can raise the cash or cheaper option falken.
Cheers
Click to expand...

tyres, brakes, things like that are subjective. something i love, you may hate etc

i can confirm from experience of having them on my car falken tyres are noisy. especially if 4 wheel alignment hasn't been checked the rear can scrub on the inside edge and make a horrible noise
 
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Also depends on driving style and preference, decent grip doesn't generally come with low noise or a long lasting tyre. Its a weigh up between what is economic and what is decent performance..Then you've got cost to consider. The only person that can really decide is you :p.

I always buy premium tyres as imo it's important to have decent braking performance and your tyres are all that's between you and the road. No point having a BBK and budget tyres.

Most of my experience with tyres are on much higher power rwd cars with no traction control that barely see any time on the road, so it doesn't really apply here. I've always found Conti's decent on my daily cars, though. The PS3's were noisier than the Conti's and span up a lot in the wet with the torque of a remapped diesel. I removed them with 6mm tread left as I wasn't happy with them ;). Although they will undoubtedly be better on wear.
 
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Now you see I have PS3s and absolutely love them, better than RE050a and Contisports for performance and road noise, and better than the RE050a for durability. Just goes to show!
 
slightly off topic but verdestein ultrac sessanta have good reviews but not many people seem to be using them?

one of my friends & customers has them on both his 2007 RS4 avant and on a golf 4motion he's working on and he swears by the sessanta...
 
I've had Kumhos which were a great tyre, plenty of grip in both dry and wet.

At minute I'm on Falkens FK453s which I'd say are about level with the Kumhos in terms of grip.

And Dad has Bridgestone RE050s on his Passat which I think are amazing in the wet!

Road noise isn't something I pay too much attention too cause my car is noisy anyway.

On the other end of the scale I also have some cheap Infinitys on the standard wheels for the A3 and they are woeful! Wheel spin everywhere and I've actively been trying to burn them off for an excuse to upgrade, unfortunately it seems they are very hard wearing and are holding up against the 250hp I throw at them everyday :D
 
Sayam said:
slightly off topic but verdestein ultrac sessanta have good reviews but not many people seem to be using them?

one of my friends & customers has them on both his 2007 RS4 avant and on a golf 4motion he's working on and he swears by the sessanta...
Click to expand...
Had them on my old 8l really good tyres, don't come off to well in tyre reviews for some reason (not sessanta) but I really thought they was quality.. Part of the reason I had them is RS4 drivers loved them if there good for the then good enough for me.
 
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cenci said:
Guys,
Found some gy f1 Eagles at Camskills only £79 per tyre plus delivery, works about about £330 before figment
Should I go for those?
Anyone suggest if they last? Don't mind paying as long as I get some miles out of the them

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b2324s...JPz_y3ZesfTQfvDaCPMWE4iA3482uf2p4ZhoCJ6zw_wcB
Click to expand...
Really good handling and braking tyre but the wear from my point of view is terrible, I put mine on in April and have just had to replace them. If your not driving hard then go for them at that price.
 
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S3 AEX said:
Really good handling and braking tyre but the wear from my point of view is terrible, I put mine on in April and have just had to replace them. If your not driving hard then go for them at that price.
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If there's doubts on the last ability I'd rather leave them.
 
Whatever you do just DON'T buy from "incompetent" MYTRES.co.uk - in Germany!

I'm currently having a VERY BAD experience with these guys who've just debited my bank account (today the 31st) for an order cancelled by them in writing (on the 20th) due to 'long delivery' .

I'll be posting chapter and verse later, once repayment is safely in my bank.

I do have an apology from mytyres mind; several in fact one of which includes the line: "Please excuse for incompetent service."
 
S3 AEX said:
Had them on my old 8l really good tyres, don't come off to well in tyre reviews for some reason (not sessanta) but I really thought they was quality.. Part of the reason I had them is RS4 drivers loved them if there good for the then good enough for me.
Click to expand...
That's my thought process, if it's good enough for a RS4 it's good enough for my diesel tractor lol
 
Any views on Uniroyal Rainsport 3? £60 from Camskill (essentially £50 if you need 4 as there is a £40 voucher) or also £72 fitted from F1 auto-centres.

I drive a 2009 2.0TFSI; they were great on my old Seat Leon. Cant say I would complain with the F1 and Avons which were the last two (separate) pairs I put on the car. But for no more than £72 a corner for 18inch wheels they seem good value.
 
I have F1's on my 3.2, I just replaced the rears after I took 14,000 miles out of them and they weren't new when I got the car. The fronts are Efficientgrip and I don't really care much for them, so they will get replaced with F1's soon.
I don't hang about in my car but, I would think the S3's would give the tyres a harder time.
It's swings and roundabouts really, Michelin Pilot Sports are the next one's I'll be trying if I go for a change.
 
Vredestein (sp?) ultrac vorti are amazing! And cheap too
 
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Hey guys
Just been quoted on some tyres and the guy looked inside my door and said I needed XLs ... I dont have them on now ... Is this true or are they trying to make extra money ... I have a 2.0 Sportback diesel

Cheers
 
That's BS, you just need to meet or exceed the load rating which should be fitted from the factory e.g 93 however yours may be 95ish as its a sportback and diesel, the XL's are just stiffer sidewalls which you would get if you put higher load rated tyres anyway so just sounds like a money spinner for the garage.
HTH
 
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