Buying new tyres - an art form?

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#2831820 14-Dec-2021 06:42

ilovemusic:

OP;

The 335 is a fairly high performance vehicle so don't skimp on tyres.

Your driving style will dictate which tyre to go for.

There is no need to get another set of RFT - awful things !

PS. There is a Michelin PS4 and PS4S.

The PS4 is very good but the PS4S is much more capable, well worth the extra $$$

lol when i was younger and didn't have my head screwed on i could take a particular controlled* 60 corner at 100 with budget 'performance' tyres (iirc i tried federal, neuton, achilles - federal = best). you don't need PS4S. but like everything in life, if you must have it and you can afford it, sure buy it. but PS4 probably works better in the wet and in the cold. that's my reasoning for PS4 over PS4S. regarding track - there are easily better track tyres than ps4s so track is not a big reason for PS4S.

*i learnt that corner really well, it was remote, wide and i only did it when there were no other cars/people/bikes just so not to expose anyone to risk, and you made sure you know if the car was going to break loose, use gradual steering change, you need to be able to feel what's going on underneath you. you don't just fly into a corner and apply full steering lock - if you did that you will crash.

Batman

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#2831821 14-Dec-2021 06:43

timmmay:

Buying tires is difficult. It's difficult to compare them,

That's why i have put on the top high performance road tyre on every brand inc budget, just to see.

can't help with non racy treaded tyres i have not tried them

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#2831982 14-Dec-2021 11:30

Batman:

but PS4 probably works better in the wet and in the cold. that's my reasoning for PS4 over PS4S. regarding track - there are easily better track tyres than ps4s so track is not a big reason for PS4S.

You are probably thinking of the Pilot Sport Cup2 - that is the track biased tyre with cold and wet limitations.

PS4S is an all-round road tyre, superb in dry, wet and cold.

Good enough to make the switch from Cup 2 relatively painless.

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#2831993 14-Dec-2021 11:51

ilovemusic:

You are probably thinking of the Pilot Sport Cup2 - that is the track biased tyre with cold and wet limitations.

PS4S is an all-round road tyre, superb in dry, wet and cold.

Good enough to make the switch from Cup 2 relatively painless.

:)

actually no. i was thinking nankang ar1.

there was a link which you removed - i don't trust that guy - is he a racing driver? he just drives around and says a lot of stuff and then one tyre is 2 seconds faster in his lap. how do i know what he's saying is correct, his tests are not controlled, just his word.

anyway, i don't consider cup sport 2 to be a real track tyre but at least you can use them on the road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll6qrstsGF0

riztricted

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#2832545 14-Dec-2021 21:44

Try Hyper Drive. Prices available online.
They can deliver tyres to your local shop to balance & fit and you just turn up at the prearranged time.

They usually have sales online.

Geektastic

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#2832570 14-Dec-2021 22:35

I have Michelin Primacy 3 in RF on my Mercedes E400d. They are very good.

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#2832904 15-Dec-2021 15:33

Aaroona:

I took my car for a WOF the other day, and found I am due a new set of tyres (1 tyre front and rear just below min. spec, so all 4 have to be replaced.)

I've skimmed through the whole thread quickly so apologies if this has already been asked and answered...

Why do you need to replace all four tyres when only two are worn out. Surely you'd just:

1. Put the two remaining good tyres on the rear axle, and buy two new ones for the front (on a front wheel drive), or

2. Put the two remaining good tyres on the front axle, and buy two new ones for the rear (on a rear wheel drive)

AFAIK, both tyres on the same axle must have the same tread pattern or design to get a wof, but the pattern on the front axle does not have to match the pattern on the rear axle.

For example, when my Touareg needed two new tyres recently, I found that tyres I have are no longer made, so I put the remaining two good tyres on the rear, and two new tyres (with different tread pattern) on the front. Perfectly acceptible.

Let me know if I am missing something......

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Aaroona

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#2832906 15-Dec-2021 15:35

Wheelbarrow01:

Aaroona:

I took my car for a WOF the other day, and found I am due a new set of tyres (1 tyre front and rear just below min. spec, so all 4 have to be replaced.)

I've skimmed through the whole thread quickly so apologies if this has already been asked and answered...

Why do you need to replace all four tyres when only two are worn out. Surely you'd just:

1. Put the two remaining good tyres on the rear axle, and buy two new ones for the front (on a front wheel drive), or

2. Put the two remaining good tyres on the front axle, and buy two new ones for the rear (on a rear wheel drive)

AFAIK, both tyres on the same axle must have the same tread pattern or design to get a wof, but the pattern on the front axle does not have to match the pattern on the rear axle.

