Help with tyres

[Aij]

I am undecided as to which tyres to go for from Michelin Pilot Sport2, Coninental Contact Sport 2 and the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS D3's - I was hoping you could recommend which to go for from personal experiences.

A4 1.8T sport 163BHP, 235 45 17

[JustinM3]

I have been using F1's for a while now, and love them. Not tried the others.
One thing I will say in these debates/discussions, other tyres have people saying they love/hate them, but never heard a bad word said about the F1's.
Not a bad price, and last ok, all things considered I believe.

[Dave Avant]

I have used F1s for years and have been great on road and track on several different cars. Michelin Pilots I have also had experience of and they don't grip aswell and are over priced.

you should get F1s in that size for around £100 or quite possibly below.

[JustinM3]

Mine are 235/40R17's and 245/40R17's.
£100 a corner at protyre all in.
Cheaper from mytyres, but only really worth it if you can slip a tyre fitter cash to fit them.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

For ultimate grip, excellent resistance to aquaplaning, superb cornering ability - without a shadow of doubt, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 are unbeatable.

The Conti SportContact2 are OK, but slightly hard, and outright levels of grip, particularly in hard cornering, are not marvelous.

One problem with the Goodyears, which also applies to any directional tyre, is they are more "tuned" for straight-line performance, rather than being optimised for hard cornering, in the way assymetric tyres, such as the Mich PS2 are.

It really depends what kind of driving you like - if you are happy to blast down the Autobahns at v-max, any of those 3 you mentioned will do the job. If you prefer a bit of back lane and B-road scratching, the Mich PS2 would win hands down, and the tread would wear evenly across the tread width, unlike the Goodyears!

Rgds

[skymaster]

I Have been using the Goodyear F1s for a few years now. I tried Conti sports and swore never to use them again after spinning a 2 litre Mk4 golf sideways through a red light (partly my fault as well)

Also tried some Dunlops that were on a set of 17 inch alloys when I bought them (fitted as standard on a 1.8T Golf) They were so bad I took them of before they reached 5mm. Put the F1s on and have used them ever since.

Although after what Tutonic says I might try those PS2s on the next set.

I have found Pro Tyre in Bristol are always keen on price for the Goodyears. I PAY £69 fitted for 205/55/16s. I always go for grip over wear and change them well before the legal limit. When you need to stop pretty damn fast a good set of rubber makes all the difference.

[mpep666]

well i have no experiance of michellin as i feel they are over priced ive had a few pirellies and found them useless in the wet and noisy on motorways i had a set of goodyear f1s which were ok but and im being picky , i did not like there styling
last four sets ive had on my audi a4 1.9 tdi are dunlop sp01s there smooth and grip in all conditions and they last quite a while got 30k miles out of last pair of fronts and they still have a bit left
:beerchug:

[Teutonic_Tamer]

last four sets ive had on my audi a4 1.9 tdi are dunlop sp01s there smooth and grip in all conditions and they last quite a while got 30k miles out of last pair of fronts and they still have a bit left
:beerchug:

OMG :eek: - 30k miles from the fronts - do you actually drive it, or do you just get the wife and kids to push if from behind :boggled: !!!! (Que the Skoda joke) ;) . I'm lucky to get 8k miles from all four of mine on the S4, and on the front of the GTI :drive: .


well i have no experiance of michellin as i feel they are over priced ive had a few pirellies and found them useless in the wet and noisy on motorways i had a set of goodyear f1s which were ok but and im being picky,

But, but, but - remember, the ONLY component on your car which keeps you in contact with the tarmac is TYRES. You can have the best suspension, best brakes, best wheels, most powerful motor - but with lesser tyres, it could, and probably will go very pear-shaped.

