The time has come to fit new boots to the car. It's got standard wheels, so I need 205 50 15's

I've used Eagle F1's for the last 3 years, and really rate them, however try as I might, I can't find any at any of the local tyre places - apparently they aren't making them in this size anymore

The other thing I keep getting offered are Toyo T1-R's. Are these any cop, and if not, what should I be looking for?

Cheers!!

Neil.

 

I've just recently changed to the Toyo on my fiesta 195 50 15 and i've had yoko's, eagle f1-s, Bf Goodrich Profiler g's and pirelli p6000 and for outright grip the Toyo's piss all over them. However they do seem to wear a bit and there is more road noise. Bear in mind this is on a fwd car and i have heard some complaints in rwd applications that the sidewalls flex too much

 

Neil

The toyos are very good albeit on my Audi A6, Great grip and quiet the only question that i still need to answer is how many miles they will do , Buy them from Blackcircles.com

They are LOADS cheaper tahn the high street and they can fit them too

Nige

 

Mytyres.com were the cheapest I could find.

 

Neil S
Do you use your car in all weathers? Or is it predominantly dry use?
There were some issues with the t1-r Toyos if you do a search.
If you ring round all the Hi-Qs you might still get a set of F1s in 205/50x 15
as they are one of the main stockists.

 

I'm a bit concerned about this sidewall flex thing - I certainly dont baby the car!

Mike - Good plan, I'll give the local one a call

I use the car mainly over the summer, but that is wet a lot of the time!

Neil.

 

Parada Spec 2's are apparently brilliant in the dry, but cack in the wet


Have you tried mytyres for the size you need?

 

Yeah, but they're all either cheap pish, or not my cup of tea

Neil.

 

I meant had you tried mytyres for the size tyre you need (as in, they may still beable to get them in Goodyear Eagle F1's)

But I just checked and they're not listed

 

Can you get Parada Spec 2's in 205/50x15?
Unfortunately Neil, with even fairly low powered family saloons running at least 16" wheels and usually at least 205 width, the OE spec Sierra tyre is fast becoming considered no longer a high performance tyre.

I had slightly different criteria to you as I mostly use mine in the dry and am prepared to back off in the wet when I use it then as the tyres I use are not as good as F1s in the wet ( literally none of the readily available tyres are as good as F1s in the wet )
You might find that you can get the fairly new Goodyear Hydragrip in 205/50x15 ( it is a sort of F1-lite type tyre more intended for family saloon use - Extremely good in the wet but average in the dry ) .

The F1 is an excellent wet tyre but although consistent in it's behaviour there are plenty of tyres that will grip more and be ultimately faster in totally dry conditions.

Unfortunately it's been some years since anyone did a tyre test on a Sapphire Cosworth on std wheels ( think it was Performance Car with a 4x4 version ) but I can scan some more recent high-performance tyre tests if you're interested?

 

Mike - what would you recommend? I don't want to put you out scanning stuff in, but you seem really clued up, so what would you fit?

Cheers!!

Neil.

 

Toyo Post



I shan't be fitting those then!!

Neil.

 

Don't buy them from anywhere else in Teesside aprt from C&S in Boro!!

Will beat any price you can find (including mytyres) before i'd even asked! Rate them very highly, top chaps, excellent advice and service, and won't try to sell you the dearest thing they have. Got a pair of Dunlops for the FRS for Ł202 fitted etc. Would have been Ł103 each + fitting from mytyres.
Give them a call mate...245339.

 

i have toyos on my xe nova.

problem is that it spins all through 1st, 2nd and a chunk of 3rd if your booting it.
and the toyos last about a week.

but for grip ive only heard great things about them.

i guess thats what u get, a nice soft rubber grips well. but disapers in no time

 

i had this issue with my 'ring taxi. as it is registered in germany and has standard wheels, it must have the original size tyres or you get into all sorts of certification issues

we chose to go with some fulda's in the end (can't remember which model exactly, but they were directional) and during 18 laps of the 'ring in both wet and dry conditions i couldn't fault them really for the cost.

ok, maybe others would give more ultimate cornering grip, but is that really that important in day to day driving? i am a firm believer that tyres are the most important safety factor on a car when it comes to an incident, but as there is no real evidence on what works best on your particular car and road surface, you can only go with something that you believe to be good enough.

my mate had the fulda's on the front of his tvr griffith (same size) but recently replaced them with toyo's. impossible to see any differences though, as he also replaced all the suspension with adjustable stuff at the same time.

 

plynchy - I always use C&S - just I'm desperate for the F1's really...

Great lads there!