For example, when my Touareg needed two new tyres recently, I found that tyres I have are no longer made, so I put the remaining two good tyres on the rear, and two new tyres (with different tread pattern) on the front. Perfectly acceptible.

Let me know if I am missing something......

Staggered fitment, so wider tyres on the back make this impossible.

Additionally, its one tyre front, one tyre rear that is worn to 1.4mm.

Batman

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#2832973 15-Dec-2021 16:42

in addition if it is permament awd (eg x-drive), the circumference for each and every tyre must be within 1%

ilovemusic

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#2835034 17-Dec-2021 18:16

Batman:

actually no. i was thinking nankang ar1.

there was a link which you removed - i don't trust that guy - is he a racing driver? he just drives around and says a lot of stuff and then one tyre is 2 seconds faster in his lap. how do i know what he's saying is correct, his tests are not controlled, just his word.

anyway, i don't consider cup sport 2 to be a real track tyre but at least you can use them on the road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll6qrstsGF0

arghhhh bad editing on phone :(

think he races, michelin calls him a "professional automotive test driver" 😄

yeah cup 2 is a high end road tyre.

i've never seen one that soft though,

driven on track with them, they aren't great compared with a proper track tyre like the ar1 or even the old toyo r888

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#2835272 18-Dec-2021 14:45

I just replaced tyres on my old project car. I put Michelin Pilot Sport 3 on it. I thought the only difference between the Pilot 3 and 4, was the sizing. IE, I couldn't get the PS 4 in a 16" tyre so had to get the 3s.

Edit. You can get the PS4 tyres in 16", just not the profile I needed.

Radiotron

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#2835313 18-Dec-2021 18:58

A bit late the party, however Pirelli P7 may be worth a look, esp if Hyperdrive are specialling them. A lot of tyre. Reasonably quiet, very sticky, sharpened up a Mazda 6 very nicely, and they handle wet motorway very well. had them for about 10,000km on all 4 corners, wearing well. Passed the twisty B road test. I drive 3 pedals and enjoy interesting back roads.

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#2835329 18-Dec-2021 20:10

To answer the thread title, yeah, It is very hard to come by the information one needs to make the informed buying decision we are used to with other products, and not possible to trial too.

Tyre's make a massive difference to any car, and (unless you are so disappointing you are to carry a big loss), you are essentially stuck with them until they wear out.

Further complicated for OP by the run flat thing. Personally I would ditch the run flats. They are expensive, don't last as long, and have a harsher ride. Also they (for bridgestones) will only take you 80km at a max of 80km/h. So they are no good for getting you home from the back of beyond anyway. (probiably have to replace the $500+ tire after running it flat for a while anyway, and I have heard that stock is often hard to come by).

Personally in 15+ years of driving I have never changed a tire at the roadside as I had a flat (in a car) that I couldn't just pump up with little 12v compressor, and drive home. Modern tires are generally more puncture resistant than old ones, and Modern cars with tire pressure management systems further reduce enable early identification of slow leaks before under-inflation causes sidewall damage etc.

I do carry a 12v inflator and fix a flat goop in my car with no spare, but I would only use the goop as a last resort (very hard to clean from the tire for the person doing the puncture repair).

Some people choose to buy a spare tire & jack and leave it at home. Means it doesn't occupy boot space, but in the very rare event of a puncture they could call in a favor and get somebody to run it out to them (or even take a taxi to get it). Others would just call a tow truck.

For OP, if my budget could handle $2k, I would be looking to get a set of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (price at hyper drive with "TYRES" promotion). Well regarded for grip, but still good for comfort. And decent tread wear rating of 340. Not as with most tires mentioned in this thread it is a high performance summer tire, so won't preform quite as well under 6 deg C.

Here is an example of a shootout it won:

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2021-Tyre-Reviews-UHP-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm

Aaroona

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#2840602 30-Dec-2021 21:55

Thanks all for your input.

I am very open to replacing the run flats and buying an air compressor+goo kit.

I've got a tyre guy hoping to price up a set of PS4.. however likely won't hear from him until after NY sadly - but its becoming increasingly difficult to get [a set of] tyres, which is concerning.

Worst case, BMW said they had the S001's in stock, but at around 2400 (just for the tyres alone) then fitting and all that.

Will let you know where I end up...

As far as kits go, I see consistently good thing about the conti-kit but, was hoping to find something water based, as I hear tyre places are happier repairing those as they're easier to wash out etc. and less likely to be told its a write off.

This is currently what I'm looking at: https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/tools-repair-kits/other/listing/3407032752?bof=7eIzrcoE

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#2840605 30-Dec-2021 22:15

@Aaroona Did you talk to Aaron at JP Tyres? Seriously worth doing.

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=162&topicid=291922&page_no=1#2831655

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