Michelin may seem more expensive than other makes, but they are considerably better throughout their entire product range, than their competators. The "energy" or fuel saving tyres - the Michelin win hands down on tyre life, noise, and wet weather grip, when compared to similar offerings from the likes of Firestone and Continental. At the other end of the scale, the ultra-high performance end, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (the new assymetric pattern and not the older directional pattern) absolutely blitz the opposition from Continental (SportContact2), Dunlop (SportMaxx), Bridgestone (Potenza S03), Yokohama (AVS S1Z & AVS Sport). This is all based on personal experience, along with many independent reviews, including the very highly regarded German organisation ADAC.

But depending on your driving style, particulary if you can get a set of fronts to last over 30k miles, the Mich PS2, or the Goodyear F1s may but just too overly specced. My advice, depending on your driving style and roads, would be the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 (next one down from the PS2) as a sporty tyre very proficient for twisty B roads, or Michelin Pilot Primacy, more suited to M-ways and dual carriageways, with less emphasis on very hard cornering, but more emphasis on quite, relaxing and long life with steady driving.

Rgds

[mpep666]

OMG :eek: - 30k miles from the fronts - do you actually drive it, or do you just get the wife and kids to push if from behind :boggled: !!!! (Que the Skoda joke) ;) . I'm lucky to get 8k miles from all four of mine on the S4, and on the front of the GTI :drive: .



But, but, but - remember, the ONLY component on your car which keeps you in contact with the tarmac is TYRES. You can have the best suspension, best brakes, best wheels, most powerful motor - but with lesser tyres, it could, and probably will go very pear-shaped.

Michelin may seem more expensive than other makes, but they are considerably better throughout their entire product range, than their competators. The "energy" or fuel saving tyres - the Michelin win hands down on tyre life, noise, and wet weather grip, when compared to similar offerings from the likes of Firestone and Continental. At the other end of the scale, the ultra-high performance end, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (the new assymetric pattern and not the older directional pattern) absolutely blitz the opposition from Continental (SportContact2), Dunlop (SportMaxx), Bridgestone (Potenza S03), Yokohama (AVS S1Z & AVS Sport). This is all based on personal experience, along with many independent reviews, including the very highly regarded German organisation ADAC.

But depending on your driving style, particulary if you can get a set of fronts to last over 30k miles, the Mich PS2, or the Goodyear F1s may but just too overly specced. My advice, depending on your driving style and roads, would be the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 (next one down from the PS2) as a sporty tyre very proficient for twisty B roads, or Michelin Pilot Primacy, more suited to M-ways and dual carriageways, with less emphasis on very hard cornering, but more emphasis on quite, relaxing and long life with steady driving.

Rgds
well i have no idea what your doing to get just 8k miles out of a full set of tyres!! i cover 8k miles in 2 months ok 90% motorway but i could not afford £500.00 for a set of dunlops every two months let alone £700.00 for a set of michelins. if these michelins are so long lasting why again are you getting just 8k miles ?
From my recollection of last years formula 1 michelin where not that great a tyre compared to the bridgestones!!
As for firestone and continental i wouldent use them on a banger let alone a skoda!!
And finally skodas are vw/ audis in sheeps clothing thats why the law use them
BUT you are right that the only bit between the car and the black stuff is the rubber on your rims and i would like to say that i have never had a blowout ,delamination, or uneven tyre wear on any of the dunlop sp01 tyres that have been on my car:biglaugh: :beerchug:

[skymaster]

But, but, but - remember, the ONLY component on your car which keeps you in contact with the tarmac is TYRES. You can have the best suspension, best brakes, best wheels, most powerful motor - but with lesser tyres, it could, and probably will go very pear-shaped.



I could not agree more! Tyres are so important in modern motoring especially given the speeds modern cars travel at. Too many people disregard them as a simple wear and tear item that you change to keep a valid MOT on the car. Bad and worn tyres are the causes of many accidents and road injuries and deaths. We just dont hear about it cos 'speed' is the thing the power that be prefer to blame! Why do you think most police forces change theirs at 3mm? (or was it 4mm)

All I know is that at 4mm my goodyears dont grip anywhere near as well as they do with 8mm on.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

well i have no idea what your doing to get just 8k miles out of a full set of tyres!! i cover 8k miles in 2 months ok 90% motorway but i could not afford £500.00 for a set of dunlops every two months let alone £700.00 for a set of michelins. if these michelins are so long lasting why again are you getting just 8k miles ?