I'm going to go down and talk to them face to face I think - I don't want the T1-R's at all, see what else they can recommend

Neil.

 

Neil,
I'm running the Yokohama AVS Sports on mine. In my opinion they are better than the F1s in the dry. The sidewall is stiffer as well.
They are NOT as good as the F1s in the wet - our local Hi-Q can't get the F1s anymore like you say as I just checked and they also don't do the Hydragrip in that size so apologies for the duff steer on those earlier. In fact they are only listing the NCT5 as available in that size

I think a lot of the big makers are abandoning the 205/50x15" size for high -performance tyres as most wheels have got to at least 16" or 17" on sporty cars.

It may be down to getting bigger wheels if you want the best choice of premium brands or going for a less "hardcore tyre"

 

ive just gota set of michelin pilot sports, they are sooooooo grippy!!

 

Don't think they do Pilot Sports in 205/50x15s though do they?
They only do the Exalto I think?

 

T1R's are by FAR teh worst tyre i have ever had the discomfort to drive fast on.

And i really do mean BY FAR...

 

In what application? The cossie?

I really love them on my fiesta. Better than anything else i've tried so far

Get the other half to try them on her RS1800 when it need ssome new boots, you might be surprised

 

they do pilots in 205 50 15y i got a set this morning mate.....

 

The thick plottens!

I'll try and get C&S to get me a quote on the AVS and the pilot sports

Neil.

 

ive only used them for about three hours but they seem really good, much much much better than the falkens that were on there before.....

 

Nice one - thought they only did the Pilot Exaltos.
What exactly are the sidewall markings on your Pilot Sports if you don't mind me asking as I wouldn't mind getting myself a set ?

You'll probably find then Neil, that the Michelins, though most expensive, will last a long while and be very good in the dry - most tyre tests I have seen the Sports will be up in the top 2 or 3 dry handling but not as good as your preferred F1s in the wet/damp.

 

they say... Michelin Pilot Sport, 205 50 ZR 15 86Y

I can do you a pic of them if you want ,but aint got a clue how to post it on here.

 

i got them for Ł70 a piece inc valve balance and disposal

 

That is a very good price JTechsaff! By all reports that is an excellent tyre - would be interested in hearing what you think of them after a few days as I wouldn't mind getting a set of them

 

no probs will let you know..

 

Fulda Carat Extemo

 

My s02's will need changing this summer <-- real tears as i love them. Think I will give the Dunlop Sport Maxx or whatever they are called a try.

 

Dunlop Sport Maxx have very good opinion.

 

The Bridgestone S-02s are brilliant tyres - best I've had so far as road tyres on mine but you haven't been able to get them in 205/50 x 15 for ages ...however S2000 Hondas were coming with them new until quite recently albeit in a 16" (225/50).

However, Andreas, by the look of your car in the pic you aren't limited to the choice in 15" diameter?

 

Cheers Everyone!!

I'll speak to my dealer tomorrow and see what they can do

Neil.

 

They cant get the AVS or the Pilot Sports

This is looking like I may have to fit 17" wheels to ensure I can get tyres in the future

The only thing he reckons is worth a punt (apart from toyo R888's or Yoko 043A's) are Avon ZZ3's - has anyone used them?

Neil.

 

I've got ZZ3's on Escos. Haven't done many kilometers on them yet but I was quite pleased, although they could be stiffer.

 

Cheers Azrael

When you say stiffer, do you mean they are a bit vague? How are they for grip, both wet and dry?

I might well give them a go. When I heard them mentioned, I immediately thought "cheap rubbish", but maybe I'm wrong

Neil.

 

GET SOME UNI ROYAL RS1'S THERE SHIT HOT IN WET AND DRY
WAS WELL IMPRESSED BETTER THAN ALL THE ABOVE,I WILL ONLY BUY THESE TYRES

 

I have very stiff suspention components - polybushes, roase-joints, and tires don't feel like up to the job, but they seam to grip nicely. Stiffer I mean by sidewall stiffness. I only did cuple of kilometers around town and 300km high speed cruise on them in quite cold weather so can't judge really - I don't want to get it wrong.


Fuldas ForeigneRS mentioned before are even more into cheap rubbish category and actually I'm SURE they are much better then F1's for sporty driving - more grip in wet, dry, and much more precise driving for half of the F1's cost.

 

Neil
When you say you couldn't get the Yoko AVS Sports or the Michelin Pilot Sports is that because your dealer doesn't have contacts for the suppliers or did he mean that they simply aren't available?
I'd heard rumours that the AVS Sports are being finished soon ( and replaced with something else )?

I don't have any experience of the Avons, sorry