20" tyre options? Who is running what?

[Adrian E]

Hi all

There's a few tyre threads running, but would be interested in recent experience of tyre choices for 20s.

I've got Michelin Pilot Sports but they're no longer made.

I'm considering Super Sports but have read they're not as good in mixed conditions and are more aimed at dry/track use. Not sure how true that is so any direct experience going from one to the other would be great to hear :)

Not interested in Chinese stuff - have considered Vredestein but put off by the marketing which suggests the cosmetic appearance is more important to potential buyers than anything else. Plus the price difference isn't that great to the Michelins.

Can't find Continental Sport Contact 5 in the right spec, although they're supposed to be available - just seem to not be stocked!

[Zip]

...run 3 sets of PS2s on the S8, and not worth the premium over the Vredesteins (Ultrac Sessantas). Ran them on a 300bhp 9000 Aero Saab, and they were excellent - better wearing than the Goodyear F1 GSD3s, and as good in the wet. Also quieter...and a lot quieter than P-zeros. Don't like them at all (on an S8 in particular). Too noisy, and very stiff sidewall. Ran Toyo Proxes T1-S on an Impreza, which were great in that lighter car, but still wear very quickly. Great in the wet.

Really fancy trying the SportContacts, but not had a chance.

Just my 2 penneth....

Zip

[PsYcHe]

I've got a set of Falken 452s on the front at the minute.. they handle OK, but they're one of the tyre types that looks too narrow for the rim and offers no protection, so I'd avoid them.

[Architex_mA8tey]

I'm running Pirelli P-Zeros on the 20" final edition wheels I have which are great all rounders, but personally I prefer the Continental Sport Contact 3's I currently have on the Kahn wheels and you may still be able to get some if you shop around for old stock as they were made cheaper/discounted when the 5's came out. I kind of had a strategy to stay just behind the new version all the time so when the next sport contacts come out buy up a load of cheaper 5's and use those etc. +++

[tintin]

Some of this is a repeat from earlier posts, but here goes with my experience:

My is S8 currently shod with a mix of 2 Michelin Supersports (front) and 2 Michelin PS2s (rear). Supersports are definitely grippier in the dry, and I can't say I've found them any worse in the wet. My "spare" 20 inch wheels have Dunlop SP Sport Maxxs all round ( I think...), but as I've not had these fitted on the car yet, I can't comment - though i would, of course, be interested in the experience of others of Dunlops +++.

The only other tyres I've used which have been mentioned here by Zip/Neil are Toyo Proxes and Pirelli P Zeros, on my Fiat Coupe. I agree with the comment about the P Zeros being a good all rounder, but I've found the Proxes grippier, though they tend not to go out in the wet very often these days..;), and I'm not sure if the experience with a different car/tyre size is all that relevant.

[tonupkid]

I've just gone from Yokahoma Advans to Michelin super sports and I reckon the Michelin's give a tighter turn in and are quieter. I've not noticed any drop in wet grip.
The Michelin's have rim protection and it was this that tore a chunk out of one of my brand new tyres on a Devonshire wall. At 300 quid a tyre it's cheaper to refurbish the already scruffy rim.
It was the wall and tyre wat done it. Nothing to do with my driving:D

[Goran]

I'm running 18s so I cant help with choices for 20s.
I can give you a personal opinion type comparison of Super Sports though.
I really like them, I cant get the car to skid at all, they are very grippy even in the wet. I'll be replacing them with more Super Sports.
I'm comparing them to Falkens, which were terrible in any weather, even managed to do a mini slide on a dry round about. Before that I had Dunlop 9000's they were ok, a bit noisy.

[The_Laird]

I've been running on Vredesteins as well for about 6 months and around 370 miles a week. Lovely tyre. Quiet and brilliant in the wet.

[SilverS8]

Vredestein Sessanta is a good tire for the money and as The Laird says they are quiet and also very goods on rain from my own experience.