Have a look at post #30 http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4321 :D . Don't forget, I said "fronts" on the GTI. On front wheel drive cars, I get between 8-10k on the fronts, and on the rears, probably about 30-40k. I say probably, because when I get new boots (except for the S4 quattro), I replace the worn out fronts, keep them on the front axle for 500 miles or so - to make sure they have been balanced properly and to "scrub" them in. I then swap em front to rear.

Regarding the pricing - I don't know where you got your figures from, but if you spend ½day on the phone to all your local tyre dealers, haggling down the price, in my experience, you can get Michelins down to about £15 a corner more than any other premium brand - so £60 all round is waaaaaayyyyy different to your £200 - about the cost of a tank of V-Power. Run on 95RON unleaded for a month, and you get your money back, and you get much better boots than Dunlop.


From my recollection of last years formula 1 michelin where not that great a tyre compared to the bridgestones!!

F1 isn't the greatest comparator for road tyres - they run on 13" rims, with huge sidewalls, and only 20psi. Modern cars, even basic family cars now run on 15" rims with 60% profile. Sporty, moderate performance cars now run on 16" or 17", and sometimes even 18" rims - with profiles going down to 40%. So dry weather slick F1 boots are not really a good indicator. Full wets are, mind you, as the rubber compound and tread pattern play a major role, just like in conventional road tyres. Oh, BTW, Michelin absolutey kick a$$ in Hungary and MonteCarlo, where they would be closest to normal road driving (for F1 anyway).

Rallying, Touring Cars, or the LeMans 24hrs are probably the closest that a competition tyre comes to normal road tyres. Rally tyres have to be road legal actually! With the LeMans 24hr, Michelin has consistantly wiped the slate over other tyre manufacturers. In the BTCC, a controled tyre is used and Dunlop is the supplier - just look at the repeated failures they get on circuits like Thruxton - shocking IMHO! In WRC, again Michelin proved their point, although they have always had very stiff competition from Pirelli. They withdrew from officially supplying WRC under their main Michelin brand, and switched to supplying under another of their brands, BFGoodrich.

With 2 wheels, MotoGP has not had a tyre world champion other than Michelin for decades - Dunlop tried and got absolutely nowhere, Bridgestone are in it now, and win the odd race, but usually when either Vale or Nicky, or the other main Mich runners fall off. In World Superbikes (the premier production based category), Michelin won every single world title, until they were banned a couple of years back, and the championship went to one-make controled tyres - Pirelli, and the riders hated them, although they are getting better. In the British Superbikes, it is a closer-run thing, between the two main players of Michelin and Dunlop. I could go on and on, but basically - you get the message, doncha ;) :D .


As for firestone and continental i wouldent use them on a banger let alone a skoda!!

Firestone arn't too bad on the "energy" type of tyres, but don't cut it in high performance, because the leave that to Bridgestone, as Firestone are actually owned by Bridgestone. Continental tyres are actually very good - not the best, but up there. They are actually approved by the German TuV testing standards.


And finally skodas are vw/ audis in sheeps clothing thats why the law use them

Huh - where did that come from?? OK, OK - Skoda may have some access to the same parts bins as VW, Audi, Seat, Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti, but they don't get the best toys, are not as well finished as Audi by a country mile, the styling is - err - different (what do you prefer the looks of: the Skoda Roomster, or the Golf Plus?). The reason the law use then - they are cheap.


