Tyre opinions and experiences

[VIW28 29]

Currently considering my options for a set of new 205/40 R17 tyres. I'm after something that will grip well in the dry and the wet but will also dispel water easily. Wear rate doesn't really bother me that much (within reason) as I'm only doing 2-3k miles a year or so. Don't really want to spend more than £100 a corner, preferably £70-£80ish.

I have read more reviews than I can care to mention but with so many conflicting opinions.

Good source of info here, I've read nearly every review on the top 15 tyres - http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre-Size/17-Inch-Tyres/205-40-17-Tyres.htm

So far I've narrowed it down to the following:

1. Uniroyal Rainsport 3 - seems to have glowing reports though only launched very recently. Better than Uniroyal RS2's but have firmer sidewall which was a common complaint. These are what I'm really being drawn to at the minute.

2. Avon ZZ3 - apparently these have awesome grip in the dry and reasonably good in the wet

3. Toyo T1R - had these in the past and found them not too bad

4. Bridgestone Potenza RE050 - wet grip not so good?

5. Michelin Pilot Sport 3 - have these on my Passat in a 235/45 R17 and find them brilliant, great grip right down to the last. Expensive though.

6. Hankook Ventus V12 Evo - not looked into these too much but well priced

7. Falken ZE912 - what I had on the mk3 in a 195/40 R17 and tbh I was well enough impressed with them all round and are well priced. I would like to try something different though.

8. Continental Contact Sport 5 - according to the reviews they seem to have real good grip both in wet and dry conditions but are both expensive and wear exceptionally quickly.

9. Yokohama Parada Spec 2 - awesome dry grip but potentially lethal in the wet

Try to keep on topic please. Looking genuine experiences and opinions. Smart ass "blow out" comments will be deleted

[Lukey. 381]

I've had RE050 before and as soon as they are over half worn its like they have a different compound, they become super slippery and you wheel spin and understeer everywhere I think they are awful.

I had Paradas and everyone says they are lethal in the wet but I found them not that bad, they certainly aren't dangerous !

Contis I had them on a focus ST @ 300hp and there wasn't a bad thing I could say about them, my brother had them too but because his trip to work was on a bit if a rough road he kept getting bulging on the sidewalls

My favourite tyre of all has been Toyo T1R and since 2005 its all I would fit to any car that needed tyres, with them being harder to come by I will probably go to Michelin Pilot Sport eventually if I can't get hold of T1R but I have a Costco account so the price difference isn't too steep

Edited December 29, 2013 by Lukey.

[VIW28 29]

That's great Lukey, some real good feedback there thanks

[Surreyvr6 199]

I always run uniroyals on mine, can't fault them, not tried many others as once I find something I like I won't change incase I fork out for something I don't like them so much. Apart from that I had a pair of mitchelins on my last vr6 and wouldn't ever use them again.

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[VIW28 29]

I've read loads of reviews where people are happy with Uniroyal, only fault they seem to have with RS2's is they have a soft sidewall. The new RS3's seem to have improved on this it seems. What didn't you like with the Michelins? What size were they?

[Surreyvr6 199]

They were 205 50 15s and they weren't anywhere near as grippy as the uniroyals, especially in the wet

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[Marneus 78]

I ran RS2's on my M3 for 12 months & they performed really well. Very grippy in the wet & good in the dry too, they took quite a bit if persuasion to break traction.

I had conti sport 2's on my Focus ST, they were very good too. I did over 14000 miles on them before I sold the car (including a fair few spirited drives through the Yorkshire dales with the STOC crew) and the still had plenty of tread left.

My favourite tyres though are Toyo T1R's and the Goodyear eagle GSD3's but I don't think they make them anymore.

[shawy 3]

R888 is a very good road tyre better than anything I've used ..yokos are the worst wet tyre I have ever used good in the dry.

17" r888 can be picked up cheap part worn with one trackdays use ..

[craggsy 91]

I have run vredstein sessantas on my R32 now for about 4 yrs. I can't fault them and were about £80 ish.

I had ps2 on it when I bought it and found them quite good but buying four if them was big money.

Of the ones you listed I've had the ze912s and liked them lots.

But id go with the rainsports. I'll be putting them on my daily focus in the new year

[VIW28 29]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, I'm still convinced that Rainsports are the ones to go for. Good to see some of you share that opinion too

I'd love to go for 888's but at £180 ish a corner they are way out of budget and putting part worns on is a no go

[Surreyvr6 199]

Personally I don't think you can go wrong with rainsports, brilliant in the wet and a fair price too, plus they are made by conti so you can't go wrong in my opinion

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[RuudVr 8]

I ran Dunlop SP9000 on my Vr. They are very good in both dry and wet conditions

[Jakeyb 23]

rate the toyos myself . ran um on a few impreza's in the pst n pushed them HARD ..  ill be sticking some on the VRT when its done