Regarding dimensions i would not go wider then 245 on a 9" rim. I prefer the stretch look it gives and good drivers dont need rim protection ;)

Currently running 255/35/19 on 8,5 front and 9,5 rears on The S8 and there is just to much tire all over the place :)

So my choice would be 245/35/20

:)

[Adrian E]

Cheers all

Good to hear positive comments about the Vreds but will probably go for super sport as the price difference is only £40 a tyre. Waiting a response from Continental on sc5 availability first though. MOT on Thursday will decide how quickly I need to make a choice!

Will stick to the standard size as I'm only going to be changing 1 pair at a time and I've never considered the car to be under tyred lol

At least with changing a pair at a time I can run them on the rear till the other PS wear out and then rotate which should give longer tyre life :)

[HPsauce]

I've had a variety of tyres on my S8's over more than 10 years, all premium brands but 18's not 20's.
Of them I preferred the Dunlop and Continental slightly, though there was not a huge difference between any of them.
For "all year" use I slightly favoured Continental, though I've been using winter tyres for a while now.

[Stuarta]

+1 for p-zeros - love them.

[Adrian E]

Your post has reminded me to post a conclusion to this thread!

I ended up buying a pair of Super Sports at £230 each - the Vreds were £186 and I couldn't find anything else available

Early impressions they are quieter than the Pilot Sports that were on there and have coped fine in heavy rain so far

I'll be replacing the other 2 tyres after the winter so until then can't really comment on outright grip

[M-A8]

Before the set I've got now I was running on Dunlops Sport and there were ok.

When it came to putting a new set a good specialist I know who does alloys, wheels and breaks all his live told me to try something different.

I wasn't that keen on it but when I looked at one of his car (couple of years old X5) with same tyres on I thought a tyre guy wouldn't put nankang style rubber on his wheels, would he?!?!?

So I went for it and I purchased a set of 4 Kumho Ecsta KU31 255/35/20 97Y

And I really really can't tell much bad about them, I really can't, and I do take grip level seriously and was ready to buy another set in case they were really ****, but to my surprise they are really good, dry and wet and wear is good as well.

I've read plenty of reviews about the same tyres but only the ones from owners of cars such as A8s, 7s, X5s, S class etc, heavy cars coz same tyre on a 1 ton car may perform differently on a 2 ton car.
And to my surprise everyone had positive experience with them.

And because over a year ago they were only £420 plus fitting you couldn't go wrong with that and selling them off after few miles wouldn't cost me much.

There is still plenty of meat on them but I do not drive a lot, but I'm agressive driver quiet often.
I'm due for a new set soon, but only because of the camber after lowering the suspension by 15mm front and 10mm rear.
Insides are pretty much gone where the 85-90% of tyre has even thread with fair amount of meat.

Same set will cost you £200 more today, 50% increase, is it because they are really good tyres or because inflation???
50% inflation is a bit to much in my opinion especially where most of the tyres stayed at almost same level or they went up only by 10-20%.

BUT, I am keen this time to try Dual Compound Toyo Proxes T1, not R with the Falken style thread.
I've been told that this is what Audi is recommending/putting on todays cars!?!?
The fact that they are dual compound (harder on the outside and softer on the inside) could benefit me more because of my camber, they wont go off that quickly on the inside.
Plus Toyo is not a **** brand in my opinion, but I'm not an super expert when comes to tyres.

I wont come back to Dunlops, but I' keen on trying Toyo's this time and I can't exclude Kumhos to be honest.
If non of them will end up on my wheels then Continentals would be my choice or possibly Yokohama's.

[Singh]

Michelin Pilot SuperSports (Found them a little scary in the wet with 535BHP/ 800+ NM in my old RS 6)
Michelin PS2's
Goodyear Eagle F1 Assy 2's

Budget that are still decent, Vredistein however you spell them Sesstnas...

I don't even consider anything else, the ContiSport contact 5's are supposed to be alright.