BUT you are right that the only bit between the car and the black stuff is the rubber on your rims and i would like to say that i have never had a blowout ,delamination, or uneven tyre wear on any of the dunlop sp01 tyres that have been on my car:biglaugh: :beerchug:

Yes, yes - but it is not just about blowouts or general defects - it is the way the tyre performs throughout its' entire (ohh - thats' awful :p ) life on the car. Wet weather performance is absolutely crucial, and until you experience just how good Michelin are over their competators, you will wonder why you ever used anything else. I have the OEM Dunlop SportMaxx on the GTI at the moment, and they really are awful. They are worse than Continental, Yokohama and Bridgestone, and it goes without saying, absolutely a different league altogether than Michelin. They are so $hite, dangerous actually, that I am actually trying hard to wear them out, so I can put some decent boots on them. I complained to the supplying dealer, who confirmed they had repeated complaints about them, when compared to the same spec car with either Contis or Michelins. VW have stopped supplying cars with the SportMaxx, although I saw a new Eos in the showroom with Dunlop Sport SP01 - a change from directional to asymmetric tread pattern!

If the price of Michelins really is too much, run your motor on 95RON unleaded, instead of 98 SuperPlus, or fill up with supermarket diesel for a month or so. Tyres should be the number one priority on your car, and should never be skimped on!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I could not agree more! Tyres are so important in modern motoring especially given the speeds modern cars travel at.

It is more to do with the actual performance, from the much better brakes, and more powerful engines. And the incresed weight also plays a crucial role. A 1990s family hatchback (Golf/Astra/Escort) weighed about 800kgs, todays equivalents are around 1300kgs, that is half a tonne more for the tyres to cope with.


Too many people disregard them as a simple wear and tear item that you change to keep a valid MOT on the car.

I know, and it is so shocking that the law seem to be incapable of any kind of efficient enforcement.


Bad and worn tyres are the causes of many accidents and road injuries and deaths.

Yup, but the true figures are fudged or masked to show somthing comletely different.


We just dont hear about it cos 'speed' is the thing the power that be prefer to blame!

Don't get me started on that one!!!!!!


Why do you think most police forces change theirs at 3mm? (or was it 4mm)

Eggzakerley!


All I know is that at 4mm my goodyears dont grip anywhere near as well as they do with 8mm on.

That is down to the directional tread pattern - it just can't cope with water dispersion like assymetric tyres can. Also, many directional patterns actually close-up, or block off certain grooves as they wear (which causes poor wet performance)!

[Dave Avant]

And it seems daft that on bikes where there is less contact rubber, the min tread depth is 1.5mm and scooters/mopeds don't have a minimum depth, so all the 16 year olds can tear around on bald tyres!! :aargh4:

Don't forget tread depth doesn't give more grip, it just there to disperse water on the road. Done a trackday with bald tyres as they had worn out and when it rained the grip didn't lessen, infact the cars that spun off had full tread!! :D

[Dave Avant]

All I know is that at 4mm my goodyears dont grip anywhere near as well as they do with 8mm on.


Thats because tyres can have slightly different compounds through the tread as they wear off, you'll probably notice the tyre seems to wear less towards the end as the compound tends to be harder wearing and giving less grip.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

And it seems daft that on bikes where there is less contact rubber, the min tread depth is 1.5mm and scooters/mopeds don't have a minimum depth, so all the 16 year olds can tear around on bald tyres!! :aargh4:

That just helps with the Darwinian theory, correcting any gene pool abnormalities :biglaugh: http://www.darwinawards.com/


Don't forget tread depth doesn't give more grip, it just there to disperse water on the road.

Yup, too right - but there is also the issue of law! ;)


Done a trackday with bald tyres as they had worn out and when it rained the grip didn't lessen, infact the cars that spun off had full tread!! :D

Muppetry may have also played its part ;)

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Thats because tyres can have slightly different compounds through the tread as they wear off, you'll probably notice the tyre seems to wear less towards the end as the compound tends to be harder wearing and giving less grip.

Hmmm - I don't think Goodyear use any kind of dual or multi-compound in the tread - certainly not in directionals.

