S8 D2 tyre choices

[rs32]

looked through the forum history on tyre brands and choices and couldn't find a lot from recent years .... so thought I'd start a new thread.

currently looking at options to replace tyres all round, either for my current 19" wheel or on a set of 18" Avus. Not 20's.

Choices at the moment look like

Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric 2

Pirelli P Zero Rosso Direzionale

I've had the Assymetrics on a previous Mk5 Golf and the Rossos on a previous 730d, both excellent and lasted a good while.

There's also the Falken FK453 (I run the 452 on another car but they seemed to wear quicker than either the Goodyear or Pirellis) - but they are cheaper, coming in at around £640 instead of £800 for a full set.

But what about on the S8 - any experiences with either of these 2 options or something better for a price/quality combination ?

[HPsauce]

Any particular objectives, such as wet weather, spirited driving, etc.?
Are they for all year or will you have winter wheels?

[Singh]

The Goodyear Eagle F1 Assy 2's without a shadow of a doubt.

[rs32]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Any particular objectives, such as wet weather, spirited driving, etc.?
Are they for all year or will you have winter wheels?

not especially, just for a good all-round tyre and I prefer the brands mentioned based on other cars real experience.

I don't drive like a loony in the wet but resistance to aquaplaning is always a bonus, and if we get prolonged snow/ice I tend to work form home rather than risk the motorways etc so it's about noise, general handling performance and life i.e. mileage.

As for spirited driving, yes partially but I get very little chance to do this these days as either the journey is for work without good A/B roads, or the wife is with me, or I have a car full of stuff for the car audio hobby. I wouldn't expect this factor to make more difference than the others above as both the brands I'm looking at will cope I'm sure.

[rs32]

thanks Amar for the recommendation - I notice you are in Leam - we're just over the other side of the M40 towards Stratford

the noise rating on the Assy 2 was a factor in short-listing them. Current ContiSport2's (pretty worn at front) are not good for noise.

[HPsauce]

I used to have (and like) Conti's but they were indeed noisy.
Current car has Bridgestones with a fair bit more life in them...

[Adrian E]

I replaced Michelin Pilot Sports with Conti Sport Contact 5s on our A6 and they actually seem quieter than the Michelins. Cost less that's for sure. Slightly better feedback that you're running out of grip in wet/cold conditions which translates as not feeling quite as sure footed as the Michelins in give and take weather but neither ever really reached their limit

Overall would be happy with either

If you can get the Goodyears in the correct load and speed index for the car then I'd consider them - had them on the a6 before the Michelins and they wore funny on the front and didn't last long. I think the sidewall was too stiff thanks to higher load index than Audi quote and didn't work well on the A6 as a result

[rs32]

current Contis are 98Y - should they be 100Y ?

[Conan_the_Librarian]

I have the FKs in a staggerd setup. The are fine for the price but aren't a patch on either the Goodyear's or Pirrelis when pushed hard they become a bit unpredictable. My 2 laps of the ring made me think of changing them for the Eagles but the cost for a few laps a year put me off. I do mainly motorway miles normally. In the end I put some track tyres on a set of 18s I had although the 8 tyres cost more the track tyres will last several years and add significantly to track day fun. The FKs do everything I ask of them on the road and a relatively cheap.
HtH
CtL

[Adrian E]

Originally Posted by rs32

current Contis are 98Y - should they be 100Y ?

I think it's stated on the tyre pressure sticker inside the fuel filler flap - can't readily find it in my handbook which happens to be sitting next to me. Not helped by some pages of the index missing the bottom part of the pages thanks to some nibbling at some point in its past!