After driving my Mk2 back from the show yesterday in the rain, i found out that the front tyres were shocking in the wet. I have a set of Goodyears on there atm, but they refused to grip in the wet! Now, can anyone recommend a tyre, which has equally good grip in dry and wet conditions ? Michelins are out as they do cost , and i have a set on the MK4. They are going on my RA's btw. Any recommedations would be great. Cheers
I'm really surprised Goodyears aren't doing it for you.........they are decent rubber! How old are they? (see sidewall for week/year of manufacture). For low mileage use, what about extra-grippy Yokohama or Toyo rubber? That's what i'm buying at present when they pop up as part-worn on the Bay. What about upping your tyre width too? 195's say? That's 5.5% more grip alone, in theory (assuming 185's originally). Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta was a worthy alternative tyre to the uber long-life Michelin Pilots I had on my previous VRS Octavia. But i'm not sure what sizes are available plus not all tyre dealers can get them. Pirelli P-Zero are apparently good too.
Michelin Pilot's are the best, but a little out of my budget for the Mk2. I was supprised with the Goodyears in the wet tbh. They are fine in the dry, and have been on there a while. Sizes are 195/50/15. My brother did metion that Toyo's would be the one's to go for. The T1R's seem to have a good review - http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Toyo/T1R.htm Has anyone used Nangkang's ?
Yes i've used Nankangs and they are waaaaaay better than you might expect the name suggests. Mine were on a tuned PD130 Octavia Estate I ran for a while, and although they didnt wear as well as a premium brand, they were a good compromise considering the grip in wet and dry. IIRC the tread pattern was similar to the Goodyear F1 GSD3. (cut lines emanating symmetrically from the centre of the tread at 30-45 degrees and curving down at the shoulder).
Thats good to know Foxy. I can get a new set of Nankangs for cheap from a local garage we use. Might go for these tbh. T1R's are cheap on Ebay though. A whole set for 148 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195-50-VR...pect+Ratio:50|Diameter:15&hash=item27caf21ce8
UNIROYAL RAINSPORT 2'S A good all round tyre although the compromise like the toyo is they wear quite fast
This is a 3rd vote for uniroyal wets! I got all 4 for 200 fitted at Tyre Barn and difference was night and day. I was much happier throwing my old mk2 around the A43 in Northants!
Cheers for all the suggestions ^^^ Will look into all of them but i think my budget will decide which one's i go for. Cheers
I got my Toyo's from Camskill, they priced matched an online price so were 107 delivered for a pair of 195 45 16.
I've heard iffy reports about 'Chinese Goodyears'. Outsourced to the far east to save cost and compromised on quality, it would seem. Uniroyals have a good rep in the wet. I've got Fulda Carat Progresso tyres on one set of rims that I got with a car - seem a decent all rounder. Toyo T1-Rs are decent but don't last for massive miles.
T1r's have been succeeded by t1 sports which I've just picked up cheaper, only done 30 miles so far and in some pretty bad rain this morning, impressed so far. I thought the t1r were amazing in the wet and these are supposed to be better and have a 20,000 mile guarantee which is good cos my last set or r's only lasted 12000, first set non lowered lasted 17000. Toyo do a better all rounder but aren't available yet in the UK, think they're called 4 plus