Anyhow, different compounds, where used, are not different through the tread depth, they differ along the width. That is why assymetric tyres are soooooo much better, because they can have harder compounds on the outer edge, and softer compounds on the inner edge, just like the Michelin Energy, Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2, and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2.

Rgds

[Dave Avant]

Hmmm - I don't think Goodyear use any kind of dual or multi-compound in the tread - certainly not in directionals.

Anyhow, different compounds, where used, are not different through the tread depth, they differ along the width. That is why assymetric tyres are soooooo much better, because they can have harder compounds on the outer edge, and softer compounds on the inner edge, just like the Michelin Energy, Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2, and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2.

Rgds


Not sure on the goodyear, but on the Michie Pilots sport, had them on the Gf's MGF and they were low on tread and were slippy even in the dry. She had it for a couple of years and we never had replace the tyres, but she does only do about 5K miles a years. Then she got a BMW 2.8 Z3 with the same tyres which were low again, again this liked to go sideways and make full use of the traction control. Now it has F1s and grip is much improved. I'd heard about the compound changes through the tyre life and the experiences seem to ring true.

Just put some OE fit Bridgestone 040s on the front of A4 after a puncture, but in this weather I could do with Quattro traction!! Definately not bike weather!! Sunday was good for bikes though, if a little cold over the Snake Pass!! :D

[S2AVANT]

Just put some OE fit Bridgestone 040s on the front of A4 after a puncture, but in this weather I could do with Quattro traction!! Definately not bike weather!! Sunday was good for bikes though, if a little cold over the Snake Pass!! :D
Snake eh?
I prefer to go out on the Snake and back on the Woodhead. :D

[Dave Avant]

Snake eh?
I prefer to go out on the Snake and back on the Woodhead. :D

Yeah, its good so long as you don't get someone who prefers to look at the peat rather than drive!! I used go over quite frequently, not been over for a while so went on Sunday. I see the stretch past the reservoir is now a 50 limit!! The reser was dead still, gave a perfect reflection - good for a foto, but couldn't be bothered stopping.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Not sure on the goodyear, but on the Michie Pilots sport, had them on the Gf's MGF and they were low on tread and were slippy even in the dry.

Must be all those "hair products" contaminating the tyres ;)


She had it for a couple of years and we never had replace the tyres, but she does only do about 5K miles a years.

So 10k miles on a relatively lightweight car would be more than reasonable.


Then she got a BMW 2.8 Z3 with the same tyres which were low again, again this liked to go sideways and make full use of the traction control.

See, I told you, all that hair gel and conditioners getting in the way ;) . Seriously though, what BM doesn't get its tail out, only to held by the electronics?


I'd heard about the compound changes through the tyre life and the experiences seem to ring true.

What you are probably thinking is the natural "aging" of the rubber, caused by the heat-up and cool-down. The actual rubber is the same compound from new to worn, it just goes through a chemical reaction, in the same way that water and steel change chemically!


Just put some OE fit Bridgestone 040s on the front of A4 after a puncture, but in this weather I could do with Quattro traction!!

Hmmm, I really don't like RE040s - utterly pants in the wet and in cold temps! Why not the S03s - much better boots?


Definately not bike weather!! Sunday was good for bikes though, if a little cold over the Snake Pass!! :D

This kinda weather actually hones your riding skills, those who don't, well Darwin again!

[sean red i]

had continentals on my car got 15k out of them. now have michelins pilot sports ps2 no difference between them to be honest (grip road noise etc) mine is 1.8t 190 quattro s/line 235 40 18

[Dave Avant]

Must be all those "hair products" contaminating the tyres ;)

So 10k miles on a relatively lightweight car would be more than reasonable.

See, I told you, all that hair gel and conditioners getting in the way ;) . Seriously though, what BM doesn't get its tail out, only to held by the electronics?

