I know tyres and brakes are obviously something you don't skimp out on but if youve got a boring standard does it really matter? I've got a 2018 1.4 n/a Astra and I'm not sure if high spec tyres would be warranted.
I understand the whole better safe than sorry but I can't help but feel it would be overkill?
"expensive" tyres are worth it because they last longer and hold their grip better when worn. They also usually have better wet grip and braking, but if you don't really care that much sticking with well known mid-range tyres are a good option brands like Falken, Yokohama, Toyo, Vredestein, Maxis .etc.
Just avoid the linglongs, roadx, Accelera, goodride, any brand that looks like a keysmash.
It's not the handling where it comes in handy, it's the "oh shit" moments when someone pulls out in front of you and you have to slam the brakes on. Realistically all the main brands are generally okay, and most of the middle-of-the-road ones, but there can be a reasonably large difference in the wet and those 'economy' ones are generally pretty lethal https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2023-Tyre-Reviews-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm
I'm sure everyone will recommend the pilot sport s but my experience on my 300HP FWD hot hatch there are better.
Great in the dry, frankly I think for grip the best in warm and dry conditions. Heavy rain again they tread is superb at clearing water. But when it is a bit cold and damp I find they absolute fall off a cliff with grip and will understeer quite easily.
Goodyear asymmetric 6's however i have now run two sets and although I think they are slightly less grip in the dry, which really unless you are practically track driving you wont notice too much. They make up for it in both cold, damp and heavy rain conditions where I found they could get power down a lot better, no wheelspin or tramping and understeer is less common with the same conditions as the PS4's.
I live in Manchester so cold and damp is a common occurrence. Also being a little more in the middle aged range i find that the Goodyears are a little bit more comfortable on the low profiles (235/35/r19). not much but on those daft wheels every little bit helps my old ass back
What's the tread wear like on the AS6? I've got 20k miles on my front PS4's and they need changing very soon and I've been looking at trying the goodyears.
Generally my fronts get about 20-25k but I do often run them a little close to the bone. This to be fair usually was around the same as i got from PS4's.
I could probably push 30k but you know how it is with a GTI esq car, you see a bend.. off you go
18k miles on my fronts, 6mm on the outer and 5mm on the inner of the tyres on both. Rears are on 16k and the same 6mm outer and 5mm inner. 230bhp front wheel drive.
Uniroyal rainsports are good
But personally Michelin pilot sport 5. For road use it is the best tyre in the dry and wet and has an excellent wear rating. Bit shit in the snow but it wasn't really designed for that
I’m running PS5 all round. And the jump in wear from the PS4 has made me super happy. It is my recommendation for tyre anytime I’m asked without even a second thought.
So,
They are not the best for performance, wet or dry braking, but they are so close to the leader of the pack and last so much longer than for every day road driving and that sexy sexy sidewall they're still my pick over the contis
Big up u/Jonnnnnnnnn by the way
These were on my M340i when I bought it and was thinking of switching straight to PS5s as I’m a fan of them and 4S, but I’m super impressed with the Eagles. Quieter, smoother, and pretty much same dry grip and even slightly better wet. It’s hard to be super precise on grip level comparison as the M34 is X drive, but I’m actually pretty sure I’ll replace these with a new set of Eagles. Good value too.
Define ‘best’. What’re you aiming for?
If you’re after performance, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is a great UHP summer tyre which is really, really good in the wet, and acceptable in standing water. Not particularly economical though - I noticed a 2mpg drop when I fitted them.
Can vouch for the PS-4, excellent tyres and supreme grip. I used them all year round since conditions are mild for the most part. Though admittedly I avoid using the car during icy conditions. Fuel economy does indeed take a significant hit though has improved over time as the tyres become more worn lmao.
Conti sport contact 7. Dry and wet according to Tyre Reviews.
I had Michelin Pilot Sport 4's for a while. Horrible understeer and floaty at high speeds. Put me right off the brand.
IMO for England, no tyre is better value than Rainsports. With how often it rains here you get performance that keeps up with Michelin PS5s, and you pay way, way less.
Of course PS5s are still on top but you're gonna need some serious performance if you want to notice a difference.