What you are probably thinking is the natural "aging" of the rubber, caused by the heat-up and cool-down. The actual rubber is the same compound from new to worn, it just goes through a chemical reaction, in the same way that water and steel change chemically!

Hmmm, I really don't like RE040s - utterly pants in the wet and in cold temps! Why not the S03s - much better boots?

This kinda weather actually hones your riding skills, those who don't, well Darwin again!

Brother has a 205 Mi 16 trackday car and has done the ring and plenty of tracks more than once, but every time he takes his M coupe he ends up facing backwards - BMs are good until the surface gets wet or snowy then they just to keep turning round, some might say lack of skill - I say a little fiddly and not the 'Ultimate Driving machine' Best all round car I've driven was my MG ZT190 on the road or track even though it could do with more power!! :D

Must admit the only experience of Mich pilots have been well worn and when I drove it, it liked to use the traction control alot.

Are the 040s not original fit?

Agree with the bike weather, hands just got too cold the other day and just wouldn't even attempt it in snow!!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

had continentals on my car got 15k out of them. now have michelins pilot sports ps2 no difference between them to be honest (grip road noise etc) mine is 1.8t 190 quattro s/line 235 40 18

Hmm . . . maybe you're just not trying hard enough ;) ;) - plus, you aint' got a stonkin' heavy weight V8 hanging out ahead of the front axle!

Those are actually the same size as on my S4!!!! What load index are yours (either 91Y or 95Y), and what pressures are you running F&R?

Rgds

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Brother has a 205 Mi 16 trackday car and has done the ring and plenty of tracks more than once,

Hmmm . . . not my cuppa', ETTO!


but every time he takes his M coupe he ends up facing backwards - BMs are good until the surface gets wet or snowy then they just to keep turning round, some might say lack of skill - I say a little fiddly and not the 'Ultimate Driving machine'

Yup, fully agree - and it often pi$$es the german propeller drivers off when you leave them floundering, on a track or roads, in inclement weather! :D


Best all round car I've driven was my MG ZT190 on the road or track even though it could do with more power!! :D

You really do surprise me, if a ZT190 is your "best" motor! I actually seriously considered one, just after they came out, but after an extended test drive, couldn't wait to get out and hand the keys back. Very cramped and oppressive cabin, pathetic boot (well probably not when comparing it to a 3 series or IS200) against a Vectra or A4, very poor steering with lack of feel, poor "stepped" power delivery, with a lack of torque expected from a 2.5V6, handling OK, but not good - oh, and the "grandad on viagra" styling - no thanks - but again, ETTO.


Must admit the only experience of Mich pilots have been well worn and when I drove it, it liked to use the traction control alot.

Don't suppose you can remember if they were the original Pilot Sport (with the directional tread), or the newer Pilot Sport PS2 (with the assymetric tread)?


Are the 040s not original fit?

The 040s are obsolete, and I think they were only fitted on some VAG 15" and 16" rims, along with Michelin, Contis, Dunlop. On 17", 18" & 19", they were never fitted. The RE050 has lost its VAG OEM approval - wonder why??? I also see the S03 has been discontinued.


Agree with the bike weather, hands just got too cold the other day and just wouldn't even attempt it in snow!!

Cold hands and full bladders are often the limiting factor :biglaugh:

[sean red i]

95y load 36 front 32 rear pressure. grip well, do throw around now and then, ok a fair bit i admit, but work is 30 minute motorway run which would help with wear. yes same wheels as s4, also standard on my car not an extra, your v8 weight must make a difference on wear. but mine has mixture of motorway and town driving so im happy with 15k a year wear.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

95y load 36 front 32 rear pressure.

:bigeyes: Strewth, 95Y is a bit over specced. My S4 came with 91Ys, but I think they screwed up at the factory, because from 2004 on, 95Y were standard. I had terrible wear on my originals, but when changed to 95Y, they were much better. I still have to run at 46 front and 39 rear though (standard was originally 39 all round, then Audi modified it to 42F, 36R)!


grip well, do throw around now and then, ok a fair bit i admit, but work is 30 minute motorway run which would help with wear.

:D What kind of loads do you carry, and what is the kerb weight (should be on the data sticker)?


yes same wheels as s4, also standard on my car not an extra,

:eek: What, your wheels, 6 spoke Avus III ?? - they should be S4 exclusive!!!


your v8 weight must make a difference on wear. but mine has mixture of motorway and town driving so im happy with 15k a year wear.

:wiggle: The V8 lump alone weighs 195kg - qiute a lot to have hanging out that far in front!! And there aint any M-ways where I live.

Oh, BTW, update your signature with your full car details, inc year, so we don't have to rummage in your user profile to work it out!

Rgds

[sean red i]

yes 95y from new even checked with audi cos local tyre place offered 91y, stuck with standard load 95y. im wrong not same as wheels as your s4. tyre pressure 0n inner door recommends 36psi but found ride to be to hard (would even feel a pea if drove over it) run them a touch lower and ride is much better. will do my signature shortly when i work out how to
cheers, sean

[Teutonic_Tamer]

yes 95y from new even checked with audi cos local tyre place offered 91y, stuck with standard load 95y.

Hmm . . . must be using a "one size fits all" policy at Ingoldstadt. On the door sticker, does it state 91 or 95?


im wrong not same as wheels as your s4.

Same size though!


tyre pressure 0n inner door recommends 36psi but found ride to be to hard (would even feel a pea if drove over it) run them a touch lower and ride is much better.

Don't go less than 4psi below recommended though, and don't forget to pump 'em up again for any high speed or full load useage <egg-sucking mode off ;) >


will do my signature shortly when i work out how to

Near the top "quick links" > "edit signature" ;)

Rgds

[sean red i]

yes 95y on door pillar. wheels are same size as s4 thats what i meant, standard s/line wheels 235,45 18. 95y. if i load car up with weight i do put pressures back up. wondering if mine needs 95y cos no way my car is up to your s4,s weight. will look into next time replace tyres,

[Teutonic_Tamer]

yes 95y on door pillar. wheels are same size as s4 thats what i meant, standard s/line wheels 235,45 18. 95y. if i load car up with weight i do put pressures back up. wondering if mine needs 95y cos no way my car is up to your s4,s weight. will look into next time replace tyres,

If the door pillar sticker states 95Y for the 18" boots, then don't fit the 91Y, as it would be seen as a modification. If you ever took your motor back to its' Fatherland (Germany), and got pulled, the German law would come down quite strongly. Their tyre laws are much stricter than ours!

Rgds

[Dave Avant]

Hmmm . . . not my cuppa', ETTO!

You really do surprise me, if a ZT190 is your "best" motor! I actually seriously considered one, just after they came out, but after an extended test drive, couldn't wait to get out and hand the keys back. Very cramped and oppressive cabin, pathetic boot (well probably not when comparing it to a 3 series or IS200) against a Vectra or A4, very poor steering with lack of feel, poor "stepped" power delivery, with a lack of torque expected from a 2.5V6, handling OK, but not good - oh, and the "grandad on viagra" styling - no thanks - but again, ETTO.

:biglaugh:

The boot on the ZT was cavenous!! Having both, the A4 does seem the smaller car. The ZT v6 needed atleast 15,000miles on them before they gave the best power, I remember when I got mine, it was lacking in power, but once it loosened up it was much better. But the car does weight in at just under 1500kgs so less than 200bhp aint going to move it fast. But very poor steering??? you sure you didn't get in a Rover 75? :D

Whats ETTO, BTW?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

The boot on the ZT was cavenous!!

Are you really sure???? It was a few years back, so my grey matter may be slghtly squidgy in this area, but I remember the boot being quite shallow, but could have been long?!


Having both, the A4 does seem the smaller car.