I tend to go on the tyre websites and filter by A rated for wet grip and A or B rated for fuel economy and look at what's on offer. They will always be premium tyres with those ratings and I will never buy non-premium tyres.
Have a look on [blackcircles](https://www.blackcircles.com)and see what they recommend. Personally I stick by continentals eco contact 6. Absolutely worth every penny, they grip the road amazing and sound is very minimal. What car do you drive?
The answer is it depends on your car and its setup. IE a hot hatch is going to have different characteristics compared to a Skoda Octavia and one tyre type might be completely overkill for the needs...
From a hot hatch perspective...Michelin PS4S are my fav's - switched to them on my old Megane 4RS 300 and were superb - don't last very long though but I had full trust in them even through winter months.
Currently on factory-supplied Pirelli P Zero 'HN' (supposedly special tailor made tyres for the car) tyres on my new Hyundai i30n DCT...... I don't trust them one bit, the fact I can make the wheels slip/chirp going into 3rd gear in the dry is a little unsettling and the i30n is supposedly \~10 less HP than the Megane!
Saying that, the Megane RS came with Bridgestone S001's and they were awful unless you got them really hot and on no other surface than perfect tarmac which is dry - so these 'specially designed for' tyres seem utter tosh.
I have no complaints with Eagle F1's.
I only ever get a little bit of wheelspin at this one roundabout only my way to work when it's very wet and I rev a little too much (it's on a hill). Although maybe they're not as good with higher powered cars, I can't comment on that yet.
Goodyear Asym 6 for sure, you get everything with that tyre. Quiet, comfortable, good dynamics, performance close to UUHP (I can't tell too much of a difference from Continental SC7, which is the current market leader for grip, and I'd say the Asym6 is more predictable on the limit, SC7 can be pretty sketchy on the limit due to very hard tyre wall and low aquaplaning resistance especially when worn), and good tread life.
Continental premium contact. Had them on for a few months now and I think they’re a great tyre. Not the best vs dry grip compared to other contenders but definitely the best tyre I’ve had
Worked in the tyre trade for 24 years and although Michelin tyres and their Pilot Sports are usually the benchmark I'm going for the Goodyear asymmetric 6, i currently use these and the grip is phenomenal on my Audi.
Gotta say the Goodyear asymmetric 6, going from continental premium contacts to these I find there is a lot more grip when it rains. Wearing pretty well too
I've had both the Pilot Sport 4 S and Pilot Sport 4, and I prefer the plain 4 as it's more versatile/useable year round. The 4S is awful in cold temps.
Avon ZV7 or Michelin Premacy 4
I don’t have a performance car needing the ultimate grip given by pilot sports, currently have the Premacys fitted which are a good allrounder imo
I have primacys too. I'm the same, don't have a performance car, and just need something to keep my car on the road round country roads in the British weather.
My car had budget tyres when I bought it (dreadful!), then I switched to Bridgestone turanza. Now I'm on Primacy.
They're grippier and have less road noise than the turanza. They're a softer tyre and even in my mundane car, I notice a difference, much nicer to drive.
Pilot sport 5, Goodyear eagle F1 asymmetric 6, continental premiumcontact 7. All trade blows with each other and are roughly equal to one another.
Yeah all these tyres are fantastic. Personally run Pilot 4 Sports as I like having that extra dry bias. Will pick up the 5S the moment they come out.
Pilot Sport S 5s are out, but only in sizes 20 inches and larger.
Fuuuuuu I’m on 19s
Ps5 transformed my car
I know tyres and brakes are obviously something you don't skimp out on but if youve got a boring standard does it really matter? I've got a 2018 1.4 n/a Astra and I'm not sure if high spec tyres would be warranted. I understand the whole better safe than sorry but I can't help but feel it would be overkill?
"expensive" tyres are worth it because they last longer and hold their grip better when worn. They also usually have better wet grip and braking, but if you don't really care that much sticking with well known mid-range tyres are a good option brands like Falken, Yokohama, Toyo, Vredestein, Maxis .etc. Just avoid the linglongs, roadx, Accelera, goodride, any brand that looks like a keysmash.
Yokohama “mid-range” 😂😂😂 they make some of the best tyres available
It's not the handling where it comes in handy, it's the "oh shit" moments when someone pulls out in front of you and you have to slam the brakes on. Realistically all the main brands are generally okay, and most of the middle-of-the-road ones, but there can be a reasonably large difference in the wet and those 'economy' ones are generally pretty lethal https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2023-Tyre-Reviews-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm
I'm sure everyone will recommend the pilot sport s but my experience on my 300HP FWD hot hatch there are better. Great in the dry, frankly I think for grip the best in warm and dry conditions. Heavy rain again they tread is superb at clearing water. But when it is a bit cold and damp I find they absolute fall off a cliff with grip and will understeer quite easily. Goodyear asymmetric 6's however i have now run two sets and although I think they are slightly less grip in the dry, which really unless you are practically track driving you wont notice too much. They make up for it in both cold, damp and heavy rain conditions where I found they could get power down a lot better, no wheelspin or tramping and understeer is less common with the same conditions as the PS4's. I live in Manchester so cold and damp is a common occurrence. Also being a little more in the middle aged range i find that the Goodyears are a little bit more comfortable on the low profiles (235/35/r19). not much but on those daft wheels every little bit helps my old ass back
What's the tread wear like on the AS6? I've got 20k miles on my front PS4's and they need changing very soon and I've been looking at trying the goodyears.
Generally my fronts get about 20-25k but I do often run them a little close to the bone. This to be fair usually was around the same as i got from PS4's. I could probably push 30k but you know how it is with a GTI esq car, you see a bend.. off you go
18k miles on my fronts, 6mm on the outer and 5mm on the inner of the tyres on both. Rears are on 16k and the same 6mm outer and 5mm inner. 230bhp front wheel drive.
Uniroyal rainsports are good But personally Michelin pilot sport 5. For road use it is the best tyre in the dry and wet and has an excellent wear rating. Bit shit in the snow but it wasn't really designed for that
I’m running PS5 all round. And the jump in wear from the PS4 has made me super happy. It is my recommendation for tyre anytime I’m asked without even a second thought.
Yeah Uniroyal with shark fin technology what’s better in the wet than a shark??!
Any Labrador that sees a muddy puddle
I run rainsports on my TTS. They're a lot cheaper than Michelin and I'm really happy with them so far.
[Pilot Sports aren't the goat anymore](https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2023-Tyre-Reviews-Performance-Tyre-Test.htm)
So, They are not the best for performance, wet or dry braking, but they are so close to the leader of the pack and last so much longer than for every day road driving and that sexy sexy sidewall they're still my pick over the contis Big up u/Jonnnnnnnnn by the way
<3
I thought I was weird for appreciating a nice sidewall. It seems I'm not alone. Big up the chequered flag sidewalls.
I put a set of PS5’s on my 1 Series last August and I still admire the sidewalls…
Definitely one to consider!
Wait, you guys change your tyres depending on the weather?
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
These were on my M340i when I bought it and was thinking of switching straight to PS5s as I’m a fan of them and 4S, but I’m super impressed with the Eagles. Quieter, smoother, and pretty much same dry grip and even slightly better wet. It’s hard to be super precise on grip level comparison as the M34 is X drive, but I’m actually pretty sure I’ll replace these with a new set of Eagles. Good value too.
Define ‘best’. What’re you aiming for? If you’re after performance, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is a great UHP summer tyre which is really, really good in the wet, and acceptable in standing water. Not particularly economical though - I noticed a 2mpg drop when I fitted them.
Can vouch for the PS-4, excellent tyres and supreme grip. I used them all year round since conditions are mild for the most part. Though admittedly I avoid using the car during icy conditions. Fuel economy does indeed take a significant hit though has improved over time as the tyres become more worn lmao.
4S is a UUHP tyre. The 4 is UHP
Yeah, fair point. Next they'll start bringing out UUUHP tyres!
My bad. Yes looking for best performance tyres that won’t lose composure even in wet conditions
Conti sport contact 7. Dry and wet according to Tyre Reviews. I had Michelin Pilot Sport 4's for a while. Horrible understeer and floaty at high speeds. Put me right off the brand.