I suppose the B6 A4/S4 is small in the rear seats compared to the ZT, but in the front, other way round for me. I do remember having a right fat barsteward of a salesman sitting beside me, but then I had an equally portly chap alongside me when I tested a VX220, and didn't feel as cramped as the ZT!


The ZT v6 needed atleast 15,000miles on them before they gave the best power, I remember when I got mine, it was lacking in power, but once it loosened up it was much better.

Ahh, we can all say that! ;)


But the car does weight in at just under 1500kgs so less than 200bhp aint going to move it fast.

I was comparing it back to back with two Vectra GSIs (kerb weight 1400kg), the first was an "S" plate 2.5V6 with 195bhp, the second was a "51" plate 2.6V6 with 180bhp , and both Vectras were clearly faster than the ZT.


But very poor steering??? you sure you didn't get in a Rover 75? :D

Yeah, the steering felt similar to the 3series and IS200 - dead straight ahead - and no, it wasn't a 75, it was deffo a ZT, with the BFO spoiler on the boot lid!


Whats ETTO, BTW?

ETTO = each to their own ;)

[Dave Avant]

Yeah, the steering felt similar to the 3series and IS200 - dead straight ahead - and no, it wasn't a 75, it was deffo a ZT, with the BFO spoiler on the boot lid!



Are you not thinking of the smaller saloon, the ZS as the ZT was never available with a BFO spoiler. The ZS had the 'Imprezza' type spoiler, the ZT was more sedate with a bootlid rounded spoiler. If you are thinking of the ZS, then yes this is more cramped as its more akin to an A3.

You should have test drove the V8! :D Still low on power for the size, but with a supercharger - 400bhp.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Are you not thinking of the smaller saloon, the ZS, as the ZT was never available with a BFO spoiler. The ZS had the 'Imprezza' type spoiler, the ZT was more sedate with a bootlid rounded spoiler. If you are thinking of the ZS, then yes this is more cramped as its more akin to an A3.

Nope, the dealer had all three of them on demo, parked side-by-side.

There was the tiny 25 based hatchback - the ZR = poverty spec for the pauper hot grandad.

Then there was the small 45 based saloon - the ZS = so-so spec, for the retired bank manager grandad! This had the option of either the Evo style bootlid spoiler, or a more descrete flatter spoiler.

Finally, there was the barge 75 based luxury limo impersonator - the ZT = lets raid the Longbridge parts bins for everything we can throw at it, but still keep the tacky, frumpy interior styling - to be driven by a grandad who was a former doctor or lawyer ;) . Like the ZS, the ZT did have the option of two types of rear spoiler.

I vividly remember this, as the dealer thought their ZT demo would be hard to sell, as the 75/ZT would be bought by more mature people, whereas the ZR & ZS would be more likely owned by younger people!


You should have test drove the V8! :D Still low on power for the size, but with a supercharger - 400bhp.

Somehow, I didn't fancy the thought of finding a hedge/brick wall/armco barrier, with my boot. If BMW can't tame the rear end on their motors, what hope did the cash-strapped Longbridge boys have!

[Dave Avant]

Somehow, I didn't fancy the thought of finding a hedge/brick wall/armco barrier, with my boot. If BMW can't tame the rear end on their motors, what hope did the cash-strapped Longbridge boys have!

That was the whole point to the V8, 'old skool sideways V8 action'.

You've got to have some fun before you retire and buy a sensible surefooted Audi S4 ;)

[Teutonic_Tamer]

That was the whole point to the V8, 'old skool sideways V8 action'.

You've got to have some fun before you retire and buy a sensible surefooted Audi S4 ;)

Ahh, but in my yoof, I did. I owned a couple of Capris, minus the obligatory bag of cement in the boot - much fun, but a crap chassis really. Before the blue ovals, I owned a couple of Fiat 131s, one was the SuperMirafiori - cracking, superb handling car, dead easy to drift, and controllable too. I'm sure if I still had it, it would put many of the rice drifters to shame!