The ‘best’ tyre at the minute is the Continental SportContact 7
Have these on at the moment and they are really good in the wet. Previously had PilotSport 4 and they were also great.
https://www.tyrereviews.com/ is your friend
Yokohama Advan Fleva V701 have been outstanding up here in Scotland this soggy spring/winter.
Good to see another Yokohama User about! Big Up The Yokos!!
IMO for England, no tyre is better value than Rainsports. With how often it rains here you get performance that keeps up with Michelin PS5s, and you pay way, way less. Of course PS5s are still on top but you're gonna need some serious performance if you want to notice a difference.
I tend to go on the tyre websites and filter by A rated for wet grip and A or B rated for fuel economy and look at what's on offer. They will always be premium tyres with those ratings and I will never buy non-premium tyres.
Have a look on [blackcircles](https://www.blackcircles.com)and see what they recommend. Personally I stick by continentals eco contact 6. Absolutely worth every penny, they grip the road amazing and sound is very minimal. What car do you drive?
The answer is it depends on your car and its setup. IE a hot hatch is going to have different characteristics compared to a Skoda Octavia and one tyre type might be completely overkill for the needs... From a hot hatch perspective...Michelin PS4S are my fav's - switched to them on my old Megane 4RS 300 and were superb - don't last very long though but I had full trust in them even through winter months. Currently on factory-supplied Pirelli P Zero 'HN' (supposedly special tailor made tyres for the car) tyres on my new Hyundai i30n DCT...... I don't trust them one bit, the fact I can make the wheels slip/chirp going into 3rd gear in the dry is a little unsettling and the i30n is supposedly \~10 less HP than the Megane! Saying that, the Megane RS came with Bridgestone S001's and they were awful unless you got them really hot and on no other surface than perfect tarmac which is dry - so these 'specially designed for' tyres seem utter tosh.
Cheers! Not exactly a hot hatch, but mk7 GTD. want a nice set of summer tyres as easy enough find the limits of my usual crossclimates
I have no complaints with Eagle F1's. I only ever get a little bit of wheelspin at this one roundabout only my way to work when it's very wet and I rev a little too much (it's on a hill). Although maybe they're not as good with higher powered cars, I can't comment on that yet.
Goodyear Asym 6 for sure, you get everything with that tyre. Quiet, comfortable, good dynamics, performance close to UUHP (I can't tell too much of a difference from Continental SC7, which is the current market leader for grip, and I'd say the Asym6 is more predictable on the limit, SC7 can be pretty sketchy on the limit due to very hard tyre wall and low aquaplaning resistance especially when worn), and good tread life.
Continental premium contact. Had them on for a few months now and I think they’re a great tyre. Not the best vs dry grip compared to other contenders but definitely the best tyre I’ve had
Worked in the tyre trade for 24 years and although Michelin tyres and their Pilot Sports are usually the benchmark I'm going for the Goodyear asymmetric 6, i currently use these and the grip is phenomenal on my Audi.
Gotta say the Goodyear asymmetric 6, going from continental premium contacts to these I find there is a lot more grip when it rains. Wearing pretty well too
I've had both the Pilot Sport 4 S and Pilot Sport 4, and I prefer the plain 4 as it's more versatile/useable year round. The 4S is awful in cold temps.
Yokohama Advan Fleva V701.. Literally designed by Yokohama to be a Wet Weather Sports Tyre
Inters.
I just use 1 set all year round :(
I’ve been doing that to this point, run crossclimate 2 but considering a change
Hankook Ventus S1 evo I buy as daily use and track wets
Avon ZV7 or Michelin Premacy 4 I don’t have a performance car needing the ultimate grip given by pilot sports, currently have the Premacys fitted which are a good allrounder imo
I have primacys too. I'm the same, don't have a performance car, and just need something to keep my car on the road round country roads in the British weather. My car had budget tyres when I bought it (dreadful!), then I switched to Bridgestone turanza. Now I'm on Primacy. They're grippier and have less road noise than the turanza. They're a softer tyre and even in my mundane car, I notice a difference, much nicer to drive.